Health Sciences

Master of Science in Medical Virology

The Master of Science in Medical Virology is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in medical virology, viral disease diagnosis, and viral research. The programme provides comprehensive knowledge and practical training in viral pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of viral infections significant in public health.

Core areas include virology, viral pathogenesis, molecular virology, diagnostic virology, viral immunology, epidemiology of viral diseases, emerging viral infections, antiviral therapy, vaccine development, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, laboratory work, and research.

The programme is offered by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in collaboration with KEMRI Graduate School. JKUAT is a public university offering the programme over a minimum of eighteen months through full-time study, with taught courses in the first year and research in the second year.

Students develop competencies in medical virology, viral diagnostics, molecular techniques, immunology, epidemiology, and biomedical research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, laboratory work, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for diagnostic, research, and public health roles in virology.

JKUAT charges KES 496,000 total for the programme (~KES 248,000/year). Entry requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Biological Sciences or a relevant discipline from a recognised institution.

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

Skills Required

Medical Virology and Viral Pathogenesis
Molecular Virology and Genomic Techniques
Diagnostic Virology and Laboratory Methods
Viral Immunology and Vaccine Development
Epidemiology of Viral Diseases
Emerging Viral Infections and Pandemic Preparedness
Antiviral Therapy and Drug Resistance
Research Methods in Biomedical Sciences
Biosafety and Biosecurity in Virology
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Medical Virology
Viral Pathogenesis
Molecular Virology and Genomics
Diagnostic Virology
Viral Immunology
Epidemiology of Viral Diseases
Emerging Viral Infections
Antiviral Therapy and Drug Resistance
Research Methods in Biomedical Sciences
Thesis Research

Certifications

KEMRI Professional Certification
ASM Professional Membership

Specializations

Molecular Virology

Focuses on molecular virology, covering genomes, replication, expression, techniques, and managing molecular virology.

Diagnostic Virology

Examines diagnostic virology, covering PCR, serology, culture, detection, and managing viral diagnostics.

Viral Immunology

Covers viral immunology, covering immune, responses, antibodies, vaccines, and managing viral immunology.

Emerging Viral Infections

Focuses on emerging viral infections, covering outbreaks, surveillance, pandemics, response, and managing emerging infections.

Antiviral Therapy and Drug Development

Examines antiviral therapy, covering drugs, resistance, development, treatment, and managing antiviral therapy.

Vaccine Development

Covers vaccine development, covering design, testing, production, regulation, and managing vaccine development.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 248,000
Private, up to: Ksh 463,200
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

Medical Virology
Viral Pathogenesis
Molecular Virology and Genomics
Diagnostic Virology
Viral Immunology
Epidemiology of Viral Diseases
Emerging Viral Infections
Antiviral Therapy and Drug Resistance
Research Methods in Biomedical Sciences
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Medical Virology Fundamentals
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines viruses, structure, classification, replication, and managing virology fundamentals.
Viral Pathogenesis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers infection, disease, mechanisms, immunity, and managing viral pathogenesis.
Molecular Virology and Genomics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines genomes, replication, expression, techniques, and managing molecular virology.
Research Methods in Biomedical Sciences
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, ethics, and conducting research, preparing students for their thesis.
Diagnostic Virology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines PCR, serology, culture, detection, and managing viral diagnostics.
Viral Immunology and Vaccine Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers immune, responses, antibodies, vaccines, and managing viral immunology.
Epidemiology of Viral Diseases
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines surveillance, outbreaks, pandemics, control, and managing viral disease epidemiology.
Emerging Viral Infections and Pandemic Preparedness
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers outbreaks, surveillance, response, preparedness, and managing emerging viral infections.
Antiviral Therapy and Drug Resistance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines drugs, resistance, development, treatment, and managing antiviral therapy.
Biosafety and Biosecurity in Virology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers biosafety, biosecurity, BSL, containment, and managing virology laboratory safety.
Advanced Topics in Virology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines current research, emerging viruses, zoonoses, oncogenic viruses, and managing advanced virology topics.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a medical virology topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and virology knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Molecular Virology
Focuses on molecular virology, covering genomes, replication, expression, techniques, and managing molecular virology.
Diagnostic Virology
Examines diagnostic virology, covering PCR, serology, culture, detection, and managing viral diagnostics.
Viral Immunology
Covers viral immunology, covering immune, responses, antibodies, vaccines, and managing viral immunology.
Emerging Viral Infections
Focuses on emerging viral infections, covering outbreaks, surveillance, pandemics, response, and managing emerging infections.
Antiviral Therapy and Drug Development
Examines antiviral therapy, covering drugs, resistance, development, treatment, and managing antiviral therapy.
Vaccine Development
Covers vaccine development, covering design, testing, production, regulation, and managing vaccine development.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Medical Virology programme combines lectures, laboratory practicals, seminars, journal clubs, and independent study. Sessions cover virology, viral pathogenesis, molecular virology, diagnostic virology, and viral immunology. Virology sessions examine viruses, structure, classification, replication, and managing virology. Viral pathogenesis sessions cover infection, disease, mechanisms, immunity, and managing viral pathogenesis. Molecular virology sessions cover genomes, replication, expression, techniques, and managing molecular virology. Diagnostic virology sessions cover PCR, serology, culture, detection, and managing viral diagnostics. Viral immunology sessions cover immune, responses, antibodies, vaccines, and managing viral immunology. Epidemiology sessions cover surveillance, outbreaks, pandemics, control, and managing viral disease epidemiology. Emerging infections sessions cover outbreaks, surveillance, response, preparedness, and managing emerging viral infections. Antiviral therapy sessions cover drugs, resistance, development, treatment, and managing antiviral therapy. Laboratory practicals provide hands-on experience with viral culture, molecular techniques, serological testing, and diagnostic methods. Seminars and journal clubs provide opportunities for presenting research findings and discussing current scientific literature. Guest lectures from experienced virologists, researchers, and public health professionals provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a medical virology topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme offered in collaboration with KEMRI, providing access to leading medical research facilities.
High demand for virology professionals highlighted by pandemic preparedness needs.
Programme covers emerging viral infections and pandemic preparedness, highly relevant to public health.
Graduates are eligible for KEMRI professional certification and ASM professional membership.

Against it

Only one institution (JKUAT/KEMRI, public) confirmed offering this specific programme.
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Programme fees are moderate at KES 496,000 total (~KES 248,000/year).
Programme requires a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences, limiting access for non-science graduates.

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 248k

187k at Moi University248k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Private120k to 463k

120k at Great Lakes University of Kisumu463k at Aga Khan 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

JKUAT 496k/2=248k/yr (kenyaeducationguide). Moi ~187.2k/yr. GLUK 120k/yr. AKU unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KEMRI may offer research grants for virology research. WHO may offer research grants for viral disease research. Some hospitals, research institutions, and international health bodies may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KEMRI Research Grant
WHO Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
KEMRI Research Grant
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
KEMRI may offer research grants for virology research.
WHO Research Grant
ScholarshipKsh 200,000
WHO may offer research grants for viral disease research and pandemic preparedness.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: JKUAT/KEMRI requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Biological Sciences from JKUAT or any other institution recognised by JKUAT Senate. Lower Second Class may be considered with acceptable evidence of research ability. Contact JKUAT/KEMRI 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, seminar presentations, journal club participation, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering virology, viral pathogenesis, molecular virology, diagnostics, and epidemiology.
Laboratory Assessment
Project40% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory work, diagnostic exercises, viral culture, molecular techniques, and demonstrating virology skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a medical virology topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and virology knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (public) offers MSc in Medical Virology in collaboration with KEMRI Graduate School. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in medical virology. Graduates are eligible for KEMRI professional certification and ASM professional membership.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (public) offers MSc in Medical Virology in collaboration with KEMRI Graduate School. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in medical virology. 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 Virologist
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Conducts medical virology analysis and research, overseeing diagnosis, identification, treatment, and managing virology.
Clinical Laboratory Scientist
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages clinical laboratory operations, overseeing testing, diagnosis, quality, and managing clinical virology laboratories.
Research Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Conducts virology research, overseeing research, experiments, analysis, and managing research projects.
Public Health Virologist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages public health virology, overseeing surveillance, outbreaks, control, and managing viral disease surveillance.
Infection Control Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages infection control programmes, overseeing prevention, surveillance, outbreaks, and managing viral infection control.
Virology Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaches virology at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

PCR and Real-Time PCR Systems
EquipmentPrimary
PCR and real-time PCR systems for viral diagnostics, covering amplification, detection, quantification, and managing molecular virology.
ELISA and Serology Systems
Equipment
ELISA and serology systems for antibody detection, covering serology, antibodies, detection, and managing viral serology.
BLAST and Bioinformatics Tools
Software
BLAST and bioinformatics tools for viral sequence analysis, covering alignment, searching, analysis, and managing viral genomics.
SPSS
Software
SPSS for statistical analysis of epidemiological and research data, covering statistics, analysis, research, and managing research data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Medical virology is just about studying viruses.
Medical virology covers comprehensive viral pathogenesis, diagnostics, immunology, epidemiology, and public health beyond just studying viruses.
This programme is only for doctors.
Medical virology skills are valuable for biomedical scientists, laboratory technologists, pharmacists, and public health professionals beyond just doctors.
Virology is only relevant during pandemics.
Virology is critical for ongoing surveillance, vaccine development, antiviral research, and routine diagnostics beyond just pandemics.
Diagnostic virology is just about PCR tests.
Diagnostic virology covers comprehensive serology, culture, molecular techniques, and rapid diagnostics beyond just PCR tests.
Viral immunology is just about antibodies.
Viral immunology covers comprehensive cellular immunity, innate responses, vaccines, and immunopathology beyond just antibodies.
Emerging viral infections are rare events.
Emerging viral infections are increasing due to globalisation, climate change, and zoonotic spillovers, requiring preparedness and surveillance.