Master of Science in Occupational Health & Safety
The Master of Science in Occupational Health & Safety is a master's programme offered at Kenyan universities. This postgraduate degree prepares professionals for advanced practice and research careers in health sciences.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 206,500 a year at a public institution, Ksh 206,500 to Ksh 413,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 216,450 a year at a private one.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of Second Class Honours (Upper Division) or equivalent or above, plus 1 subject grade. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 1-2 years, full-time, part-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 2 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Dental Ceramist, at 3 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
What you study
10 subjects- Epidemiology
- Biostatistics
- Health Systems Management
- Public Health Research Methods
- Health Policy and Planning
- Clinical Research Methods
- Health Economics
- Disease Control
- Nutrition Assessment
- Healthcare Ethics
Modules
12 in the programmeWorkplace Risk Assessment and Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Systematic identification and assessment of occupational hazards.
Occupational Hygiene
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Monitoring and controlling chemical, physical, and biological workplace exposures.
Safety Technology and Management
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Engineering and administrative controls for workplace safety.
Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Conducting EIAs and safety audits for industrial operations.
Occupational Health Policy and Law
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Kenya's Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulatory compliance framework.
Ergonomics
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Designing workplaces and tasks to reduce musculoskeletal and repetitive strain risks.
Fire Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Fire risk assessment and emergency response planning for workplaces.
Psychosocial Hazards and Workplace Wellbeing
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Managing stress, burnout, and psychosocial risks in the workplace.
Occupational Disease and Injury Surveillance
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Tracking and analysing workplace injury and disease trends.
Science of Safety and Environment
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Scientific principles underpinning safety and environmental management.
Industry Attachment
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Supervised placement conducting safety assessments within an industrial or corporate setting.
Thesis Research
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Independent research project with a required publication in a refereed journal.
Specialisations
Occupational Hygiene
Monitoring and controlling chemical and physical workplace exposures.
Ergonomics and Workplace Design
Reducing musculoskeletal risk through workplace and task design.
Environmental Health and Safety
Integrated environmental compliance and workplace safety management.
Safety Management Systems
Designing and auditing organisation-wide safety management frameworks.
Regulatory Compliance
Enforcement and policy engagement under Kenya's OSH Act.
A day as a student
A typical day involves attending public health lectures, analysing epidemiological data, participating in field visits, reviewing medical literature, presenting at journal clubs, and meeting with supervisors to discuss research projects.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Growing demand as Kenya's manufacturing and construction sectors expand under industrialisation goals. | Thesis component requires a published article in a refereed journal, extending completion time. |
| Applicable across diverse sectors including mining, construction, manufacturing, and corporate offices. | Salaries can vary significantly between public sector and private industry roles. |
| Strong regulatory backing through DOSHS partnership with JKUAT. | — |
| Practical, hands-on hazard assessment training through site visits. | — |
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 coursesAnnual 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 413k/2=206.5k/yr (kenyaeducationguide). TUK Grp II ~202k/yr (eafinder). Amref & MKU unverified.
WHO, KEMRI, and AMREF offer research grants. HELB provides postgraduate loans. CDC, NIH, and Fogarty International support health research in Kenya.
Funding options
HELB Postgraduate Loan
Loan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited postgraduate programmes
WHO Research Grant
Grant
Public health researchers in WHO priority areas
KEMRI Research Grant
Grant
Health researchers affiliated with KEMRI
Scholarships
4 recordedEmployer-Sponsored Study
SponsorshipKsh 300,000Kenyan
Employees nominated by manufacturing or construction employers for safety capacity-building
University Merit Scholarship
MeritKsh 150,000Kenyan
Top-performing applicants at admission
HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 220,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizen admitted to a CUE-accredited university
Kenya Association of Manufacturers Bursary
BursaryKsh 200,000Kenyan
Employees of KAM member companies pursuing OSH qualifications
Scholarships you could apply for
2 usable where it is taught- Chevening Scholarships Kenya
Closes 30 November 2026FullUK Government
Full masters in UK
- AfDB Japan Scholarship Program
Closes 28 February 2027FullAfrican Development Bank
Full graduate study abroad
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
Holders of a Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health with relevant work experience may be considered.
When it next starts
Taught at 2 institutionsIncluding Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenyatta University.
Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenyatta University.
Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenyatta University.
How you are assessed
5 componentsSite Safety Audit Report
Fieldwork20% of the mark
Practical safety audit conducted at an industrial or corporate site.
Coursework Assignments
Coursework10% of the mark
Written assignments across occupational hygiene and risk management topics.
Oral Defence
Viva5% of the mark
Oral examination defending thesis findings.
Thesis
Thesis25% of the mark
Independent research project with a required publication in a refereed journal.
Written Examinations
Exam40% of the mark
End-of-semester exams across the eleven taught units.
Accreditation
Commission for University Education
NationalRequired
All Kenyan universities offering this programme must be CUE accredited.
Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services
Professional
Programme developed in direct partnership with DOSHS; recognised for regulatory career pathways.
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Health programmes are also regulated by KMPDC, Pharmacy and Poisons Board, Nursing Council of Kenya, or Clinical Officers Council as applicable.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
5 rolesDOSHS Regulatory Officer
Low demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 220,000
Enforces occupational safety and health regulations nationally.
Occupational Health Manager
Medium demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 280,000
Oversees organisation-wide occupational health strategy and compliance.
Safety Consultant
Medium demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 270,000
Provides independent safety auditing and advisory services to businesses.
Occupational Safety Officer
Medium demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages workplace safety compliance and risk assessment programmes.
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Specialist
Medium demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 300,000
Manages integrated environmental and safety compliance for corporates.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers as public health officers, clinical specialists, health programme managers, medical researchers, and health policy advisors in Kenya's health sector.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Dental CeramistHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- Occupational Therapist AssistantHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- PsychologyHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- Dental ProsthetistHealth Sciences4Low exposure
- Dental Laboratory TechnicianHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- General DentistHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- Veterinary PathologistHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- Community Health NurseHealth Sciences6Low exposure
Common misconceptions
A Masters in Public Health is only for doctors.
MPH programmes accept applicants from diverse backgrounds including nursing, pharmacy, social sciences, and environmental health.
All health Masters require clinical practice experience.
While clinical experience is valuable, many public health and health systems Masters require a relevant bachelor's degree, not clinical practice.
Health Masters graduates only work in hospitals.
Graduates work in ministries, NGOs, international organisations, research institutions, insurance companies, and private sector.
A Masters in Nursing is the same as a PhD in Nursing.
A Masters prepares for advanced practice and education roles, while a PhD is focused on research and academic scholarship.