Science

Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Parasitology

The Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Parasitology is a doctoral programme offered at Kenyatta University, Technical University of Kenya and Egerton University. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research on parasitic diseases, vector biology and control strategies for parasitic infections prevalent in Kenya and tropical Africa. The programme addresses some of the most significant public health and veterinary challenges in the region.

Students engage with advanced topics in medical parasitology, vector biology, parasite immunology, molecular parasitology, epidemiology of parasitic diseases, antimalarial drug resistance, diagnostic parasitology and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops new diagnostic methods, treatment strategies and control programmes for parasitic diseases including malaria, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis and soil-transmitted helminths.

Kenya bears a significant burden of parasitic diseases, with malaria being a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The Kenya Malaria Strategy and the need for evidence-based control programmes create demand for doctoral-level parasitology expertise. The programme supports Kenya's health sector goals and contributes to global tropical disease research.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, laboratory sessions and supervised research. At Kenyatta University, fees are KSh 367,200 per year for East Africans. The KEMRI Graduate School offers a related PhD in Medical Parasitology and Entomology in collaboration with JKUAT, with coursework, research and thesis over three years. The programme is offered full-time and part-time.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, parasitology researchers, public health specialists, vector control programme managers and pharmaceutical researchers. They work in universities, KEMRI, CDC Kenya, WHO, Ministry of Health and pharmaceutical companies.

The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in parasitology, microbiology, medical laboratory science or veterinary medicine who wish to contribute original research to tropical disease control.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 392,000
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: 4 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Medical Parasitology
Vector Biology and Control
Parasite Immunology
Molecular Parasitology
Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases
Antimalarial Drug Resistance
Diagnostic Parasitology
Research Methods in Parasitology
Tropical Disease Control
Host-Parasite Interactions

Modules

8 in the programme

Advanced Medical Parasitology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Biology and pathology of human parasitic infections, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Vector Biology and Control
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Biology of disease vectors and control strategies, covering biological principles, research techniques, and their application in understanding living systems.
Molecular Parasitology
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Molecular techniques for studying parasites, covering parasitological principles, vector biology, and their application in disease control and research.
Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Distribution and determinants of parasitic infections, covering parasitological principles, vector biology, and their application in disease control and research.
Parasite Immunology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Immune responses to parasitic infections, covering parasitological principles, vector biology, and their application in disease control and research.
Research Methods in Parasitology
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research design and methodology for parasitology research, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level.
Departmental Seminars
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Research presentations and peer review of doctoral work, providing a platform for doctoral candidates to present research findings, engage with peer feedback, and explore contemporary debates in.
Thesis Research
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Doctoral thesis research and dissertation writing, involving original research, literature review, data analysis, and the production of a doctoral dissertation contributing new knowledge to the.

Specialisations

Vector Biology
Biology and control of disease vectors
Malaria Research
Research on malaria parasites and vectors
Diagnostic Parasitology
Development of diagnostic methods for parasitic infections
Drug Resistance
Research on antiparasitic drug resistance

A day as a student

A typical day involves examining parasite specimens under the microscope, conducting molecular analysis of parasite DNA, running diagnostic tests, reviewing literature on tropical diseases, attending seminars on parasitology, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and collaborating with KEMRI and CDC researchers on field studies.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's high burden of parasitic diseases creates strong research demand
KEMRI and CDC Kenya provide world-class research collaboration
Wellcome Trust and KEMRI provide research funding

Against it

Laboratory research requires biosafety facilities for pathogen work
Field research in disease-endemic areas poses health risks
Limited number of supervisors with parasitology specialisation

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 science courses

Public202k to 392k

202k at Technical University of Kenya392k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 150k

150k at Mount Kenya University150k at Mount Kenya 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 392K/yr (uonbi SBS), TUK 202K/yr (eafinder). MKU 150K/yr (mku.ac.ke).

HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. Wellcome Trust provides research grants for tropical disease research. KEMRI Graduate School offers funded PhD studentships in collaboration with JKUAT.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
Wellcome Trust Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
Wellcome Trust Research Grant
Grant
Tropical disease researchers in developing countries
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: Masters Degree
Alternative entry: Masters degree in relevant area of study from Kenyatta University or any other recognised institution. KEMRI Graduate School requires JKUAT entry requirements and CUE recognition for foreign qualifications.

MSc in Parasitology, Microbiology, Medical Laboratory Science, Zoology or related field
Relevant Masters from recognised university

How you are assessed

3 components

Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before departmental panel
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Laboratory reports, diagnostic practicals and seminar presentations

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at Kenyatta University (School of Pure and Applied Sciences), Technical University of Kenya and Egerton University. KEMRI Graduate School offers a related PhD in Medical Parasitology and Entomology in collaboration with JKUAT.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Public Health Specialist
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 380,000
Designing disease control programmes at Ministry of Health
Vector Control Programme Manager
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 350,000
Managing vector control programmes at WHO or NGOs
Parasitology Researcher
High demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Research at KEMRI, CDC Kenya and international research institutes
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in parasitology and medical science departments

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, parasitology researchers, public health specialists and vector control programme managers. They work at KEMRI, CDC Kenya, WHO, universities and the Ministry of Health.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Parasitology is just about studying worms.
The field covers malaria, schistosomiasis, filariasis, vector biology, immunology and drug resistance.
There is no demand for parasitology PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's high burden of parasitic diseases and control programmes create strong demand.
Parasitology research is purely descriptive.
The programme uses molecular biology, immunology, epidemiology and clinical trials.
Parasitology is only for medical laboratory scientists.
The programme attracts biologists, veterinarians, public health specialists and entomologists.