Health Sciences

Master of Science in Infectious Diseases

The Master of Science in Infectious Diseases is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates in infectious disease biology, epidemiology, diagnostics, and vaccinology. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers in infectious disease research, diagnostic laboratories, public health, and vaccine development.

Core areas include infectious disease biology, medical microbiology, epidemiology, disease diagnostics, vaccinology, immunology, molecular biology of pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, tropical diseases, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical infectious disease science applications.

The programme is offered by Kirinyaga University, Strathmore University, and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, with Kenyatta University as a college. KU offers infectious disease programmes through its School of Health Sciences. JKUAT offers related MSc in Infectious Disease and Vaccinology and MSc in Infectious Biology.

Students develop competencies in infectious disease analysis, pathogen identification, diagnostic methods, epidemiological investigation, vaccine science, and research. The programme includes coursework, laboratory practicals, field work, examinations, supervised research, and thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years with full-time study mode. JKUAT requires Second Class Upper or Lower with research evidence. JKUAT fees are KES 357,000 total (~KES 178,500/year) for related infectious disease programmes. KU offers through its School of Health Sciences and City Centre Campus.

Graduates pursue careers as infectious disease scientists, diagnostic microbiologists, epidemiologists, vaccine researchers, public health specialists, and lecturers in hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, research institutions, public health agencies, and universities.

Skills Required

Infectious Disease Biology and Pathogenesis
Medical Microbiology and Virology
Infectious Disease Diagnostics and Laboratory Methods
Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance
Vaccinology and Vaccine Development
Immunology and Host-Pathogen Interactions
Molecular Biology of Pathogens
Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship
Tropical and Neglected Tropical Diseases
Infectious Disease Research Methods

Key Subjects

Infectious Disease Biology
Medical Microbiology
Epidemiology
Disease Diagnostics
Vaccinology
Immunology
Molecular Biology of Pathogens
Antimicrobial Resistance
Tropical Diseases
Infectious Disease Research Methods

Certifications

KEMRI Research Certification
WHO Infectious Disease Training Certification

Specializations

Infectious Disease Biology

Focuses on infectious disease biology, pathogen biology, pathogenesis, host-pathogen interactions, and understanding the biology of infectious organisms.

Disease Diagnostics

Examines infectious disease diagnostics, diagnostic methods, molecular diagnostics, serological diagnostics, and designing and applying diagnostic tests for infectious diseases.

Vaccinology

Covers vaccinology, vaccine development, vaccine immunology, vaccine production, vaccine evaluation, and understanding and developing vaccines for infectious diseases.

Epidemiology and Surveillance

Focuses on infectious disease epidemiology, disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, disease modelling, and understanding and managing infectious disease outbreaks.

Antimicrobial Resistance

Examines antimicrobial resistance, resistance mechanisms, resistance surveillance, stewardship, and understanding and managing antimicrobial resistance.

Tropical Diseases

Covers tropical and neglected tropical diseases, malaria, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, and understanding and managing tropical infectious diseases.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 436,000
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

Infectious Disease Biology
Medical Microbiology
Epidemiology
Disease Diagnostics
Vaccinology
Immunology
Molecular Biology of Pathogens
Antimicrobial Resistance
Tropical Diseases
Infectious Disease Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Infectious Disease Biology and Pathogenesis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines infectious disease biology, pathogen biology, pathogenesis, host-pathogen interactions, virulence factors, and understanding the biology of infectious organisms.
Medical Microbiology and Virology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers medical microbiology, bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, microbial identification, antimicrobial susceptibility, and understanding and identifying pathogens.
Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines infectious disease epidemiology, disease transmission, outbreak investigation, disease surveillance, epidemic modelling, and understanding and managing disease outbreaks.
Infectious Disease Diagnostics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers diagnostic methods, molecular diagnostics, PCR, serological diagnostics, antigen detection, culture methods, and designing and applying diagnostic tests for infectious diseases.
Vaccinology and Vaccine Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines vaccinology, vaccine development, vaccine types, vaccine immunology, vaccine production, vaccine evaluation, immunisation programmes, and understanding and developing vaccines.
Immunology and Host-Pathogen Interactions
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers host immunity, immune response to infection, innate immunity, adaptive immunity, immunopathology, and understanding host defence against pathogens.
Molecular Biology of Pathogens
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines pathogen genomics, molecular epidemiology, molecular typing, gene expression, molecular pathogenesis, and applying molecular biology to infectious diseases.
Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers antimicrobial resistance, resistance mechanisms, resistance genes, resistance surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, and understanding and managing antimicrobial resistance.
Tropical and Neglected Tropical Diseases
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines tropical diseases, malaria, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, vector-borne diseases, and understanding and managing tropical infectious diseases.
Infectious Disease Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods for infectious diseases, experimental design, laboratory methods, field methods, data analysis, and conducting infectious disease research, preparing students for their thesis.
Public Health and Infectious Disease Control
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines public health approaches to infectious disease control, infection prevention, outbreak response, immunisation programmes, health policy, and controlling infectious diseases in populations.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on an infectious disease topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and infectious disease knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Infectious Disease Biology
Focuses on infectious disease biology, pathogen biology, pathogenesis, host-pathogen interactions, and understanding the biology of infectious organisms.
Disease Diagnostics
Examines infectious disease diagnostics, diagnostic methods, molecular diagnostics, serological diagnostics, and designing and applying diagnostic tests for infectious diseases.
Vaccinology
Covers vaccinology, vaccine development, vaccine immunology, vaccine production, vaccine evaluation, and understanding and developing vaccines for infectious diseases.
Epidemiology and Surveillance
Focuses on infectious disease epidemiology, disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, disease modelling, and understanding and managing infectious disease outbreaks.
Antimicrobial Resistance
Examines antimicrobial resistance, resistance mechanisms, resistance surveillance, stewardship, and understanding and managing antimicrobial resistance.
Tropical Diseases
Covers tropical and neglected tropical diseases, malaria, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, and understanding and managing tropical infectious diseases.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc Infectious Diseases programme begins with morning lectures on infectious disease biology, medical microbiology, or epidemiology. Students engage in theoretical discussions on pathogens, disease transmission, and host defence. Infectious disease biology sessions cover pathogen biology, pathogenesis, host-pathogen interactions, virulence factors, and understanding infectious organisms. Medical microbiology sessions examine bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, microbial identification, antimicrobial susceptibility, and understanding and identifying pathogens. Epidemiology sessions cover infectious disease epidemiology, disease transmission, outbreak investigation, disease surveillance, epidemic modelling, and understanding and managing disease outbreaks. Diagnostics sessions examine diagnostic methods, molecular diagnostics, PCR, serological diagnostics, antigen detection, culture methods, and designing and applying diagnostic tests. Vaccinology sessions cover vaccine development, vaccine types, vaccine immunology, vaccine production, vaccine evaluation, immunisation programmes, and understanding and developing vaccines. Immunology sessions examine host immunity, immune response to infection, immunopathology, and understanding host defence against pathogens. Molecular biology sessions cover pathogen genomics, molecular epidemiology, molecular typing, gene expression, and applying molecular biology to infectious diseases. Antimicrobial resistance sessions examine resistance mechanisms, resistance genes, resistance surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, and understanding and managing resistance. Tropical disease sessions cover malaria, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, vector-borne diseases, and understanding and managing tropical infectious diseases. Laboratory sessions provide extensive hands-on experience with pathogen culture, molecular diagnostics, serological testing, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and microscopic examination. Field work provides hands-on experience in disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, sample collection, and field diagnostics. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering infectious disease research methods, experimental design, and data analysis. Guest lectures from KEMRI researchers, CDC epidemiologists, MoH officials, WHO experts, and infectious disease specialists provide real-world insights. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's disease burden including malaria, TB, HIV/AIDS, emerging infections, and antimicrobial resistance creates high demand for qualified infectious disease professionals.
KEMRI, CDC Kenya, and WHO provide significant research and career opportunities for infectious disease graduates in Kenya.
Programme covers comprehensive infectious disease areas including biology, diagnostics, vaccinology, epidemiology, and antimicrobial resistance.
Post-COVID-19, demand for infectious disease expertise has increased globally, enhancing career prospects.

Against it

Programme requires microbiology, biomedical, or related science background, which may exclude some graduates.
Laboratory work requires access to biosafety facilities and pathogen handling capabilities, which may vary across institutions.
Programme involves rigorous scientific content including molecular biology, immunology, and epidemiology, which may be challenging for some students.
The DB course name appears truncated as 'Master of Science in Infectious', which may cause confusion about the programme scope.

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

Public187k to 436k

187k at Moi University436k 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 TID 872K/2yr; Moi ~187K/yr general PG. Private unverified. Src: UoN fee schedule, worldscholarshipforum

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KEMRI supports infectious disease research. CDC Kenya supports disease surveillance and research. Global Fund supports HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria research. WHO supports infectious disease capacity building. The programme's infectious disease focus attracts significant research and international organisation funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KEMRI Research Funding
Global Fund Research Grants

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate infectious disease studies at recognised universities.
KEMRI Research Funding
GrantKsh 400,000Kenyan
KEMRI provides research funding for medical and infectious disease research, supporting postgraduate research in infectious diseases.
Global Fund Research Grants
GrantKsh 500,000
Global Fund supports infectious disease programmes including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, providing funding for research and capacity building.

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 graduates from microbiology, biomedical sciences, biochemistry, public health, medical laboratory sciences, veterinary medicine, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and related fields. Two-year full-time programme. JKUAT requires Second Class Upper or Lower with research evidence. JKUAT fees KES 357,000 total for related infectious disease programmes.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, laboratory reports, case studies, disease analysis projects, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
End of semester examinations covering infectious disease biology, microbiology, epidemiology, and diagnostics, as per university programme structure.
Laboratory and Field Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Assessment of laboratory work, field work, pathogen identification, diagnostic testing, epidemiological investigation, and practical reports.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on an infectious disease topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and infectious disease knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). KU offers infectious disease programmes through its School of Health Sciences. JKUAT offers related MSc in Infectious Disease and Vaccinology and MSc in Infectious Biology. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate infectious disease training. KEMRI conducts infectious disease research and MoH coordinates disease surveillance in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. KU offers infectious disease programmes through its School of Health Sciences. JKUAT offers related MSc in Infectious Disease and Vaccinology and MSc in Infectious Biology. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate infectious disease training.
Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)
Professional accreditation
KEMRI conducts medical and infectious disease research in Kenya. Graduates may benefit from KEMRI research affiliation and collaboration opportunities.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Infectious Disease Scientist
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Conducts infectious disease research, overseeing pathogen studies, disease biology research, and supporting infectious disease understanding and control.
Diagnostic Microbiologist
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Performs infectious disease diagnostics, overseeing pathogen identification, diagnostic testing, antimicrobial susceptibility, and ensuring accurate laboratory diagnosis.
Epidemiologist
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Investigates infectious disease outbreaks, overseeing disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, disease modelling, and supporting public health response.
Vaccine Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Conducts vaccine research, overseeing vaccine development, vaccine evaluation, immunology studies, and supporting vaccine development and evaluation.
Public Health Specialist
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages infectious disease control programmes, overseeing disease prevention, immunisation, outbreak response, and supporting public health infectious disease control.
University Lecturer
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches infectious diseases and microbiology in universities, conducting research and training future infectious disease professionals.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as infectious disease scientists, diagnostic microbiologists, and epidemiologists in hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, research institutions, and public health agencies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for infectious disease research data analysis, epidemiological analysis, and statistical modelling in infectious disease studies.
R Statistical Computing
SoftwarePrimary
Open-source statistical computing for epidemiological data analysis, outbreak modelling, disease surveillance analysis, and research data analysis.
Bioinformatics Tools
Software
Bioinformatics tools for pathogen genomics, sequence analysis, molecular epidemiology, and genomic analysis of infectious disease pathogens.
Microsoft Excel
Software
Spreadsheet software for infectious disease data analysis, surveillance data management, laboratory data, and epidemiological data management.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Infectious disease studies is just about identifying germs.
The programme involves pathogenesis, epidemiology, vaccinology, immunology, molecular biology, antimicrobial resistance, and research, covering all aspects of infectious disease science.
There is limited demand for infectious disease professionals in Kenya.
Kenya's disease burden including malaria, TB, HIV/AIDS, emerging infections, and antimicrobial resistance creates high demand for qualified infectious disease professionals.
This programme is only for medical graduates.
The programme accepts graduates from microbiology, biomedical sciences, biochemistry, public health, veterinary medicine, and related science fields, not just medicine.
Infectious disease research is not relevant after COVID-19.
COVID-19 demonstrated the critical importance of infectious disease expertise, and demand for infectious disease professionals has increased post-pandemic.
Vaccinology is only for pharmaceutical companies.
Vaccinology expertise is needed in research institutions, public health agencies, universities, and international organisations, not just pharmaceutical companies.
A master's in infectious diseases is redundant after a bachelor's in microbiology.
The master's provides specialised infectious disease skills, research capability, and career progression to senior infectious disease research and public health positions.