Health Sciences

Master of Science in Biomedical Science

The Master of Science in Biomedical Science is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in biomedical research, medical laboratory science, and clinical diagnostics. The programme combines biomedical theory with practical laboratory and clinical application.

Core areas include medical microbiology, medical immunology, medical parasitology, clinical chemistry, medical haematology, medical biotechnology, pharmaceutical science, molecular biology, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both biomedical theory and practical laboratory work through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by Maseno University and JKUAT. Both are public universities offering the programme over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in medical microbiology, immunology, parasitology, clinical chemistry, haematology, biotechnology, molecular biology, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, examinations, laboratory work, and a research thesis with specialisation options in various biomedical fields.

Maseno University charges approximately KES 179,400/year. JKUAT charges approximately KES 248,000/year (KES 496,000 total). Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours in biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science, medicine, pharmacy, nursing, or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as biomedical scientists, medical laboratory scientists, research scientists, clinical scientists, biotechnology specialists, and lecturers across hospitals, research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and universities.

Skills Required

Medical Microbiology and Pathogen Identification
Medical Immunology and Immune Response Analysis
Medical Parasitology and Vector Biology
Clinical Chemistry and Diagnostic Analysis
Medical Haematology and Blood Disorder Analysis
Medical Biotechnology and Molecular Techniques
Pharmaceutical Science and Drug Development
Molecular Biology and Genetic Analysis
Research Methods in Biomedical Science
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Medical Microbiology and Pathogen Identification
Medical Immunology and Immune Response Analysis
Medical Parasitology and Vector Biology
Clinical Chemistry and Diagnostic Analysis
Medical Haematology and Blood Disorder Analysis
Medical Biotechnology and Molecular Techniques
Pharmaceutical Science and Drug Development
Molecular Biology and Genetic Analysis
Research Methods in Biomedical Science
Thesis Research

Certifications

KMLTTB Laboratory Certification
IFBLS Biomedical Science Certification

Specializations

Medical Microbiology

Focuses on medical microbiology, covering bacterial pathogens, viral pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, diagnostic microbiology, and managing medical microbiology.

Medical Immunology

Examines medical immunology, covering immune response, immunological disorders, immunodiagnostics, vaccine development, and managing medical immunology.

Clinical Chemistry

Covers clinical chemistry, covering biochemical analysis, metabolic disorders, liver function, kidney function, endocrine analysis, and managing clinical chemistry.

Medical Haematology

Focuses on medical haematology, covering blood disorders, haematological analysis, transfusion science, coagulation, and managing medical haematology.

Medical Biotechnology

Examines medical biotechnology, covering molecular techniques, genetic engineering, biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and managing medical biotechnology.

Pharmaceutical Science

Covers pharmaceutical science, covering drug development, pharmacology, pharmaceutical analysis, drug delivery, and managing pharmaceutical science.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 248,000
Private, up to: Ksh 179,100
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Medical Microbiology and Pathogen Identification
Medical Immunology and Immune Response Analysis
Medical Parasitology and Vector Biology
Clinical Chemistry and Diagnostic Analysis
Medical Haematology and Blood Disorder Analysis
Medical Biotechnology and Molecular Techniques
Pharmaceutical Science and Drug Development
Molecular Biology and Genetic Analysis
Research Methods in Biomedical Science
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Medical Microbiology and Pathogen Identification
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines bacterial pathogens, viral pathogens, fungal pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, diagnostic microbiology, and managing medical microbiology.
Medical Immunology and Immune Response
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers immune response, immunological disorders, immunodiagnostics, vaccine development, autoimmunity, and managing medical immunology.
Research Methods in Biomedical Science
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, ethical issues, laboratory safety, and conducting biomedical research, preparing students for their thesis.
Medical Parasitology and Vector Biology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines parasitic infections, vector biology, diagnostic parasitology, tropical diseases, epidemiology, and managing medical parasitology.
Clinical Chemistry and Diagnostic Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers biochemical analysis, metabolic disorders, liver function, kidney function, endocrine analysis, and managing clinical chemistry.
Medical Haematology and Blood Disorders
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines blood disorders, haematological analysis, transfusion science, coagulation, anaemia, leukaemia, and managing medical haematology.
Medical Biotechnology and Molecular Techniques
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers molecular techniques, genetic engineering, biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, biosensors, and managing medical biotechnology.
Pharmaceutical Science and Drug Development
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines drug development, pharmacology, pharmaceutical analysis, drug delivery, pharmacokinetics, and managing pharmaceutical science.
Molecular Biology and Genetic Analysis
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers DNA technology, gene expression, molecular diagnostics, genomics, proteomics, and managing molecular biology.
Diagnostic Techniques and Laboratory Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines diagnostic techniques, laboratory management, quality assurance, biosafety, automation, and managing diagnostic laboratories.
Epidemiology and Public Health Biomedical Science
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, epidemiological methods, public health laboratory, and managing biomedical public health.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a biomedical science topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and biomedical knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Medical Microbiology
Focuses on medical microbiology, covering bacterial pathogens, viral pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, diagnostic microbiology, and managing medical microbiology.
Medical Immunology
Examines medical immunology, covering immune response, immunological disorders, immunodiagnostics, vaccine development, and managing medical immunology.
Clinical Chemistry
Covers clinical chemistry, covering biochemical analysis, metabolic disorders, liver function, kidney function, endocrine analysis, and managing clinical chemistry.
Medical Haematology
Focuses on medical haematology, covering blood disorders, haematological analysis, transfusion science, coagulation, and managing medical haematology.
Medical Biotechnology
Examines medical biotechnology, covering molecular techniques, genetic engineering, biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and managing medical biotechnology.
Pharmaceutical Science
Covers pharmaceutical science, covering drug development, pharmacology, pharmaceutical analysis, drug delivery, and managing pharmaceutical science.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Biomedical Science programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, practical workshops, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover medical microbiology, immunology, parasitology, clinical chemistry, haematology, and biotechnology. Medical microbiology sessions examine bacterial pathogens, viral pathogens, fungal pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, diagnostic microbiology, and managing medical microbiology. Medical immunology sessions cover immune response, immunological disorders, immunodiagnostics, vaccine development, autoimmunity, and managing medical immunology. Medical parasitology sessions cover parasitic infections, vector biology, diagnostic parasitology, tropical diseases, and managing medical parasitology. Clinical chemistry sessions cover biochemical analysis, metabolic disorders, liver function, kidney function, endocrine analysis, and managing clinical chemistry. Medical haematology sessions cover blood disorders, haematological analysis, transfusion science, coagulation, anaemia, and managing medical haematology. Medical biotechnology sessions cover molecular techniques, genetic engineering, biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, biosensors, and managing medical biotechnology. Pharmaceutical science sessions cover drug development, pharmacology, pharmaceutical analysis, drug delivery, pharmacokinetics, and managing pharmaceutical science. Molecular biology sessions cover DNA technology, gene expression, molecular diagnostics, genomics, proteomics, and managing molecular biology. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with microbiological techniques, immunological assays, clinical chemistry analysers, haematological analysis, molecular techniques, and diagnostic procedures. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in biomedical science. Guest lectures from experienced biomedical scientists, clinical scientists, and researchers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on a biomedical science topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for biomedical science professionals with growing healthcare needs, infectious disease research, pharmaceutical industry, and biotechnology advancement in Kenya.
Maseno University offers 9 MSc specialisations, providing wide choice in biomedical fields including microbiology, immunology, haematology, and biotechnology.
Maseno offers competitive fees at approximately KES 179,400/year.
Strong industry links with KEMRI, KMLTTB, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies providing collaboration and career opportunities.

Against it

JKUAT fees are higher at approximately KES 248,000/year (KES 496,000 total).
Only two public universities confirmed offering this programme, limiting institutional choice.
No private university confirmed offering this programme, limiting options.
Programme requires biomedical sciences, medical laboratory, or health sciences background, which limits access for non-related graduates.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses

Public179k to 248k

179k at Maseno University248k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Private179k to 179k

179k at Mount Kenya University179k at Mount Kenya University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

JKUAT 496K/2=248K/yr. MKU MSc MLS 89.55K/sem=179.1K/yr. Maseno unverified. Src: kenyaeducationguide.com

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. JKUAT may offer postgraduate bursaries for eligible students. KEMRI and partner organisations may provide training support for biomedical research professionals. Some pharmaceutical companies may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
JKUAT Postgraduate Bursary
KEMRI Training Support

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
JKUAT Postgraduate Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
JKUAT offers postgraduate bursaries for eligible students.
KEMRI Training Support
GrantKsh 300,000Kenyan
KEMRI and partner organisations may provide training support for biomedical research professionals.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Most universities require Upper Second Class Honours in biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science, medicine, pharmacy, or related fields. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience are considered. MBChB, BDS, BPharm, BVM, or Nursing graduates are also eligible. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, laboratory reports, seminar presentations, case studies, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering medical microbiology, immunology, parasitology, clinical chemistry, haematology, and biotechnology.
Laboratory Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory exercises, diagnostic techniques, microbiological analysis, molecular techniques, and demonstrating biomedical skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a biomedical science topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and biomedical knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Maseno University and JKUAT (both public) offer MSc in Biomedical Science or related biomedical programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in biomedical sciences. Graduates are eligible for KMLTTB laboratory certification and IFBLS biomedical science certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Maseno University and JKUAT (both public) offer MSc in Biomedical Science or related biomedical programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in biomedical sciences. Graduates are eligible for KMLTTB laboratory certification and IFBLS biomedical science certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Biomedical Scientist
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Conducts biomedical research and diagnostics, overseeing laboratory analysis, research, quality assurance, and managing biomedical science.
Medical Laboratory Scientist
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages medical laboratory operations, overseeing diagnostic testing, quality control, equipment management, and managing laboratory services.
Research Scientist
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Conducts biomedical research, overseeing research design, experimentation, analysis, publication, and managing scientific research.
Clinical Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Provides clinical scientific expertise, overseeing diagnostic interpretation, clinical research, quality assurance, and managing clinical science.
Biotechnology Specialist
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Develops biotechnology solutions, overseeing molecular techniques, biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and managing medical biotechnology.
Biomedical Science Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches biomedical science at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, laboratory supervision, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Python
SoftwarePrimary
Python for bioinformatics and data analysis, covering biopython, data analysis, molecular modelling, and managing biomedical data.
BLAST
Software
BLAST for sequence analysis, covering DNA sequence comparison, pathogen identification, sequence alignment, and managing molecular data.
SPSS
Software
SPSS for statistical analysis, covering data analysis, statistical tests, research data, and managing research data.
LIMS
Software
Laboratory Information Management System for laboratory management, covering sample tracking, quality control, data management, and managing laboratory operations.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Biomedical science is just about blood tests.
Biomedical science covers comprehensive medical microbiology, immunology, parasitology, clinical chemistry, haematology, biotechnology, and molecular biology beyond just blood tests.
This programme is only for those who want to work in hospital labs.
Biomedical science skills are valuable for research, pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology, public health, academia, and regulatory affairs beyond just hospital laboratories.
Biomedical science has limited career prospects in Kenya.
With growing healthcare needs, infectious disease research, pharmaceutical industry, and biotechnology advancement, demand for biomedical science professionals is high in Kenya.
Medical biotechnology is just about genetic engineering.
Medical biotechnology covers comprehensive molecular techniques, biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, biosensors, vaccine development, and personalised medicine.
Clinical chemistry is just about measuring chemicals.
Clinical chemistry covers comprehensive biochemical analysis, metabolic disorders, organ function, endocrine disorders, and therapeutic drug monitoring.
Medical immunology is just about antibodies.
Medical immunology covers comprehensive immune response, immunological disorders, immunodiagnostics, vaccine development, autoimmunity, and immunotherapy.