Health Sciences

Master of Science in Pharmacognosy & Complementary Medicine

The Master of Science in Pharmacognosy and Complementary Medicine is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in the study of medicines from natural sources and complementary medicine systems. The programme provides specialised training in pharmacognosy, natural product chemistry, phytotherapy, and complementary medicine research.

Core areas include pharmacognosy, chemistry of natural drugs, pharmacology of natural drugs, complementary and alternative medicines, quality assurance of natural products, drug discovery from natural sources, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, laboratory sessions, and research.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi through the Department of Pharmacy, specifically the Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy unit. UoN is a public university offering the programme over two to four years through full-time and part-time study, combining coursework with laboratory practicals and research.

Students develop competencies in natural product chemistry, pharmacognosy, complementary medicine, quality assurance, drug discovery, and research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, laboratory practicals, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for pharmaceutical, research, and academic roles.

UoN charges approximately KES 795,000 total for the programme (~KES 397,500/year), based on comparable UoN Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences pharmacy masters programmes. No private university confirmed offering this exact programme. Entry requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Pharmacy or a relevant science from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as pharmacognosists, natural product researchers, pharmaceutical scientists, complementary medicine practitioners, quality assurance officers, and lecturers across pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, universities, regulatory agencies, and NGOs.

Skills Required

Pharmacognosy and Natural Product Chemistry
Chemistry of Natural Drugs
Pharmacology of Natural Drugs
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Quality Assurance of Natural Products
Drug Discovery from Natural Sources
Phytotherapy and Herbal Medicine
Research Methods in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Regulatory Affairs for Natural Medicines
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Pharmacognosy and Natural Product Chemistry
Chemistry of Natural Drugs
Pharmacology of Natural Drugs
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Quality Assurance of Natural Products
Drug Discovery from Natural Sources
Phytotherapy and Herbal Medicine
Research Methods in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Regulatory Affairs for Natural Medicines
Thesis Research

Certifications

Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) Registration
American Society of Pharmacognosy (ASP) Membership

Specializations

Pharmacognosy

Focuses on pharmacognosy, covering natural, products, medicines, plants, and managing pharmacognosy research.

Natural Product Chemistry

Examines natural product chemistry, covering chemistry, natural, drugs, analysis, and managing natural product chemistry.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Covers complementary medicine, covering alternative, traditional, herbal, and managing complementary and alternative medicine.

Drug Discovery from Natural Sources

Focuses on drug discovery, covering natural, sources, discovery, development, and managing drug discovery from natural sources.

Quality Assurance of Natural Products

Examines quality assurance, covering quality, natural, products, standards, and managing quality assurance of natural products.

Phytotherapy and Herbal Medicine

Covers phytotherapy, covering herbal, medicine, plants, therapy, and managing phytotherapy and herbal medicine.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 397,500
Private, up to: Ksh 463,200
Job market: Moderate

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: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Pharmacognosy and Natural Product Chemistry
Chemistry of Natural Drugs
Pharmacology of Natural Drugs
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Quality Assurance of Natural Products
Drug Discovery from Natural Sources
Phytotherapy and Herbal Medicine
Research Methods in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Regulatory Affairs for Natural Medicines
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Pharmacognosy and Natural Medicine
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines natural, products, medicines, plants, and managing pharmacognosy and natural medicine fundamentals.
Chemistry of Natural Drugs I
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers chemistry, natural, drugs, analysis, and managing chemistry of natural drugs including alkaloids and glycosides.
Pharmacology of Natural Drugs
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines pharmacology, natural, drugs, effects, and managing pharmacology of natural drugs and their therapeutic effects.
Complementary and Alternative Medicines
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers alternative, traditional, herbal, and managing complementary and alternative medicine systems and practices.
Chemistry of Natural Drugs II
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines advanced chemistry, natural, drugs, analysis, and managing advanced chemistry of natural drugs including terpenes and flavonoids.
Drug Discovery from Natural Sources
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers discovery, natural, sources, development, and managing drug discovery from natural sources including screening and lead compounds.
Quality Assurance and Quality Control of Natural Products
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines quality, natural, products, standards, and managing quality assurance and quality control of natural product medicines.
Research Methods in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research, design, methods, ethics, and conducting research in pharmaceutical sciences, preparing students for their thesis.
Production of Natural Medicines and Supply Chain
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines production, natural, medicines, supply, and managing production of natural medicines and supply chain management.
Regulatory Affairs for Natural Medicines
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers regulatory, natural, medicines, policy, and managing regulatory affairs for natural medicines and traditional medicine products.
Advanced Topics in Pharmacognosy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines current research, emerging topics, phytomedicines, and managing advanced topics in pharmacognosy and complementary medicine.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 212 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a pharmacognosy or complementary medicine topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and pharmacognosy knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Pharmacognosy
Focuses on pharmacognosy, covering natural, products, medicines, plants, and managing pharmacognosy research.
Natural Product Chemistry
Examines natural product chemistry, covering chemistry, natural, drugs, analysis, and managing natural product chemistry.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Covers complementary medicine, covering alternative, traditional, herbal, and managing complementary and alternative medicine.
Drug Discovery from Natural Sources
Focuses on drug discovery, covering natural, sources, discovery, development, and managing drug discovery from natural sources.
Quality Assurance of Natural Products
Examines quality assurance, covering quality, natural, products, standards, and managing quality assurance of natural products.
Phytotherapy and Herbal Medicine
Covers phytotherapy, covering herbal, medicine, plants, therapy, and managing phytotherapy and herbal medicine.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Pharmacognosy and Complementary Medicine programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, seminars, group discussions, and independent study. Sessions cover pharmacognosy, natural product chemistry, pharmacology of natural drugs, and complementary medicine. Pharmacognosy sessions examine natural, products, medicines, plants, and managing pharmacognosy research. Natural product chemistry sessions cover chemistry, natural, drugs, analysis, and managing natural product chemistry. Pharmacology of natural drugs sessions cover pharmacology, natural, drugs, effects, and managing pharmacology of natural drugs. Complementary medicine sessions cover alternative, traditional, herbal, and managing complementary and alternative medicine. Drug discovery sessions cover discovery, natural, sources, development, and managing drug discovery from natural sources. Quality assurance sessions cover quality, natural, products, standards, and managing quality assurance of natural products. Phytotherapy sessions cover herbal, medicine, plants, therapy, and managing phytotherapy and herbal medicine. Research methods sessions cover research, design, methods, ethics, and conducting research in pharmaceutical sciences. Laboratory sessions provide practical experience in extraction, isolation, characterisation, and analysis of natural products. Seminars provide opportunities for presenting research findings and discussing current issues in pharmacognosy and complementary medicine. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a pharmacognosy or complementary medicine topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme bridges traditional medicine and modern pharmaceutical science.
Programme covers drug discovery from natural sources, a growing research area.
Graduates are eligible for PPB registration and ASP membership.
WHO estimates a large percentage of the world population relies on complementary medicine, creating demand.

Against it

Only one university (UoN, public) confirmed offering this specific programme.
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Exact fee not separately listed; estimated from comparable UoN pharmacy masters programmes.
Niche field with limited awareness among prospective students compared to mainstream pharmacy programmes.

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 398k

179k at JKUAT398k at University of Nairobi

Private149k to 463k

149k at Mount Kenya University463k 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

UoN ~397.5K/yr, JKUAT ~178.5K/yr verified (kenyaeducationguide). AKU, MKU unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. University of Nairobi may offer scholarships for eligible students. KEMRI may offer research grants for natural product and traditional medicine research. Some pharmaceutical companies and international organisations may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
University of Nairobi Scholarship
KEMRI Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
University of Nairobi Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
UoN may offer scholarships for eligible postgraduate pharmacy students.
KEMRI Research Grant
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
KEMRI may offer research grants for natural product and traditional medicine 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 a minimum of an Upper Second Class Honours degree in the relevant discipline. Persons with lower qualifications but with postgraduate diplomas after Bachelor's degrees are also considered. Contact UoN 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, group discussions, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering pharmacognosy, natural product chemistry, pharmacology of natural drugs, and complementary medicine.
Laboratory Assessment
Project40% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory sessions, demonstrating extraction, isolation, characterisation, and analysis of natural products.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a pharmacognosy or complementary medicine topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and pharmacognosy knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi (public) offers MSc in Pharmacognosy and Complementary Medicine through the Department of Pharmacy. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in pharmacognosy. Graduates should be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB). The programme aligns with WHO traditional medicine standards and ASP pharmacognosy standards.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi (public) offers MSc in Pharmacognosy and Complementary Medicine through the Department of Pharmacy. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in pharmacognosy. Graduates should be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB). The programme aligns with WHO traditional medicine standards and ASP pharmacognosy standards.
Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB)
Professional accreditationRequired
PPB regulates pharmacy practice and medicines in Kenya. Graduates working in pharmacy or medicines regulation should be registered with PPB.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Pharmacognosist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Conducts pharmacognosy research, overseeing natural, products, medicines, and managing pharmacognosy research.
Natural Product Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 450,000
Conducts natural product research, overseeing studies, discovery, analysis, and managing natural product research.
Pharmaceutical Scientist
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages pharmaceutical research and development, overseeing drugs, development, quality, and managing pharmaceutical science.
Complementary Medicine Practitioner
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000
Practises complementary medicine, overseeing herbal, traditional, therapy, and managing complementary medicine practice.
Quality Assurance Officer
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000
Manages quality assurance of natural products, overseeing quality, standards, control, and managing quality assurance.
Pharmacognosy Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Teaches pharmacognosy at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Chromatography Equipment
EquipmentPrimary
Chromatography equipment for separation and analysis of natural products, covering HPLC, GC, TLC, and managing natural product analysis.
Spectroscopy Equipment
Equipment
Spectroscopy equipment for structural elucidation of natural compounds, covering NMR, MS, IR, and managing compound identification.
SPSS
Software
SPSS for statistical analysis of research data, covering statistics, analysis, research, and managing research data.
Molecular Modelling Software
Software
Molecular modelling software for drug discovery, covering docking, modelling, simulation, and managing drug discovery from natural sources.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Pharmacognosy is just about herbal medicine.
Pharmacognosy covers comprehensive natural product chemistry, drug discovery, quality assurance, and research beyond just herbal medicine.
Complementary medicine is not scientific.
Complementary medicine research uses rigorous scientific methods including clinical trials, phytochemistry, and evidence-based practice to evaluate traditional remedies.
This programme is only for pharmacists.
Pharmacognosy is open to graduates in pharmacy, chemistry, biological sciences, and related fields, not just pharmacists.
Natural medicines are always safe.
Natural medicines can have side effects, interactions, and toxicity; pharmacognosy research evaluates safety, efficacy, and quality systematically.
Pharmacognosy is outdated in modern pharmacy.
Pharmacognosy remains highly relevant as many modern drugs derive from natural sources and drug discovery from nature continues to be a major research area.
Traditional medicine and modern medicine are incompatible.
Pharmacognosy bridges traditional and modern medicine by scientifically validating traditional remedies and integrating them into evidence-based practice.