Environmental Science

Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Economics

The Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Economics is a postgraduate research programme offered at the University of Eldoret through the School of Environmental Studies. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on the economic dimensions of environmental issues, including natural resource valuation, environmental policy analysis, climate change economics, and sustainable development, contributing to evidence-based environmental and economic policy in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced environmental economics theory, natural resource economics, ecological economics, environmental valuation, policy analysis, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent field and econometric research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to environmental economics.

Kenya faces significant environmental-economic challenges including deforestation, water scarcity, climate change impacts, and natural resource degradation that affect economic development. The programme addresses national priorities under Vision 2030 and the Green Economy Strategy by training researchers who can value ecosystem services, analyse environmental policies, and inform sustainable development planning.

Teaching methods include lectures, econometric analysis, field research on environmental valuation, policy analysis projects, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to University of Eldoret's environmental studies resources and collaborate with NEMA, the Ministry of Environment, and international environmental organisations.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, environmental economists, natural resource economists, policy analysts, and sustainability consultants in universities, the Ministry of Environment, NEMA, UNEP, World Bank, and international development organisations.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in environmental economics, economics, natural resource management, or related fields who are committed to advancing knowledge in environmental economics and sustainable development.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 464,000
Private, up to: Ksh 313,700
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: 5 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Environmental Economics Theory
Natural Resource Economics
Environmental Valuation
Ecological Economics
Climate Change Economics
Research Methodology
Environmental Policy Analysis
Thesis Research
Econometrics
Sustainable Development Economics

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Environmental Economics Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced economic theory applied to environmental issues including externalities, public goods, market failure, and environmental regulation
Environmental Economics Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theoretical foundations of environmental economics, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
Natural Resource Economics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Economic analysis of natural resource use including renewable and non-renewable resources, optimal extraction, and resource depletion
Environmental Valuation Methods
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Methods for valuing environmental goods and services including contingent valuation, choice experiments, and hedonic pricing
Climate Change Economics and Policy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Economic analysis of climate change including mitigation costs, adaptation economics, carbon pricing, and international climate finance
Climate Change Economics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Economics of climate change, covering economic theories, analytical frameworks, and their application to policy and decision-making in the field.
Ecological Economics and Sustainability
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Ecological economics perspectives including steady-state economics, ecosystem services valuation, and sustainability indicators
Environmental Policy Analysis
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Analysis of environmental policy instruments including taxes, tradable permits, standards, and voluntary approaches with applications to Kenya
Research Methods in Environmental Economics
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.
Econometrics for Environmental Research
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Econometric methods for environmental economics including panel data, time series, and non-market valuation econometrics
Departmental Seminars
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Research presentations and peer review of doctoral work, providing a platform for doctoral candidates to present research findings, engage with peer feedback, and explore contemporary debates in.
Sustainable Development and Green Economy
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Economics of sustainable development including green economy transition, circular economy, and sustainable development goals in Kenya

Specialisations

Environmental Policy Analysis
Specialization in Environmental Policy Analysis, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-policy-analyst.
Economic Data Science
Specialization in Economic Data Science, preparing graduates for careers such as economic-data-scientist.
Agricultural Economics Research
Specialization in Agricultural Economics Research, preparing graduates for careers such as agricultural-economist.
Development Economics Research
Specialization in Development Economics Research, preparing graduates for careers such as development-economist.
Academic Research in Economics
Specialization in Academic Research in Economics, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Environmental Science Research
Specialization in Environmental Science Research, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-scientist.
Climate Change Economics
Research on climate change economics
Natural Resource Economics
Research on natural resource economics
Environmental Policy
Research on environmental policy analysis
Environmental Valuation
Research on environmental valuation

A day as a student

A typical day combines econometric analysis of environmental data with field research on environmental valuation, policy analysis, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend environmental and economics research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with NEMA and the Ministry of Environment for policy research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Access to NEMA, UNEP and World Bank in Nairobi
Growing demand for environmental economists in Kenya's green economy transition
Research informs environmental policy and sustainable development
Proximity to UNEP headquarters in Nairobi provides collaboration opportunities

Against it

Requires strong economics and quantitative skills
Interdisciplinary field requires economics and environment knowledge
Environmental economics is less established than general economics in Kenya
Bridging economics and environmental science requires multidisciplinary expertise

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 181 environmental science courses

Public170k to 464k

170k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology464k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 314k

150k at Mount Kenya University314k 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 PhD Agric Econ ~464K/yr (uonbi.ac.ke). JKUAT ~170K. MKU 150K, Kabarak ~314K/yr

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and World Bank research grants for environmental economics research.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
DAAD Scholarship
Scholarship
NRF Research Grant
Grant
World Bank Research Grant
Grant

Scholarships

5 recorded

NRF Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers at Kenyan institutions conducting research relevant to national development
HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
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
MSc in Environmental Economics, Economics, Natural Resource Management, or related field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Economics, Environmental Science, or related field
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

5 components

Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, economic analysis projects and seminar presentations
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
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

University Professor
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in economics departments
Natural Resource Economist
Moderate demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Resource economics at KFS and KWS
Environmental Economist
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Conducts economic analysis of environmental policies at government, UNEP, or international organisations
University Lecturer (Economics)
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches environmental economics and conducts research in university economics departments
Environmental Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Analyses and advises on environmental policy for government and international organisations
Sustainability Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 200,000
Advises companies and organisations on sustainability strategy and environmental economics

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, environmental economists, policy analysts, and sustainability consultants in universities, the Ministry of Environment, NEMA, UNEP, World Bank, and international development organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Environmental economics is just about putting prices on nature
Environmental economics encompasses natural resource valuation, policy analysis, climate change economics, sustainable development, and behavioural economics applied to environmental decision-making.
A PhD in environmental economics has limited career prospects
Growing focus on green economy and climate finance in Kenya creates demand for environmental economists at universities, government, UNEP, World Bank, and international development organisations.
Environmental economics research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya's Vision 2030 and Green Economy Strategy require economic analysis of environmental policies, natural resource management, and climate change adaptation, making environmental economics research critical.
Environmental economics is the same as general economics
Environmental economics applies economic theory specifically to environmental issues including externalities, public goods, ecosystem valuation, and sustainability, requiring specialised training beyond general economics.

Related courses

Doctor of philosophy in environmental studies