Health Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy in Anatomy

The Doctor of Philosophy in Anatomy is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Human Anatomy. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in human anatomy, cell biology, neuroanatomy and developmental biology, addressing Kenya's medical education and biomedical research needs.

Students engage with advanced topics in human anatomy, cell biology, neuroanatomy, developmental biology, histology and research methodology. The curriculum emphasises original research on anatomy relevant to Kenya's medical education and biomedical research sector.

Kenya's medical schools require qualified anatomy educators and researchers. This creates demand for doctoral-level anatomy research to support medical education and biomedical innovation.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, laboratory research, dissection studies and supervised thesis writing at university anatomy departments and biomedical research facilities.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, anatomy researchers, biomedical researchers and medical educators. They work in universities, medical schools, research institutes and healthcare institutions.

The programme is ideal for holders of master's degrees in anatomy, human anatomy, cell biology, medical sciences or related fields who wish to advance to doctoral-level research in anatomy, contributing to Kenya's medical education through research on human anatomy, cell biology and neuroanatomy to support medical training, biomedical research and healthcare innovation for Kenya's medical education and health sector development.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 428,000
Private, up to: Ksh 200,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 4 students
Award: PhD

What you study

8 subjects

Human Anatomy
Cell Biology
Neuroanatomy
Developmental Biology
Histology
Research Methods in Anatomy
Embryology
Thesis Research

Modules

10 in the programme

Human Anatomy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced human anatomy research, covering anatomical and physiological principles, their structural-functional relationships, and clinical relevance.
Cell Biology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Research on cell biology, covering biological principles, research techniques, and their application in understanding living systems.
Neuroanatomy
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Research on neuroanatomy, covering anatomical and physiological principles, their structural-functional relationships, and clinical relevance.
Developmental Biology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Research on developmental biology, exploring development theories, sustainable practices, and their application in addressing contemporary challenges in Kenya and beyond.
Histology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced histology research, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Research Methods in Anatomy
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research methodology for anatomy, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in the field.
Embryology
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Research on embryology, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Comparative Anatomy
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Research on comparative anatomy, covering anatomical and physiological principles, their structural-functional relationships, and clinical relevance.
Thesis Research
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Original doctoral research in anatomy, involving original research, literature review, data analysis, and the production of a doctoral dissertation contributing new knowledge to the discipline.
Research Seminars
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Presentation and discussion of anatomy research, providing a platform for doctoral candidates to present research findings, engage with peer feedback, and explore contemporary debates in the field.

Specialisations

Embryology
Research on embryology
Comparative Anatomy
Research on comparative anatomy
Histology
Research on histology
Cell Biology
Research on cell biology
Neuroanatomy
Research on neuroanatomy
Developmental Biology
Research on developmental biology

A day as a student

A typical day involves morning coursework on human anatomy and neuroanatomy, afternoon laboratory research on cell biology and histology, dissection studies and microscopy, and meetings with thesis supervisors on anatomy research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's medical schools create demand for anatomy educators
Access to KEMRI for biomedical research collaboration
Direct contribution to medical education and training

Against it

Anatomy research requires access to dissection facilities
Career opportunities may be concentrated in medical schools
Research funding for anatomy can be limited compared to clinical research

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

Public245k to 428k

245k at Egerton University428k at University of Nairobi

Private144k to 200k

144k at Kenya Methodist University200k 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

UoN 428K/yr (vetanatomy.uonbi.ac.ke). Egerton 245K/yr. KeMU 144K/yr. Kabarak unverified

HELB postgraduate loans are available. NACOSTI grants support biomedical research. KEMRI may offer anatomy research grants.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
NACOSTI Research Grant
KEMRI Research Grants

Scholarships

3 recorded

NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers in Kenya
KEMRI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Biomedical researchers
HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizens in postgraduate programmes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: Master's degree in Anatomy, Human Anatomy, Cell Biology, Medical Sciences or related field
Alternative entry: Bachelor's and Master's degrees from recognised institutions; pass entry examination; certificate of English proficiency

How you are assessed

3 components

Laboratory/Dissection Practicals
Practical20% of the mark
Assessment of laboratory and dissection skills
Coursework Examinations
Written exam30% of the mark
Written examinations on coursework
Thesis Defence
Thesis50% of the mark
Final oral defence of doctoral thesis

Accreditation

This programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body for university accreditation

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

University Lecturer in Anatomy
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 220,000
Teaching and research in university anatomy departments
Biomedical Researcher
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Biomedical research using anatomy expertise
Anatomy Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Research on human anatomy
Medical Educator
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 220,000
Medical education and training

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers in academia, anatomy research, biomedical research and medical education with moderate demand for anatomy expertise in Kenya.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Anatomy is just about dissecting bodies
The programme covers cell biology, neuroanatomy, developmental biology, histology and embryology.
The programme only leads to teaching careers
Graduates work in medical schools, research institutes, biomedical research and healthcare.
Only medical graduates can study this programme
The programme accepts holders of master's degrees in anatomy, human anatomy, cell biology, medical sciences or related fields.
Anatomy research is outdated and not innovative
Modern anatomy research includes cell biology, neuroanatomy and developmental biology with cutting-edge techniques.
The programme is purely descriptive
The programme includes rigorous research methodology and experimental approaches.