Health Sciences

Postgraduate Diploma in Bioethics

The Postgraduate Diploma in Bioethics (PGDBE) is a programme that equips health professionals and researchers with knowledge and skills in bioethics, research ethics and clinical ethics. Offered at Amref International University, the programme prepares professionals to address ethical challenges in healthcare, research and public health.

The curriculum covers foundations of health systems, philosophy and bioethics, human rights and bioethics, law and bioethics, belief systems and culture, introduction to research ethics, clinical ethics, organisational ethics, ethical hotspots, public health principles and practice, and practicum. Students develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in bioethics and ethical decision-making.

The programme responds to the growing need for trained bioethicists who can navigate complex ethical issues in healthcare delivery, medical research, public health and health policy. It provides a comprehensive foundation for professionals working in health institutions, research organisations and regulatory bodies.

The programme is delivered part-time through virtual sessions, Monday to Friday from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM, making it accessible to working professionals. Students gain practical experience through a supervised practicum in a bioethics or research ethics setting.

Graduates pursue careers as bioethics consultants, research ethics committee members, clinical ethics advisors, health policy advisors and bioethics educators in hospitals, research institutions, universities and regulatory bodies. They can also progress to a Master of Science in Bioethics.

Prospective students should have a background in health sciences or a related field and interest in ethical issues in healthcare and research. The programme is suitable for health professionals, researchers, administrators and policymakers seeking bioethics expertise.

Duration: 1.5 years
Private, up to: Ksh 218,900
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Part-time, Virtual
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Postgraduate Diploma

What you study

7 subjects

Foundations of Health Systems and Philosophy of Bioethics
Human Rights and Bioethics and Law and Bioethics
Belief Systems, Religion and Culture in Bioethics
Introduction to Research Ethics and Clinical Ethics
Organisational Ethics and Ethical Hotspots
Public Health Principles and Practice
Practicum in Bioethics

Modules

7 in the programme

Foundations of Health Systems and Philosophy of Bioethics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers foundations of health systems, health system structures, philosophy of bioethics, ethical theories, moral reasoning and the history of bioethics.
Human Rights and Bioethics and Law and Bioethics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers human rights in healthcare, patient rights, informed consent, law and bioethics, medical law, health legislation and legal frameworks for bioethics.
Belief Systems, Religion and Culture in Bioethics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers belief systems, religion and culture in bioethics, cultural perspectives on health, religious ethics, cross-cultural bioethics and traditional medicine ethics.
Introduction to Research Ethics and Clinical Ethics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers introduction to research ethics, research ethics committees, informed consent in research, clinical ethics, end-of-life care, reproductive ethics and patient autonomy.
Organisational Ethics and Ethical Hotspots
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers organisational ethics in healthcare, institutional ethics, ethical hotspots, emerging ethical issues, technology ethics, AI in healthcare and genomic ethics.
Public Health Principles and Practice
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers public health principles, public health ethics, epidemiology basics, health promotion, disease prevention and ethical issues in public health practice.
Practicum in Bioethics
Year 2Semester 16 creditsCore
A supervised practicum in a bioethics setting, research ethics committee or clinical ethics committee, assessed through a practicum report and supervisor evaluation.

Specialisations

Research Ethics
Focuses on research ethics committee work and protocol review for careers in research institutions.
Clinical Ethics
Specialises in clinical ethical decision-making and ethics consultation for careers in hospitals.
Health Policy Ethics
Focuses on ethical dimensions of health policy for careers as health policy advisors.
Public Health Ethics
Specialises in ethical issues in public health practice for careers in public health organisations.

A day as a student

A typical day involves evening virtual sessions from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM, covering topics such as clinical ethics, research ethics or bioethics law. Sessions include case discussions, ethical dilemma analyses, guest lectures from bioethics experts and group debates on contemporary ethical issues in healthcare and research.

The trade offs

In its favour

The programme is delivered part-time and virtually, making it accessible to working professionals.
Graduates can progress to a Master of Science in Bioethics.
Bioethics expertise is increasingly in demand in healthcare, research and policy.

Against it

The programme is offered at only one university, limiting study options.
The part-time virtual format requires self-discipline and time management.

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

Private100k to 219k

100k at Mount Kenya University219k at Amref International 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

MKU 50K/sem=100K/yr (mku.ac.ke). Amref 218.9K/yr (nyongesasande.com). No public PGD Bioethics.

Students can access HELB loans for postgraduate study. Amref International University may offer internal bursaries. International health organisations may sponsor health professionals pursuing bioethics training.

Funding options

HELB Loan

Scholarships

1 recorded

HELB Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in accredited postgraduate programmes at recognised institutions

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division, or Lower Division with 2 years relevant experience, or Master's degree, or Post-basic/Higher/Advanced Diploma recognised by Amref International University senate.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Written examination30% of the mark
Mid-semester and end-of-semester written tests covering bioethics theory, research ethics, clinical ethics and health law.
Case Analysis Assignments
Assignment30% of the mark
Assessment of ethical case analyses, research protocol reviews, policy briefs and group debates on bioethics issues.
Bioethics Project
Project40% of the mark
A bioethics research or analysis project, assessed through a written report and presentation.
Practicum Report
Practicum100% of the mark
Assessment of performance during supervised practicum in a bioethics or research ethics setting.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at Amref International University.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at Amref International University.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Bioethics Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 250,000
Provides bioethics consultation to hospitals, research institutions and health organisations, advises on ethical dilemmas and supports ethics committee operations.
Research Ethics Committee Member
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 220,000
Serves on institutional review boards and research ethics committees, reviews research protocols, assesses ethical considerations and monitors research compliance.
Clinical Ethics Advisor
Low demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 230,000
Advises healthcare teams on clinical ethical dilemmas, supports ethical decision-making in patient care and facilitates ethics consultations in hospitals.
Health Policy Advisor
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 260,000
Advises on ethical dimensions of health policy, supports policy development, ensures ethical compliance in health programmes and contributes to health legislation.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as bioethics consultants, research ethics committee members, clinical ethics advisors and health policy advisors in hospitals, research institutions and regulatory bodies.

Certifications

Commission for University Education (CUE) Accreditation

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Bioethics is only about medical research ethics.
Bioethics covers clinical ethics, research ethics, public health ethics, organisational ethics and health policy, addressing ethical issues across the entire health sector.
A postgraduate diploma in bioethics is only for doctors.
The programme is designed for all health professionals, researchers, administrators and policymakers, not just physicians.
Bioethics is purely theoretical.
Bioethics involves practical ethical decision-making, case analysis, ethics committee work and a supervised practicum in a real bioethics setting.
Bioethics is only relevant in developed countries.
Bioethics is critical in Kenya and Africa, where health systems face unique ethical challenges related to resource allocation, cultural practices, research conduct and health equity.