Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction

The Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction is a postgraduate research programme offered at Kenyatta University, Egerton University, and Kisii University through their respective Schools of Education. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on curriculum design, development, implementation, and instruction, contributing to educational theory and practice in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced curriculum theory, instructional design, educational research methods, assessment and evaluation, and educational policy. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent field research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to curriculum and instruction.

Kenya's education system is undergoing significant reforms including the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), creating demand for curriculum researchers who can inform policy and practice. The programme addresses national education priorities under Vision 2030 and the Kenya Education Sector Support Programme by training researchers who can evaluate curriculum reforms, develop instructional materials, and improve teaching and learning.

Teaching methods include lectures, research seminars, field research in schools and educational institutions, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to university education resources and conduct research in diverse educational settings across Kenya.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, curriculum researchers, curriculum developers, educational consultants, and policy analysts in universities, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, the Ministry of Education, and international education organisations.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in curriculum studies, education, or related fields who are committed to advancing knowledge in curriculum and instruction.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 251,900
Private, up to: Ksh 310,200
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time, School-based
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 10 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Curriculum Theory and Design
Instructional Design
Educational Research Methods
Curriculum Evaluation
Educational Assessment
Educational Policy
Thesis Research
Comparative Education
Statistics for Education
Curriculum Implementation

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Curriculum Theory and Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of curriculum theories including constructivist, critical, and post-colonial perspectives and their application to curriculum design
Curriculum Theory and Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theoretical foundations of curriculum design, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
Instructional Design and Technology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced instructional design principles including technology integration, blended learning, and learner-centred instruction
Instructional Design and Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Methods of instructional design, covering design principles, methodologies, and practical approaches to creating effective solutions in professional contexts.
Educational Research Methods
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Quantitative and qualitative research methods for educational research including experimental, survey, ethnographic, and action research designs
Curriculum Evaluation and Assessment
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Methods for evaluating curriculum effectiveness including formative and summative evaluation, assessment design, and programme evaluation
Learning Theories and Cognition
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Theories of learning and cognition, examining pedagogical theories, educational frameworks, and their application in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.
Curriculum Implementation and Change
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Research on curriculum implementation processes, change management in education, and factors affecting curriculum adoption in Kenyan schools
Curriculum Policy Analysis
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Analysis of curriculum policy, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and current analytical techniques used in advanced research and professional practice.
Comparative and International Education
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Comparative analysis of curriculum systems across countries including CBC, IB, and other international curriculum frameworks
Research Methods in Education
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research design and methodology for education, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in the field.
Statistics for Educational Research
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Statistical methods for educational research including descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and multivariate analysis

Specialisations

Academic Research in Education
Specialization in Academic Research in Education, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
School Counselling Practice
Specialization in School Counselling Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as school-counsellor.
Career Guidance Counselling
Specialization in Career Guidance Counselling, preparing graduates for careers such as career-counselor-junior.
Curriculum Development Research
Specialization in Curriculum Development Research, preparing graduates for careers such as curriculum-developer.
Health Education Research
Specialization in Health Education Research, preparing graduates for careers such as health-educator.
Public Health and Education Policy
Specialization in Public Health and Education Policy, preparing graduates for careers such as public-health-specialist.
Curriculum Design
Research on curriculum design and development
Curriculum Evaluation
Research on curriculum evaluation and assessment
Educational Technology
Research on technology in curriculum and instruction
Instructional Methods
Research on instructional methods and pedagogy

A day as a student

A typical day combines research on curriculum issues with data analysis from school-based studies, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend education research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with KICD and schools for field research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Directly relevant to Kenya's CBC reform creating strong demand for expertise
Kenya's CBC reforms create demand for curriculum expertise
Research directly informs curriculum policy and practice
Opportunities for international collaboration through UNESCO and DAAD

Against it

Career opportunities outside education are limited
Limited funding for education research in Kenya
Field research in schools requires coordination with multiple stakeholders
Education research is sometimes undervalued compared to scientific research

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 education courses

Public245k to 252k

245k at Kenyatta University252k at Egerton University

Private250k to 310k

250k at Mount Kenya University310k 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

KU 245K verified ku.ac.ke; Egerton 252K egerton.ac.ke/phd; MKU 250K victormatara; Kabarak 310K kabarak.ac.ke

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and UNESCO fellowships for educational research.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
DAAD Scholarship
Scholarship
NRF Research Grant
Grant
UNESCO Fellowship
Fellowship

Scholarships

5 recorded

DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
African Union Research Grant
Grant
Education researchers in Africa
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities
NRF Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers at Kenyan institutions conducting research relevant to national development

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

Master's Degree
MEd or MA in Curriculum Studies, Education, or related field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Education or related field
Research proposal
Research project proposal acceptable to the department

How you are assessed

5 components

Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel
Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Research Seminars
Coursework20% of the mark
Thesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark
Oral Viva Voce
Coursework100% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Educational Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Advises government, schools, and international organisations on curriculum reform and instructional design
Education Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Analyses and advises on education policy for government and international organisations
Curriculum Developer
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Develops and evaluates curriculum at KICD, educational publishers, or international organisations
University Lecturer (Education)
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches curriculum and instruction and conducts research in university education departments
Instructional Designer
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 380,000
Designing instructional materials
University Professor
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in education departments

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, curriculum researchers, curriculum developers, and educational consultants in universities, KICD, the Ministry of Education, and international education organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Curriculum and instruction is just about writing textbooks
Curriculum and instruction encompasses curriculum theory, instructional design, assessment, educational policy, and research on teaching and learning processes, not just textbook writing.
A PhD in curriculum has limited career prospects
Kenya's CBC reforms create strong demand for curriculum researchers at universities, KICD, the Ministry of Education, and international organisations.
Curriculum research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya's ongoing CBC reform requires evidence-based curriculum research to inform policy, design, implementation, and evaluation of the new curriculum.
Curriculum and instruction is only for teachers
Graduates work as researchers, policy analysts, curriculum developers, and consultants in diverse educational settings, not only as classroom teachers.

Related courses

Doctor of philosophy in curriculum development