Health Sciences

Master of Science (Medical Dietetics)

The Master of Science in Medical Dietetics is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in clinical nutrition, therapeutic dietetics, and medical nutrition therapy. The programme combines nutritional science with clinical dietetics and medical nutrition application.

Core areas include medical nutrition therapy, clinical dietetics, therapeutic nutrition, nutrition assessment, nutrition bioinformatics, diet counselling, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both nutritional science theory and practical clinical dietetics application through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by Masinde Muliro University and Kenyatta University. Both are public universities offering the programme over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in medical nutrition therapy, clinical dietetics, therapeutic nutrition, nutrition assessment, nutrition counselling, nutrition bioinformatics, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, clinical practicum, examinations, and a research thesis.

KU charges approximately KES 295,800 to KES 326,400/year for science-based masters programmes. MMUST fees not independently verified. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in food, nutrition and dietetics, clinical nutrition, community nutrition, or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as clinical dietitians, medical nutrition therapists, nutrition consultants, dietetics researchers, public health nutritionists, and lecturers in dietetics and nutrition across hospitals, health institutions, and universities.

Skills Required

Medical Nutrition Therapy and Diet Planning
Clinical Dietetics and Patient Management
Therapeutic Nutrition for Disease Management
Nutrition Assessment and Diagnosis
Nutrition Bioinformatics and Data Analysis
Diet Counselling and Behaviour Change
Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition Support
Nutrition in Critical Care
Research Methods in Nutrition
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Medical Nutrition Therapy
Clinical Dietetics and Patient Management
Therapeutic Nutrition for Disease Management
Nutrition Assessment and Diagnosis
Nutrition Bioinformatics
Diet Counselling and Behaviour Change
Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition Support
Nutrition in Critical Care
Research Methods in Nutrition
Thesis Research

Certifications

KNDI Professional Registration
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Membership

Specializations

Clinical Dietetics

Focuses on clinical dietetics, covering medical nutrition therapy, patient assessment, diet planning, and managing clinical dietetics services.

Therapeutic Nutrition

Examines therapeutic nutrition, covering nutrition therapy for diseases, therapeutic diets, disease management, and managing therapeutic nutrition.

Nutrition Bioinformatics

Covers nutrition bioinformatics, covering nutrition data, bioinformatics tools, nutritional genomics, and managing nutrition data analysis.

Critical Care Nutrition

Focuses on critical care nutrition, covering enteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition, critical care dietetics, and managing critical care nutrition.

Paediatric Nutrition

Examines paediatric nutrition, covering infant nutrition, child nutrition, paediatric dietetics, and managing paediatric nutrition.

Community Nutrition

Covers community nutrition, covering community nutrition programmes, nutrition education, public health nutrition, and managing community nutrition.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 326,400
Private, up to: Ksh 150,000
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: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Medical Nutrition Therapy
Clinical Dietetics and Patient Management
Therapeutic Nutrition for Disease Management
Nutrition Assessment and Diagnosis
Nutrition Bioinformatics
Diet Counselling and Behaviour Change
Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition Support
Nutrition in Critical Care
Research Methods in Nutrition
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Medical Nutrition Therapy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines nutrition therapy for diseases, diet planning, therapeutic diets, evidence-based practice, and managing medical nutrition therapy.
Clinical Dietetics and Patient Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers patient assessment, diet counselling, patient management, care plans, and managing clinical dietetics services.
Nutrition Assessment and Diagnosis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines nutritional assessment methods, anthropometry, biochemical assessment, clinical assessment, and managing nutrition assessment.
Research Methods in Nutrition
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, ethical issues, and conducting nutrition research, preparing students for their thesis.
Therapeutic Nutrition for Disease Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers nutrition for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, cancer, gastrointestinal disorders, and managing therapeutic nutrition.
Nutrition Bioinformatics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines nutrition data, bioinformatics tools, nutritional genomics, data management, and managing nutrition data analysis.
Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition Support
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers enteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition, nutrition support, critical care dietetics, and managing nutrition support.
Nutrition in Critical Care
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines critical care nutrition, ICU nutrition, trauma nutrition, sepsis nutrition, and managing critical care nutrition.
Paediatric and Maternal Nutrition
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers infant nutrition, child nutrition, maternal nutrition, lactation, and managing paediatric and maternal nutrition.
Diet Counselling and Behaviour Change
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines behaviour change, motivational interviewing, diet education, counselling techniques, and managing diet counselling.
Public Health Nutrition
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers community nutrition programmes, nutrition education, public health nutrition policy, and managing community nutrition.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a medical dietetics topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and dietetics knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Clinical Dietetics
Focuses on clinical dietetics, covering medical nutrition therapy, patient assessment, diet planning, and managing clinical dietetics services.
Therapeutic Nutrition
Examines therapeutic nutrition, covering nutrition therapy for diseases, therapeutic diets, disease management, and managing therapeutic nutrition.
Nutrition Bioinformatics
Covers nutrition bioinformatics, covering nutrition data, bioinformatics tools, nutritional genomics, and managing nutrition data analysis.
Critical Care Nutrition
Focuses on critical care nutrition, covering enteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition, critical care dietetics, and managing critical care nutrition.
Paediatric Nutrition
Examines paediatric nutrition, covering infant nutrition, child nutrition, paediatric dietetics, and managing paediatric nutrition.
Community Nutrition
Covers community nutrition, covering community nutrition programmes, nutrition education, public health nutrition, and managing community nutrition.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Medical Dietetics programme combines lectures, clinical practicum, laboratory sessions, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover medical nutrition therapy, clinical dietetics, therapeutic nutrition, nutrition assessment, and nutrition bioinformatics. Medical nutrition therapy sessions examine nutrition therapy for diseases, diet planning, therapeutic diets, and managing medical nutrition therapy. Clinical dietetics sessions cover patient assessment, diet counselling, patient management, and managing clinical dietetics. Therapeutic nutrition sessions cover nutrition for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, cancer, and managing therapeutic nutrition. Nutrition assessment sessions cover nutritional assessment methods, anthropometry, biochemical assessment, clinical assessment, and managing nutrition assessment. Nutrition bioinformatics sessions cover nutrition data, bioinformatics tools, nutritional genomics, and managing nutrition data analysis. Critical care nutrition sessions cover enteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition, critical care dietetics, and managing critical care nutrition. Diet counselling sessions cover behaviour change, motivational interviewing, diet education, and managing diet counselling. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Clinical practicum provides hands-on experience with patient care, diet planning, nutrition counselling, and clinical dietetics practice. Laboratory sessions provide practical experience with nutritional analysis, food analysis, and laboratory techniques. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in medical dietetics. Guest lectures from experienced clinical dietitians, nutritionists, and researchers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on a medical dietetics topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for clinical dietitians with increasing non-communicable diseases, malnutrition, and lifestyle-related conditions in Kenya.
Programme is offered by multiple universities (MMUST, KU), providing institutional choice.
Programme combines nutritional science with clinical application, providing versatile skills for both clinical and community nutrition.
KNDI professional registration provides recognised professional status in Kenya.

Against it

MMUST fees not independently verified, limiting fee comparison.
No private university confirmed offering this exact programme, limiting options.
Programme requires strong background in nutrition and biological sciences, which may limit access.
Clinical practicum requires access to hospital settings, which may be limited in some locations.

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

Public296k to 326k

296k at Kenyatta University326k at Kenyatta University

Private120k to 150k

120k at Great Lakes University of Kisumu150k at Kenya Methodist 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

KU 326,400/yr for MSc Food,Nutrition&Dietetics (mawese.com). UoN unverified. GLUK 120k (eafinder).

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KNDI may provide training support for nutrition professionals. WHO may provide training support for nutrition professionals in developing countries. Some hospitals and health institutions may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KNDI Training Support
WHO Training Support

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
KNDI Training Support
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
Kenya Nutritionists and Dieticians Institute supports training for nutrition professionals.
WHO Training Support
GrantKsh 250,000
World Health Organization provides training support for nutrition professionals in developing countries.

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 Upper Second Class Honours in nutrition or dietetics. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience are considered. Postgraduate Diploma in Nutrition may also be accepted. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework20% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case studies, seminar presentations, diet planning projects, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering medical nutrition therapy, clinical dietetics, therapeutic nutrition, nutrition assessment, and nutrition bioinformatics.
Clinical and Practical Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Practical assessment through clinical practicum, diet planning projects, nutrition assessment exercises, case management, and demonstrating dietetics skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a medical dietetics topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and dietetics knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Masinde Muliro University and Kenyatta University (both public) offer MSc in Medical Dietetics. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in medical dietetics. Graduates are eligible for KNDI professional registration and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics membership.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Masinde Muliro University and Kenyatta University (both public) offer MSc in Medical Dietetics. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in medical dietetics. Graduates are eligible for KNDI professional registration and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics membership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Clinical Dietitian
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages clinical dietetics services, overseeing patient assessment, diet planning, nutrition therapy, and managing clinical dietetics in hospitals.
Medical Nutrition Therapist
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Provides medical nutrition therapy, overseeing nutrition assessment, diet planning, disease management, and managing nutrition therapy services.
Nutrition Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 600,000
Consults on nutrition matters, providing advisory services, nutrition assessment, programme design, and managing nutrition consultancy.
Dietetics Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Conducts dietetics research, overseeing research design, data collection, analysis, and managing dietetics research activities.
Public Health Nutritionist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages public health nutrition programmes, overseeing community nutrition, nutrition education, programme management, and managing public health nutrition.
Dietetics Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches dietetics and nutrition at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, clinical supervision, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Nutrition Assessment Software
SoftwarePrimary
Nutrition assessment software for dietetics, covering nutritional assessment, diet analysis, meal planning, and managing nutrition data.
Food Composition Database
Software
Food composition database for diet planning, covering food nutrients, dietary analysis, and managing food composition data.
SPSS
Software
SPSS statistical software for nutrition research, covering data analysis, statistical tests, and managing research data.
Anthropometric Equipment
Equipment
Anthropometric equipment for nutrition assessment, covering height, weight, body composition, and managing anthropometric measurement.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Dietetics is just about telling people what to eat.
Medical dietetics covers comprehensive nutritional science including medical nutrition therapy, therapeutic diets, critical care nutrition, and nutrition bioinformatics.
This programme is only for those working in hospitals.
Dietetics skills are valuable in hospitals, public health, research, food industry, sports, and any organisation dealing with nutrition and health.
Dietetics has limited career prospects in Kenya.
With increasing non-communicable diseases, malnutrition, and lifestyle-related conditions, demand for clinical dietitians is growing in Kenya.
This programme is the same as general nutrition.
Medical dietetics focuses specifically on clinical nutrition and therapeutic dietetics, while general nutrition covers broader food science and community nutrition.
Nutrition therapy is not evidence-based.
Medical nutrition therapy is evidence-based, supported by clinical research and integrated into medical treatment protocols.
Dietitians just help people lose weight.
Clinical dietitians manage nutrition for a wide range of conditions including diabetes, kidney disease, cancer, critical care, and paediatric nutrition.