Health Sciences

Master of Science in Clinical Tropical Medicine

The Master of Science in Clinical Tropical Medicine is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates in tropical medicine, focusing on diagnosis, treatment, and control of tropical and infectious diseases. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers in tropical medicine practice, research, and public health.

Core areas include medical parasitology, medical entomology, medical microbiology, virology, immunology, molecular biology, pharmacology and therapeutics, clinical microbiology, tropical paediatrics, epidemiology, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical applications across tropical medicine disciplines.

The programme is offered by Zetech University, Great Lakes University of Kisumu, and University of Kabianga, with JKUAT as a college. JKUAT offers the programme through its Institute of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases (ITROMID) in collaboration with KEMRI Graduate School.

Students develop competencies in tropical disease diagnosis, parasitology, entomology, microbiology, molecular diagnostics, epidemiology, public health, and research. The programme includes coursework, laboratory practicals, clinical attachments, examinations, supervised research, and thesis. UoN's related programme offers a comprehensive curriculum covering biological, social, cultural, and environmental factors in infectious disease.

The programme is delivered over two years with full-time study mode. JKUAT's programme is based at KEMRI Graduate School. The programme accepts medical, biomedical, and health-related graduates.

Graduates pursue careers as tropical medicine specialists, biomedical researchers, public health practitioners, parasitologists, and lecturers in hospitals, research institutions, public health agencies, and universities.

Skills Required

Tropical Disease Diagnosis and Management
Medical Parasitology
Medical Entomology
Clinical Microbiology
Molecular Diagnostics for Tropical Diseases
Tropical Disease Epidemiology
Pharmacology of Tropical Diseases
Virology and Viral Infections
Immunology of Tropical Diseases
Tropical Medicine Research Methods

Key Subjects

Medical Parasitology
Medical Entomology
Medical Microbiology
Virology and Prion Infections
Immunology of Tropical Diseases
Molecular Biology
Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Clinical Microbiology
Tropical Paediatrics and Maternal Health
Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Certifications

KMLTTB Professional Certification
ASLM Professional Membership

Specializations

Medical Parasitology

Focuses on medical parasitology, parasite identification, parasitic disease diagnosis, and understanding and managing parasitic infections in tropical settings.

Medical Entomology

Examines medical entomology, vector biology, vector control, and understanding and managing insect vectors of tropical diseases.

Clinical Microbiology

Covers clinical microbiology, bacterial and fungal diagnosis, antimicrobial testing, and diagnosing and managing microbial infections in tropical settings.

Virology and Viral Infections

Focuses on virology, viral disease diagnosis, viral infections of tropical importance, and understanding and managing viral diseases.

Molecular Diagnostics

Examines molecular diagnostics, molecular techniques for tropical disease diagnosis, PCR, and applying molecular biology to tropical disease detection.

Tropical Disease Epidemiology

Covers tropical disease epidemiology, disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and understanding and controlling tropical disease transmission.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 248,000
Private, up to: Ksh 463,200
Job market: High

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

Medical Parasitology
Medical Entomology
Medical Microbiology
Virology and Prion Infections
Immunology of Tropical Diseases
Molecular Biology
Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Clinical Microbiology
Tropical Paediatrics and Maternal Health
Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Modules

12 in the programme

Medical Parasitology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines medical parasitology, parasite identification, life cycles, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of parasitic infections including malaria, schistosomiasis, and filariasis.
Medical Entomology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers medical entomology, vector biology, vector behaviour, vector control methods, and understanding insect vectors of tropical diseases.
Medical Microbiology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines medical microbiology, bacterial and fungal diagnosis, culture techniques, antimicrobial sensitivity, and managing microbial infections in tropical settings.
Virology and Prion Infections
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers virology, viral infections of tropical importance, viral diagnosis, and managing viral diseases including arboviruses and haemorrhagic fevers.
Immunology of Tropical Diseases
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines immunology of tropical diseases, immune responses to parasitic and infectious agents, immunodiagnostics, and understanding host-parasite interactions.
Molecular Biology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers molecular biology, molecular techniques for tropical disease diagnosis, PCR, DNA analysis, and applying molecular biology to tropical disease detection.
Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines pharmacology and therapeutics of tropical diseases, antiparasitic drugs, antimicrobial therapy, drug resistance, and rational drug use for tropical diseases.
Clinical Microbiology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers clinical microbiology, laboratory diagnosis, specimen processing, clinical correlation of laboratory findings, and managing clinical infections.
Tropical Paediatrics and Maternal Health
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines tropical diseases in children, maternal health, managing tropical diseases in vulnerable populations, and paediatric and maternal tropical medicine.
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers tropical disease epidemiology, disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, biostatistics, and understanding and controlling tropical disease transmission.
Tropical and Travel Medicine
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines travel medicine, tropical disease in travellers, pre-travel advice, and managing tropical diseases in mobile populations and travellers.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a clinical tropical medicine topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and tropical medicine knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Medical Parasitology
Focuses on medical parasitology, parasite identification, parasitic disease diagnosis, and understanding and managing parasitic infections in tropical settings.
Medical Entomology
Examines medical entomology, vector biology, vector control, and understanding and managing insect vectors of tropical diseases.
Clinical Microbiology
Covers clinical microbiology, bacterial and fungal diagnosis, antimicrobial testing, and diagnosing and managing microbial infections in tropical settings.
Virology and Viral Infections
Focuses on virology, viral disease diagnosis, viral infections of tropical importance, and understanding and managing viral diseases.
Molecular Diagnostics
Examines molecular diagnostics, molecular techniques for tropical disease diagnosis, PCR, and applying molecular biology to tropical disease detection.
Tropical Disease Epidemiology
Covers tropical disease epidemiology, disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and understanding and controlling tropical disease transmission.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc Clinical Tropical Medicine programme begins with morning lectures on parasitology, entomology, or microbiology. Students engage in theoretical discussions on tropical disease mechanisms, transmission cycles, and control strategies. Medical parasitology sessions cover parasite identification, life cycles, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of parasitic infections including malaria, schistosomiasis, and filariasis. Medical entomology sessions examine vector biology, vector behaviour, vector control methods, and understanding insect vectors of tropical diseases. Medical microbiology sessions cover bacterial and fungal diagnosis, culture techniques, antimicrobial sensitivity, and managing microbial infections in tropical settings. Virology sessions examine viral infections of tropical importance, viral diagnosis, and managing viral diseases including arboviruses and haemorrhagic fevers. Immunology sessions cover immune responses to tropical diseases, immunodiagnostics, and understanding host-parasite interactions. Molecular biology sessions involve molecular techniques for tropical disease diagnosis, PCR, and applying molecular biology to disease detection. Pharmacology sessions cover drug therapy for tropical diseases, antiparasitic drugs, antimicrobial therapy, and drug resistance. Clinical microbiology sessions involve laboratory diagnosis, specimen processing, and clinical correlation of laboratory findings. Tropical paediatrics sessions examine tropical diseases in children, maternal health, and managing tropical diseases in vulnerable populations. Epidemiology sessions cover disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, biostatistics, and understanding and controlling tropical disease transmission. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering tropical medicine research methods, experimental design, and data analysis. JKUAT's programme is based at KEMRI Graduate School providing access to research facilities and field sites. Guest lectures from KEMRI researchers, tropical disease specialists, and WHO consultants provide real-world insights. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

JKUAT offers the programme through ITROMID in collaboration with KEMRI Graduate School, providing access to research facilities and field sites.
Kenya's tropical disease burden, emerging infections, and public health needs create strong demand for qualified tropical medicine professionals.
Programme covers comprehensive tropical medicine areas including parasitology, entomology, microbiology, virology, immunology, and epidemiology.
Strong career opportunities with KEMRI, hospitals, public health agencies, WHO, CDC, NGOs, and international health organisations.

Against it

Programme is full-time only and based at KEMRI Graduate School, which may not accommodate working professionals or students outside Nairobi.
Programme requires health-related degree with microbiology or biomedical science background, which may exclude some graduates.
Limited number of institutions offering the programme may restrict geographic access for prospective students.
Programme requires access to specialised tropical medicine laboratories and field research sites, which may vary across listed universities.

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

Public180k to 248k

180k at University of Kabianga248k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Private120k to 463k

120k at Great Lakes University of Kisumu463k at Aga Khan 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 total/2yr=248k/yr; GLUK 60k/sem=120k/yr. Kabianga~180k PSSP. AKU unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KEMRI supports tropical disease research through its graduate school. WHO provides tropical disease research and control funding. The programme's tropical disease focus attracts significant donor and international health organisation funding including CDC and WHO grants.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KEMRI Research Grants
WHO Tropical Diseases Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate tropical medicine studies at recognised universities.
KEMRI Research Grants
GrantKsh 400,000Kenyan
KEMRI provides research grants for tropical disease research, supporting postgraduate research through its graduate school in collaboration with JKUAT.
WHO Tropical Diseases Funding
GrantKsh 500,000
WHO provides funding for tropical disease research and control, supporting capacity building in tropical medicine in endemic 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 is designed for medical, biomedical, and health-related graduates. Two-year full-time programme at JKUAT ITROMID/KEMRI Graduate School. The programme covers parasitology, entomology, microbiology, virology, immunology, molecular biology, pharmacology, and epidemiology. KEMRI Graduate School collaborates with JKUAT for postgraduate training. Application through KEMRI Graduate School or JKUAT.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, laboratory reports, practical exercises, case studies, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering parasitology, entomology, microbiology, virology, and epidemiology, conducted at end of each semester.
Laboratory and Practical Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Assessment of laboratory and practical skills including parasite identification, culture techniques, molecular diagnostics, and laboratory reports.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a clinical tropical medicine topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and tropical medicine knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). JKUAT offers MSc in Clinical Tropical Medicine through ITROMID in collaboration with KEMRI Graduate School. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate tropical medicine training. KMLTTB regulates medical laboratory practice in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. JKUAT offers MSc in Clinical Tropical Medicine through ITROMID in collaboration with KEMRI Graduate School. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate tropical medicine training.
Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board (KMLTTB)
Professional accreditation
KMLTTB regulates medical laboratory practice in Kenya. Graduates working in laboratory settings may require KMLTTB registration.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Tropical Medicine Specialist
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Diagnoses and manages tropical diseases, provides clinical tropical medicine services, and supports disease control programmes in hospitals and clinical settings.
Biomedical Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Conducts tropical disease research, studying disease mechanisms, developing diagnostic methods, and contributing to tropical medicine knowledge.
Public Health Practitioner
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Develops and implements tropical disease control programmes, conducting surveillance, outbreak investigation, and supporting public health interventions.
Parasitologist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Specialises in parasitic disease diagnosis, research, and management, studying parasites and developing control strategies for parasitic infections.
Vector Control Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Develops and implements vector control programmes, studying vector biology and managing insect vectors of tropical diseases.
University Lecturer
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches tropical medicine and microbiology in universities, conducting research and training future tropical medicine professionals.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as tropical medicine specialists, biomedical researchers, and public health practitioners in hospitals, research institutions, and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Light Microscope
EquipmentPrimary
Light microscope for parasite identification, blood film examination, stool examination, and diagnosing tropical diseases through microscopic methods.
PCR Machine
EquipmentPrimary
PCR machine for molecular diagnosis of tropical diseases, DNA amplification, pathogen detection, and molecular techniques in tropical medicine.
ELISA Reader
Equipment
ELISA microplate reader for serological testing, antibody detection, and immunodiagnostics for tropical diseases.
R Statistical Computing
Software
Open-source statistical computing environment for epidemiological data analysis, disease surveillance data, and tropical medicine research.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Tropical medicine is only about malaria.
Tropical medicine covers parasitic diseases, bacterial infections, viral infections, fungal infections, vector biology, pharmacology, epidemiology, and public health, far beyond malaria alone.
Tropical medicine is only relevant in rural areas.
Tropical diseases affect urban populations through migration, climate change, and changing transmission patterns, making tropical medicine relevant in all settings.
There is limited demand for tropical medicine specialists in Kenya.
Kenya's tropical disease burden, emerging infections, and public health needs create strong demand for qualified tropical medicine professionals.
This programme is only for medical graduates.
The programme accepts graduates from biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science, nursing, public health, and related health fields with appropriate background.
Tropical medicine is becoming less important with modern medicine.
Climate change, drug resistance, emerging infections, and global travel make tropical medicine increasingly important, requiring skilled professionals for disease control and research.
A master's in tropical medicine is redundant after a bachelor's in biomedical science.
The master's provides advanced tropical disease knowledge, research capability, specialised diagnostic skills, and career progression to senior research and public health positions.