Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Counselling Psychology

The Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Counselling Psychology is a postgraduate research programme offered at Kenyatta University through the Department of Educational Psychology in the School of Education. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on counselling psychology in educational settings, including school counselling, guidance services, mental health in schools, and psychological support for learners, contributing to student wellbeing and educational outcomes in Kenya.

Students engage with advanced counselling theory, psychological assessment, intervention research, developmental psychology, research methodology, and mental health in educational settings. 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 educational counselling psychology.

Kenya's education system faces increasing challenges with student mental health, school-based violence, substance abuse, and academic stress requiring counselling interventions. The programme addresses national education priorities under Vision 2030 and the Kenya Education Sector Support Programme by training researchers who can inform school counselling policy, develop evidence-based interventions, and improve psychological support for learners.

Teaching methods include lectures, research seminars, field research in schools, supervised counselling practice, and thesis work. Students have access to KU's educational psychology resources and conduct research in diverse educational settings including primary schools, secondary schools, and universities.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, educational counselling researchers, school counsellors, counselling psychology consultants, and policy advisors in universities, the Ministry of Education, TSC, and international education organisations.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in counselling psychology, educational psychology, education, or related fields who are committed to advancing knowledge in educational counselling psychology.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 320,000
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, Blended
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 8 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Counselling Theory and Practice
Psychological Assessment in Schools
Intervention Research
Developmental Psychology
Research Methodology
Mental Health in Schools
Thesis Research
Group Counselling Research
Statistics for Psychology
Trauma and Crisis Intervention in Schools

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Counselling Theory and Practice
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced counselling theories including person-centred, CBT, solution-focused, and existential approaches applied to educational settings
Counselling Psychology Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theory of counselling psychology, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
Psychological Assessment in Schools
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Psychological assessment methods for educational settings including behavioural assessment, learning difficulties screening, and mental health screening
Educational Psychology and Learning
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Psychology of learning, examining pedagogical theories, educational frameworks, and their application in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.
Intervention Research in Educational Settings
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Design and evaluation of counselling interventions in schools including randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental designs
Counselling Techniques and Interventions
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Techniques and interventions in counselling, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Developmental Psychology and Counselling
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Child and adolescent development relevant to educational counselling including developmental challenges and age-appropriate interventions
Crisis Intervention in Educational Settings
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Crisis intervention in schools, examining pedagogical theories, educational frameworks, and their application in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.
Mental Health in Schools
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Research on mental health issues in educational settings including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and school-based mental health programmes
Mental Health in Education
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Mental health in educational settings, covering clinical principles, evidence-based practice, and contemporary challenges in healthcare delivery and research.
Group Counselling Research and Practice
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Theory and research on group counselling in educational settings including peer support groups, classroom guidance, and group interventions
Research Methods in Counselling Psychology
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research design and methodology, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in the field.

Specialisations

School Guidance Counselling
Specialization in School Guidance Counselling, preparing graduates for careers such as school-guidance-counselor.
Career Guidance Counselling
Specialization in Career Guidance Counselling, preparing graduates for careers such as career-guidance-lmi-counselor.
Mental Health Counselling
Specialization in Mental Health Counselling, preparing graduates for careers such as mental-health-counsellor.
Academic Research in Education
Specialization in Academic Research in Education, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Career Counselling Research
Specialization in Career Counselling Research, preparing graduates for careers such as career-counselor-junior.
School Counselling Practice
Specialization in School Counselling Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as school-counsellor.
Career Counselling
Research on career counselling
Mental Health in Schools
Research on mental health in education
Group Counselling
Research on group counselling in education
Crisis Intervention
Research on crisis intervention in schools

A day as a student

A typical day combines research on counselling interventions with data analysis from school-based studies, supervised counselling practice, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend psychology research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with schools for field research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Addresses growing student mental health challenges in Kenyan schools
Kenya's growing mental health awareness creates strong demand
Blended mode offers flexibility for working professionals
Relatively affordable tuition at KES 244,800 per year

Against it

Requires understanding of both psychology and education
Counselling research can be emotionally demanding
Field research in schools requires coordination with multiple stakeholders
Counselling research with vulnerable populations requires strict ethical approvals

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 320k

245k at Kenyatta University320k at University of Nairobi

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 mawese.com; UoN 320K uonbi.ac.ke; MKU 250K victormatara; Kabarak 310K kabarak.ac.ke

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

Funding options

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

Scholarships

5 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities
DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for doctoral study
NRF Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers at Kenyan institutions conducting research relevant to national development
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya

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
MA in Counselling Psychology, MEd in Guidance and Counselling, or related field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Education, Psychology, Counselling, or related field
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

5 components

Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, counselling practice and seminar presentations
Counselling Practicum
Coursework20% of the mark
Oral Viva Voce
Coursework100% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework30% 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
Kenya Counselling and Psychological Association
Professional
Professional body for counsellors 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

8 roles

Educational Counselling Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Conducts counselling research at research institutions or international education organisations
University Lecturer (Counselling Psychology)
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches counselling psychology and conducts research in university education departments
Counselling Policy Advisor
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Advises government and international organisations on school counselling policy and mental health in education
School Counselling Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Advises schools and education ministries on counselling programme design and implementation
Mental Health Consultant
High demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Consulting on mental health in education
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in psychology departments
Counselling Psychologist
High demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Counselling at universities and private practice
School Counsellor
High demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 400,000
Counselling in schools

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, educational counselling researchers, school counselling consultants, and policy advisors in universities, the Ministry of Education, TSC, and international education organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Educational counselling psychology is just about giving advice to students
Educational counselling psychology encompasses evidence-based counselling interventions, psychological assessment, mental health research, crisis intervention, and policy development for student wellbeing in educational settings.
A PhD in educational counselling has limited career prospects
Growing awareness of student mental health in Kenya creates demand for counselling psychology researchers at universities, the Ministry of Education, TSC, and international organisations.
School counselling research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya faces increasing student mental health challenges including stress, violence, and substance abuse, making counselling research critical for educational outcomes and student wellbeing.
Educational counselling is the same as clinical psychology
Educational counselling psychology focuses on counselling interventions and psychological support in educational settings, while clinical psychology focuses on diagnosing and treating mental disorders in clinical settings.