Health Sciences

Master of Science in Clinical Haematology and Blood Transfusion

The Master of Science in Clinical Haematology and Blood Transfusion is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in haematology diagnostics, blood transfusion science, and laboratory management. The programme combines haematological theory with practical clinical laboratory and transfusion application.

Core areas include clinical haematology, blood transfusion science, haematological diagnostics, blood banking, coagulation disorders, haematological malignancies, laboratory management, quality assurance, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both haematological theory and practical laboratory work through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by JKUAT through the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, the University of Nairobi through the Department of Human Pathology, and Moi University through the Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion. All are public universities offering the programme over two academic years through full-time study.

Students develop competencies in clinical haematology, blood transfusion science, haematological diagnostics, blood banking, coagulation disorders, haematological malignancies, laboratory management, quality assurance, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, examinations, laboratory work, clinical rotations, and a supervised research thesis.

JKUAT charges approximately KES 196,500/year (KES 393,000 total) for medical laboratory sciences programmes. UoN charges approximately KES 433,500/year for health sciences programmes. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in medical laboratory sciences, medicine, biomedical sciences, or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as clinical haematologists, blood transfusion specialists, laboratory managers, quality assurance officers, research scientists, and lecturers in haematology across hospitals, blood banks, research institutions, diagnostic laboratories, regulatory bodies, and universities.

Skills Required

Clinical Haematology and Blood Film Interpretation
Blood Transfusion Science and Blood Banking
Haematological Diagnostics and Laboratory Techniques
Coagulation Disorders and Thrombosis Management
Haematological Malignancies and Cancer Diagnostics
Laboratory Management and Quality Assurance
Blood Safety and Transfusion Transmissible Infections
Flow Cytometry and Molecular Haematology
Research Methods in Haematology
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Clinical Haematology and Blood Film Interpretation
Blood Transfusion Science and Blood Banking
Haematological Diagnostics and Laboratory Techniques
Coagulation Disorders and Thrombosis Management
Haematological Malignancies and Cancer Diagnostics
Laboratory Management and Quality Assurance
Blood Safety and Transfusion Transmissible Infections
Flow Cytometry and Molecular Haematology
Research Methods in Haematology
Thesis Research

Certifications

KEMRI Research Certification
ISBT Professional Membership

Specializations

Clinical Haematology

Focuses on clinical haematology, covering blood film interpretation, anaemia diagnosis, haematological malignancies, and managing clinical haematology.

Blood Transfusion Science

Examines blood transfusion science, covering blood banking, blood grouping, cross-matching, transfusion reactions, and managing blood transfusion.

Coagulation and Thrombosis

Covers coagulation disorders, covering bleeding disorders, thrombosis, anticoagulation, coagulation testing, and managing coagulation.

Haematological Malignancies

Focuses on haematological malignancies, covering leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, cancer diagnostics, and managing haematological malignancies.

Laboratory Management

Examines laboratory management, covering quality assurance, accreditation, staff management, equipment, and managing haematology laboratories.

Molecular Haematology

Covers molecular haematology, covering molecular diagnostics, flow cytometry, genetic testing, and managing molecular haematology.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 277,002
Private, up to: Ksh 179,100
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

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

What you study

10 subjects

Clinical Haematology and Blood Film Interpretation
Blood Transfusion Science and Blood Banking
Haematological Diagnostics and Laboratory Techniques
Coagulation Disorders and Thrombosis Management
Haematological Malignancies and Cancer Diagnostics
Laboratory Management and Quality Assurance
Blood Safety and Transfusion Transmissible Infections
Flow Cytometry and Molecular Haematology
Research Methods in Haematology
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Clinical Haematology and Blood Film Interpretation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines blood film interpretation, anaemia diagnosis, haematological malignancies, morphology, and managing clinical haematology.
Blood Transfusion Science and Blood Banking
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers blood banking, blood grouping, cross-matching, transfusion reactions, blood components, and managing blood transfusion.
Research Methods in Haematology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, laboratory methods, and conducting haematology research, preparing students for their thesis.
Haematological Diagnostics and Laboratory Techniques
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines cell counters, flow cytometry, bone marrow examination, cytochemistry, and managing haematological diagnostics.
Coagulation Disorders and Thrombosis Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers bleeding disorders, thrombosis, anticoagulation, coagulation testing, thrombophilia, and managing coagulation disorders.
Haematological Malignancies and Cancer Diagnostics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, cancer diagnostics, staging, classification, and managing haematological malignancies.
Blood Safety and Transfusion Transmissible Infections
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers transfusion transmissible infections, screening, donor safety, recipient safety, haemovigilance, and managing blood safety.
Laboratory Management and Quality Assurance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines quality assurance, accreditation, ISO 15189, staff management, equipment, safety, and managing haematology laboratories.
Flow Cytometry and Molecular Haematology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers molecular diagnostics, flow cytometry, genetic testing, PCR, immunophenotyping, and managing molecular haematology.
Paediatric and Neonatal Haematology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines paediatric haematology, neonatal transfusion, childhood leukaemia, haemoglobinopathies, and managing paediatric haematology.
Transfusion Medicine and Clinical Practice
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers transfusion practice, clinical transfusion, massive transfusion, patient blood management, and managing transfusion medicine.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a haematology or blood transfusion topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and haematology knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Clinical Haematology
Focuses on clinical haematology, covering blood film interpretation, anaemia diagnosis, haematological malignancies, and managing clinical haematology.
Blood Transfusion Science
Examines blood transfusion science, covering blood banking, blood grouping, cross-matching, transfusion reactions, and managing blood transfusion.
Coagulation and Thrombosis
Covers coagulation disorders, covering bleeding disorders, thrombosis, anticoagulation, coagulation testing, and managing coagulation.
Haematological Malignancies
Focuses on haematological malignancies, covering leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, cancer diagnostics, and managing haematological malignancies.
Laboratory Management
Examines laboratory management, covering quality assurance, accreditation, staff management, equipment, and managing haematology laboratories.
Molecular Haematology
Covers molecular haematology, covering molecular diagnostics, flow cytometry, genetic testing, and managing molecular haematology.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Clinical Haematology and Blood Transfusion programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, clinical rotations, practical workshops, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover clinical haematology, blood transfusion science, diagnostics, coagulation, and malignancies. Clinical haematology sessions examine blood film interpretation, anaemia diagnosis, haematological malignancies, morphology, and managing clinical haematology. Blood transfusion science sessions cover blood banking, blood grouping, cross-matching, transfusion reactions, blood components, and managing blood transfusion. Haematological diagnostics sessions cover cell counters, flow cytometry, bone marrow examination, cytochemistry, and managing haematological diagnostics. Coagulation sessions cover bleeding disorders, thrombosis, anticoagulation, coagulation testing, and managing coagulation disorders. Haematological malignancies sessions cover leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, cancer diagnostics, staging, and managing haematological malignancies. Laboratory management sessions cover quality assurance, accreditation, ISO 15189, staff management, equipment, and managing haematology laboratories. Blood safety sessions cover transfusion transmissible infections, screening, donor safety, recipient safety, and managing blood safety. Molecular haematology sessions cover molecular diagnostics, flow cytometry, genetic testing, PCR, and managing molecular haematology. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with blood film preparation, cell counting, cross-matching, coagulation testing, and flow cytometry. Clinical rotations at hospitals and blood banks provide exposure to real-world haematology and transfusion practice. Practical workshops provide hands-on experience with diagnostic methods, quality control, and laboratory management. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in haematology. Guest lectures from experienced haematologists, pathologists, and transfusion specialists provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a haematology or blood transfusion topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Steady demand for haematology professionals with growing healthcare demand, cancer diagnostics, blood safety requirements, and laboratory accreditation in Kenya.
Programme offered by three public universities (JKUAT, UoN, Moi), providing institutional choice.
JKUAT offers competitive fees at approximately KES 196,500/year for medical laboratory sciences programmes.
Graduates are eligible for KEMRI research certification and ISBT professional membership, enhancing career prospects.

Against it

UoN fees are higher at approximately KES 433,500/year for health sciences programmes.
Moi University fees not independently verified, requiring prospective students to confirm directly.
No private university confirmed offering this programme, limiting options.
Programme requires medical laboratory sciences, medicine, or biomedical 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

Public277k to 277k

277k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology277k 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 MMLS 277K/yr (jkuat.ac.ke). MKU MSc MLS 89.55K/sem=179.1K/yr. UoN/AKU unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. JKUAT may offer postgraduate bursaries for eligible students. KEMRI and medical research organisations may provide research support. Some hospitals and blood banks may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
JKUAT Postgraduate Bursary
KEMRI Research 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 Research Support
GrantKsh 250,000Kenyan
KEMRI and partner organisations may provide research support for haematology and medical 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 medical laboratory sciences, medicine, or biomedical sciences. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience are considered. 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, clinical rotation reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering clinical haematology, blood transfusion, diagnostics, coagulation, and malignancies.
Laboratory and Clinical Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory exercises, blood film interpretation, cross-matching, coagulation testing, clinical rotations, and demonstrating haematology skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a haematology or blood transfusion topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and haematology knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). JKUAT, University of Nairobi, and Moi University (all public) offer MSc in Clinical Haematology and Blood Transfusion or related medical laboratory sciences programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in haematology and blood transfusion. Graduates are eligible for KEMRI research certification and ISBT professional membership.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. JKUAT, University of Nairobi, and Moi University (all public) offer MSc in Clinical Haematology and Blood Transfusion or related medical laboratory sciences programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in haematology and blood transfusion. Graduates are eligible for KEMRI research certification and ISBT professional membership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Clinical Haematologist
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 650,000
Conducts clinical haematology work, overseeing blood diagnosis, malignancy diagnosis, transfusion, and managing clinical haematology.
Blood Transfusion Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages blood transfusion services, overseeing blood banking, transfusion safety, quality, and managing blood transfusion.
Laboratory Manager
High demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages haematology laboratory, overseeing testing, quality, staff, equipment, accreditation, and managing laboratory operations.
Quality Assurance Officer
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages quality assurance, overseeing QC, accreditation, ISO standards, audits, and managing quality assurance.
Research Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Conducts haematology research, overseeing research design, experimentation, analysis, publication, and managing scientific research.
Haematology Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches haematology 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

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
SPSS for statistical analysis, covering haematology data, transfusion data, research data, and managing statistical analysis.
FlowJo
Software
FlowJo for flow cytometry analysis, covering immunophenotyping, cell analysis, data visualisation, and managing flow cytometry data.
BLAST
Software
BLAST for sequence analysis, covering molecular diagnostics, genetic testing, and managing molecular data.
GraphPad Prism
Software
GraphPad Prism for scientific graphing and analysis, covering haematology data, statistical analysis, and managing scientific data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Haematology is just about blood tests.
Clinical haematology covers comprehensive blood film interpretation, malignancy diagnosis, coagulation disorders, molecular diagnostics, and transfusion science beyond just blood tests.
Blood transfusion is just about giving blood.
Blood transfusion science covers comprehensive blood banking, grouping, cross-matching, component therapy, transfusion reactions, and blood safety.
This programme is only for medical laboratory scientists.
Haematology skills are valuable for doctors, biomedical scientists, researchers, quality managers, and academics beyond just laboratory scientists.
Haematology has limited career prospects in Kenya.
With growing healthcare demand, cancer diagnostics, blood safety requirements, and laboratory accreditation, demand for haematology professionals is steady in Kenya.
Coagulation is just about blood clotting.
Coagulation covers comprehensive bleeding disorders, thrombosis, anticoagulation monitoring, coagulation factor testing, and thrombophilia.
Laboratory management is just about running tests.
Laboratory management covers comprehensive quality assurance, accreditation, staff management, equipment maintenance, safety, and ISO standards.