Science

Master of Science in Nutrition

The Master of Science in Nutrition is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates in nutritional science, community nutrition, clinical nutrition, and dietetics. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers in nutrition research, dietetics, public health nutrition, food policy, and nutrition programme management.

Core areas include nutritional science, community nutrition, clinical nutrition, dietetics, nutritional biochemistry, nutritional assessment, food science, public health nutrition, nutrition policy, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical nutrition applications.

The programme is offered by Kirinyaga University, Strathmore University, and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, with Kisii University as a college. MMUST offers related MSc Food Science and Nutrition, MSc Medical Dietetics, and MSc Public Health Nutrition (all accredited 2015). Kenyatta University offers MSc Food, Nutrition and Dietetics. Kisii University offers related nutrition programmes.

Students develop competencies in nutritional assessment, dietary analysis, community nutrition, clinical dietetics, nutrition research, and programme management. The programme includes coursework, laboratory practicals, community placements, examinations, supervised research, and thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years. MMUST offers related nutrition programmes accredited since 2015. Kenyatta University requires BSc in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics or related with Upper Second. Entry requires Bachelor's degree in nutrition, food science, dietetics, or related fields.

Graduates pursue careers as nutritionists, dietitians, public health nutritionists, nutrition researchers, and lecturers in hospitals, public health programmes, research institutions, NGOs, and universities.

Skills Required

Nutritional Science and Biochemistry
Community Nutrition and Public Health
Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics
Nutritional Assessment and Dietary Analysis
Food Science and Food Safety
Nutrition Programme Planning and Management
Nutritional Epidemiology
Food Policy and Nutrition Policy
Therapeutic Diet Planning
Nutrition Research Methods

Key Subjects

Nutritional Science
Community Nutrition
Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics
Nutritional Biochemistry
Nutritional Assessment
Food Science
Public Health Nutrition
Nutritional Epidemiology
Food and Nutrition Policy
Nutrition Research Methods

Certifications

KNDI Nutritionist/Dietician Certification
IUNS Nutrition Certification

Specializations

Community Nutrition

Focuses on community nutrition, public health nutrition, community-based nutrition programmes, nutrition education, and addressing malnutrition in communities.

Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics

Examines clinical nutrition, medical nutrition therapy, therapeutic diets, dietetics, disease management, and applying nutrition in clinical settings.

Nutritional Biochemistry

Covers nutritional biochemistry, macronutrients, micronutrients, metabolism, nutritional physiology, and understanding nutrition at the biochemical level.

Public Health Nutrition

Focuses on public health nutrition, nutrition policy, nutrition programmes, malnutrition, food security, and addressing nutrition at population level.

Food Science

Examines food science, food composition, food processing, food safety, food preservation, and understanding food science relevant to nutrition.

Nutritional Epidemiology

Covers nutritional epidemiology, diet-disease relationships, nutrition surveys, dietary assessment methods, and studying nutrition and health in populations.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 428,000
Private, up to: Ksh 300,000
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

Nutritional Science
Community Nutrition
Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics
Nutritional Biochemistry
Nutritional Assessment
Food Science
Public Health Nutrition
Nutritional Epidemiology
Food and Nutrition Policy
Nutrition Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Nutritional Science and Biochemistry
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines macronutrients, micronutrients, energy metabolism, nutritional physiology, digestion, absorption, nutritional biochemistry, and understanding nutrition at the biochemical level.
Community Nutrition and Public Health
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers community nutrition, public health nutrition, malnutrition, nutrition education, community-based programmes, nutrition promotion, and addressing malnutrition in communities.
Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines medical nutrition therapy, therapeutic diets, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, cancer nutrition, paediatric nutrition, and applying nutrition in clinical settings.
Nutritional Assessment and Dietary Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers anthropometry, biochemical assessment, clinical assessment, dietary assessment, 24-hour recall, food frequency questionnaires, dietary analysis software, and assessing nutritional status.
Food Science and Food Safety
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines food composition, food processing, food preservation, food safety, food fortification, food additives, food labelling, and understanding food science relevant to nutrition.
Public Health Nutrition and Nutrition Policy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers nutrition policy, nutrition programmes, food security, school feeding, infant feeding, breastfeeding, food fortification, and addressing nutrition at population level.
Nutritional Epidemiology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines diet-disease relationships, nutrition surveys, cohort studies, dietary patterns, nutritional epidemiology methods, and studying nutrition and health in populations.
Nutrition Programme Planning and Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers programme planning, programme management, monitoring and evaluation, behaviour change communication, nutrition interventions, and planning and managing nutrition programmes.
Therapeutic Diet Planning and Counselling
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines therapeutic diet planning, diet counselling, motivational interviewing, nutrition support, enteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition, and planning and counselling for therapeutic diets.
Nutrition Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods for nutrition, dietary assessment methods, nutritional epidemiology, data analysis, statistical methods, and conducting nutrition research, preparing students for their thesis.
Maternal and Child Nutrition
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines maternal nutrition, pregnancy nutrition, lactation, infant feeding, complementary feeding, child nutrition, growth, and supporting maternal and child nutrition.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a nutrition topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and nutrition knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Community Nutrition
Focuses on community nutrition, public health nutrition, community-based nutrition programmes, nutrition education, and addressing malnutrition in communities.
Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics
Examines clinical nutrition, medical nutrition therapy, therapeutic diets, dietetics, disease management, and applying nutrition in clinical settings.
Nutritional Biochemistry
Covers nutritional biochemistry, macronutrients, micronutrients, metabolism, nutritional physiology, and understanding nutrition at the biochemical level.
Public Health Nutrition
Focuses on public health nutrition, nutrition policy, nutrition programmes, malnutrition, food security, and addressing nutrition at population level.
Food Science
Examines food science, food composition, food processing, food safety, food preservation, and understanding food science relevant to nutrition.
Nutritional Epidemiology
Covers nutritional epidemiology, diet-disease relationships, nutrition surveys, dietary assessment methods, and studying nutrition and health in populations.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc Nutrition programme begins with morning lectures on nutritional science, community nutrition, or clinical nutrition. Students engage in theoretical discussions on nutrition, metabolism, and health. Nutritional science sessions cover macronutrients, micronutrients, energy metabolism, nutritional physiology, digestion, absorption, and understanding nutrition at the biochemical level. Community nutrition sessions examine community nutrition, public health nutrition, malnutrition, nutrition education, community-based programmes, and addressing malnutrition in communities. Clinical nutrition sessions cover medical nutrition therapy, therapeutic diets, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, cancer nutrition, and applying nutrition in clinical settings. Nutritional assessment sessions examine anthropometry, biochemical assessment, clinical assessment, dietary assessment, 24-hour recall, food frequency questionnaires, and assessing nutritional status. Food science sessions cover food composition, food processing, food preservation, food safety, food fortification, and understanding food science relevant to nutrition. Public health nutrition sessions examine nutrition policy, nutrition programmes, food security, school feeding, infant feeding, and addressing nutrition at population level. Nutritional epidemiology sessions cover diet-disease relationships, nutrition surveys, cohort studies, dietary patterns, and studying nutrition and health in populations. Nutrition programme sessions examine programme planning, programme management, monitoring and evaluation, behaviour change communication, and planning and managing nutrition programmes. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with nutritional analysis, dietary analysis, food analysis, biochemical assays, and nutritional techniques. Community placements provide hands-on experience with community nutrition assessment, nutrition education, programme implementation, and field surveys. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering nutrition research methods, dietary assessment, and data analysis. Guest lectures from KNDI officials, MoH nutrition officers, FAO experts, KALRO researchers, and international nutrition experts provide real-world insights. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's high malnutrition burden, growing diet-related diseases, food security challenges, and nutrition policy needs create high demand for qualified nutrition professionals.
MMUST offers related MSc Food Science and Nutrition, MSc Medical Dietetics, and MSc Public Health Nutrition (all accredited 2015), providing established training options.
Career opportunities with hospitals, public health programmes, KNDI, MoH, FAO, WHO, NGOs, research institutions, and food companies.
Programme addresses critical nutrition challenges including malnutrition, stunting, obesity, diabetes, and food insecurity in Kenya.

Against it

Programme requires nutrition, food science, or related background, which may exclude some graduates.
Strathmore fees at KES 150,000 per semester (~KES 300,000/year) are relatively expensive compared to public universities.
Community placements require access to nutrition programmes and community settings, which may be limited in some regions.
Specific fee structures for this exact programme at Kirinyaga, MMUST, and Strathmore could not be independently verified.

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

Public131k to 428k

131k at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology428k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 300k

150k at Mount Kenya University300k at Strathmore 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 ~428K/yr (uonbi.ac.ke). MMUST ~131K/yr. MKU ~150K/yr. Strathmore unverified

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. FAO supports food security and nutrition. WHO supports nutrition capacity building. KNDI supports nutrition professional development. The programme's nutrition focus attracts health sector, agriculture, and international funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
FAO Nutrition Funding
WHO Nutrition Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate nutrition studies at recognised universities.
FAO Nutrition Funding
GrantKsh 300,000
FAO supports food security and nutrition in Kenya, providing funding for postgraduate research in nutrition and food security.
WHO Nutrition Funding
GrantKsh 300,000
WHO supports nutrition capacity building, providing funding for postgraduate training and research in public health nutrition.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme accepts graduates from nutrition, food science, dietetics, biochemistry, biology, agriculture, medicine, nursing, and related fields. Kenyatta University requires BSc in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics or related with Upper Second, or Lower with 2 years experience. Two-year programme with full-time and part-time modes.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, laboratory reports, dietary analysis projects, case studies, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering nutritional science, clinical nutrition, community nutrition, and public health nutrition, conducted at end of each semester.
Laboratory and Community Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Assessment of laboratory work, nutritional analysis, community placements, dietary assessment, and practical reports.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a nutrition topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and nutrition knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). MMUST offers related MSc Food Science and Nutrition, MSc Medical Dietetics, and MSc Public Health Nutrition (all accredited 2015). Kenyatta University offers MSc Food, Nutrition and Dietetics. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate nutrition training. KNDI regulates nutrition and dietetics practice in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. MMUST offers related MSc Food Science and Nutrition, MSc Medical Dietetics, and MSc Public Health Nutrition (accredited 2015). Kenyatta University offers MSc Food, Nutrition and Dietetics. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate nutrition training.
Kenya Nutritionists and Dieticians Institute (KNDI)
Professional accreditationRequired
KNDI regulates nutrition and dietetics practice in Kenya. Graduates must be registered with KNDI to practise as nutritionists or dietitians in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Nutritionist
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Provides nutrition services, overseeing nutritional assessment, community nutrition, nutrition education, and supporting nutrition programmes and services.
Dietitian
High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Provides clinical nutrition and dietetics services, overseeing medical nutrition therapy, therapeutic diets, and supporting clinical nutrition services.
Public Health Nutritionist
High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages public health nutrition programmes, overseeing nutrition policy, malnutrition interventions, and supporting population-level nutrition.
Nutrition Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Conducts nutrition research, overseeing research projects, dietary studies, nutritional epidemiology, and supporting nutrition research.
Nutrition Programme Manager
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages nutrition programmes, overseeing programme planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and supporting nutrition programme delivery.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches nutrition and dietetics in universities, conducting research and training future nutrition professionals.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as nutritionists, dietitians, and public health nutritionists in hospitals, public health programmes, NGOs, and research institutions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

NutriSurvey
SoftwarePrimary
Dietary assessment software for 24-hour recall, food frequency questionnaires, nutrient intake analysis, dietary data collection, and analysing dietary intake data.
SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for nutrition research data analysis, nutritional epidemiology, survey data, and statistical modelling in nutrition research.
WHO Anthro
Software
WHO child growth standards software for anthropometric analysis, growth monitoring, nutritional status assessment, and analysing child growth data.
Excel
Software
Spreadsheet software for dietary analysis, nutritional assessment data, food composition data, programme monitoring, and managing nutrition data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Nutrition is just about eating healthy food.
The programme involves nutritional biochemistry, clinical dietetics, public health nutrition, epidemiology, food science, and research, covering comprehensive nutritional science.
This programme is only for food science graduates.
The programme accepts graduates from nutrition, food science, dietetics, biochemistry, biology, agriculture, medicine, nursing, and related fields.
There is limited demand for nutritionists in Kenya.
Kenya's high malnutrition burden, growing diet-related diseases, food security challenges, and nutrition policy needs create high demand for qualified nutrition professionals.
Nutrition is only about individual dietary advice.
Nutrition covers community nutrition, public health nutrition, food policy, nutrition programmes, food security, and population-level nutrition, not just individual advice.
Dietitians and nutritionists do the same thing.
Dietitians specialise in clinical nutrition and medical nutrition therapy, while nutritionists cover broader community nutrition, public health, and food policy roles.
A master's in nutrition is redundant after a bachelor's in nutrition.
The master's provides specialised nutrition skills, research capability, and career progression to senior nutrition and dietetics positions.