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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.

Duration
3-5 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 432,000
Ksh 1,296,000 to Ksh 2,160,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 288,000
Ksh 864,000 to Ksh 1,440,000 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 432,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,296,000 to Ksh 2,160,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 288,000 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of Masters Degree or above, plus 1 subject grade. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 3-5 years, full-time, part-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 2 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Dental Ceramist, at 3 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

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.

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 favourAgainst it
Kenya's malaria and NTD burden create strong demandFieldwork in endemic areas can be challenging
Access to KEMRI, ICIPE and WHO TDRHandling infectious specimens requires biosafety compliance
Research contributes to disease controlRequires 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

Scholarships you could apply for

2 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
Masters Degreeminimum entry
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.

Subject requirements
MSc in Medical Parasitology, Medical Entomology, Microbiology, Zoology or related fieldRelevant Masters from recognised university

When it next starts

Taught at 2 institutions
January 20272 institutions

Including Kenya Medical Research Institute, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

May 20271 institution

Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

September 20272 institutions

Including Kenya Medical Research Institute, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

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

  • 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

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.

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

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.

Further reading

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