Health Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology

The Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology is a postgraduate research programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Psychiatry in the Faculty of Health Sciences. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on psychological disorders, mental health interventions, and clinical psychology practice, contributing to mental health knowledge and services in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced psychopathology, psychotherapy research, psychological assessment, neuropsychology, research methodology, and mental health policy. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent clinical and field research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to clinical psychology.

Kenya faces significant mental health challenges with a high burden of psychological disorders and a severe shortage of mental health professionals. The programme addresses national health priorities under Vision 2030 and the Kenya Mental Health Policy by training researchers who can inform mental health interventions, psychological assessment, and clinical practice.

Teaching methods include lectures, clinical research at Kenyatta National Hospital's psychiatry department, supervised psychological practice, seminars, and thesis work. Students have access to UoN's psychiatry and psychology resources at the KNH campus and collaborate with Mathari Hospital and community mental health programmes.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, clinical psychology researchers, clinical psychologists, mental health consultants, and policy advisors in universities, hospitals, mental health institutions, and international health organisations.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in clinical psychology, psychology, or related fields who are committed to advancing knowledge in clinical psychology and mental health.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 788,000
Private, up to: Ksh 317,250
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 5 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Advanced Psychopathology
Psychotherapy Research
Psychological Assessment
Neuropsychology
Research Methodology
Mental Health Policy
Thesis Research
Biostatistics
Cultural Psychology
Evidence-Based Interventions

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Psychopathology and Diagnosis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of psychological disorders including classification systems, aetiology, and diagnostic frameworks
Psychological Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of psychological theory, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Psychotherapy Research and Evidence-Based Practice
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Research on psychotherapy effectiveness including CBT, psychodynamic therapy, and culturally adapted interventions
Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced study of research methods, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Psychological Assessment and Psychometrics
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced psychological assessment including test construction, cultural adaptation of instruments, and diagnostic assessment
Counselling Techniques
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced study of counselling techniques, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Neuropsychology and Biological Psychology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Brain-behaviour relationships including neuropsychological assessment, brain imaging, and biological bases of psychological disorders
Psychological Assessment
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of psychological assessment, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Cultural and Cross-Cultural Psychology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Cultural factors in mental health including African perspectives on mental illness, cultural adaptation of interventions, and indigenous healing practices
Statistics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced study of statistics, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Research Methodology and Statistics
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Quantitative and qualitative research methods for clinical psychology including clinical trial design and outcome research
Mental Health
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced study of mental health, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.

Specialisations

Academic Research in Psychology
Specialization in Academic Research in Psychology, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Mental Health Counselling (Junior)
Specialization in Mental Health Counselling (Junior), preparing graduates for careers such as mental-health-counselor-junior.
School Psychology Practice
Specialization in School Psychology Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as school-psychologist.
Mental Health Counselling
Specialization in Mental Health Counselling, preparing graduates for careers such as mental-health-counsellor.
School Counselling Research
Specialization in School Counselling Research, preparing graduates for careers such as school-counsellor.
Clinical Psychology Practice
Specialization in Clinical Psychology Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as clinical-psychologist.
Psychological Assessment
Specialization in Psychological Assessment, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Statistics
Specialization in Statistics, preparing graduates for careers such as school-counseling-program-coordinator.
Specialisation Methods
Specialization in Specialisation Methods, preparing graduates for careers such as psychologist.
Counselling Techniques
Specialization in Counselling Techniques, preparing graduates for careers such as counselor.

A day as a student

A typical day combines clinical research at KNH's psychiatry department with psychological assessment practice, data analysis, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend psychiatry research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with mental health programmes at Mathari Hospital and community settings.

The trade offs

In its favour

Addresses Kenya's mental health crisis with severe shortage of professionals
High demand for clinical psychologists in Kenya and East Africa
Strong institutional links with KNH and Mathari Hospital
Strong professional network through university and research collaborations

Against it

Requires significant time commitment, typically 3-4 years for PhD and 2 years for Masters
Research funding can be limited, requiring students to seek external grants
Clinical research with vulnerable populations requires strict ethical approvals
Job market for highly specialised roles may be concentrated in a few institutions

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

Public367k to 788k

367k at Kenyatta University788k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 317k

150k at Mount Kenya University317k at Daystar 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 788K/yr (psychiatry.uonbi.ac.ke). KU 367K/yr. Daystar 317K/yr (daystar.ac.ke). MKU unverified

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, WHO mental health research grants, DAAD scholarships, and NRF research grants for clinical psychology research.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
WHO Mental Health Research Grant
Grant
DAAD Scholarship
Scholarship
NRF Research Grant
Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for doctoral study
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
MSc in Clinical Psychology, MA in Psychology, or related field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Counselling, or related field
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

5 components

Thesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark
Oral Viva Voce
Coursework100% of the mark
Clinical Practicum
Coursework20% of the mark
Coursework Examinations
Coursework30% of the mark
Research Seminars
Coursework20% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Clinical psychologists may register with the Kenya Psychological Association (KPA).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya
Relevant Professional Body
Professional certification
Professional registration may be required depending on the field of specialisation

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

8 roles

Clinical Psychologist
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 250,000
Provides psychological assessment and therapy at hospitals, mental health institutions, and private practice
University Lecturer (Psychology)
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Teaches clinical psychology and conducts research in university psychology departments
Mental Health Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Conducts mental health research at KEMRI, AMHF, or international research institutions
Mental Health Policy Advisor
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Advises government, WHO, and NGOs on mental health policy and programme design
University Lecturer
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 250,000
Teaches and conducts research in a university department, contributing to knowledge generation and student mentorship.
Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 65,000 to Ksh 200,000
Provides research-based policy advice to government, NGOs, and international organisations.
Research Scientist
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 220,000
Conducts independent and collaborative research in research institutions, contributing to publications and innovation.
Program Manager
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 190,000
Manages research and development programmes in NGOs, government agencies, or private sector organisations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, clinical psychology researchers, clinical psychologists, and mental health consultants in universities, hospitals, mental health institutions, and international health organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
DHIS2
DatabasePrimary
KenyaEMR
Medical
Google Workspace
Cloud
SPSS
Analytics
ChatGPT / Claude
Ai

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Clinical psychology is just about giving counselling
Clinical psychology encompasses psychopathology research, psychological assessment, evidence-based psychotherapy, neuropsychology, and mental health policy, requiring rigorous scientific training.
A PhD in clinical psychology has limited career prospects in Kenya
Kenya has a severe shortage of mental health professionals, creating strong demand for clinical psychology researchers and practitioners at universities, hospitals, and mental health institutions.
Mental health research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya faces a high burden of mental health disorders exacerbated by poverty, conflict, and social challenges, making mental health research critical for national health and development.
Clinical psychology is the same as psychiatry
Clinical psychology focuses on psychological assessment and psychotherapy, while psychiatry is a medical specialisation focused on diagnosis and medication management. They are complementary but distinct disciplines.