Environmental Science

Master of Science in Wildlife Health and Management

The Master of Science in Wildlife Health and Management is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates in wildlife health, wildlife medicine, wildlife management, and conservation. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers in wildlife health, wildlife management, conservation, and research.

Core areas include wildlife health, wildlife medicine, wildlife disease management, wildlife capture and immobilisation, conservation medicine, wildlife management, wildlife ecology, zoonotic diseases, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical wildlife health and management applications.

The programme is offered by Moi University, Chuka University, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, with University of Nairobi as a college. UoN offers MSc Wildlife Health and Management, course code J524, through its Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, in partnership with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), with total fees of KES 869,000 for 2 years.

Students develop competencies in wildlife health assessment, wildlife capture, disease surveillance, conservation management, wildlife research, and policy. The programme includes coursework, field practicals, clinical rotations, examinations, supervised research, and thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years. UoN total fees are KES 869,000 (~KES 434,500/year), including tuition, ICT, registration, library, medical, examination, and thesis fees. Entry requires BVM, or BSc Zoology/Biology with Upper Second, or PGD in Wildlife Health, or related degree with experience.

Graduates pursue careers as wildlife veterinarians, wildlife health officers, conservation managers, wildlife researchers, and consultants in KWS, wildlife conservancies, national parks, research institutions, and international conservation organisations.

Skills Required

Wildlife Health Assessment and Disease Management
Wildlife Capture, Immobilisation and Anaesthesia
Wildlife Medicine and Surgery
Conservation Medicine and One Health
Wildlife Management and Population Monitoring
Wildlife Ecology and Habitat Assessment
Wildlife Disease Surveillance and Zoonosis
Wildlife Research and Monitoring Techniques
Wildlife Policy and Conservation Planning
Wildlife Health and Management Research Methods

Key Subjects

Wildlife Health and Medicine
Wildlife Disease Management
Wildlife Capture and Immobilisation
Conservation Medicine
Wildlife Management
Wildlife Ecology
Wildlife Zoonotic Diseases
Wildlife Population Monitoring
Wildlife Policy and Conservation
Wildlife Research Methods

Certifications

KWS Wildlife Veterinary Certification
IUCN Conservation Certification

Specializations

Wildlife Medicine

Focuses on wildlife medicine, wildlife clinical care, wildlife surgery, wildlife anaesthesia, capture drugs, and providing medical care to wildlife species.

Wildlife Disease Management

Examines wildlife diseases, disease surveillance, zoonotic diseases, emerging diseases, disease ecology, and managing diseases in wildlife populations.

Wildlife Capture and Immobilisation

Covers wildlife capture, chemical immobilisation, darting, anaesthesia, transport, safety, and safely capturing and handling wildlife.

Conservation Management

Focuses on conservation management, protected area management, species conservation, habitat management, human-wildlife conflict, and managing wildlife conservation.

Wildlife Ecology

Examines wildlife ecology, population dynamics, habitat ecology, behavioural ecology, monitoring, and understanding wildlife ecology and populations.

Wildlife Policy

Covers wildlife policy, conservation policy, CITES, wildlife law, wildlife governance, and developing and implementing wildlife policy.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 434,500
Private, up to: Ksh 0
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 10 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Wildlife Health and Medicine
Wildlife Disease Management
Wildlife Capture and Immobilisation
Conservation Medicine
Wildlife Management
Wildlife Ecology
Wildlife Zoonotic Diseases
Wildlife Population Monitoring
Wildlife Policy and Conservation
Wildlife Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Wildlife Health and Medicine
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines wildlife health assessment, disease surveillance, health monitoring, clinical examination, wildlife clinical care, wildlife surgery, wildlife anaesthesia, and understanding wildlife health and medicine.
Wildlife Disease Management and Zoonoses
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers wildlife diseases, zoonotic diseases, emerging diseases, disease ecology, surveillance, outbreak response, One Health, and managing diseases in wildlife populations.
Wildlife Capture and Immobilisation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines chemical immobilisation, darting, capture drugs, anaesthetic protocols, species-specific protocols, transport, safety, and safely capturing and handling wildlife.
Conservation Medicine and One Health
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers One Health, ecosystem health, conservation medicine, human-wildlife interface, environmental health, and applying One Health in wildlife health and management.
Wildlife Management and Population Monitoring
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines protected area management, species management, habitat management, population dynamics, monitoring, GPS tracking, and managing wildlife populations and habitats.
Wildlife Ecology and Habitat Assessment
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers wildlife ecology, population dynamics, habitat ecology, behavioural ecology, habitat assessment, GIS, and understanding wildlife ecology and habitats.
Wildlife Surgery and Anaesthesia
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines wildlife surgery, surgical techniques, wildlife anaesthesia, anaesthetic monitoring, pain management, and performing surgery and anaesthesia in wildlife species.
Human-Wildlife Conflict and Community Conservation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers human-wildlife conflict, conflict mitigation, community conservation, community-based conservation, benefit sharing, and managing human-wildlife conflict.
Wildlife Policy and Conservation Law
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines wildlife policy, conservation policy, CITES, wildlife law, wildlife governance, EMCA, and developing and implementing wildlife policy.
Wildlife Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods for wildlife health and management, field methods, population surveys, data analysis, GIS, and conducting wildlife research, preparing students for their thesis.
Wildlife Nutrition and Captive Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines wildlife nutrition, captive management, zoo medicine, rehabilitation, sanctuary management, and managing wildlife in captive and rehabilitation settings.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a wildlife health and management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Wildlife Medicine
Focuses on wildlife medicine, wildlife clinical care, wildlife surgery, wildlife anaesthesia, capture drugs, and providing medical care to wildlife species.
Wildlife Disease Management
Examines wildlife diseases, disease surveillance, zoonotic diseases, emerging diseases, disease ecology, and managing diseases in wildlife populations.
Wildlife Capture and Immobilisation
Covers wildlife capture, chemical immobilisation, darting, anaesthesia, transport, safety, and safely capturing and handling wildlife.
Conservation Management
Focuses on conservation management, protected area management, species conservation, habitat management, human-wildlife conflict, and managing wildlife conservation.
Wildlife Ecology
Examines wildlife ecology, population dynamics, habitat ecology, behavioural ecology, monitoring, and understanding wildlife ecology and populations.
Wildlife Policy
Covers wildlife policy, conservation policy, CITES, wildlife law, wildlife governance, and developing and implementing wildlife policy.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc Wildlife Health and Management programme begins with morning lectures on wildlife health, wildlife medicine, or conservation management. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical wildlife health and management applications. Wildlife health sessions cover wildlife health assessment, disease surveillance, health monitoring, clinical examination, and understanding wildlife health. Wildlife medicine sessions examine wildlife clinical care, wildlife surgery, wildlife anaesthesia, pharmacology, treatment, and providing medical care to wildlife species. Wildlife disease management sessions cover wildlife diseases, zoonotic diseases, emerging diseases, disease ecology, surveillance, outbreak response, and managing diseases in wildlife populations. Wildlife capture sessions examine chemical immobilisation, darting, capture drugs, anaesthetic protocols, transport, safety, and safely capturing and handling wildlife. Conservation medicine sessions cover One Health, ecosystem health, conservation medicine, human-wildlife interface, and applying One Health in wildlife. Wildlife management sessions examine protected area management, species management, habitat management, population management, human-wildlife conflict, and managing wildlife conservation. Wildlife ecology sessions cover population dynamics, habitat ecology, behavioural ecology, monitoring, GPS tracking, and understanding wildlife ecology and populations. Wildlife policy sessions examine wildlife policy, conservation policy, CITES, wildlife law, wildlife governance, community conservation, and developing and implementing wildlife policy. Field practicals provide hands-on experience with wildlife capture, health assessment, disease surveillance, and field research in national parks and conservancies. Clinical rotations provide hands-on experience with wildlife clinical cases, surgery, anaesthesia, and treatment. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering wildlife research methods, field methods, and data analysis. Guest lectures from UoN faculty, KWS veterinarians, WCS researchers, AWF experts, and international wildlife health experts provide real-world insights. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's wildlife tourism, conservation needs, human-wildlife conflict, emerging diseases, and international conservation commitments create moderate demand for qualified wildlife health professionals.
UoN offers MSc Wildlife Health and Management in partnership with KWS, providing unique access to wildlife cases, national parks, and field experience.
Career opportunities with KWS, wildlife conservancies, national parks, research institutions, and international organisations like WCS, AWF, IUCN, and CITES.
Programme addresses Kenya's wildlife health, conservation, disease surveillance, human-wildlife conflict, and wildlife management needs.

Against it

Programme primarily targets veterinary and biology graduates, which may exclude graduates from other fields.
UoN total fees of KES 869,000 are relatively expensive compared to other public university postgraduate programmes.
Field work requires access to national parks, wildlife conservancies, transport, and specialised equipment, which may be limited.
Niche programme with fewer positions compared to broader veterinary or conservation programmes.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 181 environmental science courses

Public150k to 435k

150k at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology435k 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

JOOUST 150,000, UoN 434,500/yr (kenyaeducationguide). No private.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KWS supports wildlife conservation and training. AWF and WCS support wildlife conservation capacity building in Africa. IUCN supports conservation professional development. The programme's wildlife health and management focus attracts conservation, wildlife, and international funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KWS Wildlife Conservation Funding
AWF Conservation Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate wildlife health and management studies at recognised universities.
KWS Wildlife Conservation Funding
GrantKsh 300,000Kenyan
KWS supports wildlife conservation and training in Kenya, providing funding for postgraduate research in wildlife health and management.
AWF Conservation Funding
ScholarshipKsh 400,000
AWF supports wildlife conservation capacity building in Africa, providing scholarships for postgraduate study in wildlife health and management.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme accepts BVM graduates, BSc Zoology/Biology with Upper Second or Lower with experience, PGD in Wildlife Health, or related animal health degrees with experience. UoN offers the programme in partnership with KWS. Two-year full-time programme with field practicals and clinical rotations.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case studies, wildlife health reports, conservation plans, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering wildlife health, disease management, capture, ecology, and conservation, conducted at end of each semester.
Field and Clinical Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Assessment of field practicals, wildlife capture, clinical rotations, health assessments, and practical reports.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a wildlife health and management 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 MSc Wildlife Health and Management, course code J524, through its Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, in partnership with KWS. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate wildlife health and management training. KWS manages wildlife in Kenya, and IUCN and CITES support wildlife conservation internationally.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. UoN offers MSc Wildlife Health and Management, course code J524, through its Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, in partnership with KWS. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate wildlife health and management training.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)
Professional accreditation
KWS manages wildlife in Kenya and partners with UoN for wildlife health training. Graduates working with wildlife may benefit from KWS certification and permits.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Wildlife Veterinarian
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 700,000
Provides veterinary care to wildlife, overseeing wildlife health, capture, treatment, surgery, and supporting wildlife health and conservation.
Wildlife Health Officer
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages wildlife health programmes, overseeing disease surveillance, health monitoring, outbreak response, and supporting wildlife health management.
Conservation Manager
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages conservation programmes, overseeing protected areas, species conservation, habitat management, and supporting wildlife conservation.
Wildlife Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Conducts wildlife research, overseeing research projects, population studies, disease studies, and supporting wildlife science and conservation.
Park Warden
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages national parks and reserves, overseeing park operations, wildlife management, visitor management, and supporting protected area management.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches wildlife health and management in universities, conducting research and training future wildlife health professionals.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as wildlife veterinarians, wildlife health officers, and conservation managers in KWS, conservancies, and international conservation organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

GPS Tracking System
EquipmentPrimary
GPS tracking system for wildlife monitoring, telemetry, radio tracking, satellite tracking, and monitoring wildlife movements and populations.
Darting Equipment
EquipmentPrimary
Darting equipment for wildlife capture, chemical immobilisation, remote injection, and safely capturing and immobilising wildlife.
ArcGIS
Software
GIS software for wildlife mapping, habitat mapping, spatial analysis, population distribution, and mapping and analysing wildlife data.
R Statistical Computing
Software
Open-source statistical computing for wildlife data analysis, population analysis, ecological modelling, and research data analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Wildlife health and management is just about treating sick animals in parks.
The programme involves wildlife medicine, disease management, capture, conservation, ecology, policy, research, and One Health, covering comprehensive wildlife health and management.
This programme is only for veterinary graduates.
The programme accepts BVM graduates, BSc Zoology/Biology with Upper Second, PGD in Wildlife Health, or related degrees with experience.
There is limited demand for wildlife health professionals in Kenya.
Kenya's wildlife tourism, conservation needs, human-wildlife conflict, emerging diseases, and international conservation commitments create moderate demand for qualified wildlife health professionals.
Wildlife management is only about counting animals.
Wildlife management involves health, disease, habitat, policy, human-wildlife conflict, community conservation, and research, not just counting animals.
Wildlife capture is dangerous and should be avoided.
Wildlife capture is a critical skill for wildlife health, research, and management, and is conducted safely with proper training, protocols, and equipment.
A master's in wildlife health is redundant after a veterinary degree.
The master's provides specialised wildlife health skills, conservation expertise, research capability, and career progression to senior wildlife health and conservation positions.