Technology

Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Information Systems

The Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Information Systems 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 information systems for environmental management, including geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, environmental databases, spatial analysis, and environmental monitoring technologies, contributing to data-driven environmental management in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced GIS, remote sensing, spatial data analysis, environmental informatics, database design, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent computational and field research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to environmental information systems.

Kenya faces environmental challenges including deforestation, land degradation, water resource management, and climate change impacts that require robust environmental monitoring and data systems. The programme addresses national priorities under Vision 2030 and the National Spatial Data Infrastructure by training researchers who can develop environmental information systems for monitoring, analysis, and decision-making.

Teaching methods include lectures, GIS and remote sensing laboratory sessions, spatial data analysis projects, field validation of remote sensing data, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to University of Eldoret's computing and GIS laboratories and collaborate with NEMA, KWS, and the Survey of Kenya.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, GIS researchers, environmental information system specialists, spatial data analysts, and environmental monitoring consultants in universities, NEMA, KWS, Survey of Kenya, UNEP, and private sector companies.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in environmental information systems, GIS, geomatics, environmental science, or related fields who are committed to advancing knowledge in environmental information systems and spatial analysis.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 170,000
Private, up to: Ksh 285,000
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

Geographic Information Systems
Remote Sensing
Spatial Data Analysis
Environmental Informatics
Database Design and Management
Research Methodology
Environmental Monitoring
Thesis Research
Spatial Statistics
Web GIS and Geospatial Web Services

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Geographic Information Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced GIS concepts including spatial data models, spatial analysis, GIS programming, and web GIS for environmental applications
Geographical Information Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
GIS theory and applications, covering technological tools, digital platforms, and information systems relevant to contemporary research and professional practice.
Remote Sensing and Image Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced remote sensing including satellite imagery analysis, image classification, change detection, and UAV remote sensing for environmental monitoring
Remote Sensing and Earth Observation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Remote sensing technologies, covering artistic principles, creative methodologies, and their application in cultural production and research.
Spatial Data Analysis and Geostatistics
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Statistical methods for spatial data including spatial autocorrelation, kriging, spatial regression, and point pattern analysis
Environmental Database Design
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Database design for environmental data, covering design principles, methodologies, and practical approaches to creating effective solutions in professional contexts.
Environmental Informatics and Database Design
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Design and management of environmental databases including spatial databases, data standards, and environmental data sharing
Spatial Data Analysis
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Analysis of spatial data, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and current analytical techniques used in advanced research and professional practice.
Environmental Monitoring and Earth Observation
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Earth observation for environmental monitoring including land cover change, forest monitoring, water resource monitoring, and climate monitoring
Environmental Modelling
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Modelling environmental systems, covering mathematical and computational modelling techniques, simulation methods, and their application in research and analysis.
Web GIS and Geospatial Web Services
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Development of web-based GIS applications and geospatial web services including spatial data infrastructure and interoperability
Research Methods in Environmental Information Systems
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

Environmental Engineering Research
Specialization in Environmental Engineering Research, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-engineer.
Climate Data Science
Specialization in Climate Data Science, preparing graduates for careers such as climate-data-scientist.
Environmental Policy Analysis
Specialization in Environmental Policy Analysis, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-policy-analyst.
Academic Research in Environmental Science
Specialization in Academic Research in Environmental Science, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Protected Area GIS Specialisation
Specialization in Protected Area GIS Specialisation, preparing graduates for careers such as protected-area-gis-specialist.
Environmental Science Research
Specialization in Environmental Science Research, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-scientist.
Spatial Data Infrastructure
Research on spatial data infrastructure
Environmental Databases
Research on environmental databases
Environmental Modelling
Research on environmental modelling
GIS and Remote Sensing
Research on GIS and remote sensing

A day as a student

A typical day combines GIS and remote sensing analysis with spatial data processing, environmental database management, field validation of remote sensing data, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend environmental science and computing seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with NEMA and RCMRD for spatial data research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's spatial data infrastructure creates demand
Growing demand for GIS and spatial data expertise in Kenya's environmental sector
Research contributes to environmental monitoring and management
Opportunities for international collaboration through UNEP and RCMRD

Against it

Requires expensive GIS software and hardware
Interdisciplinary field requires computing and environment knowledge
Research funding for environmental informatics is competitive
Rapidly evolving technology requires continuous skills updating

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 191 technology courses

Public159k to 170k

159k at University of Eldoret170k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 285k

150k at Mount Kenya University285k at Private universities

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

UoE 158.6K(uoeld.ac.ke). UoN unverified 170K. MKU 150K(mku.ac.ke). Private max unverified

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and RCMRD research fellowships for environmental information systems research.

Funding options

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

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
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers 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
MSc in Environmental Information Systems, GIS, Geomatics, Environmental Science, or related field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Geography, Geomatics, Computing, 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, GIS projects and seminar presentations
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 faculty panel
Laboratory and Project Reports
Coursework20% 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

GIS Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Conducts GIS and remote sensing research at RCMRD, research institutions, or international organisations
Spatial Data Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Analyses spatial environmental data at environmental consultancies, NGOs, or private sector companies
University Lecturer (GIS/Environmental Science)
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches GIS and environmental information systems and conducts research in university departments
Environmental Information System Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Develops and manages environmental information systems at NEMA, KWS, or government agencies
Environmental Information Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Information systems at NEMA and KFS
University Professor
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in GIS and environmental departments

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, GIS researchers, environmental information system specialists, and spatial data analysts in universities, NEMA, KWS, RCMRD, UNEP, and private sector companies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Environmental information systems is just about making maps
Environmental information systems encompass GIS, remote sensing, spatial databases, environmental monitoring, spatial analysis, and geospatial web services for environmental decision-making, not just cartography.
A PhD in environmental information systems has limited career prospects
Growing demand for spatial data and environmental monitoring in Kenya creates opportunities at NEMA, KWS, RCMRD, UNEP, and private sector companies working on environmental management and sustainability.
Environmental information systems research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya's environmental challenges including deforestation, land degradation, and climate change require robust spatial monitoring and information systems for evidence-based environmental management.
Environmental information systems is only for computer scientists
The programme combines environmental science with information technology, accepting graduates from environmental science, geography, geomatics, and computing backgrounds.

Related courses

Doctor of philosophy in environmental studies