Master of Science in Public Health Systems Management
The Master of Science in Public Health Systems Management is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in health systems management, healthcare leadership, and health policy. The programme provides specialised training in health systems design, healthcare management, health financing, quality assurance, health information management, and health policy analysis.
Core areas include health systems management, healthcare leadership, health financing and economics, healthcare quality management, health information management, health policy and planning, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, case studies, and research.
The programme is offered by the Technical University of Kenya as a public institution, and Mount Kenya University, Amref International University, and Kenya Methodist University as private institutions. Multiple study modes are available including full-time, part-time, virtual, and distance learning over two years, combining coursework with research.
Students develop competencies in health systems management, healthcare leadership, health financing, quality management, health information, policy analysis, and research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, case studies, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for health systems leadership roles.
TUK charges approximately KES 231,600 per year while MKU charges approximately KES 169,100 per year. Entry requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in a relevant health or management field from a recognised institution.
Graduates pursue careers as health systems managers, healthcare administrators, health policy analysts, hospital managers, programme coordinators, and lecturers across ministries of health, county governments, hospitals, NGOs, and international health organisations.
Skills Required
- Health Systems Management and Design
- Healthcare Leadership and Governance
- Health Financing and Economics
- Healthcare Quality Management
- Health Information Management
- Health Policy Analysis and Planning
- Managing Human Resources for Health
- Health Project Management and Evaluation
- Research Methods in Health Systems
- Academic Writing and Thesis Research
Key Subjects
- Fundamentals of Health Systems Management
- Management and Leadership for Health
- Health Financing and Economics
- Healthcare Quality Management
- Health Information Management
- Managing Human Resources for Health
- Healthcare Commodities Management
- Health Systems Research Methods
- Health Project Management and Evaluation
- Thesis Research
Certifications
- Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Professional Development
- WHO Health Systems Management Certification
Specializations
Health Systems Management and Finance
Focuses on health systems management and finance, covering systems, management, finance, health, and managing health systems management and finance.
Healthcare Quality Management
Examines healthcare quality management, covering quality, healthcare, management, assurance, and managing healthcare quality management.
Health Information Management
Covers health information management, covering information, health, management, systems, and managing health information management systems.
Health Policy and Planning
Focuses on health policy and planning, covering policy, health, planning, analysis, and managing health policy and planning.
Healthcare Leadership
Examines healthcare leadership, covering leadership, healthcare, management, governance, and managing healthcare leadership and governance.
Health Project Management
Covers health project management, covering projects, health, management, evaluation, and managing health project management and evaluation.
- Duration
- 2 years
- Public, up to
- Ksh 231,600
- Private, up to
- Ksh 216,450
- Job market
- High
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
What you study
10 subjects- Fundamentals of Health Systems Management
- Management and Leadership for Health
- Health Financing and Economics
- Healthcare Quality Management
- Health Information Management
- Managing Human Resources for Health
- Healthcare Commodities Management
- Health Systems Research Methods
- Health Project Management and Evaluation
- Thesis Research
Modules
12 in the programmeFundamentals of Health Systems Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines health systems management fundamentals, covering systems, management, health, design, and managing health systems management principles.
Management and Leadership for Health
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers management, leadership, health, governance, and managing healthcare leadership and management.
Health Services Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines health services, management, operations, delivery, and managing health services management and operations.
Managing Human Resources for Health
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers HR, health, management, workforce, and managing human resources for health.
Healthcare Commodities Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines commodities, healthcare, management, supply, and managing healthcare commodities and supply chain.
Health Financing and Economics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers financing, health, economics, budgeting, and managing health financing and health economics.
Healthcare Quality Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines quality, healthcare, management, assurance, and managing healthcare quality management and assurance.
Health Information Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers information, health, management, systems, and managing health information management systems.
Health Systems Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines research, methods, health, statistics, and conducting research in health systems, preparing students for their thesis.
Statistics for Health Systems Research
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers statistics, health, research, data, and managing statistical analysis for health systems research.
Health Project Management and Evaluation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines projects, health, management, evaluation, and managing health project management and evaluation.
Thesis Write-up and Defence
Year 2Semester 212 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a health systems management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and health systems knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.
Specialisations
Health Systems Management and Finance
Focuses on health systems management and finance, covering systems, management, finance, health, and managing health systems management and finance.
Healthcare Quality Management
Examines healthcare quality management, covering quality, healthcare, management, assurance, and managing healthcare quality management.
Health Information Management
Covers health information management, covering information, health, management, systems, and managing health information management systems.
Health Policy and Planning
Focuses on health policy and planning, covering policy, health, planning, analysis, and managing health policy and planning.
Healthcare Leadership
Examines healthcare leadership, covering leadership, healthcare, management, governance, and managing healthcare leadership and governance.
Health Project Management
Covers health project management, covering projects, health, management, evaluation, and managing health project management and evaluation.
A day as a student
A typical day during the MSc in Public Health Systems Management programme combines lectures, case studies, group discussions, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover health systems management, healthcare leadership, health financing, and quality management. Health systems sessions examine systems, management, health, design, and managing health systems management. Leadership sessions cover leadership, healthcare, management, governance, and managing healthcare leadership and governance. Health financing sessions cover financing, health, economics, budgeting, and managing health financing and economics. Quality management sessions cover quality, healthcare, management, assurance, and managing healthcare quality management. Health information sessions cover information, health, management, systems, and managing health information management. Human resources sessions cover HR, health, management, workforce, and managing human resources for health. Commodities sessions cover commodities, healthcare, management, supply, and managing healthcare commodities. Research methods sessions cover research, methods, health, statistics, and conducting research in health systems. Project management sessions cover projects, health, management, evaluation, and managing health project management and evaluation. Case studies provide practical experience in analysing real-world health systems management scenarios. Seminars provide opportunities for presenting research findings. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a health systems management topic.
The trade offs
In its favour
- Programme offered at multiple institutions including public and private universities with flexible study modes.
- Programme addresses critical health systems needs in Kenya and Africa, making it highly relevant.
- Graduates can pursue careers across ministries of health, county governments, hospitals, NGOs, and international organisations.
- Virtual and distance learning options make it accessible to working professionals.
Against it
- Fees vary significantly, from KES 169,100/year at MKU to KES 231,600/year at TUK.
- Only one public university confirmed offering this exact programme with fee data.
- Programme may require relevant work experience for Lower Second Class holders.
- Programme name varies across institutions, causing potential confusion.
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
TUK ~231.6K/yr, MKU ~159.1K/yr verified. Kisii, Amref partially verified.
HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Universities may offer scholarships for eligible students. Some employers, particularly in the health sector and government, may sponsor staff for postgraduate study in health systems management. WHO and global health organisations may offer fellowships and scholarships.
Funding options
HELB Postgraduate Loan
University Scholarship
Employer Sponsorship
Scholarships
3 recordedHELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
University Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 169,100Kenyan
Universities may offer scholarships for eligible postgraduate health systems management students.
WHO Fellowship
ScholarshipKsh 300,000
WHO and global health organisations may offer fellowships for health systems management education.
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 a relevant field. Lower Second Class may be considered with relevant work experience. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.
How you are assessed
4 componentsCoursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case study analyses, seminar presentations, group discussions, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering health systems management, health financing, quality management, and health policy.
Case Study Assessment
Project40% of the mark
Practical assessment through case studies, demonstrating health systems analysis, management problem-solving, and real-world scenarios.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a health systems management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and health systems knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.
Accreditation
The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). TUK (public) and MKU, Amref International University, and Kenya Methodist University (private) offer MSc in Public Health Systems Management or closely related programmes. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in health systems management. Graduates may interact with WHO Kenya and the Ministry of Health for health systems standards and career opportunities. The programme aligns with WHO global health systems frameworks.
Accredited by
Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. TUK (public) and MKU, Amref International University, and Kenya Methodist University (private) offer MSc in Public Health Systems Management or closely related programmes. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in health systems management. Graduates may interact with WHO Kenya and the Ministry of Health for health systems standards. The programme aligns with WHO global health systems frameworks.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
6 rolesHealth Systems Manager
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages health systems, overseeing systems, management, health, and managing health systems management functions.
Healthcare Administrator
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages healthcare administration, overseeing administration, healthcare, operations, and managing healthcare administration.
Health Policy Analyst
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 450,000
Analyses health policy, overseeing policy, health, analysis, research, and managing health policy analysis.
Hospital Manager
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages hospital operations, overseeing hospital, management, operations, and managing hospital management.
Health Programme Coordinator
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Coordinates health programmes, overseeing coordination, programmes, health, and managing health programme coordination.
Health Systems Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Teaches health systems management at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers as health systems managers, healthcare administrators, health policy analysts, hospital managers, programme coordinators, and lecturers across ministries of health, county governments, hospitals, NGOs, and international health organisations.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Career Guidance & Labour Market Information CounselorEducation11Low exposure
- School Guidance CounselorEducation17Low exposure
- CrystallographerScience19Low exposure
- StatisticsScience20Low exposure
- Motor Vehicle MechanicEducation21Low exposure
- MycologistScience21Low exposure
- OceanographerScience21Low exposure
- Computational BiologistScience22Low exposure
Tools you will learn
DHIS2
SoftwarePrimary
DHIS2 for health information management, covering health, information, data, and managing health information systems and data.
Microsoft Excel
Software
Excel for health data analysis and reporting, covering analysis, reporting, data, and managing health data.
SPSS
Software
SPSS for statistical analysis of health research data, covering statistics, analysis, research, and managing health research data.
Hospital Management Information Systems
Software
Hospital management information systems for healthcare operations, covering hospital, management, information, and managing hospital operations.
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Health systems management is just about hospital administration.
Health systems management covers policy, financing, information systems, quality assurance, human resources, and commodities across the entire health system beyond just hospitals.
This programme is only for doctors and nurses.
Health systems management is for professionals from management, finance, policy, and public health backgrounds, not just clinical professionals.
Health systems management has limited career growth.
Health systems managers can advance to hospital CEO, county health director, ministry positions, and international health organisation roles with significant career growth.
This programme is only for those working in government hospitals.
Health systems management skills are valuable in private hospitals, NGOs, insurance organisations, pharmaceutical companies, and international health organisations.
Health systems management is not relevant in the private sector.
Private healthcare organisations require skilled health systems managers for operations, quality, finance, and strategic management.
You need a medical degree to manage health systems.
Health systems management requires management, leadership, policy, and finance skills, not clinical medical training, making it accessible to non-clinical professionals.
Related courses
Further reading
Fees and entry marks for Master of Science in Public Health Systems Management are restated every intake. Save it and the app keeps this version, so you can see what changed when it does.