Agriculture

Master of Science in Veterinary Public Health

The Master of Science in Veterinary Public Health is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates in veterinary public health, food safety, zoonotic disease control, and environmental health. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers in public health, food safety, zoonotic disease management, and environmental protection.

Core areas include veterinary public health, food safety, zoonotic diseases, meat hygiene, milk safety, environmental health, foodborne diseases, antimicrobial resistance, One Health, epidemiology, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical veterinary public health applications.

The programme is offered by Zetech University, Great Lakes University of Kisumu, and University of Kabianga, with University of Nairobi as a college. UoN offers Master of Veterinary Public Health (MVPH), course code JPH 61, through its Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, with total fees of KES 696,000 for 2 years.

Students develop competencies in food safety management, zoonotic disease control, meat and milk inspection, environmental health, risk assessment, and research. The programme includes coursework, laboratory practicals, field visits, examinations, supervised research, and thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years. UoN MVPH total fees are KES 696,000 (~KES 348,000/year). Entry requires Bachelor's degree in Veterinary Medicine or related health field with Upper Second or equivalent.

Graduates pursue careers as veterinary public health officers, food safety officers, meat inspectors, zoonotic disease specialists, and researchers in veterinary services, public health, food industry, and international organisations.

Skills Required

Veterinary Public Health and Zoonotic Disease Control
Food Safety and Quality Assurance
Meat and Milk Hygiene Inspection
Environmental Health and Protection
Foodborne Disease Investigation
Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance
One Health and Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Risk Assessment and Food Safety Management
Veterinary Public Health Policy and Regulation
Veterinary Public Health Research Methods

Key Subjects

Veterinary Public Health
Food Safety and Quality
Zoonotic Diseases
Meat and Milk Hygiene
Environmental Health
Foodborne Diseases
Antimicrobial Resistance
One Health
Risk Assessment
Veterinary Public Health Research Methods

Certifications

KVB Veterinary Practice Certification
WOAH Veterinary Public Health Certification

Specializations

Food Safety

Focuses on food safety, food safety management, HACCP, ISO 22000, food hygiene, food inspection, and ensuring food safety and quality.

Zoonotic Disease Control

Examines zoonotic diseases, rabies, brucellosis, RVF, anthrax, AMR, One Health, and preventing and controlling zoonotic diseases.

Meat Hygiene

Covers meat hygiene, ante-mortem inspection, post-mortem inspection, abattoir hygiene, meat processing, and ensuring meat safety and quality.

Milk Safety

Focuses on milk safety, milk hygiene, dairy inspection, pasteurisation, milk-borne diseases, and ensuring milk and dairy safety.

Environmental Health

Examines environmental health, environmental protection, waste management, water safety, sanitation, and protecting environmental health.

Antimicrobial Resistance

Covers antimicrobial resistance, AMR surveillance, antibiotic use, stewardship, One Health AMR, and managing and controlling AMR.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 398,500
Job market: High

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

Veterinary Public Health
Food Safety and Quality
Zoonotic Diseases
Meat and Milk Hygiene
Environmental Health
Foodborne Diseases
Antimicrobial Resistance
One Health
Risk Assessment
Veterinary Public Health Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Principles of Veterinary Public Health
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines VPH principles, food safety, zoonotic diseases, environmental health, One Health, veterinary public health roles, and understanding veterinary public health.
Food Safety and Quality Assurance
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers HACCP, ISO 22000, food hygiene, food inspection, foodborne diseases, risk assessment, food safety management, and ensuring food safety and quality.
Zoonotic Diseases and One Health
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines zoonotic diseases, rabies, brucellosis, RVF, anthrax, trypanosomiasis, emerging zoonoses, One Health, and preventing and controlling zoonotic diseases.
Meat Hygiene and Inspection
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers ante-mortem inspection, post-mortem inspection, abattoir hygiene, meat processing, carcass inspection, meat preservation, and ensuring meat safety and quality.
Milk and Dairy Safety
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines milk hygiene, dairy inspection, pasteurisation, milk-borne diseases, dairy processing, milk quality, and ensuring milk and dairy safety.
Environmental Health and Protection
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers environmental protection, waste management, water safety, sanitation, pollution, vector control, and protecting environmental health.
Foodborne Diseases and Outbreak Investigation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines foodborne pathogens, Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, Campylobacter, outbreak investigation, trace-back, and investigating and controlling foodborne diseases.
Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers antimicrobial resistance, AMR surveillance, antibiotic use, stewardship, One Health AMR, and managing and controlling AMR.
Risk Assessment and Food Safety Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines risk analysis, hazard identification, exposure assessment, risk characterisation, risk communication, risk management, and assessing and managing food safety risks.
Veterinary Public Health Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods for veterinary public health, study design, field methods, data collection, data analysis, and conducting veterinary public health research, preparing students for their thesis.
International Trade and Food Safety Regulation
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines international trade, SPS measures, WTO, Codex Alimentarius, WOAH standards, export requirements, and regulating food safety for international trade.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a veterinary public health topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Food Safety
Focuses on food safety, food safety management, HACCP, ISO 22000, food hygiene, food inspection, and ensuring food safety and quality.
Zoonotic Disease Control
Examines zoonotic diseases, rabies, brucellosis, RVF, anthrax, AMR, One Health, and preventing and controlling zoonotic diseases.
Meat Hygiene
Covers meat hygiene, ante-mortem inspection, post-mortem inspection, abattoir hygiene, meat processing, and ensuring meat safety and quality.
Milk Safety
Focuses on milk safety, milk hygiene, dairy inspection, pasteurisation, milk-borne diseases, and ensuring milk and dairy safety.
Environmental Health
Examines environmental health, environmental protection, waste management, water safety, sanitation, and protecting environmental health.
Antimicrobial Resistance
Covers antimicrobial resistance, AMR surveillance, antibiotic use, stewardship, One Health AMR, and managing and controlling AMR.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc Veterinary Public Health programme begins with morning lectures on veterinary public health, food safety, or zoonotic diseases. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical veterinary public health applications. Veterinary public health sessions cover VPH principles, food safety, zoonotic diseases, environmental health, One Health, and understanding veterinary public health. Food safety sessions examine HACCP, ISO 22000, food hygiene, food inspection, foodborne diseases, risk assessment, and ensuring food safety and quality. Zoonotic disease sessions cover rabies, brucellosis, RVF, anthrax, trypanosomiasis, Q fever, emerging zoonoses, and preventing and controlling zoonotic diseases. Meat hygiene sessions examine ante-mortem inspection, post-mortem inspection, abattoir hygiene, meat processing, carcass inspection, and ensuring meat safety and quality. Milk safety sessions cover milk hygiene, dairy inspection, pasteurisation, milk-borne diseases, dairy processing, and ensuring milk and dairy safety. Environmental health sessions examine environmental protection, waste management, water safety, sanitation, pollution, and protecting environmental health. Foodborne disease sessions cover foodborne pathogens, Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, Campylobacter, outbreak investigation, and investigating and controlling foodborne diseases. AMR sessions examine antimicrobial resistance, AMR surveillance, antibiotic use, stewardship, One Health AMR, and managing and controlling AMR. One Health sessions cover One Health approach, human-animal-environment interface, interdisciplinary collaboration, and applying One Health in veterinary public health. Risk assessment sessions cover risk analysis, hazard identification, exposure assessment, risk characterisation, risk communication, and assessing and managing food safety risks. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with food testing, microbiological analysis, serology, PCR, and diagnostic methods. Field visits provide hands-on experience with abattoirs, dairy processing plants, food establishments, and veterinary public health facilities. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering veterinary public health research methods, study design, and data analysis. Guest lectures from UoN faculty, DVS officials, KVB experts, KEBS officers, WHO advisors, and international veterinary public health experts provide real-world insights. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's food safety needs, zoonotic disease threats, AMR, livestock trade, export requirements, and One Health create high demand for qualified veterinary public health professionals.
UoN offers Master of Veterinary Public Health (MVPH) through its Faculty of Veterinary Medicine with established programmes and KES 696,000 total fees.
Career opportunities with DVS, KVB, KEBS, county governments, food industry, WHO, WOAH, FAO, and international organisations.
Programme addresses Kenya's food safety, zoonotic disease control, AMR, environmental health, and livestock export requirements.

Against it

Programme primarily targets veterinary and health graduates, which may exclude graduates from other fields.
UoN total fees of KES 696,000 are relatively expensive compared to other public university postgraduate programmes.
Laboratory and field work requires access to laboratories, abattoirs, and food processing facilities, which may be limited.
Niche programme with fewer positions compared to broader public health programmes.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 303 agriculture courses

Public150k to 399k

150k at University of Kabianga399k at University of Nairobi

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 797K/2yr=398K/yr(phpt.uonbi.ac.ke).Kabianga~150K/yr unverified

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. WHO supports public health capacity building. FAO supports food safety and animal health. WOAH supports veterinary public health professional development. The programme's veterinary public health focus attracts public health, food safety, and international funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
WHO Public Health Funding
FAO Food Safety Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate veterinary public health studies at recognised universities.
WHO Public Health Funding
GrantKsh 300,000
WHO supports public health capacity building in Kenya, providing funding for postgraduate research in veterinary public health.
FAO Food Safety Funding
GrantKsh 300,000
FAO supports food safety and animal health in Kenya, providing funding for postgraduate research in veterinary public health and food safety.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme is designed for veterinarians and other qualified public health personnel. UoN offers MVPH through its Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology. The programme accepts graduates from veterinary medicine, public health, biological sciences, environmental health, and related fields. Two-year programme with full-time and part-time modes.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, food safety reports, inspection reports, case studies, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering veterinary public health, food safety, zoonotic diseases, meat hygiene, and environmental health, conducted at end of each semester.
Laboratory and Field Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Assessment of laboratory work, food testing, meat inspection, field visits, and practical reports.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a veterinary public health topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). UoN offers Master of Veterinary Public Health (MVPH), course code JPH 61, through its Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate veterinary public health training. DVS oversees veterinary public health in Kenya, and WHO, WOAH, and FAO support veterinary public health internationally.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. UoN offers Master of Veterinary Public Health (MVPH), course code JPH 61, through its Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate veterinary public health training.
Kenya Veterinary Board (KVB)
Professional accreditation
KVB regulates veterinary practice in Kenya. Graduates working in veterinary public health may benefit from KVB registration and knowledge of veterinary regulations.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Veterinary Public Health Officer
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages veterinary public health programmes, overseeing food safety, zoonotic disease control, environmental health, and supporting public health.
Food Safety Officer
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages food safety programmes, overseeing food inspection, HACCP, quality assurance, and supporting food safety and quality.
Meat Inspector
High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Conducts meat inspection, overseeing ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection, abattoir hygiene, and ensuring meat safety and quality.
Zoonotic Disease Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages zoonotic disease programmes, overseeing surveillance, prevention, control, One Health, and supporting zoonotic disease management.
Environmental Health Officer
High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages environmental health, overseeing sanitation, waste management, water safety, pollution, and supporting environmental health protection.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches veterinary public health in universities, conducting research and training future veterinary public health professionals.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as veterinary public health officers, food safety officers, and meat inspectors in veterinary services, public health, and food industry.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

R Statistical Computing
SoftwarePrimary
Open-source statistical computing for public health data analysis, epidemiological data, food safety data, and research data analysis.
SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for public health research, survey analysis, outbreak data, food safety data, and research data analysis.
HACCP Software
Software
HACCP management software for food safety management, hazard analysis, critical control points, and food safety documentation.
ArcGIS
Software
GIS software for disease mapping, environmental health mapping, outbreak mapping, and spatial analysis of public health data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Veterinary public health is just about inspecting meat.
The programme involves food safety, zoonotic diseases, environmental health, AMR, One Health, risk assessment, and research, covering comprehensive veterinary public health.
This programme is only for veterinary surgeons.
The programme is designed for veterinarians and other qualified public health personnel interested in veterinary public health.
There is limited demand for veterinary public health professionals in Kenya.
Kenya's food safety needs, zoonotic disease threats, AMR, livestock trade, export requirements, and One Health create high demand for qualified veterinary public health professionals.
Veterinary public health is the same as public health.
While overlapping, veterinary public health specifically focuses on the animal-human-health interface, food safety of animal origin, and zoonotic diseases.
Food safety is only about inspecting restaurants.
Food safety covers the entire food chain from farm to fork, including production, processing, distribution, and consumption of food of animal origin.
A master's in veterinary public health is redundant after a veterinary degree.
The master's provides specialised public health skills, food safety expertise, research capability, and career progression to senior veterinary public health positions.