Health Sciences

Master of Science in Plant Physiology and Biochemistry

The Master of Science in Plant Physiology and Biochemistry is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in plant physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology research. The programme provides specialised training in photosynthesis, plant water relations, mineral nutrition, secondary metabolism, plant growth and development, and microbial physiology.

Core areas include methods and techniques in botany, biometry, photosynthesis, plant water relations, plant mineral nutrition, secondary plant metabolism, physiology of plant growth and development, physiology of higher plant reproduction, microbial physiology, research methodology, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, laboratory sessions, field work, and research.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Maseno University, and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. All are public universities offering plant physiology and biochemistry programmes over two years through full-time and part-time study, combining coursework with laboratory and field research.

Students develop competencies in plant physiology, biochemistry, photosynthesis research, plant nutrition, secondary metabolism, growth regulation, and research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, laboratory and field work, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for agricultural research, biotechnology, and academic roles.

JKUAT charges approximately KES 140,000 per year while the University of Nairobi charges approximately KES 365,500 per year. No private university confirmed offering this exact programme. Entry requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Botany, Plant Science, or a related biological science from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as plant physiologists, biochemists, agricultural researchers, biotechnologists, food scientists, and lecturers across agricultural research institutions, biotechnology companies, universities, food processing companies, and government agencies.

Skills Required

Plant Physiology and Photosynthesis Research
Plant Biochemistry and Metabolism
Plant Water Relations and Mineral Nutrition
Secondary Plant Metabolism and Natural Products
Plant Growth and Development Physiology
Plant Reproduction Physiology
Microbial Physiology and Biochemistry
Biotechnology and Plant Tissue Culture
Research Methods in Plant Sciences
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Methods and Techniques in Botany
Photosynthesis and Plant Energy
Plant Water Relations and Mineral Nutrition
Secondary Plant Metabolism and Natural Products
Physiology of Plant Growth and Development
Physiology of Higher Plant Reproduction
Microbial Physiology and Biochemistry
Biotechnology and Plant Tissue Culture
Research Methodology in Plant Sciences
Thesis Research

Certifications

KALRO Professional Membership
ASPB Professional Membership

Specializations

Photosynthesis Research

Focuses on photosynthesis, covering photosynthesis, light, carbon, energy, and managing photosynthesis research.

Plant Nutrition

Examines plant nutrition, covering minerals, nutrients, uptake, deficiency, and managing plant mineral nutrition.

Secondary Metabolism

Covers secondary metabolism, covering metabolites, compounds, biosynthesis, products, and managing secondary plant metabolism.

Plant Growth and Development

Focuses on plant growth, covering growth, development, hormones, regulation, and managing plant growth and development physiology.

Plant Water Relations

Examines plant water relations, covering water, relations, transport, stress, and managing plant water relations.

Plant Reproduction Physiology

Covers plant reproduction, covering reproduction, flowering, fruit, seed, and managing physiology of plant reproduction.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 365,500
Private, up to: Ksh 319,500
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: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Methods and Techniques in Botany
Photosynthesis and Plant Energy
Plant Water Relations and Mineral Nutrition
Secondary Plant Metabolism and Natural Products
Physiology of Plant Growth and Development
Physiology of Higher Plant Reproduction
Microbial Physiology and Biochemistry
Biotechnology and Plant Tissue Culture
Research Methodology in Plant Sciences
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Methods and Techniques in Botany
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines methods, techniques, botany, identification, and managing methods and techniques in botany for plant physiology research.
Biometry, Experimentation and Methodology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers biometry, experimentation, methodology, statistics, and managing biometry and experimental methodology in plant sciences.
Photosynthesis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines photosynthesis, light, carbon, energy, and managing photosynthesis research and plant energy metabolism.
Plant Water Relations
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers water, relations, transport, stress, and managing plant water relations and water stress physiology.
Plant Mineral Nutrition
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines minerals, nutrients, uptake, deficiency, and managing plant mineral nutrition and nutrient management.
Secondary Plant Metabolism
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers metabolites, compounds, biosynthesis, products, and managing secondary plant metabolism and natural product biosynthesis.
Physiology of Higher Plant Reproduction
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines reproduction, flowering, fruit, seed, and managing physiology of higher plant reproduction.
Physiology of Plant Growth and Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers growth, development, hormones, regulation, and managing physiology of plant growth and development.
Microbial Physiology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines microbial, physiology, biochemistry, metabolism, and managing microbial physiology and biochemistry.
Biotechnology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers biotechnology, tissue culture, genetics, and managing plant biotechnology and tissue culture techniques.
Research Methodology and Proposal Writing
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines research, methodology, proposal, writing, and conducting research in plant physiology and biochemistry, preparing students for their thesis.
Research Project and Thesis
Year 2Semester 212 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a plant physiology or biochemistry topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and plant physiology knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Photosynthesis Research
Focuses on photosynthesis, covering photosynthesis, light, carbon, energy, and managing photosynthesis research.
Plant Nutrition
Examines plant nutrition, covering minerals, nutrients, uptake, deficiency, and managing plant mineral nutrition.
Secondary Metabolism
Covers secondary metabolism, covering metabolites, compounds, biosynthesis, products, and managing secondary plant metabolism.
Plant Growth and Development
Focuses on plant growth, covering growth, development, hormones, regulation, and managing plant growth and development physiology.
Plant Water Relations
Examines plant water relations, covering water, relations, transport, stress, and managing plant water relations.
Plant Reproduction Physiology
Covers plant reproduction, covering reproduction, flowering, fruit, seed, and managing physiology of plant reproduction.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Plant Physiology and Biochemistry programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, field work, seminars, group discussions, and independent study. Sessions cover photosynthesis, plant water relations, mineral nutrition, and secondary metabolism. Photosynthesis sessions examine photosynthesis, light, carbon, energy, and managing photosynthesis research. Plant water relations sessions cover water, relations, transport, stress, and managing plant water relations. Mineral nutrition sessions cover minerals, nutrients, uptake, deficiency, and managing plant mineral nutrition. Secondary metabolism sessions cover metabolites, compounds, biosynthesis, products, and managing secondary plant metabolism. Plant growth sessions cover growth, development, hormones, regulation, and managing plant growth and development. Plant reproduction sessions cover reproduction, flowering, fruit, seed, and managing plant reproduction physiology. Microbial physiology sessions cover microbial, physiology, biochemistry, metabolism, and managing microbial physiology. Biotechnology sessions cover biotechnology, tissue culture, genetics, and managing plant biotechnology. Research methods sessions cover research, design, methods, biometry, and conducting research in plant sciences. Laboratory sessions provide practical experience in biochemical assays, photosynthesis measurement, and plant tissue culture. Field work provides practical experience in plant sampling, growth measurement, and environmental monitoring. Seminars provide opportunities for presenting research findings and discussing current issues in plant physiology. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a plant physiology or biochemistry topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme combines plant physiology and biochemistry, providing comprehensive training in plant science.
Programme offered at multiple public universities providing choice and flexibility.
Graduates are eligible for KALRO professional membership and ASPB membership.
Programme is relevant to agriculture, biotechnology, food science, and pharmaceuticals.

Against it

No private university confirmed offering this exact programme name.
Fees vary significantly, from KES 140,000/year at JKUAT to KES 365,500/year at UoN.
Programme requires strong background in biology and chemistry for entry.
Laboratory work components require significant time commitment alongside coursework.

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 366k

179k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology366k at University of Nairobi

Private149k to 320k

149k at Mount Kenya University320k at United States International University 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 ~365.5K/yr, JKUAT ~178.5K/yr verified. USIU, MKU verified general rates.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Universities may offer scholarships for eligible students. KALRO may offer research grants for plant physiology and agricultural research. Some biotechnology companies and international organisations may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
University Scholarship
KALRO Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
University Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
Universities may offer scholarships for eligible postgraduate plant science students.
KALRO Research Grant
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
KALRO may offer research grants for plant physiology and agricultural research.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Most universities require at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Botany, Plant Science, or a related field. Lower Second Class may be considered with relevant experience or evidence of research ability. Contact respective 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, field reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering photosynthesis, plant water relations, mineral nutrition, secondary metabolism, and plant growth physiology.
Laboratory Assessment
Project40% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory sessions, demonstrating biochemical assays, photosynthesis measurement, and tissue culture techniques.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a plant physiology or biochemistry topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and plant physiology knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Maseno University, and JKUAT (all public) offer MSc in Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in plant physiology and biochemistry. Graduates may interact with KALRO for research collaboration and KEBS for quality standards. The programme aligns with IAPB and ASPB international plant biology standards.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Maseno University, and JKUAT (all public) offer MSc in Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in plant physiology and biochemistry. Graduates may interact with KALRO for research collaboration and KEBS for quality standards. The programme aligns with IAPB and ASPB international plant biology standards.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Plant Physiologist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Conducts plant physiology research, overseeing physiology, metabolism, growth, and managing plant physiology research.
Biochemist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 450,000
Conducts biochemistry research, overseeing biochemistry, metabolism, analysis, and managing biochemistry research.
Agricultural Researcher
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Conducts agricultural research, overseeing studies, experiments, publications, and managing agricultural research.
Biotechnologist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Conducts plant biotechnology research, overseeing tissue culture, molecular, genetics, and managing plant biotechnology.
Food Scientist
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages food science research and development, overseeing food, quality, processing, and managing food science.
Plant Science Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Teaches plant physiology and biochemistry at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Spectrophotometer
EquipmentPrimary
Spectrophotometer for biochemical assays, covering absorption, fluorescence, analysis, and managing biochemical analysis.
Chlorophyll Fluorometer
Equipment
Chlorophyll fluorometer for photosynthesis measurement, covering fluorescence, photosynthesis, measurement, and managing photosynthesis research.
SPSS
Software
SPSS for statistical analysis of research data, covering statistics, analysis, research, and managing research data.
Tissue Culture Equipment
Equipment
Tissue culture equipment for plant micropropagation, covering culture, propagation, regeneration, and managing plant tissue culture.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Plant physiology is just about how plants grow.
Plant physiology covers comprehensive molecular, cellular, and organismal processes including photosynthesis, metabolism, nutrition, stress responses, and reproduction beyond just growth.
This programme is only for those who want to be botanists.
Plant physiology and biochemistry skills are valuable in agriculture, biotechnology, food science, pharmaceuticals, and environmental management beyond just botany.
Plant biochemistry is not relevant to industry.
Plant biochemistry underpins industries including food processing, pharmaceuticals, biofuels, cosmetics, and agriculture through secondary metabolites and natural products.
Plant physiology has limited career opportunities in Kenya.
Kenya's agricultural sector, biotechnology industry, and research institutions create demand for plant physiology and biochemistry professionals.
Plant physiology is outdated in the age of molecular biology.
Plant physiology integrates molecular biology, genomics, and biotechnology, making it more advanced and relevant than ever.
Biochemistry is only about human health.
Plant biochemistry is equally important, underpinning food security, natural products, biofuels, and environmental sustainability.