Arts & Humanities

Master of Science in International Health Research Ethics

The Master of Science in International Health Research Ethics is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates in research ethics, bioethics, health research governance, and ethical review. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers in research ethics, ethical review, health research governance, and bioethics consultation.

Core areas include research ethics, bioethics, international health research ethics, ethical review, research governance, informed consent, vulnerable populations, research integrity, regulatory frameworks, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical research ethics applications.

The programme is offered by Zetech University, Great Lakes University of Kisumu, and University of Kabianga, with Moi University as a college. Moi University offers MSc in International Health Research Ethics through its health sciences programmes. GLUK offers health-related postgraduate programmes at KES 60,000 per semester.

Students develop competencies in research ethics analysis, ethical review, research governance, informed consent, regulatory compliance, and research. The programme includes coursework, ethics analysis projects, examinations, supervised research, and thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years. Moi University requires Bachelor's degree in Science, Health, Arts, or Humanities, plus oral interview and written entrance examination. GLUK fees are KES 60,000 per semester for postgraduate programmes.

Graduates pursue careers as research ethics officers, ethical review committee members, research governance specialists, bioethics consultants, and lecturers in research institutions, hospitals, universities, ethics committees, and regulatory bodies.

Skills Required

Research Ethics and Ethical Analysis
Bioethics and Health Research Ethics
Ethical Review and Research Governance
Informed Consent and Participant Protection
Research Integrity and Responsible Conduct
Regulatory Frameworks and Compliance
Vulnerable Population Protection in Research
International Health Research Ethics Standards
Research Ethics Committee Management
Health Research Ethics Research Methods

Key Subjects

Research Ethics
Bioethics
International Health Research Ethics
Ethical Review and Governance
Informed Consent
Vulnerable Population Protection
Research Integrity
Regulatory Frameworks
Research Ethics Committee Management
Health Research Ethics Research Methods

Certifications

KEMRI Ethics Review Certification
CIOMS Research Ethics Certification

Specializations

Research Ethics and Ethical Review

Focuses on research ethics, ethical review, ethics committees, ethical review processes, and understanding and managing ethical review in health research.

Bioethics

Examines bioethics, ethical theories, moral principles, bioethical issues, and understanding and applying bioethical principles in health research.

International Health Research Ethics

Covers international health research ethics, international ethical standards, CIOMS, Declaration of Helsinki, and understanding and applying international research ethics standards.

Research Governance and Compliance

Focuses on research governance, regulatory compliance, research regulation, institutional review boards, and governing and managing health research.

Vulnerable Population Protection

Examines protection of vulnerable populations in research, children, prisoners, pregnant women, marginalised communities, and ensuring ethical treatment of vulnerable participants.

Research Integrity

Covers research integrity, responsible conduct of research, scientific misconduct, data integrity, authorship ethics, and ensuring integrity in health research.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 155,000
Private, up to: Ksh 130,000
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

Research Ethics
Bioethics
International Health Research Ethics
Ethical Review and Governance
Informed Consent
Vulnerable Population Protection
Research Integrity
Regulatory Frameworks
Research Ethics Committee Management
Health Research Ethics Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Research Ethics Principles and Frameworks
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines research ethics principles, Belmont Report, respect for persons, beneficence, justice, ethical frameworks, and understanding and applying research ethics principles.
Bioethics and Ethical Theories
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers bioethics, ethical theories, utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, principlism, moral reasoning, and understanding and applying bioethical principles in health research.
International Health Research Ethics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines international health research ethics, CIOMS guidelines, Declaration of Helsinki, Belmont Report, international ethical standards, and applying international research ethics standards.
Ethical Review and Ethics Committees
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers ethics committees, institutional review boards, ethical review processes, protocol review, expedited review, full review, and managing and conducting ethical review.
Informed Consent and Participant Protection
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines informed consent, consent processes, consent forms, assent, waiver of consent, and ensuring informed consent and participant protection in research.
Vulnerable Populations in Research
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers protection of vulnerable populations, children, prisoners, pregnant women, marginalised communities, cognitively impaired, and ensuring ethical treatment of vulnerable participants.
Research Integrity and Responsible Conduct
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines research integrity, responsible conduct of research, scientific misconduct, data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, authorship ethics, and ensuring integrity.
Regulatory Frameworks and Research Governance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research regulation, NACOSTI, research licensing, regulatory compliance, research governance, institutional oversight, and understanding and applying regulatory frameworks.
Research Ethics Committee Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines ethics committee management, committee composition, SOPs, review timelines, documentation, reporting, and managing and administering research ethics committees.
Health Research Ethics Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods for health research ethics, qualitative methods, empirical ethics, case analysis, data analysis, and conducting research ethics research, preparing students for their thesis.
Cultural and Community Engagement in Research Ethics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines cultural sensitivity in research ethics, community engagement, community-based participatory research, traditional knowledge, and engaging communities ethically in research.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on an international health research ethics topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and research ethics knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Research Ethics and Ethical Review
Focuses on research ethics, ethical review, ethics committees, ethical review processes, and understanding and managing ethical review in health research.
Bioethics
Examines bioethics, ethical theories, moral principles, bioethical issues, and understanding and applying bioethical principles in health research.
International Health Research Ethics
Covers international health research ethics, international ethical standards, CIOMS, Declaration of Helsinki, and understanding and applying international research ethics standards.
Research Governance and Compliance
Focuses on research governance, regulatory compliance, research regulation, institutional review boards, and governing and managing health research.
Vulnerable Population Protection
Examines protection of vulnerable populations in research, children, prisoners, pregnant women, marginalised communities, and ensuring ethical treatment of vulnerable participants.
Research Integrity
Covers research integrity, responsible conduct of research, scientific misconduct, data integrity, authorship ethics, and ensuring integrity in health research.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc International Health Research Ethics programme begins with morning lectures on research ethics, bioethics, or health research governance. Students engage in theoretical discussions on ethical principles, moral theories, and research ethics frameworks. Research ethics sessions cover research ethics principles, Belmont Report, respect for persons, beneficence, justice, and understanding and applying research ethics. Bioethics sessions examine bioethical theories, utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, principlism, and understanding and applying bioethical principles. International health research ethics sessions cover CIOMS guidelines, Declaration of Helsinki, Belmont Report, international ethical standards, and understanding and applying international research ethics. Ethical review sessions examine ethics committees, institutional review boards, ethical review processes, protocol review, and managing and conducting ethical review. Informed consent sessions cover informed consent, consent processes, consent forms, assent, and ensuring informed consent in research. Vulnerable populations sessions examine protection of vulnerable populations, children, prisoners, pregnant women, marginalised communities, and ensuring ethical treatment. Research integrity sessions cover research integrity, responsible conduct, scientific misconduct, data fabrication, plagiarism, authorship ethics, and ensuring integrity. Regulatory frameworks sessions examine research regulation, NACOSTI, research licensing, regulatory compliance, and understanding and applying regulatory frameworks. Research governance sessions cover research governance, institutional oversight, data governance, research monitoring, and governing and managing health research. Ethics analysis projects provide hands-on experience in reviewing research protocols, analysing ethical issues, and developing ethics opinions. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering health research ethics research methods, qualitative methods, and data analysis. Guest lectures from KEMRI ethics committee members, NACOSTI officials, WHO ethics experts, CIOMS fellows, and bioethics scholars provide real-world insights. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Moi University accepts graduates from Science, Health, Arts, and Humanities, making the programme accessible to diverse academic backgrounds.
Kenya's growing research sector, international research collaborations, regulatory requirements, and ethics review needs create moderate demand for qualified research ethics professionals.
Programme covers comprehensive research ethics areas including bioethics, international standards, ethical review, governance, and research integrity.
Career opportunities with KEMRI, NACOSTI, hospitals, universities, ethics committees, and international organisations like WHO and CIOMS.

Against it

Job market demand is moderate compared to clinical health programmes, with fewer dedicated research ethics positions.
Moi University requires oral interview and written entrance examination, adding an additional admission barrier.
Programme is relatively specialised, which may limit career options compared to broader health sciences programmes.
Specific fee structures could not be independently verified from all official websites.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 188 arts & humanities courses

Public140k to 155k

140k at University of Kabianga155k at Pwani University

Private120k to 130k

120k at Great Lakes University of Kisumu130k at Mount Kenya 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

Pwani MSc 155K/yr(official). Kabianga ~140K/yr(intracolleges). GLUK 60K/sem*2(newspro). MKU 130K/yr(eduplace)

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KEMRI supports ethics training and capacity building. WHO supports research ethics training globally. CIOMS supports research ethics capacity building. Amref supports health research ethics in Africa. The programme's research ethics focus attracts institutional and international organisation funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KEMRI Ethics Training Funding
WHO Ethics Training Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate health research ethics studies at recognised universities.
KEMRI Ethics Training Funding
GrantKsh 300,000Kenyan
KEMRI supports ethics training and capacity building, providing funding for research ethics training in Kenya.
WHO Ethics Training Funding
GrantKsh 400,000
WHO supports research ethics training globally, providing funding for ethics capacity building in health research.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Moi University accepts graduates from Science, Health, Arts, and Humanities. Admission requires oral interview and written entrance examination. GLUK requires Bachelor's degree with Upper Second or Lower with 2 years experience. GLUK fees KES 60,000/semester. GLUK application fee KES 1,000, registration fee KES 2,000.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, ethics analysis papers, case studies, protocol reviews, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering research ethics, bioethics, international standards, and governance, conducted at end of each semester.
Ethics Analysis Projects and Presentations
Practical40% of the mark
Assessment of ethics analysis projects, protocol reviews, ethics opinions, committee simulations, and project presentations.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on an international health research ethics topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and research ethics knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Moi University offers MSc in International Health Research Ethics through its health sciences programmes. GLUK offers health-related postgraduate programmes. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate health research ethics training. KEMRI operates ethics review committees and NACOSTI regulates research in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Moi University offers MSc in International Health Research Ethics through its health sciences programmes. GLUK offers health-related postgraduate programmes. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate health research ethics training.
National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI)
Professional accreditation
NACOSTI regulates research in Kenya, issuing research licences and overseeing research ethics. Graduates may benefit from understanding NACOSTI regulatory frameworks.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Research Ethics Officer
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages research ethics in institutions, overseeing ethical review, protocol review, compliance, and ensuring ethical conduct of health research.
Ethical Review Committee Member
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Serves on ethical review committees, reviewing research protocols, assessing ethical issues, and providing ethical oversight for health research.
Research Governance Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages research governance, overseeing research regulation, compliance, institutional oversight, and ensuring effective research governance.
Bioethics Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Provides bioethics consultation, advising on ethical issues, ethical analysis, and supporting ethical decision-making in health research.
Regulatory Compliance Officer
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages regulatory compliance for research, overseeing NACOSTI licensing, regulatory requirements, and ensuring research regulatory compliance.
University Lecturer
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches research ethics and bioethics in universities, conducting research and training future research ethics professionals.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as research ethics officers, ethical review specialists, and research governance specialists in research institutions, hospitals, and regulatory bodies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

NVivo
SoftwarePrimary
Qualitative data analysis software for research ethics research, ethical analysis, case study analysis, and qualitative research in health research ethics.
SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for health research ethics research data analysis, survey analysis, and statistical modelling in research ethics studies.
Reference Management Software
Software
Reference management software for managing research ethics literature, citations, bibliographies, and research references.
Microsoft Excel
Software
Spreadsheet software for research ethics data management, protocol tracking, compliance monitoring, and ethics committee data management.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Research ethics is just about getting signatures on consent forms.
The programme involves ethical analysis, bioethics, international standards, governance, regulatory compliance, and research, covering comprehensive research ethics.
This programme is only for medical graduates.
Moi University accepts graduates from Science, Health, Arts, and Humanities, making it accessible to diverse academic backgrounds.
There is limited demand for research ethics professionals in Kenya.
Kenya's growing research sector, international research collaborations, regulatory requirements, and ethics review needs create moderate demand for qualified research ethics professionals.
Research ethics is only relevant for medical research.
Research ethics applies to all research involving human participants, including social science, public health, psychology, and education research.
International health research ethics is only about following rules.
The programme involves ethical reasoning, moral analysis, cultural sensitivity, and balancing principles with practical research challenges, not just rule-following.
A master's in research ethics is redundant after a bachelor's in health sciences.
The master's provides specialised research ethics expertise, research capability, and career progression to senior ethics review and research governance positions.