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Master of Science in Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology

<p>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.

Duration
2 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 436,000
Ksh 872,000 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 436,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 872,000 for the whole course.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of N/A (Postgraduate) or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 2 years, full-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 5 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Early Childhood Strategist, at 10 out of 100.The detail

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Overview

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.

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 favourAgainst it
High demand for infectious disease professionals with Kenya's disease burden, emerging infections, vaccine development initiatives, and public health programmes.Moi University and Maseno University fees estimated, not independently verified for infectious diseases specifically.
Programme offered by three public universities (JKUAT, Moi, Maseno), providing institutional choice.No private university confirmed offering this programme, limiting options.
JKUAT offers competitive fees at approximately KES 178,500/year (KES 357,000 total) for infectious disease and vaccinology.Programme requires microbiology, biomedical sciences, medical laboratory, medicine, or related health sciences background, which limits access for non-related graduates.
Graduates are eligible for KEMRI research certification and WHO Immunization professional membership, enhancing career prospects.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.

Scholarships you could apply for

2 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
N/A (Postgraduate)minimum entry
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.

When it next starts

Taught at 5 institutions
January 20275 institutions

Including Multimedia University of Kenya, Kenyatta University, Moi University.

May 20275 institutions

Including Multimedia University of Kenya, Kenyatta University, Moi University.

September 20275 institutions

Including Multimedia University of Kenya, Kenyatta University, Moi University.

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

  • 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Further reading

Read next