Health Sciences

Master of Science in Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology

The Master of Science in Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in infectious disease research, vaccine development, and public health microbiology. The programme combines microbiology theory with practical vaccinology and infectious disease application.

Core areas include medical microbiology, immunology, virology, bacteriology, parasitology, vaccine development, epidemiology of infectious diseases, molecular biology, diagnostic microbiology, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both infectious disease theory and practical laboratory and field work through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by JKUAT through the Department of Medical Microbiology, Moi University through the School of Public Health, and Maseno University through the Department of Medical Microbiology in the School of Medicine. All are public universities offering the programme over two academic years through full-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in medical microbiology, immunology, virology, bacteriology, parasitology, vaccine development, epidemiology of infectious diseases, molecular biology, and diagnostic microbiology. The programme includes coursework, examinations, laboratory work, field investigations, and a supervised research thesis.

JKUAT charges approximately KES 178,500/year (KES 357,000 total) for infectious disease and vaccinology. Moi University charges approximately KES 200,000/year for infectious diseases and global health. Maseno University charges approximately KES 220,000/year for infectious diseases. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in microbiology, biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as microbiologists, vaccinologists, epidemiologists, public health specialists, research scientists, and lecturers in infectious diseases across research institutions, hospitals, public health agencies, pharmaceutical companies, NGOs, and universities.

Skills Required

Medical Microbiology and Pathogen Identification
Immunology and Immune Response Analysis
Vaccine Development and Evaluation
Molecular Biology and Genomic Analysis
Diagnostic Microbiology and Laboratory Techniques
Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases
Virology and Viral Pathogenesis
Bacteriology and Antimicrobial Resistance
Research Methods in Infectious Diseases
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Medical Microbiology and Pathogen Identification
Immunology and Immune Response Analysis
Vaccine Development and Evaluation
Molecular Biology and Genomic Analysis
Diagnostic Microbiology and Laboratory Techniques
Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases
Virology and Viral Pathogenesis
Bacteriology and Antimicrobial Resistance
Research Methods in Infectious Diseases
Thesis Research

Certifications

KEMRI Research Certification
WHO Immunization Professional Membership

Specializations

Vaccinology

Focuses on vaccinology, covering vaccine development, evaluation, immunology, clinical trials, and managing vaccine research.

Medical Microbiology

Examines medical microbiology, covering bacteriology, virology, parasitology, mycology, pathogenesis, and managing medical microbiology.

Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Covers infectious disease epidemiology, covering disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, transmission dynamics, and managing infectious disease epidemiology.

Molecular Biology

Focuses on molecular biology, covering genomics, proteomics, PCR, sequencing, molecular diagnostics, and managing molecular biology.

Immunology

Examines immunology, covering immune response, immunopathology, immunotherapy, serology, and managing immunology.

Diagnostic Microbiology

Covers diagnostic microbiology, covering laboratory techniques, culture, identification, antimicrobial susceptibility, and managing diagnostic microbiology.

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: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Medical Microbiology and Pathogen Identification
Immunology and Immune Response Analysis
Vaccine Development and Evaluation
Molecular Biology and Genomic Analysis
Diagnostic Microbiology and Laboratory Techniques
Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases
Virology and Viral Pathogenesis
Bacteriology and Antimicrobial Resistance
Research Methods in Infectious Diseases
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Medical Microbiology and Pathogen Identification
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines pathogen identification, culture, staining, identification, pathogenesis, and managing medical microbiology.
Immunology and Immune Response Analysis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers immune response, innate immunity, adaptive immunity, immunopathology, serology, and managing immunology.
Research Methods in Infectious Diseases
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, laboratory methods, and conducting infectious disease research, preparing students for their thesis.
Virology and Viral Pathogenesis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines viral structure, replication, pathogenesis, viral diseases, antivirals, and managing virology.
Bacteriology and Antimicrobial Resistance
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers bacterial structure, metabolism, pathogenesis, antibiotics, resistance mechanisms, and managing bacteriology.
Vaccine Development and Evaluation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines vaccine types, development, evaluation, clinical trials, regulation, immunology, and managing vaccinology.
Molecular Biology and Genomic Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers DNA, RNA, PCR, sequencing, genomics, proteomics, molecular diagnostics, and managing molecular biology.
Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, transmission dynamics, modelling, and managing infectious disease epidemiology.
Diagnostic Microbiology and Laboratory Techniques
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers culture, identification, antimicrobial susceptibility, molecular diagnostics, automation, and managing diagnostic microbiology.
Parasitology and Tropical Diseases
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines protozoa, helminths, arthropods, parasitic diseases, treatment, vector biology, and managing parasitology.
Public Health and Global Health Infectious Diseases
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers global health, disease control programmes, public health policy, international health regulations, and managing public health infectious diseases.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on an infectious diseases and vaccinology topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and infectious disease knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Vaccinology
Focuses on vaccinology, covering vaccine development, evaluation, immunology, clinical trials, and managing vaccine research.
Medical Microbiology
Examines medical microbiology, covering bacteriology, virology, parasitology, mycology, pathogenesis, and managing medical microbiology.
Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Covers infectious disease epidemiology, covering disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, transmission dynamics, and managing infectious disease epidemiology.
Molecular Biology
Focuses on molecular biology, covering genomics, proteomics, PCR, sequencing, molecular diagnostics, and managing molecular biology.
Immunology
Examines immunology, covering immune response, immunopathology, immunotherapy, serology, and managing immunology.
Diagnostic Microbiology
Covers diagnostic microbiology, covering laboratory techniques, culture, identification, antimicrobial susceptibility, and managing diagnostic microbiology.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, field investigations, practical workshops, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover medical microbiology, immunology, virology, vaccine development, and epidemiology. Medical microbiology sessions examine pathogen identification, culture, staining, identification, pathogenesis, and managing medical microbiology. Immunology sessions cover immune response, innate immunity, adaptive immunity, immunopathology, serology, and managing immunology. Virology sessions cover viral structure, replication, pathogenesis, viral diseases, antivirals, and managing virology. Bacteriology sessions cover bacterial structure, metabolism, pathogenesis, antibiotics, resistance, and managing bacteriology. Parasitology sessions cover protozoa, helminths, arthropods, parasitic diseases, treatment, and managing parasitology. Vaccine development sessions cover vaccine types, development, evaluation, clinical trials, regulation, and managing vaccinology. Molecular biology sessions cover DNA, RNA, PCR, sequencing, genomics, proteomics, and managing molecular biology. Diagnostic microbiology sessions cover culture, identification, antimicrobial susceptibility, molecular diagnostics, and managing diagnostic microbiology. Epidemiology sessions cover disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, transmission dynamics, modelling, and managing infectious disease epidemiology. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with culture, staining, PCR, ELISA, sequencing, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Field investigations provide exposure to disease outbreaks, surveillance, and sample collection. Practical workshops provide hands-on experience with molecular techniques, serology, vaccine evaluation, and diagnostic methods. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in infectious diseases. Guest lectures from experienced microbiologists, vaccinologists, and public health experts provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on an infectious diseases and vaccinology topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for infectious disease professionals with Kenya's disease burden, emerging infections, vaccine development initiatives, and public health programmes.
Programme offered by three public universities (JKUAT, Moi, Maseno), providing institutional choice.
JKUAT offers competitive fees at approximately KES 178,500/year (KES 357,000 total) for infectious disease and vaccinology.
Graduates are eligible for KEMRI research certification and WHO Immunization professional membership, enhancing career prospects.

Against it

Moi University and Maseno University fees estimated, not independently verified for infectious diseases specifically.
No private university confirmed offering this programme, limiting options.
Programme requires microbiology, biomedical sciences, medical laboratory, medicine, or related health sciences background, which limits access for non-related graduates.
Full-time only study mode at JKUAT may be inconvenient for working professionals.

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

Public179k to 436k

179k at JKUAT436k 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

JKUAT Infectious Disease & Vaccinology 178.5K/yr; UoN MSc TID 436K/yr. Private unverified. Src: kenyaeducationguide, UoN

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KEMRI and research organisations may provide research support. WHO and international health organisations may provide fellowships for infectious disease professionals. Some pharmaceutical companies and NGOs may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KEMRI Research Support
WHO Fellowships

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
KEMRI Research Support
GrantKsh 250,000Kenyan
KEMRI and partner organisations may provide research support for infectious disease professionals.
WHO Fellowships
FellowshipKsh 300,000Kenyan
WHO and international health organisations may provide fellowships for infectious disease and vaccinology professionals.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Most universities require Upper Second Class Honours in microbiology, biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, or related fields. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience are considered. 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 investigation reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering medical microbiology, immunology, virology, vaccinology, and epidemiology.
Laboratory and Practical Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory exercises, culture, identification, molecular techniques, and demonstrating microbiology skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on an infectious diseases and vaccinology 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). JKUAT, Moi University, and Maseno University (all public) offer MSc in Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology or related infectious diseases programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in infectious diseases and vaccinology. Graduates are eligible for KEMRI research certification and WHO Immunization professional membership.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. JKUAT, Moi University, and Maseno University (all public) offer MSc in Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology or related infectious diseases programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in infectious diseases and vaccinology. Graduates are eligible for KEMRI research certification and WHO Immunization professional membership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Microbiologist
High demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 600,000
Conducts microbiology research and diagnostics, overseeing culture, identification, analysis, and managing microbiology.
Vaccinologist
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 650,000
Develops and evaluates vaccines, overseeing research, clinical trials, evaluation, and managing vaccinology.
Epidemiologist
High demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 600,000
Investigates disease patterns, overseeing surveillance, outbreak investigation, analysis, and managing epidemiology.
Public Health Specialist
High demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages public health programmes, overseeing disease control, policy, interventions, and managing public health.
Research Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 650,000
Conducts infectious disease research, overseeing research design, data collection, analysis, publication, and managing research.
Infectious Diseases Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches infectious diseases at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

PCR Systems
EquipmentPrimary
PCR systems for molecular diagnostics, covering DNA amplification, real-time PCR, sequencing, and managing molecular analysis.
ELISA
Equipment
ELISA for serology, covering antibody detection, antigen detection, immunoassays, and managing serological analysis.
SPSS
Software
SPSS for statistical analysis, covering epidemiological data, survey data, research data, and managing statistical analysis.
Bioinformatics Tools
Software
Bioinformatics tools for genomic analysis, covering BLAST, sequence alignment, phylogenetics, and managing genomic data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Infectious diseases is just about treating infections.
Infectious diseases covers comprehensive microbiology, immunology, vaccinology, epidemiology, molecular biology, and public health beyond just treating infections.
This programme is only for doctors.
Infectious diseases skills are valuable for microbiologists, laboratory scientists, public health professionals, researchers, veterinarians, and pharmacists beyond just doctors.
Vaccinology is just about giving vaccines.
Vaccinology covers comprehensive vaccine development, evaluation, immunology, clinical trials, regulation, and policy beyond just administering vaccines.
Infectious diseases has limited career prospects in Kenya.
With Kenya's disease burden, emerging infections, vaccine development initiatives, and public health programmes, demand for infectious disease professionals is high in Kenya.
Molecular biology is just about DNA.
Molecular biology covers comprehensive genomics, proteomics, PCR, sequencing, molecular diagnostics, and bioinformatics.
Epidemiology is just about counting cases.
Epidemiology covers comprehensive surveillance, outbreak investigation, transmission dynamics, modelling, and public health interventions.