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Master of Science in Medical Microbiology

<p>The Master of Science in Medical Microbiology is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in medical microbiology, infectious disease diagnosis, and biomedical research. The programme provides comprehensive knowledge and practical training in disease causation, diagnosis, and treatment of microorganisms significant in public health.

Duration
2 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 436,000
Ksh 872,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 179,100
Ksh 358,200 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. Up to Ksh 179,100 a year at a private one.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, part-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 bacteriology, medical mycology, virology, immunology, molecular biology, medical parasitology, medical entomology, epidemiology, biostatistics, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, laboratory practicals, tutorials, seminars, and research.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi through the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. Both are public universities offering the programme over two years through full-time study, with JKUAT also offering part-time options.

Students develop competencies in medical microbiology, infectious disease diagnosis, molecular techniques, immunology, epidemiology, and biomedical research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, laboratory practicum, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for diagnostic, research, and teaching roles.

UoN charges KES 872,000 total (~KES 436,000/year), while JKUAT charges KES 357,000 total (~KES 178,500/year). Entry requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Biological Sciences or a relevant health profession from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as medical microbiologists, clinical laboratory scientists, research scientists, infection control specialists, public health microbiologists, and lecturers in microbiology across hospitals, research institutions, public health agencies, diagnostic laboratories, and universities.

Skills Required

  • Medical Bacteriology and Mycology
  • Virology and Viral Pathogenesis
  • Immunology and Immune Responses
  • Molecular Biology and Genomic Techniques
  • Medical Parasitology and Entomology
  • Infectious Disease Diagnosis and Laboratory Methods
  • Epidemiology and Biostatistics
  • Research Methods in Microbiology
  • Quality Control and Biosafety in Laboratory Practice
  • Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

  • Bacteriology
  • Medical Mycology
  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology and Genomics
  • Medical Parasitology and Entomology
  • Epidemiology and Biostatistics
  • Research Methods and Computer Applications
  • Laboratory Practicum and Attachment
  • Thesis Research

Certifications

  • KEMRI Professional Certification
  • ASM Professional Membership

Specializations

Bacteriology

Focuses on bacteriology, covering bacteria, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and managing bacterial infections.

Virology

Examines virology, covering viruses, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and managing viral infections.

Medical Mycology

Covers medical mycology, covering fungi, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and managing fungal infections.

Immunology

Focuses on immunology, covering immune, responses, antibodies, vaccines, and managing immune system research.

Molecular Biology and Genomics

Examines molecular biology, covering DNA, RNA, genomics, techniques, and managing molecular diagnostics.

Public Health Microbiology

Covers public health microbiology, covering epidemiology, surveillance, outbreaks, control, and managing public health microbiology.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Bacteriology
  • Medical Mycology
  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology and Genomics
  • Medical Parasitology and Entomology
  • Epidemiology and Biostatistics
  • Research Methods and Computer Applications
  • Laboratory Practicum and Attachment
  • Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Bacteriology

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines bacteria, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and managing bacterial infections.

  • Medical Mycology

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers fungi, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and managing fungal infections.

  • Virology

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines viruses, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and managing viral infections.

  • Immunology

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers immune, responses, antibodies, vaccines, and managing immune system research.

  • Molecular Biology and Genomics

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Examines DNA, RNA, genomics, techniques, and managing molecular diagnostics.

  • Medical Parasitology and Entomology

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers parasites, vectors, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and managing parasitic infections and vectors.

  • Epidemiology and Biostatistics

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Examines surveillance, outbreaks, control, statistics, and managing public health microbiology.

  • Research Methods and Computer Applications

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers research design, data collection, analysis, computing, and conducting research, preparing students for their thesis.

  • Advanced Diagnostic Microbiology

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines advanced diagnostic methods, molecular techniques, automation, and managing diagnostic microbiology.

  • Laboratory Management and Quality Control

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers management, quality, biosafety, accreditation, and managing microbiology laboratories.

  • Attachment and Practicum

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Provides hands-on laboratory experience in diagnostic microbiology settings, covering clinical, research, and public health laboratory practice.

  • Research Thesis

    Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore

    Original supervised research thesis on a medical microbiology topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and microbiology knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

  • Bacteriology

    Focuses on bacteriology, covering bacteria, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and managing bacterial infections.

  • Virology

    Examines virology, covering viruses, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and managing viral infections.

  • Medical Mycology

    Covers medical mycology, covering fungi, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and managing fungal infections.

  • Immunology

    Focuses on immunology, covering immune, responses, antibodies, vaccines, and managing immune system research.

  • Molecular Biology and Genomics

    Examines molecular biology, covering DNA, RNA, genomics, techniques, and managing molecular diagnostics.

  • Public Health Microbiology

    Covers public health microbiology, covering epidemiology, surveillance, outbreaks, control, and managing public health microbiology.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Medical Microbiology programme combines lectures, laboratory practicals, tutorials, seminars, journal clubs, and independent study. Sessions cover bacteriology, medical mycology, virology, immunology, and molecular biology. Bacteriology sessions examine bacteria, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and managing bacterial infections. Medical mycology sessions cover fungi, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and managing fungal infections. Virology sessions cover viruses, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and managing viral infections. Immunology sessions cover immune, responses, antibodies, vaccines, and managing immune system research. Molecular biology sessions cover DNA, RNA, genomics, techniques, and managing molecular diagnostics. Medical parasitology sessions cover parasites, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and managing parasitic infections. Epidemiology sessions cover surveillance, outbreaks, control, biostatistics, and managing public health microbiology. Laboratory practicals provide hands-on experience with bacterial culture, identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, molecular techniques, and diagnostic methods. Seminars and journal clubs provide opportunities for presenting research findings and discussing current scientific literature. Guest lectures from experienced microbiologists, researchers, and public health professionals provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a medical microbiology topic.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Programme offered at two public universities (UoN and JKUAT) with KEMRI collaboration providing options.UoN fees are high at KES 872,000 total (~KES 436,000/year).
JKUAT offers competitive fees at KES 357,000 total (~KES 178,500/year).No private university confirmed offering this programme.
High demand for medical microbiology professionals with Kenya's infectious disease burden and research needs.Programme requires a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences, limiting access for non-science graduates.
Graduates are eligible for KEMRI professional certification and ASM professional membership.Significant fee disparity between JKUAT (KES 357,000) and UoN (KES 872,000) for the same programme.

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
Private179k to 179k
179k at Mount Kenya University179k 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

UoN MSc Medical Microbiology 436K/yr; JKUAT 178.5K/yr; MKU MLS 179.1K/yr. Src: UoN fee schedule, kenyaeducationguide

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. UoN and JKUAT may offer scholarships for eligible students. KEMRI may offer research grants for medical microbiology research. Some hospitals, research institutions, and international health bodies may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

  • UoN Scholarship

  • KEMRI Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.

  • UoN Scholarship

    ScholarshipKsh 436,000Kenyan

    University of Nairobi offers scholarships for eligible postgraduate students.

  • KEMRI Research Grant

    ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan

    KEMRI may offer research grants for medical microbiology research.

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

UoN requires common regulations for Master's degree in the Faculty of Medicine. JKUAT requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Biological Sciences. Lower Second Class may be considered with evidence of research ability. Contact the universities for specific admission requirements.

When it next starts

Taught at 5 institutions
January 20275 institutions

Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Alupe University, Technical University of Kenya.

May 20274 institutions

Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Technical University of Kenya, University of Nairobi.

September 20275 institutions

Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Alupe University, Technical University of Kenya.

How you are assessed

4 components

  • Coursework and Continuous Assessment

    Coursework30% of the mark

    Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, laboratory reports, seminar presentations, journal club participation, and class participation.

  • Written Examinations

    Examination70% of the mark

    Written examinations covering bacteriology, virology, immunology, molecular biology, and epidemiology.

  • Laboratory Practicum Assessment

    Project40% of the mark

    Practical assessment through laboratory work, diagnostic exercises, attachment, and demonstrating microbiology laboratory skills.

  • Research Thesis

    Research100% of the mark

    Original supervised research thesis on a medical microbiology topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and microbiology knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)

    Academic accreditationRequired

    Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (both public) offer MSc in Medical Microbiology. JKUAT offers the programme in collaboration with KEMRI Graduate School. The programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in medical microbiology. Graduates are eligible for KEMRI professional certification and ASM professional membership.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (both public) offer MSc in Medical Microbiology. JKUAT offers the programme in collaboration with KEMRI Graduate School. The programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in medical microbiology. Graduates are eligible for KEMRI professional certification and ASM professional membership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

  • Medical Microbiologist

    High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Conducts medical microbiology analysis and research, overseeing diagnosis, identification, treatment, and managing microbiology.

  • Clinical Laboratory Scientist

    High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Manages clinical laboratory operations, overseeing testing, diagnosis, quality, and managing clinical laboratories.

  • Research Scientist

    Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Conducts microbiology research, overseeing research, experiments, analysis, and managing research projects.

  • Infection Control Specialist

    Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Manages infection control programmes, overseeing prevention, surveillance, outbreaks, and managing infection control.

  • Public Health Microbiologist

    Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Conducts public health microbiology, overseeing surveillance, outbreaks, control, and managing public health microbiology.

  • Microbiology Lecturer

    Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Teaches microbiology at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as medical microbiologists, clinical laboratory scientists, research scientists, infection control specialists, public health microbiologists, and lecturers in microbiology across hospitals, research institutions, public health agencies, diagnostic laboratories, and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • PCR and Real-Time PCR Systems

    EquipmentPrimary

    PCR and real-time PCR systems for molecular diagnostics, covering amplification, detection, quantification, and managing molecular analysis.

  • Bacterial Culture and Identification Systems

    Equipment

    Automated culture and identification systems for bacterial diagnosis, covering culture, identification, susceptibility, and managing diagnostic microbiology.

  • BLAST and Bioinformatics Tools

    Software

    BLAST and bioinformatics tools for sequence analysis, covering alignment, searching, analysis, and managing bioinformatics data.

  • SPSS

    Software

    SPSS for statistical analysis of research data, covering statistics, analysis, research, and managing research data.

Common misconceptions

  • Medical microbiology is just about identifying bacteria.

    Medical microbiology covers comprehensive bacteriology, virology, mycology, immunology, molecular biology, and public health beyond just identifying bacteria.

  • This programme is only for doctors.

    Medical microbiology skills are valuable for biomedical scientists, laboratory technologists, pharmacists, and public health professionals beyond just doctors.

  • Virology is just about studying viruses.

    Virology covers comprehensive viral pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and molecular techniques beyond just studying viruses.

  • Immunology is just about antibodies.

    Immunology covers comprehensive immune responses, cellular immunity, vaccines, diagnostics, and immunopathology beyond just antibodies.

  • Medical microbiology careers are limited to laboratories.

    Medical microbiology careers span research, public health, education, industry, and consulting beyond just laboratory work.

  • Molecular biology is just about DNA sequencing.

    Molecular biology covers comprehensive genomics, gene expression, molecular diagnostics, and bioinformatics beyond just DNA sequencing.

Further reading

Read next