Given the option of pursing Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Medicine, one of the two courses will be ideal depending on various factors. For my case and based on the job market, I would advise any student to pick Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery over Bachelor of Law.
If your grade is A plan, you should not waste time to pursue Bachelor of Law, select Bachelor of Medicine at the University of Nairobi or Moi University. The only challenge is that Bachelor of Medicine is more competitive than Law such that even if you score straight A’s in every subject, you may not be selected to the University of Nairobi.
One reason why Medicine is better than Law is that the job market is not flooded. The moment you complete your coursework; any hospital will be ready to absorb you. It’s also good that almost every hospital in Kenya pays Medical interns. It implies that when you are admitted to the universality to pursue medicine, you have 100% hopes of securing employment.
Another advantage of Bachelor of Medicine is that when you start a clinic, clients must be there. But for law firms, the competition is very stiff and it would require exceptional talent to attract well-paying clients.
The only time you should join Law over medicine is when your grades are low. In Law, one can join even if they scored B+ in KCSE, but not the case with a Degree in Medicine. I actually know a friend who was enrolled for a degree in law even after scoring C plain in Mathematics.
If you decide to join medicine, here are the best universities to enroll at:
- University of Nairobi
- Moi University
- Kenyatta University
I am certain that one of the universities will admit you for the course.
The Minimum Admission requirements for the course are:
Kenyan Government Sponsored Students (Regular Programme)
Admission to the University of Nairobi is by the University Senate through the Public Universities Joint Admissions Board (JAB) whose membership comprises Vice-Chancellors of the Public Universities, Principals of Colleges, Directors of Institutes and Deans of Schools and the academic registrars as secretaries.
The admission is based on the minimum University entry requirements. In addition the applicants should meet the enrolment requirements for the School for the various courses which depend on the KCSE subject cluster as follows:-
Alternative A
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics/Mathematics
- English/Kiswahili
Alternative B
- Biological Sciences
- Physical Sciences
- Mathematics
- English/Kiswahili
Application forms are downloadable from elsewhere in this website but can also be obtained from and should be returned to the following:-
Academic Registrar,
University of Nairobi,
P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya.
Self Sponsored Students (Module II Programmmes)
Admission to the Module II programmes is by the University Senate, through the school admissions committee. Admission is based on the set minimum requirements for each program.
- K.C.S.E. holders -As in regular program. Additionally, an average of B- (minus) in the 4 cluster subjects shown above provided that no subject in the cluster shall have a score below C+ (plus).
Alternative A
-
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics/Mathematics
- English/Kiswahili
Alternative B
-
- Biological Sciences
- Physical Sciences
- Mathematics
- English/Kiswahili
- Advanced Level Holders -A minimum of 2 principal passes; one in Biology and the other in Chemistry and 1 subsidiary pass in either Mathematics or Physics.
-
- Biology
The admission requirements in other universities are also almost similar to the University of Nairobi.
If your grades are law, you can select Bachelor of Law degree. The grade required at the University of Nairobi is at least a B+ but you may miss out if your score isn’t over A-. The best universities to pursue law are:
- The University of Nairobi
- Catholic University of Eastern Africa
- Mount Kenya University
- Moi University
The University of Nairobi is highly competitive, it’s good to select the course in other universities so as to stand a chance of being selected.
Conclusion: If your grade is A plain, go for a Bachelor of Medicine. If you score A- and below, go for Bachelor of Law. Medicine has more opportunities than Law.
