Health Sciences

Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition or Public Health Nutrition or Sports Nutrition

The Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition and Sports Nutrition is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates in nutrition science across clinical, public health, and sports contexts. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers in nutrition practice, research, and policy.

Core areas include clinical nutrition, public health nutrition, sports nutrition, nutritional assessment, diet therapy, community nutrition, nutritional epidemiology, food science, metabolic nutrition, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical applications across nutrition disciplines.

The programme is offered by Zetech University, Great Lakes University of Kisumu, and University of Kabianga, with Moi University as a college. Moi University offers the programme through its School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences at Eldoret Main Campus.

Students develop competencies in nutritional assessment, diet planning, community nutrition interventions, sports nutrition strategies, nutritional research, and policy development. The programme includes coursework, examinations, supervised research, and thesis. Moi's programme offers three specialisation tracks within one programme.

The programme is delivered over two years. The programme accommodates nutrition, dietetics, food science, and health-related graduates. Moi University also offers PhD programmes in Clinical Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition, and Sports Nutrition.

Graduates pursue careers as clinical nutritionists, public health nutritionists, sports nutritionists, researchers, consultants, and lecturers in hospitals, public health agencies, sports organisations, research institutions, and universities.

Skills Required

Clinical Nutrition and Diet Therapy
Public Health Nutrition Programming
Sports Nutrition and Performance
Nutritional Assessment Methods
Nutritional Epidemiology
Community Nutrition Interventions
Metabolic Nutrition
Food Science and Safety
Nutrition Policy Development
Nutrition Research Methods

Key Subjects

Clinical Nutrition and Diet Therapy
Public Health Nutrition
Sports Nutrition
Nutritional Assessment
Nutritional Epidemiology
Community Nutrition
Metabolic Nutrition
Food Science and Safety
Nutrition Policy
Nutrition Research Methods

Certifications

KNDI Professional Certification
IUNS Professional Membership

Specializations

Clinical Nutrition

Focuses on clinical nutrition, diet therapy, medical nutrition therapy, nutritional management of diseases, and applying nutrition in clinical and hospital settings.

Public Health Nutrition

Examines public health nutrition, community nutrition, nutritional epidemiology, nutrition policy, and addressing population-level nutrition challenges.

Sports Nutrition

Covers sports nutrition, athletic performance nutrition, exercise metabolism, nutritional strategies for athletes, and applying nutrition in sports and exercise contexts.

Nutritional Epidemiology

Focuses on nutritional epidemiology, studying diet-disease relationships, population nutrition surveys, and using epidemiological methods in nutrition research.

Community Nutrition

Examines community nutrition, nutrition education, community-based nutrition interventions, and addressing nutrition challenges in communities.

Metabolic Nutrition

Covers metabolic nutrition, nutrient metabolism, metabolic disorders, and understanding nutrient metabolism in health and disease.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 326,400
Private, up to: Ksh 120,000
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: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Clinical Nutrition and Diet Therapy
Public Health Nutrition
Sports Nutrition
Nutritional Assessment
Nutritional Epidemiology
Community Nutrition
Metabolic Nutrition
Food Science and Safety
Nutrition Policy
Nutrition Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Nutrition Science
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines advanced nutrition science, macronutrient and micronutrient metabolism, nutrient requirements, and understanding nutrition at advanced level.
Clinical Nutrition and Diet Therapy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers clinical nutrition, medical nutrition therapy, diet planning for disease management, nutritional support, and applying nutrition in clinical settings.
Public Health Nutrition
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines public health nutrition, community nutrition, nutrition programmes, nutrition policy, and addressing population-level nutrition challenges.
Sports Nutrition
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers sports nutrition, athletic performance nutrition, exercise metabolism, nutritional strategies for athletes, and applying nutrition in sports and exercise.
Nutritional Assessment
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines nutritional assessment methods, anthropometric measurements, biochemical assessment, clinical assessment, and dietary assessment techniques.
Nutritional Epidemiology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers nutritional epidemiology, studying diet-disease relationships, population nutrition surveys, and using epidemiological methods in nutrition research.
Community Nutrition Interventions
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines community nutrition, nutrition education, community-based nutrition interventions, and addressing nutrition challenges in communities.
Metabolic Nutrition
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers metabolic nutrition, nutrient metabolism, metabolic disorders, and understanding nutrient metabolism in health and disease.
Food Science and Safety
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines food science, food safety, food processing, food fortification, and ensuring food quality and safety for nutrition.
Nutrition Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods for nutrition, experimental design, data analysis, and conducting nutrition research, preparing students for their thesis.
Nutrition Policy and Programmes
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines nutrition policy, nutrition programmes, programme evaluation, and developing and implementing nutrition policies and interventions.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a nutrition topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and nutrition knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Clinical Nutrition
Focuses on clinical nutrition, diet therapy, medical nutrition therapy, nutritional management of diseases, and applying nutrition in clinical and hospital settings.
Public Health Nutrition
Examines public health nutrition, community nutrition, nutritional epidemiology, nutrition policy, and addressing population-level nutrition challenges.
Sports Nutrition
Covers sports nutrition, athletic performance nutrition, exercise metabolism, nutritional strategies for athletes, and applying nutrition in sports and exercise contexts.
Nutritional Epidemiology
Focuses on nutritional epidemiology, studying diet-disease relationships, population nutrition surveys, and using epidemiological methods in nutrition research.
Community Nutrition
Examines community nutrition, nutrition education, community-based nutrition interventions, and addressing nutrition challenges in communities.
Metabolic Nutrition
Covers metabolic nutrition, nutrient metabolism, metabolic disorders, and understanding nutrient metabolism in health and disease.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc Clinical Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition and Sports Nutrition programme begins with morning lectures on nutrition science, diet therapy, or nutritional epidemiology. Students engage in theoretical discussions on nutrient metabolism, diet-disease relationships, and nutrition interventions. Clinical nutrition sessions cover medical nutrition therapy, diet planning for disease management, nutritional support, and applying nutrition in clinical settings. Public health nutrition sessions examine community nutrition, nutrition programmes, nutrition policy, and addressing population-level nutrition challenges including malnutrition and obesity. Sports nutrition sessions cover athletic performance nutrition, exercise metabolism, nutritional strategies for athletes, hydration, and supplement use in sports. Nutritional assessment sessions involve anthropometric measurements, biochemical assessment, clinical assessment, and dietary assessment methods. Nutritional epidemiology sessions examine studying diet-disease relationships, population nutrition surveys, and using epidemiological methods in nutrition research. Community nutrition sessions involve nutrition education, community-based interventions, and addressing nutrition challenges in communities. Food science sessions cover food safety, food processing, food fortification, and ensuring food quality and safety. Metabolic nutrition sessions examine nutrient metabolism, metabolic disorders, and understanding nutrient metabolism in health and disease. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering nutrition research methods, experimental design, and data analysis. Guest lectures from hospital dieticians, public health nutritionists, sports nutritionists, and FAO/WHO consultants provide real-world insights. Moi University's programme at Eldoret offers access to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital for clinical exposure. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme offers three specialisation tracks — clinical, public health, and sports nutrition — providing diverse career options within one programme.
Kenya's double burden of malnutrition and growing health and sports sectors create strong demand for qualified nutrition professionals.
Moi University offers the programme through its established School of Public Health with access to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Strong career opportunities with hospitals, public health agencies, sports organisations, NGOs, FAO, WHO, and academia.

Against it

Specific fee structures could not be independently verified from official websites for all institutions.
Programme requires background in nutrition, dietetics, food science, or health-related field, which may exclude some graduates.
Combining three tracks in one programme may limit depth of specialisation compared to dedicated programmes.
Limited number of institutions offering the programme may restrict geographic access for prospective students.

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

Public163k to 326k

163k at University of Eldoret326k at Kenyatta University

Private120k to 120k

120k at Great Lakes University of Kisumu120k at Great Lakes University of Kisumu

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

KU 326.4K/yr (ku.ac.ke). UoEldoret 162.6K/yr. GLUK 60K/sem=120K/yr. Src: ku.ac.ke, uoeld.ac.ke

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. WHO provides nutrition grants for capacity building. FAO supports nutrition programmes and training. The programme's nutrition and health focus attracts significant donor and international organisation funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
WHO Nutrition Grants
FAO Nutrition Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate nutrition studies at recognised universities.
WHO Nutrition Grants
GrantKsh 400,000
WHO provides nutrition grants for capacity building, supporting postgraduate training in nutrition and public health nutrition in developing countries.
FAO Nutrition Funding
GrantKsh 400,000
FAO supports nutrition programmes and capacity building, providing funding for nutrition training and research in food security and nutrition.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme is designed for nutrition, dietetics, food science, and health-related graduates. Two-year programme at Moi University School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Eldoret. The programme offers three specialisation tracks: Clinical Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition, and Sports Nutrition. Moi University also offers PhD programmes in each track. Application fee KES 2,000 at Moi University.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case studies, dietary analysis projects, community nutrition assessments, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering nutrition science, clinical nutrition, public health nutrition, and sports nutrition, conducted at end of each semester.
Practical and Field Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Assessment of practical skills including nutritional assessment, dietary analysis, community nutrition field work, and practical reports.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a nutrition topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and nutrition knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Moi University offers MSc in Clinical Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition and Sports Nutrition through its School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate nutrition training. KNDI regulates nutrition and dietetics practice in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Moi University offers MSc in Clinical Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition and Sports Nutrition through its School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate nutrition training.
Kenya Nutritionists and Dieticians Institute (KNDI)
Professional accreditation
KNDI regulates nutrition and dietetics practice in Kenya. Graduates working as nutritionists or dieticians may require KNDI professional certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Clinical Nutritionist
High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Provides medical nutrition therapy, developing diet plans for disease management, and supporting patient care in hospitals and clinical settings.
Public Health Nutritionist
High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Develops and implements community nutrition programmes, addressing population-level nutrition challenges, and supporting nutrition policy in public health agencies.
Sports Nutritionist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Develops nutritional strategies for athletes, advising on performance nutrition, hydration, and supplement use in sports organisations and fitness centres.
Nutrition Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Conducts nutrition research, studying diet-disease relationships, evaluating nutrition interventions, and contributing to nutrition science knowledge.
Nutrition Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 550,000
Consults on nutrition programmes, providing expert advice to organisations, NGOs, and government agencies on nutrition policy and interventions.
University Lecturer
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches nutrition and dietetics in universities, conducting research and training future nutrition professionals.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as clinical nutritionists, public health nutritionists, and sports nutritionists in hospitals, public health agencies, sports organisations, and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Nutritional Assessment Software
SoftwarePrimary
Software for nutritional assessment, dietary analysis, anthropometric calculations, and evaluating nutritional status of individuals and populations.
SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for nutrition research data analysis, epidemiological analysis, and statistical modelling in nutrition studies.
Food Composition Database
Software
Food composition database providing nutrient information for foods, supporting dietary analysis and nutritional assessment.
R Statistical Computing
Software
Open-source statistical computing environment for nutrition data analysis, epidemiological modelling, and research data analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Nutrition is just about eating a balanced diet.
Nutrition science involves clinical diet therapy, metabolic nutrition, epidemiology, sports performance, policy development, and research, far beyond basic dietary advice.
Sports nutrition is only for professional athletes.
Sports nutrition applies to recreational athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and active individuals, covering hydration, energy balance, and nutritional strategies for various activity levels.
There is limited demand for nutritionists in Kenya.
Kenya's double burden of malnutrition — undernutrition and obesity — alongside growing sports and health sectors creates strong demand for qualified nutrition professionals.
This programme is only for nutrition graduates.
The programme accepts graduates from food science, dietetics, nursing, public health, medicine, and related health sciences with appropriate background.
Public health nutrition is less important than clinical nutrition.
Public health nutrition addresses population-level nutrition challenges, preventing disease through nutrition policy and programmes, complementing clinical nutrition's individual focus.
A master's in nutrition is redundant after a bachelor's in nutrition or dietetics.
The master's provides advanced research skills, specialised knowledge across three tracks, and career progression to senior nutrition, research, and academic positions.