Health Sciences

Master of Science in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics

The Master of Science in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates in clinical pharmacology, focusing on drug therapy, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic drug monitoring. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers in pharmacology practice, research, and drug safety.

Core areas include clinical pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic drug monitoring, pharmacovigilance, toxicology, drug development, rational drug use, clinical trials, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical applications across pharmacology disciplines.

The programme is offered by 60 universities across Kenya, including University of Nairobi, Moi University, JKUAT, USIU-Africa, Kenyatta University, Egerton University, and many others. USIU-Africa offers a specialised programme with coursework, clinical attachments, and research thesis.

Students develop competencies in pharmacological research, therapeutic drug monitoring, pharmacovigilance, toxicity assessment, bioequivalence studies, drug target identification, and rational drug use. The programme includes coursework, clinical attachments, examinations, supervised research, and thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years with full-time and part-time study modes. The programme accepts pharmacy, medicine, veterinary medicine, dental surgery, nursing, and clinical medicine graduates. USIU-Africa requires minimum GPA of 2.5 in a health-related degree.

Graduates pursue careers as clinical pharmacologists, research scientists, toxicologists, pharmacovigilance officers, regulatory affairs professionals, and lecturers in hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, regulatory agencies, research institutions, and universities.

Skills Required

Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety
Toxicology and Toxicity Assessment
Drug Development and Regulation
Clinical Trials Design and Management
Bioequivalence Studies
Rational Drug Use
Pharmacology Research Methods

Key Subjects

Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety
Toxicology and Toxicity Assessment
Drug Development and Regulation
Clinical Trials Design
Bioequivalence Studies
Rational Drug Use
Pharmacology Research Methods

Certifications

PPB Professional Registration
IUPHAR Professional Membership

Specializations

Clinical Pharmacology

Focuses on clinical pharmacology, drug therapy, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and applying pharmacology in clinical settings for optimal therapeutic outcomes.

Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety

Examines pharmacovigilance, adverse drug reaction monitoring, drug safety surveillance, and ensuring medication safety in healthcare settings.

Toxicology

Covers toxicology, toxicity assessment, poison management, forensic toxicology, and assessing and managing drug and chemical toxicity.

Drug Development and Regulation

Focuses on drug development, clinical trials, drug regulation, bioequivalence studies, and navigating regulatory frameworks for drug approval.

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring

Examines therapeutic drug monitoring, individualising drug therapy, optimising dosing, and monitoring drug levels for therapeutic effectiveness.

Clinical Trials and Research

Covers clinical trials design, conduct, and management, research methodology, and conducting pharmacology research and clinical drug studies.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 398,500
Private, up to: Ksh 149,100
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: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety
Toxicology and Toxicity Assessment
Drug Development and Regulation
Clinical Trials Design
Bioequivalence Studies
Rational Drug Use
Pharmacology Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Clinical Pharmacology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines advanced clinical pharmacology, drug therapy, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and applying pharmacology in clinical settings for optimal therapeutic outcomes.
Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and understanding drug behaviour in the body.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines therapeutic drug monitoring, individualising drug therapy, optimising dosing, and monitoring drug levels for therapeutic effectiveness.
Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers pharmacovigilance, adverse drug reaction monitoring, drug safety surveillance, reporting systems, and ensuring medication safety.
Toxicology and Toxicity Assessment
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines toxicology, toxicity assessment, poison management, forensic toxicology, and assessing drug and chemical toxicity.
Drug Development and Regulation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers drug development, drug discovery, preclinical testing, drug regulation, and navigating regulatory frameworks for drug approval.
Clinical Trials Design and Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines clinical trials design, protocol development, ethics, data management, and conducting clinical drug studies.
Bioequivalence Studies
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers bioequivalence study design, generic drug evaluation, therapeutic equivalence testing, and ensuring generic drug quality.
Rational Drug Use
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines rational drug use, evidence-based prescribing, drug selection, and promoting appropriate medication use in healthcare.
Pharmacology Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods for pharmacology, experimental design, data analysis, and conducting pharmacology research, preparing students for their thesis.
Clinical Pharmacology Attachments
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Clinical attachments providing hands-on experience in therapeutic drug monitoring, pharmacovigilance, and clinical pharmacology services in hospital and clinical settings.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a clinical pharmacology and therapeutics topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and pharmacology knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Clinical Pharmacology
Focuses on clinical pharmacology, drug therapy, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and applying pharmacology in clinical settings for optimal therapeutic outcomes.
Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety
Examines pharmacovigilance, adverse drug reaction monitoring, drug safety surveillance, and ensuring medication safety in healthcare settings.
Toxicology
Covers toxicology, toxicity assessment, poison management, forensic toxicology, and assessing and managing drug and chemical toxicity.
Drug Development and Regulation
Focuses on drug development, clinical trials, drug regulation, bioequivalence studies, and navigating regulatory frameworks for drug approval.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Examines therapeutic drug monitoring, individualising drug therapy, optimising dosing, and monitoring drug levels for therapeutic effectiveness.
Clinical Trials and Research
Covers clinical trials design, conduct, and management, research methodology, and conducting pharmacology research and clinical drug studies.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics programme begins with morning lectures on pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, or pharmacokinetics. Students engage in theoretical discussions on drug mechanisms, therapeutic effects, adverse reactions, and rational drug use. Clinical pharmacology sessions cover drug therapy, therapeutic drug monitoring, individualising drug therapy, and optimising dosing for therapeutic outcomes. Pharmacokinetics sessions examine drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, and understanding drug behaviour in the body. Pharmacovigilance sessions cover adverse drug reaction monitoring, drug safety surveillance, reporting systems, and ensuring medication safety. Toxicology sessions involve toxicity assessment, poison management, forensic toxicology, and assessing drug and chemical toxicity. Drug development sessions cover drug discovery, preclinical testing, clinical trials, drug regulation, and navigating regulatory frameworks. Clinical trials sessions examine trial design, protocol development, ethics, data management, and conducting clinical drug studies. Bioequivalence sessions cover bioequivalence study design, generic drug evaluation, and ensuring therapeutic equivalence. Rational drug use sessions examine evidence-based prescribing, drug selection, and promoting appropriate medication use. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering pharmacology research methods, experimental design, and data analysis. USIU-Africa's programme includes clinical attachments providing hands-on experience in therapeutic drug monitoring, pharmacovigilance, and clinical pharmacology services. Guest lectures from pharmacologists, pharmaceutical industry professionals, PPB regulators, and KEMRI researchers provide real-world insights. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme is offered by 60 universities across Kenya, providing wide geographic access and diverse institutional choices.
Kenya's growing pharmaceutical sector, drug regulation needs, and pharmacovigilance requirements create strong demand for qualified clinical pharmacology professionals.
USIU-Africa offers a specialised programme with clinical attachments and research thesis, providing practical experience.
Programme accepts graduates from pharmacy, medicine, veterinary medicine, dental surgery, nursing, and clinical medicine, providing diverse entry pathways.

Against it

UoN's programme fees are relatively high at approximately KES 797,000 total including all charges.
USIU-Africa's programme fees are significantly higher than public universities, estimated at KES 600,000/year.
Programme requires a health-related degree with pharmacology background, which may exclude some graduates.
Quality and resources may vary significantly across 60 offering institutions, particularly laboratory and clinical attachment facilities.

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

Public151k to 399k

151k at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology399k at University of Nairobi

Private149k to 149k

149k at Mount Kenya University149k 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

UoN 797K/2=398.5K/yr. MMUST 301.5K/2=150.75K/yr. MKU MPH 149.1K/yr. USIU unverified. Src: uonbi.ac.ke

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KEMRI supports pharmacology and clinical trials research. WHO provides medicines and pharmacology capacity building funding. The programme's drug safety and development focus attracts pharmaceutical industry and international organisation funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KEMRI Research Grants
WHO Medicines Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate clinical pharmacology studies at recognised universities.
KEMRI Research Grants
GrantKsh 400,000Kenyan
KEMRI provides research grants for pharmacology research, clinical trials, and drug safety studies, supporting postgraduate research.
WHO Medicines Funding
GrantKsh 500,000
WHO provides funding for medicines and pharmacology capacity building, supporting rational drug use and pharmacovigilance training in developing countries.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme accepts pharmacy, medicine, veterinary medicine, dental surgery, nursing, clinical medicine, and biomedical science graduates. Two-year programme with full-time and part-time options. USIU-Africa requires minimum GPA of 2.5 and offers intakes in May (Summer) and September (Fall). UoN requires PPB registration and at least one year of work experience for some programmes. Application fee KES 3,000 at UoN.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case studies, pharmacology practical reports, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering clinical pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacovigilance, toxicology, and drug development, conducted at end of each semester.
Clinical Attachment Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Assessment of clinical attachment performance including therapeutic drug monitoring, pharmacovigilance activities, clinical pharmacology services, and practical reports.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a clinical pharmacology and therapeutics topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and pharmacology knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered by 60 universities across Kenya including UoN, Moi University, JKUAT, and USIU-Africa. USIU-Africa offers a specialised programme with clinical attachments and research thesis. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate clinical pharmacology training. PPB regulates pharmacy and pharmacology practice in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Offered by 60 universities across Kenya including UoN, Moi University, JKUAT, and USIU-Africa. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate clinical pharmacology training.
Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Kenya (PPB)
Professional accreditation
PPB regulates pharmacy practice and drug regulation in Kenya. Graduates working as pharmacologists or in pharmacy-related roles may require PPB registration.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Clinical Pharmacologist
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Provides clinical pharmacology services, therapeutic drug monitoring, pharmacovigilance, and expert consultancy on appropriate drug use in hospitals and clinical settings.
Research Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 550,000
Conducts pharmacology research, designing and conducting pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic studies, and contributing to drug development.
Toxicologist
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 550,000
Performs toxicity assessments of chemicals and drugs, conducts toxicology research, and provides forensic toxicology expertise.
Pharmacovigilance Officer
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Monitors drug safety, manages adverse drug reaction reports, conducts pharmacovigilance activities, and ensures medication safety in regulatory agencies and pharmaceutical companies.
Regulatory Affairs Professional
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 550,000
Navigates regulatory frameworks for drug approval, prepares regulatory submissions, and ensures compliance with drug regulations in pharmaceutical companies.
University Lecturer
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches pharmacology and therapeutics in universities, conducting research and training future pharmacology professionals.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as clinical pharmacologists, research scientists, toxicologists, and pharmacovigilance officers in pharmaceutical companies, regulatory agencies, hospitals, and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

HPLC System
EquipmentPrimary
High-performance liquid chromatography system for drug analysis, therapeutic drug monitoring, bioequivalence studies, and pharmacokinetic analysis.
Mass Spectrometer
EquipmentPrimary
Mass spectrometer for drug identification, quantitative analysis, toxicology screening, and pharmacokinetic studies.
SPSS
Software
Statistical software for pharmacology research data analysis, clinical trial statistics, and pharmacokinetic modelling.
R Statistical Computing
Software
Open-source statistical computing environment for pharmacology data analysis, pharmacokinetic modelling, and research data analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Clinical pharmacology is just about dispensing drugs.
Clinical pharmacology involves drug therapy optimisation, pharmacokinetic analysis, therapeutic drug monitoring, pharmacovigilance, toxicology, and research, far beyond drug dispensing.
Pharmacology graduates can only work in pharmacies.
Graduates work in pharmaceutical companies, regulatory agencies, research institutions, hospitals, clinical trial organisations, and academia, not just pharmacies.
There is limited demand for clinical pharmacologists in Kenya.
Kenya's growing pharmaceutical sector, drug regulation needs, and pharmacovigilance requirements create strong demand for qualified clinical pharmacology professionals.
This programme is only for pharmacy graduates.
The programme accepts graduates from medicine, veterinary medicine, dental surgery, nursing, clinical medicine, and biomedical sciences with pharmacology background.
Clinical pharmacology is being replaced by automated drug interaction systems.
While systems assist checking, clinical pharmacologists are needed for complex therapeutic decisions, research, drug development, pharmacovigilance, and regulatory affairs.
A master's in clinical pharmacology is redundant after a pharmacy degree.
The master's provides advanced pharmacology knowledge, research capability, specialised clinical skills, and career progression to senior pharmacology, research, and regulatory positions.