Introduction
The Department of Chemistry offers a Master of Science degree programme targeting BSc. and B.Ed. chemistry graduates. The courses/units comprising this program have therefore been carefully selected and combined to reflect the scientific and technological advances and the current state of the art. It is aimed at exposing learners to the most current chemical knowledge and technology based on new and established chemical principles as well as chemical research methodologies and techniques.
Rationale
Chemistry remains the central science servicing most other science-based disciplines, including emerging multidisciplinary areas of study and research like climate mitigation and adaptation. Advances in science and technology have increased demand for chemists who have a wide range of skills and sound knowledge in their areas of specialization and management. There is, therefore, a continuous need for postgraduate training to support research and training as well as manpower demands in emerging markets/destinations in the knowledge and technology-based economies.
Objectives
1) 聽 聽To equip students with relevant knowledge and training in various fields of chemistry.
2) 聽 聽To equip the learners with research skills for problem solving and the generation of new chemical knowledge.
Entry Requirements
The following shall be eligible for admission to the Master of Science Programme:
a) 聽 聽Holders of a Bachelor of Science degree with at least Second Class (Honours) or equivalent from a recognized University
b) 聽 聽Holders of a Bachelor of Education (Science) degree with at least Second Class (Honours) or equivalent from a recognized University and must have studied Chemistry as a major or regular subject.
c) 聽 聽Holders of a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Education (Science) with a lower second class degree may be accepted, provided they have at least two years of working experience in a relevant field.
Programme Structure
1. 聽 聽The MSc (chemistry) programme is by coursework and thesis, broken down as follows:
a) 聽 聽The first year, a student takes eleven (11) units, five in each semester and in
b) 聽 聽In the second year, a student develops a research proposal and conducts research work on a specific area and submits a thesis for examination
2. 聽 聽The student shall choose an area of specialisation from among those provided. Possible research areas include inorganic synthesis, natural products and bioprospecting, organic synthesis, adsorption studies, water quality, nanomaterials, molecular modelling, etc.
Programme duration
The course extends over a period of at least eighteen (18) months.
Programme highlights
The programme offers advanced chemistry course units from all the traditional divisions of chemistry, namely, Organic chemistry, Inorganic chemistry, Analytical chemistry, and Physical chemistry. It also offers the opportunity for personalized hands-on training in literature review and research proposal development, research methodology, chemistry research, research presentations, etc. Students have opportunities to conduct research projects in the selected traditional division of chemistry or in the emerging areas such as nanomaterials, molecular modelling computational chemistry.
Career opportunities
Graduates of the MSc. (Chemistry) course are quite marketable in destinations such as Research Institutions, Lectureships in Higher Institutions of Education, manufacturing industries where they lead R&D departments, PhD studies etc.
Tuition Fees
Full Time Fees
East Africans ksh. 326,400 p.a.
Non-East Africans ksh. 408,000 p.a.
Why choose this programme at KU
At KU you will find highly trained and experienced faculty to provide training and research supervision. The faculty are involved in cutting-edge research topics spanning traditional chemistry areas, contemporary applied and multidisciplinary topics. KU hosts the National Phytotherapeutic Research Centre, which is equipped with state-of-the-art research facilities which are accessible to the department.