Agriculture

Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Entomology

The Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Entomology is a research-focused doctoral programme investigating insects and their interactions with agricultural crops, including pest management, biological control, pollination ecology, and insect biodiversity. Students conduct original research contributing to sustainable crop protection and food security.

The programme is offered at Kenyatta University, University of Eldoret, and Maseno University, all accredited by the Commission for University Education. Admission requires a relevant Master's degree in entomology, crop protection, agricultural science, or a closely related field.

Students develop advanced skills in insect taxonomy, pest identification, molecular entomology, biological control methods, integrated pest management, and ecological field methods. Research areas include insect-plant interactions, pesticide resistance, beneficial insects in agriculture, and climate change impacts on pest populations.

Kenya's agricultural sector faces significant insect pest challenges affecting both food crops and export commodities. Research institutions including KALRO, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), and university departments collaborate on developing sustainable pest management solutions for Kenyan and African agriculture.

The programme combines coursework in advanced entomology, research methodology, and biostatistics with independent doctoral research. Full-time and part-time study modes are available. Field and laboratory research are significant components, often conducted at agricultural research stations.

Graduates work as university lecturers, research scientists at KALRO and icipe, agricultural extension specialists, pest management consultants, and crop protection officers in government. The programme suits agricultural scientists seeking to advance entomological research for crop protection.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 392,000
Private, up to: Ksh 168,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 40 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Crop Production
Animal Husbandry
Soil Science
Agricultural Economics
Agricultural Engineering
Horticulture
Agronomy
Plant Pathology
Agricultural Extension
Farm Management

Modules

8 in the programme

Agricultural Biotechnology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsElective
Plant tissue culture, genetic modification, biofertilizers and biotechnology applications.
Field Attachment / Practicum
Year 1Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised placement on a farm, agricultural research station or extension service.
Advanced Insect Physiology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
In-depth study of insect physiology including neurophysiology, endocrinology, digestion, circulation, and reproductive systems relevant to pest management.
Research Methods in Agriculture
Year 2Semester 12 creditsElective
Experimental design, field trials, data analysis and agricultural research reporting.
Molecular Entomology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Application of molecular techniques to entomological research, including insect genomics, population genetics, and molecular-based pest identification methods.
Final Year Research Project
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Independent agricultural research project: field experiment, analysis and presentation.
Biological Control Methods
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Theory and practice of biological pest control using natural enemies, including parasitoids, predators, and microbial agents for sustainable crop protection.
Doctoral Thesis Research
Year 3Semester 212 creditsCore
Independent doctoral research on a specialised topic in agricultural entomology, culminating in an original thesis contributing new knowledge to the field.

Specialisations

Crop Science & Agronomy
Crop production, soil management, pest control and sustainable farming. Students learn modern agronomy, precision agriculture and food security strategies.
Animal Science & Livestock
Animal husbandry, livestock nutrition, breeding and health management. Students gain skills for dairy, beef, poultry and aquaculture enterprises.
Environmental Management
Conservation, environmental impact assessment, natural resource management and sustainability. Students learn to balance development with environmental protection.
Agricultural Economics & Extension
Farm management, agricultural marketing, rural development and extension services. Students learn to advise farmers and manage agribusinesses.
Horticulture & Floriculture
Fruit, vegetable and flower production, greenhouse management and post-harvest technology. Students gain skills for Kenya's thriving horticulture export sector.

A day as a student

Days begin with field surveys of experimental plots or insect rearing colonies, followed by laboratory work identifying specimens, conducting bioassays, or processing samples for chemical analysis. Afternoons involve data entry, statistical analysis, and writing sections of the thesis or a journal article under the guidance of a supervisor.

The trade offs

In its favour

icipe, one of Africa's premier insect science institutions, is based in Nairobi and actively hires doctoral graduates
Growing demand for IPM experts driven by export horticulture sector's strict pesticide residue requirements
Fieldwork component provides practical skills applicable to consulting, extension, and agribusiness roles

Against it

Number of doctoral-level entomology positions in Kenya is limited; many graduates must seek roles in neighbouring countries or internationally
Field research can be physically demanding, involving exposure to harsh weather and remote farm environments
Programme length of 3–5 years requires sustained funding; HELB does not cover postgraduate degrees

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 303 agriculture courses

Public367k to 392k

367k at Kenyatta University392k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 168k

150k at Mount Kenya University168k at Kenya Methodist 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

UoN 392K (biology.uonbi.ac.ke), KU 367K/yr. MKU 150K (mku.ac.ke), KeMU 168K.

HELB loans, county bursaries, AGRA scholarships, and KALRO training grants. Agricultural companies occasionally sponsor students in exchange for internship commitments.

Funding options

HELB loan
County bursary
University scholarship
AGRA scholarships

Scholarships

5 recorded

HELB Agriculture Loan
PartialKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizen; Agriculture programme; Financial need
TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship (RUFEP)
FullKsh 800,000Kenyan
Kenyan/East African; Agriculture student; Economically disadvantaged; Under 30
KALRO Agricultural Training Bursary
PartialKsh 120,000Kenyan
Agriculture student; KALRO-affiliated institution; Academic merit
Green Belt Movement Environment Scholarship
PartialKsh 150,000Kenyan
Environment student; Community conservation involvement
County Government Agriculture Bursary
PartialKsh 80,000Kenyan
Resident of county; Agriculture student; Financial need

Getting in

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

What you need

Alternative entry: A relevant Master's degree and a defensible research proposal; some programmes interview candidates.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat20% of the mark
Theory tests and assignments.
Field / Lab Practicals
Practical25% of the mark
Fieldwork, farm and laboratory practicals.
Industrial Attachment
Attachment15% of the mark
Supervised industry/field attachment.
End-of-Semester Examination
Exam40% of the mark
Theory examinations.

Accreditation

Agricultural programs are accredited by CUE for degrees and KNEC/TVETA for diplomas. The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) supports curriculum development.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
NationalRequired
Accredits all university-level programmes (Bachelor, Master, PhD) in Kenya.
Agricultural Society of Kenya
Professional
Professional body for agricultural practitioners.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Research Entomologist (icipe/KALRO)
Medium demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 240,000
Leads pest biology and IPM research at national or international agricultural research organisations.
University Lecturer – Entomology/Crop Science
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 220,000
Teaches entomology and pest management courses at university level while conducting funded research.
Pest Management Consultant
Medium demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 180,000
Advises large-scale farmers and horticultural exporters on scientifically grounded pest control programmes.
Agrochemical Technical Advisor
Medium demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 260,000
Provides technical support and product recommendations to farmers for agrochemical companies operating in East Africa.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates secure positions as research entomologists at icipe, KALRO, and CABI, as university lecturers in crop science or zoology, and as IPM technical advisors for horticultural exporters and agrochemical companies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

R
Analytics
QGIS
AnalyticsPrimary
SPSS
Analytics
Field trial management software (e.g., AGROBASE, BreedBase)
Database
Google Maps
Mapping
Cool Farm Tool
Analytics
Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
Google Scholar
Research

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Agriculture is just farming.
Modern agriculture includes agribusiness, biotechnology, agricultural engineering, food science, agricultural finance, and value addition — offering diverse professional paths.
There are no jobs in agriculture.
Agriculture is Kenya's backbone with opportunities in agribusiness, research, extension services, food processing, input supply, and agricultural technology.
All research is funded by the government
Partnerships with international bodies like CIMMYT, ILRI, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are key.
You need a PhD from abroad to advance
Local PhDs from UoN, JKUAT are respected; publications and grants matter more.