Science

Master of Science in Microbiology

The Master of Science in Microbiology is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in microbiology, microbial biotechnology, and biomedical research. The programme provides comprehensive knowledge and practical training in microbial biology, genetics, physiology, and applications.

Core areas include bacteriology, mycology, virology, microbial genetics, molecular biology, industrial microbiology, environmental microbiology, immunology, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, laboratory work, and research.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi through the Department of Biology, and by the Technical University of Kenya through the Department of Applied and Technical Biology. Both are public universities offering the programme over two years through full-time and part-time modes.

Students develop competencies in microbiology, microbial genetics, molecular techniques, industrial microbiology, environmental microbiology, and biomedical research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, laboratory work, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for research, industrial, diagnostic, and teaching roles.

UoN charges KES 731,000 total (~KES 365,500/year), while TUK charges KES 463,200 total (~KES 231,600/year). Entry requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Microbiology, Biology, or a related discipline from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as microbiologists, research scientists, industrial microbiologists, quality control microbiologists, clinical laboratory scientists, and lecturers in microbiology across research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, food and beverage industries, diagnostic laboratories, and universities.

Skills Required

Bacteriology and Microbial Physiology
Mycology and Virology
Microbial Genetics and Molecular Biology
Industrial and Food Microbiology
Environmental and Agricultural Microbiology
Immunology and Host-Microbe Interactions
Microbial Biotechnology and Fermentation
Research Methods in Microbiology
Quality Control and Biosafety
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Bacteriology and Microbial Physiology
Mycology and Virology
Microbial Genetics and Molecular Biology
Industrial and Food Microbiology
Environmental and Agricultural Microbiology
Immunology and Host-Microbe Interactions
Microbial Biotechnology and Fermentation
Research Methods in Microbiology
Quality Control and Biosafety
Thesis Research

Certifications

ASM Professional Membership
KEMRI Professional Certification

Specializations

Bacteriology

Focuses on bacteriology, covering bacteria, physiology, genetics, identification, and managing bacterial research.

Mycology

Examines mycology, covering fungi, physiology, genetics, identification, and managing fungal research.

Industrial Microbiology

Covers industrial microbiology, covering fermentation, products, processes, quality, and managing industrial microbiology.

Environmental Microbiology

Focuses on environmental microbiology, covering soil, water, waste, bioremediation, and managing environmental microbiology.

Microbial Genetics and Molecular Biology

Examines microbial genetics, covering DNA, genes, expression, techniques, and managing microbial molecular biology.

Food Microbiology

Covers food microbiology, covering safety, spoilage, fermentation, quality, and managing food microbiology.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 365,500
Private, up to: Ksh 295,500
Job market: High

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: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Bacteriology and Microbial Physiology
Mycology and Virology
Microbial Genetics and Molecular Biology
Industrial and Food Microbiology
Environmental and Agricultural Microbiology
Immunology and Host-Microbe Interactions
Microbial Biotechnology and Fermentation
Research Methods in Microbiology
Quality Control and Biosafety
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Bacteriology and Microbial Physiology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines bacteria, physiology, metabolism, growth, and managing bacterial research.
Mycology and Virology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers fungi, viruses, physiology, genetics, identification, and managing mycology and virology.
Microbial Genetics and Molecular Biology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines DNA, genes, expression, regulation, techniques, and managing microbial molecular biology.
Research Methods in Microbiology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, ethics, and conducting research, preparing students for their thesis.
Industrial and Food Microbiology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines fermentation, products, processes, quality, and managing industrial and food microbiology.
Environmental and Agricultural Microbiology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers soil, water, waste, bioremediation, and managing environmental and agricultural microbiology.
Immunology and Host-Microbe Interactions
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines immune, responses, host-microbe, interactions, and managing immunology research.
Microbial Biotechnology and Fermentation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers biotechnology, fermentation, products, processes, and managing microbial biotechnology.
Advanced Molecular Diagnostics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines PCR, sequencing, genomics, diagnostics, and managing molecular diagnostics.
Quality Control and Biosafety
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers quality, biosafety, standards, compliance, and managing quality control and biosafety in microbiology.
Advanced Topics in Microbiology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines current research, emerging pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, and managing advanced microbiology topics.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a microbiology topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and microbiology knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Bacteriology
Focuses on bacteriology, covering bacteria, physiology, genetics, identification, and managing bacterial research.
Mycology
Examines mycology, covering fungi, physiology, genetics, identification, and managing fungal research.
Industrial Microbiology
Covers industrial microbiology, covering fermentation, products, processes, quality, and managing industrial microbiology.
Environmental Microbiology
Focuses on environmental microbiology, covering soil, water, waste, bioremediation, and managing environmental microbiology.
Microbial Genetics and Molecular Biology
Examines microbial genetics, covering DNA, genes, expression, techniques, and managing microbial molecular biology.
Food Microbiology
Covers food microbiology, covering safety, spoilage, fermentation, quality, and managing food microbiology.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Microbiology programme combines lectures, laboratory practicals, seminars, journal clubs, and independent study. Sessions cover bacteriology, mycology, virology, microbial genetics, and industrial microbiology. Bacteriology sessions examine bacteria, physiology, genetics, identification, and managing bacterial research. Mycology sessions cover fungi, physiology, genetics, identification, and managing fungal research. Virology sessions cover viruses, structure, replication, pathogenesis, and managing viral research. Microbial genetics sessions cover DNA, genes, expression, techniques, and managing microbial molecular biology. Industrial microbiology sessions cover fermentation, products, processes, quality, and managing industrial microbiology. Environmental microbiology sessions cover soil, water, waste, bioremediation, and managing environmental microbiology. Immunology sessions cover immune, responses, host-microbe, and managing immunology research. Laboratory practicals provide hands-on experience with bacterial culture, identification, antimicrobial testing, molecular techniques, and fermentation. Seminars and journal clubs provide opportunities for presenting research findings and discussing current scientific literature. Guest lectures from experienced microbiologists, researchers, and industry professionals provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a microbiology topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme offered at two public universities (UoN and TUK) providing options for students.
TUK offers competitive fees at KES 463,200 total (~KES 231,600/year).
High demand for microbiology professionals across healthcare, food, pharmaceuticals, and research sectors.
Programme covers diverse areas including industrial, environmental, and medical microbiology.

Against it

UoN fees are high at KES 731,000 total (~KES 365,500/year).
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Programme requires a Bachelor's degree in Microbiology, Biology, or related field, limiting access.
Significant fee disparity between TUK (KES 463,200) and UoN (KES 731,000) 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 243 science courses

Public201k to 366k

201k at Technical University of Kenya366k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 296k

150k at Kabarak University296k at USIU-Africa

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 Bio Sci ~365K/yr (biology.uonbi.ac.ke). TUK ~201K/yr. USIU ~295K/yr.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. UoN and TUK may offer scholarships for eligible students. KEMRI may offer research grants for microbiology research. Some pharmaceutical companies, food industries, and research institutions 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 365,500Kenyan
University of Nairobi offers scholarships for eligible postgraduate students.
KEMRI Research Grant
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
KEMRI may offer research grants for microbiology research.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: UoN requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in a relevant discipline; persons with lower qualifications but with publications and postgraduate diplomas may be considered. TUK requires at least a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) degree, or Lower Second Class with at least two years of relevant experience or a Postgraduate Diploma. Contact the 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, seminar presentations, journal club participation, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering bacteriology, mycology, virology, microbial genetics, and industrial microbiology.
Laboratory Assessment
Project40% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory work, culture exercises, molecular techniques, and demonstrating microbiology skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a microbiology topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and microbiology knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi and Technical University of Kenya (both public) offer MSc in Microbiology. The programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in microbiology. Graduates are eligible for ASM professional membership and KEMRI professional certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi and Technical University of Kenya (both public) offer MSc in Microbiology. The programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in microbiology. Graduates are eligible for ASM professional membership and KEMRI professional certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Microbiologist
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Conducts microbiology analysis and research, overseeing identification, testing, analysis, and managing microbiology.
Research Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Conducts microbiology research, overseeing research, experiments, analysis, and managing research projects.
Industrial Microbiologist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages industrial microbiology operations, overseeing fermentation, production, quality, and managing industrial microbiology.
Quality Control Microbiologist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages quality control, overseeing testing, standards, compliance, and managing microbiological quality.
Clinical Laboratory Scientist
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages clinical laboratory operations, overseeing testing, diagnosis, quality, and managing clinical 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

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microscopy Systems
EquipmentPrimary
Light and fluorescence microscopy systems for microbial examination, covering identification, staining, microscopy, and managing microbiology diagnostics.
PCR and Molecular Systems
Equipment
PCR and molecular systems for microbial genetics, covering amplification, detection, sequencing, and managing molecular 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.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Microbiology is just about studying bacteria.
Microbiology covers comprehensive bacteriology, mycology, virology, genetics, industrial, and environmental microbiology beyond just studying bacteria.
This programme is only for medical laboratory scientists.
Microbiology skills are valuable for food scientists, pharmacists, environmental scientists, biotechnologists, and researchers beyond just medical laboratory scientists.
Industrial microbiology is just about brewing beer.
Industrial microbiology covers comprehensive fermentation, pharmaceuticals, enzymes, biofuels, and bioproducts beyond just brewing beer.
Environmental microbiology is just about testing water.
Environmental microbiology covers comprehensive soil, water, waste, bioremediation, and microbial ecology beyond just testing water.
Microbiology careers are limited to laboratories.
Microbiology careers span research, industry, education, regulation, consulting, and entrepreneurship beyond just laboratory work.
Microbial genetics is just about bacterial DNA.
Microbial genetics covers comprehensive gene expression, regulation, horizontal transfer, and molecular techniques beyond just bacterial DNA.