Health Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Parasitology and Entomology

The Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Parasitology and Entomology is a doctoral programme offered at KEMRI Graduate School in collaboration with JKUAT and at JKUAT through the College of Health Sciences. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in medical parasitology, medical entomology and vector-borne diseases. The programme addresses Kenya's parasitology research and vector-borne disease control development needs.

Students engage with advanced topics in medical parasitology, medical entomology, vector biology, malaria research, neglected tropical diseases, parasite genomics, vector control methods, epidemiology of parasitic diseases, immunoparasitology and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops parasitological insights for Kenya's vector-borne disease challenges.

Kenya's malaria burden, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, soil-transmitted helminths, leishmaniasis, sleeping sickness, vector control needs, insecticide resistance and the demand for parasitology research create demand for doctoral-level medical parasitology and entomology expertise. The programme supports Kenya's vector-borne disease control and public health goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, laboratory sessions, fieldwork and supervised research. At KEMRI Graduate School, PhD in Medical Parasitology and Entomology is offered to train highly qualified global health professionals. At JKUAT, MSc in Medical Parasitology and Entomology is offered as a pathway to PhD.

JKUAT/KEMRI collaborative training with application fee KSh 3,500 for PhD. JKUAT PhD total cost approximately KSh 510,500 over 3 years.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, parasitology researchers, medical entomologists, vector control specialists and public health researchers. They work in universities, KEMRI, Ministry of Health, WHO and international health organisations.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 432,000
Private, up to: Ksh 288,000
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: 3 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Advanced Medical Parasitology
Medical Entomology and Vector Biology
Malaria Research and Control
Neglected Tropical Diseases
Parasite Genomics and Molecular Biology
Vector Control Methods and Insecticide Resistance
Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases
Immunoparasitology and Vaccine Development
Vector-Pathogen Interactions
Research Methods in Parasitology

Modules

8 in the programme

Advanced Medical Parasitology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Medical parasitology, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Medical Entomology and Vector Biology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Medical entomology, covering clinical principles, evidence-based practice, and contemporary challenges in healthcare delivery and research.
Malaria Research and Control
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Malaria research, covering quality assurance principles, control methodologies, and their application in professional standards.
Parasite Genomics and Molecular Biology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Parasite genomics, covering biological principles, research techniques, and their application in understanding living systems.
Vector Control Methods and Insecticide Resistance
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Vector control, covering quality assurance principles, control methodologies, and their application in professional standards.
Research Methods in Parasitology
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research design and methodology, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in the field.
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 Control
Research on vector control methods
Neglected Tropical Diseases
Research on NTDs
Medical Entomology
Research on disease vectors
Malaria Research
Research on malaria parasites and vectors

A day as a student

A typical day involves conducting parasitology research, examining parasite specimens, running molecular diagnostics, reviewing parasitology literature, attending seminars on vector-borne diseases, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with KEMRI, ICIPE and Ministry of Health for research collaboration. Fieldwork in endemic areas is common.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's malaria and NTD burden create strong demand
Access to KEMRI, ICIPE and WHO TDR
Research contributes to disease control

Against it

Fieldwork in endemic areas can be challenging
Handling infectious specimens requires biosafety compliance
Requires both laboratory and field research skills

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

Public170k to 432k

170k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology432k at University of Nairobi

Private144k to 288k

144k at Kenya Methodist University288k at Kabarak 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

JKUAT ~170k/yr verified. UoN ~432k/yr (UoN pattern). KeMU 144k, Kabarak 288k/yr verified (kabarak.ac.ke).

HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. NACOSTI provides research grants. KEMRI-Wellcome Trust offers research funding and training.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
NACOSTI Research Grant
KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme

Scholarships

4 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme
FellowshipKenyan
Health researchers in Kenya
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers in Kenya

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: Masters Degree
Alternative entry: At KEMRI/JKUAT: Bachelor's degree Second Class Upper Division + MSc in relevant field. Application fee KSh 3,500 for PhD. JKUAT/KEMRI collaborative training. Total approximately KSh 510,500 over 3 years. At JKUAT: MSc in Medical Parasitology and Entomology pathway. University degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division.

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

How you are assessed

3 components

Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, laboratory and field reports, seminar presentations
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel
Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at KEMRI Graduate School (PhD in Medical Parasitology and Entomology, JKUAT/KEMRI collaborative, total approximately KSh 510,500) and JKUAT (College of Health Sciences, MSc pathway). Application fee KSh 3,500 for PhD at JKUAT/KEMRI.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya
Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board
Professional
Regulates medical laboratory professionals in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Parasitology Researcher
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Research at KEMRI and research institutes
Vector Control Specialist
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Vector control at Ministry of Health
University Professor
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaching and research in parasitology departments
Medical Entomologist
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Entomology at ICIPE and KEMRI

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, parasitology researchers, medical entomologists and vector control specialists. They work at KEMRI, ICIPE, Ministry of Health and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Medical parasitology is just about worms.
The field covers malaria, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, vector biology, genomics and vaccine development.
There is no demand for parasitology PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's malaria and NTD burden create strong demand.
Parasitology research is purely descriptive.
The programme uses molecular biology, genomics, epidemiology and field experiments.
Only biologists study this PhD.
The programme attracts public health professionals, doctors and entomologists.