Health Sciences

Master of Science in Tropical and Infectious Diseases

The Master of Science in Tropical and Infectious Diseases is a two-year postgraduate programme offered by the University of Nairobi through the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology. The programme equips students with advanced knowledge of the biology, epidemiology, diagnosis, prevention, and control of tropical and infectious diseases.

Students develop advanced competencies in medical parasitology, medical entomology, virology, immunology, molecular biology, clinical microbiology, pharmacology, and epidemiology. They learn to design and implement public health programmes, conduct disease surveillance, and perform advanced diagnostic techniques for tropical diseases prevalent in Kenya and the tropics.

Kenya bears a significant burden of tropical and infectious diseases including malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, neglected tropical diseases, and emerging infections. KEMRI, CDC Kenya, the Ministry of Health, and international research organisations require qualified specialists to support disease control, research, and public health programmes.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, tutorials, seminars, journal clubs, laboratory practicals, and a research project. Students engage with advanced diagnostic equipment, molecular techniques, field epidemiology exercises, and undertake a practicum attachment in a discipline of their interest.

Graduates pursue careers as epidemiologists, public health specialists, research scientists, virologists, parasitologists, and immunologists in research institutions, universities, hospitals, international health organisations, and government health departments.

This programme is ideal for medical, biomedical, or public health professionals seeking to specialise in tropical diseases. It suits individuals with strong laboratory and analytical skills who wish to contribute to disease control and research in Kenya and the broader tropical region.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 436,000
Private, up to: Ksh 463,200
Job market: Very high

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Medical Parasitology
Medical Entomology
Medical Microbiology
Virology and Prion Infections
Immunology
Molecular Biology
Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Clinical Microbiology
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Health Systems Management

Modules

12 in the programme

Medical Parasitology (WID 601)
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Parasites of medical importance in the tropics, their life cycles, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and control
Medical Entomology (WID 603)
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Insect vectors of tropical diseases, vector biology, and vector control strategies
Medical Microbiology (WID 605)
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Bacterial pathogens in tropical settings, antimicrobial resistance, and diagnostic microbiology
Virology and Prion Infections (WID 607)
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Tropical and emerging viral infections, viral pathogenesis, and diagnostic virology
Immunology (WID 609)
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Immune responses to tropical pathogens, immunopathology, and immunodiagnostic techniques
Molecular Biology (WID 602)
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Molecular techniques for pathogen detection, characterisation, and epidemiological tracking
Pharmacology and Therapeutics (WID 604)
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Drug treatment of tropical diseases, pharmacokinetics, and drug resistance mechanisms
Clinical Microbiology (WID 606)
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Clinical laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases, including advanced diagnostic techniques
Epidemiology and Biostatistics (WID 705)
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Epidemiological study designs, disease surveillance, and statistical methods for public health research
Health Systems Management (WID 707)
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Management of health programmes, health policy, and health system strengthening for disease control
Research Project (WID 750)
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Independent research on a tropical or infectious disease topic, culminating in a written dissertation
Practicum Attachment
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Supervised attachment in a research laboratory, public health department, or clinical setting

Specialisations

Medical Parasitology
Specialization in Medical Parasitology, preparing graduates for careers such as parasitologist.
Public Health Practice
Specialization in Public Health Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as public-health-specialist.
Immunology of Infectious Diseases
Specialization in Immunology of Infectious Diseases, preparing graduates for careers such as immunologist.
Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance
Specialization in Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance, preparing graduates for careers such as epidemiologist.
Virology and Viral Diseases
Specialization in Virology and Viral Diseases, preparing graduates for careers such as virologist.
Medical Entomology and Vector Control
Specialization in Medical Entomology and Vector Control, preparing graduates for careers such as entomologist.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on parasitology or virology with afternoon laboratory practicals. Students may culture pathogens, perform molecular diagnostics, analyse epidemiological data, attend journal clubs discussing recent research, or conduct field work in disease-endemic areas.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya is a major hub for tropical disease research with KEMRI, CDC, and icipe
Very high demand for infectious disease specialists post-COVID-19 and with emerging infections
Opportunities for international collaboration and publication in high-impact journals
Strong foundation for PhD studies and academic careers

Against it

Programme is intensive with demanding coursework and research requirements
Research positions may depend on grant funding, creating employment uncertainty
Field work in disease-endemic areas may involve health risks
Tuition fees are relatively high compared to other masters 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

Public419k to 436k

419k at University of Nairobi436k at Kenyatta University

Private200k to 463k

200k 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 ~419K/yr verified (UoN fee page). KU, AKU, MKU unverified for this course.

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans. KEMRI, Wellcome Trust, and other research organisations offer research fellowships and grants for tropical disease research.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
KEMRI Research Grants
Grant
Wellcome Trust Research Fellowships
Fellowship

Scholarships

2 recorded

Wellcome Trust Research Fellowship
FellowshipKenyan
Researchers in tropical and infectious diseases at African institutions
HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students in recognised universities

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

Bachelor's degree in Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology, or Public Health
Second Class Honours (Upper Division)
Professional registration
Where applicable (KMPDC, KMLTTB)
KCSE Biology and Chemistry
C+

How you are assessed

4 components

Part I and Part II Examinations
Coursework50% of the mark
Laboratory Practicals
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework20% of the mark
Research Dissertation
Coursework100% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Medical professionals must maintain registration with KMPDC or KMLTTB depending on their primary qualification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
InstitutionalRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Epidemiologist
Very high demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 200,000
Investigates disease outbreaks, conducts surveillance, and designs control programmes for tropical and infectious diseases
Public Health Specialist
Very high demandKsh 75,000 to Ksh 180,000
Designs and implements public health programmes for disease prevention and control in government and NGOs
Virologist
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 200,000
Studies viral pathogens, develops diagnostic assays, and conducts virological research in reference laboratories
Parasitologist
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 170,000
Researches parasitic diseases, develops control strategies, and conducts diagnostic parasitology in research and clinical settings
Research Scientist
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 170,000
Conducts research on tropical diseases, develops diagnostic tools, and contributes to drug and vaccine discovery

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as epidemiologists, public health specialists, research scientists, virologists, parasitologists, and immunologists in research institutions, universities, hospitals, and international health organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Tropical and infectious diseases is only relevant to tropical countries
Globalisation and climate change are expanding the geographic range of tropical diseases, making this expertise relevant worldwide, including in temperate regions.
This programme is only for medical doctors
The programme accepts graduates with backgrounds in biomedical sciences, microbiology, public health, and related fields, not just medical doctors.
There are limited career opportunities in tropical disease research in Kenya
Kenya is a major hub for tropical disease research, hosting KEMRI, CDC Kenya, icipe, and numerous international research collaborations that actively recruit qualified specialists.
Tropical diseases are being eradicated, making this field obsolete
Emerging infections, drug resistance, climate change impacts, and neglected tropical diseases ensure continued relevance and demand for tropical disease specialists.