Social Sciences

Master of Science in Fish Science

The Master of Science in Fish Science is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in fisheries science, aquaculture, fish biology, and aquatic resource management. The programme combines biological theory with practical field and laboratory work, research, and application.

Core areas include fish biology, aquaculture, fisheries management, fish nutrition, fish health, water quality, aquatic ecology, fish genetics, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, field work, laboratory sessions, and research.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi as MSc in Fish Science through the Faculty of Agriculture, and Kenyatta University as MSc in Fisheries Sciences. Both are public universities offering programmes over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in fish biology, aquaculture systems, fisheries management, fish health, and aquatic ecology. The programme includes coursework, examinations, field work, laboratory sessions, and a supervised research thesis.

University of Nairobi charges approximately KES 365,500/year (KES 731,000 total) for MSc in Fish Science, based on comparable biological sciences programmes. Kenyatta University charges approximately KES 246,000/year for MSc in Fisheries Sciences, based on KU science-based master's fees. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in fisheries, aquaculture, biology, zoology, or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as fisheries scientists, aquaculture managers, fish health specialists, fisheries officers, aquatic ecologists, and lecturers in fish science across government fisheries departments, aquaculture farms, research institutions, NGOs, and universities.

Skills Required

Fish Biology and Physiology
Aquaculture Systems and Management
Fisheries Management and Conservation
Fish Nutrition and Feed Technology
Fish Health and Disease Management
Water Quality and Aquatic Ecology
Fish Genetics and Breeding
Fisheries Data Analysis and Assessment
Research Methods in Fisheries Science
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Fish Biology and Physiology
Aquaculture Systems and Management
Fisheries Management and Conservation
Fish Nutrition and Feed Technology
Fish Health and Disease Management
Water Quality and Aquatic Ecology
Fish Genetics and Breeding
Fisheries Data Analysis and Assessment
Research Methods in Fisheries Science
Thesis Research

Certifications

KMFRI Research Certification
WorldFish Aquaculture Certification

Specializations

Aquaculture

Focuses on aquaculture, covering systems, production, hatchery, pond, cage, and managing aquaculture operations.

Fisheries Management

Examines fisheries management, covering stocks, assessment, policy, conservation, and managing fisheries.

Fish Health

Covers fish health, covering diseases, diagnostics, treatment, prevention, and managing fish health.

Fish Nutrition

Focuses on fish nutrition, covering feed, formulation, digestion, requirements, and managing fish nutrition.

Aquatic Ecology

Examines aquatic ecology, covering ecosystems, biodiversity, pollution, habitats, and managing aquatic ecology.

Fish Genetics

Covers fish genetics, covering breeding, selection, biotechnology, conservation, and managing fish genetics.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 365,500
Job market: Moderate

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

Fish Biology and Physiology
Aquaculture Systems and Management
Fisheries Management and Conservation
Fish Nutrition and Feed Technology
Fish Health and Disease Management
Water Quality and Aquatic Ecology
Fish Genetics and Breeding
Fisheries Data Analysis and Assessment
Research Methods in Fisheries Science
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Fish Biology and Physiology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines anatomy, physiology, taxonomy, reproduction, growth, and managing fish biology.
Aquaculture Systems and Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers systems, production, hatchery, pond, cage, recirculating, and managing aquaculture.
Research Methods in Fisheries Science
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, fisheries research methods, and conducting research, preparing students for their thesis.
Fisheries Management and Conservation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines stocks, assessment, policy, conservation, economics, and managing fisheries.
Fish Nutrition and Feed Technology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers feed, formulation, digestion, requirements, ingredients, and managing fish nutrition.
Fish Health and Disease Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines diseases, diagnostics, treatment, prevention, immunology, and managing fish health.
Water Quality and Aquatic Ecology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers parameters, monitoring, management, ecosystems, biodiversity, and managing water quality and aquatic ecology.
Fish Genetics and Breeding
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines breeding, selection, biotechnology, conservation, population genetics, and managing fish genetics.
Fisheries Data Analysis and Stock Assessment
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers data, analysis, models, assessment, population dynamics, and managing fisheries data.
Aquaculture Economics and Business Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines economics, business, marketing, investment, feasibility, and managing aquaculture business.
Aquatic Pollution and Environmental Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers pollution, contaminants, impact, monitoring, remediation, and managing aquatic environment.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a fisheries science topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and fisheries knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Aquaculture
Focuses on aquaculture, covering systems, production, hatchery, pond, cage, and managing aquaculture operations.
Fisheries Management
Examines fisheries management, covering stocks, assessment, policy, conservation, and managing fisheries.
Fish Health
Covers fish health, covering diseases, diagnostics, treatment, prevention, and managing fish health.
Fish Nutrition
Focuses on fish nutrition, covering feed, formulation, digestion, requirements, and managing fish nutrition.
Aquatic Ecology
Examines aquatic ecology, covering ecosystems, biodiversity, pollution, habitats, and managing aquatic ecology.
Fish Genetics
Covers fish genetics, covering breeding, selection, biotechnology, conservation, and managing fish genetics.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Fish Science programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, field work, practical workshops, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover fish biology, aquaculture, fisheries management, fish nutrition, and fish health. Fish biology sessions examine anatomy, physiology, taxonomy, reproduction, and managing fish biology. Aquaculture sessions cover systems, production, hatchery, pond, cage, and managing aquaculture. Fisheries management sessions cover stocks, assessment, policy, conservation, and managing fisheries. Fish nutrition sessions cover feed, formulation, digestion, requirements, and managing fish nutrition. Fish health sessions cover diseases, diagnostics, treatment, prevention, and managing fish health. Water quality sessions cover parameters, monitoring, management, treatment, and managing water quality. Aquatic ecology sessions cover ecosystems, biodiversity, pollution, habitats, and managing aquatic ecology. Fish genetics sessions cover breeding, selection, biotechnology, conservation, and managing fish genetics. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with fish anatomy, histology, microbiology, and water quality analysis. Field work provides hands-on experience with fish sampling, habitat assessment, aquaculture operations, and fisheries surveys. Practical workshops provide hands-on experience with fish handling, feed formulation, disease diagnosis, and analytical tools. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in fisheries science and presenting research findings. Guest lectures from experienced fisheries scientists, aquaculture managers, and researchers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a fisheries science topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Growing demand for fisheries professionals with Kenya's Blue Economy strategy and expanding aquaculture sector.
Programme offered by two major public universities (UoN, KU), providing institutional choice.
KU offers competitive fees at approximately KES 246,000/year for MSc in Fisheries Sciences.
Graduates are eligible for KMFRI and WorldFish certifications, enhancing career prospects.

Against it

UoN charges relatively high fees at approximately KES 365,500/year (KES 731,000 total).
Specific Fish Science fees not independently verified from either university's programme page.
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Career opportunities may be limited compared to more mainstream science programmes.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses

Public296k to 366k

296k at Kenyatta University366k at University of Nairobi

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 MSc BioSci 731K/2yr~365K/yr. KU Fisheries 295.8K/yr. Private: unverified. Src: kenyaeducationguide

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KMFRI may offer research grants for fisheries research. WorldFish may offer fellowships for aquaculture research. Some government fisheries departments may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KMFRI Research Grant
WorldFish Fellowship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
KMFRI Research Grant
ScholarshipKsh 500,000Kenyan
KMFRI provides research grants for marine and fisheries research.
WorldFish Fellowship
ScholarshipKsh 500,000
WorldFish provides fellowships for fisheries and aquaculture research.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: UoN requires Upper Second in relevant discipline from UoN or equivalent from recognised institution, or lower qualifications with publications and postgraduate diplomas. KU requires relevant Bachelor's degree with Upper Second or Lower Second with grade C and above in relevant units. 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, field reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering fish biology, aquaculture, fisheries management, and fish health.
Practical and Field Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory work, field investigations, fish handling, water quality analysis, and demonstrating fisheries skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a fisheries science topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and fisheries knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University (both public) offer MSc programmes in fish science and fisheries sciences. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in fisheries science. Graduates are eligible for KMFRI research certification and WorldFish aquaculture certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University (both public) offer MSc programmes in fish science and fisheries sciences. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in fisheries science. Graduates are eligible for KMFRI research certification and WorldFish aquaculture certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Fisheries Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Conducts fisheries research, overseeing experiments, analysis, publications, and managing research projects.
Aquaculture Manager
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages aquaculture operations, overseeing production, health, quality, and managing aquaculture farms.
Fish Health Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages fish health, overseeing diseases, diagnostics, treatment, prevention, and managing fish health.
Fisheries Officer
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages fisheries resources, overseeing enforcement, policy, conservation, and managing fisheries.
Aquatic Ecologist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Studies aquatic ecosystems, overseeing biodiversity, pollution, habitats, and managing aquatic ecology.
Fish Science Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaches fisheries science at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

R Studio
SoftwarePrimary
R Studio for fisheries data analysis, covering stock assessment, population dynamics, statistics, and managing fisheries data.
ArcGIS
Software
ArcGIS for spatial analysis, covering habitat mapping, distribution, monitoring, and managing spatial fisheries data.
Water Quality Meter
Equipment
Water quality meter for aquatic monitoring, covering pH, DO, temperature, conductivity, and managing water quality.
Microscope
Equipment
Microscope for fish health diagnostics, covering histology, parasitology, microbiology, and managing fish health.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Fish science is just about catching fish.
Fish science covers comprehensive biology, aquaculture, ecology, health, genetics, and management beyond just catching fish.
Aquaculture is just about fish farming.
Aquaculture covers comprehensive systems, hatchery, nutrition, health, genetics, and production management.
Fisheries management is just about quotas.
Fisheries management covers comprehensive stock assessment, policy, conservation, economics, and sustainable management.
Fish health is just about diseases.
Fish health covers comprehensive diagnostics, treatment, prevention, immunology, and health management.
Fish nutrition is just about feeding.
Fish nutrition covers comprehensive feed formulation, digestion, requirements, ingredients, and feed technology.
Aquatic ecology is just about water.
Aquatic ecology covers comprehensive ecosystems, biodiversity, pollution, habitats, and environmental management.