Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology

The Doctor of Philosophy in Educational 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 human learning, cognition, development, and behaviour in educational contexts, contributing to educational theory, assessment, and practice in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced learning theories, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, educational measurement, research methodology, and educational interventions. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent field and experimental research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to educational psychology.

Kenya's education system is undergoing significant reforms including the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), creating demand for educational psychology researchers who can inform policy on learning, assessment, and child development. The programme addresses national education priorities under Vision 2030 by training researchers who can improve teaching, learning, and assessment practices based on psychological evidence.

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

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, educational psychology researchers, school psychologists, educational assessment specialists, and policy analysts in universities, KICD, KNEC, the Ministry of Education, and international education organisations.

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

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 336,600
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
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 8 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Learning and Cognition
Developmental Psychology
Educational Measurement
Research Methodology
Educational Interventions
Psychometrics
Special Needs Education
Thesis Research
Statistics for Education
Motivation and Learning

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Learning and Cognition
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of learning theories including cognitive, constructivist, and socio-cultural perspectives on learning and information processing
Advanced Learning Theories
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theories of learning and their application in education, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Advanced Learning Theories and Cognition
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of learning theories including constructivism, social learning theory, and cognitive science perspectives on learning and instruction
Developmental Psychology in Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Cognitive, social, and emotional development across childhood and adolescence with implications for educational practice
Cognitive Psychology in Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Cognitive processes in learning and instruction, examining pedagogical theories, educational frameworks, and their application in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.
Educational Measurement and Psychometrics
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced measurement theory, test construction, psychometric methods, and large-scale educational assessment
Educational Assessment and Measurement
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Assessment methods and psychometric principles, covering assessment design, evaluation methodologies, data-driven decision-making, and quality assurance processes.
Educational Assessment and Psychometrics
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced assessment theory, test construction, psychometric methods, and educational measurement including large-scale assessment
Research Methodology in Educational Psychology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Quantitative and qualitative research methods for studying educational phenomena including experimental and quasi-experimental designs
Special Needs Education Psychology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Psychology of learners with special needs, examining pedagogical theories, educational frameworks, and their application in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.
Motivation and Learning
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Research on motivation theories including self-efficacy, achievement goals, and intrinsic motivation in educational contexts
Psychology of Instruction
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Psychological principles in instructional design, covering psychological theories, assessment methods, and their application in clinical and research settings.

Specialisations

Academic Research in Education
Specialization in Academic Research in Education, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Mental Health in Schools
Specialization in Mental Health in Schools, preparing graduates for careers such as mental-health-counsellor.
School Psychology Practice
Specialization in School Psychology Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as school-psychologist.
Curriculum Development Research
Specialization in Curriculum Development Research, preparing graduates for careers such as curriculum-developer.
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.
Motivation and Learning
Research on motivation in education
Cognitive Psychology
Research on cognitive processes in learning
Special Needs Education
Research on psychology of special needs learners
Educational Assessment
Research on assessment and psychometrics

A day as a student

A typical day combines research on learning and cognition 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

Contributes to Kenya's CBC reform through research on learning and assessment
Kenya's education reforms and inclusive education create demand
Access to KNEC, KISE and educational assessment centres
Diverse career paths in academia, policy, assessment, and consultancy

Against it

Research may require ethical clearance for work with learners
Field research in schools requires coordination with multiple stakeholders
Requires strong background in both psychology and education
Limited funding for educational psychology research in Kenya

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

Public320k to 337k

320k at University of Nairobi337k at Kenyatta University

Private170k to 310k

170k at Kenya Methodist 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

UoN 320K/yr (uonbi.ac.ke); KU 336,600/yr (ku.ac.ke). KeMU 170K; Kabarak 310K/yr (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

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
African Union Research Grant
Grant
Education researchers in Africa
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for doctoral study

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 Educational Psychology, Psychology, or Education from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Education, Psychology, 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
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before departmental panel
Oral Viva Voce
Coursework100% of the mark
Thesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark
Research Seminars
Coursework20% 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

8 roles

Special Needs Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 380,000
Consulting on special needs education
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in psychology and education departments
Assessment Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 380,000
Assessment design at KNEC and examination bodies
Educational Psychology Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Conducts educational research at KICD, research institutions, or international education organisations
University Lecturer (Educational Psychology)
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches educational psychology and conducts research in university education departments
School Psychologist
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 150,000
Provides psychological assessment and support services in educational settings
Educational Assessment Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Develops and analyses educational assessments at KNEC, KICD, or international assessment organisations
Education Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Analyses and advises on education policy for government and international organisations

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, educational psychology researchers, school psychologists, and educational assessment specialists in universities, KICD, KNEC, the Ministry of Education, and international education organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Educational psychology is just about counselling students
Educational psychology encompasses learning theories, cognitive development, educational measurement, psychometrics, motivation research, and evidence-based interventions for teaching and learning.
A PhD in educational psychology has limited career prospects
Kenya's CBC reform creates demand for educational psychology researchers at universities, KICD, KNEC, and the Ministry of Education for assessment, curriculum design, and learning interventions.
Educational psychology research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya's education reforms including CBC and competency-based assessment require research on child development, learning processes, and assessment, making educational psychology critical for national education development.
Educational psychology is only for those who want to be school counsellors
Graduates work as researchers, assessment specialists, policy analysts, and university lecturers in diverse educational settings, not only as school counsellors.

Related courses

Doctor of philosophy in educational counselling psychology