Law

Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Law

The Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Law is a postgraduate research programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Centre for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy (CASELAP). The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on environmental law, policy, and governance, contributing to environmental regulation, natural resource management, and sustainable development in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced environmental law, international environmental law, climate change law, natural resource law, environmental governance, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent legal and field research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to environmental law.

Kenya has a comprehensive environmental legal framework including the Constitution, EMCA, and the Climate Change Act, but faces implementation challenges including enforcement gaps, land use conflicts, and natural resource degradation. The programme addresses national priorities under Vision 2030 by training researchers who can strengthen environmental governance, inform policy reform, and contribute to environmental justice.

Teaching methods include lectures, legal research seminars, case analysis, field research on environmental compliance, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to CASELAP's environmental law resources and collaborate with NEMA, the Judiciary, and the Ministry of Environment.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, environmental law researchers, environmental lawyers, legal advisors, and policy analysts in universities, law firms, government, NEMA, UNEP, and international environmental organisations.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in environmental law, law, environmental policy, or related fields who are committed to advancing knowledge in environmental law and governance.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 315,000
Private, up to: Ksh 250,000
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: 8 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Environmental Law Theory
International Environmental Law
Climate Change Law
Natural Resource Law
Environmental Governance
Research Methodology
Environmental Compliance
Thesis Research
Environmental Justice
Comparative Environmental Law

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Environmental Law Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced theoretical foundations of environmental law including regulatory theory, environmental rights, and principles of environmental law
International Environmental Law
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
International environmental law frameworks, examining legal frameworks, regulatory regimes, and their practical implications for professional practice in Kenya.
International Environmental Law and Governance
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
International environmental law including multilateral environmental agreements, international environmental governance, and Kenya's treaty obligations
Environmental Governance and Institutions
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Governance and institutions for environment, covering ecological principles, environmental management approaches, and sustainability challenges in contemporary contexts.
Climate Change Law and Policy
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Legal frameworks for climate change including the Paris Agreement, Kenya's Climate Change Act, carbon trading, and climate litigation
Natural Resource Law and Governance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Legal frameworks for natural resource management including water law, forest law, mining law, and biodiversity law in Kenya
Biodiversity and Wildlife Law
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Law on biodiversity and wildlife, examining legal frameworks, regulatory regimes, and their practical implications for professional practice in Kenya.
Environmental Compliance and Enforcement
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Environmental compliance mechanisms including EIA law, environmental inspections, enforcement tools, and environmental tribunals
Natural Resources Law and Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Law on natural resources, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
Environmental Justice and Human Rights
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Environmental justice including environmental rights under the Kenyan Constitution, public participation, and environmental litigation
Research Methods in Environmental Law
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.
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.

Specialisations

Academic Research in Law
Specialization in Academic Research in Law, preparing graduates for careers such as law-professor.
Legal Research
Specialization in Legal Research, preparing graduates for careers such as legal-researcher.
Environmental Law Practice
Specialization in Environmental Law Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-lawyer.
Environmental Policy Analysis
Specialization in Environmental Policy Analysis, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-policy-analyst.
Compliance Monitoring
Specialization in Compliance Monitoring, preparing graduates for careers such as compliance-monitoring-officer.
Climate Policy Analysis
Specialization in Climate Policy Analysis, preparing graduates for careers such as climate-policy-analyst-junior.
Climate Change Law
Research on climate change law and policy
Environmental Compliance
Research on environmental compliance and enforcement
Natural Resources Law
Research on natural resources law
Biodiversity Law
Research on biodiversity and wildlife law

A day as a student

A typical day combines legal research on environmental cases and statutes with policy analysis, field research on environmental compliance, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend environmental law seminars at CASELAP, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with NEMA and UNEP for policy research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Access to NEMA, UNEP and IUCN in Nairobi for research
Proximity to UNEP headquarters in Nairobi provides unique collaboration opportunities
Research directly impacts environmental governance
Growing demand for environmental law expertise in Kenya's developing regulatory framework

Against it

Environmental litigation can be protracted
Legal research requires access to case law and statutes
Environmental law is a niche specialisation within the legal profession
Tuition costs are significant at approximately KES 1 million over 3 years

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 12 law courses

Public268k to 315k

268k at Kenyatta University315k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 250k

150k at Mount Kenya University250k 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

UoN ~315K/yr (official CASELAP page). KU & private unverified.

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, UNEP environmental law fellowships, DAAD scholarships, and NRF research grants for environmental law research.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
UNEP Environmental Law Fellowship
Fellowship
DAAD Scholarship
Scholarship
NRF Research Grant
Grant

Scholarships

5 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
IUCN Research Grant
Grant
Environmental law researchers
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
UNEP Research Grant
Grant
Environmental law researchers

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 Environmental Law, Environmental Policy, Law, or related field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Bachelor's degree in environmental studies, humanities, or social sciences
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

5 components

Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel
Oral Viva Voce
Coursework100% of the mark
Research Seminars
Coursework20% of the mark
Thesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework30% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered through CASELAP at the University of Nairobi. Legal practitioners must be admitted to the Kenyan Bar through the Kenya School of Law.

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

7 roles

Legal Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Conducts legal research at research institutions, UNEP, or international organisations
University Lecturer (Law)
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Teaches environmental law and conducts research in university law schools
Environmental Lawyer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 300,000
Practises environmental law at law firms, corporate legal departments, or public interest organisations
Environmental Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Analyses and advises on environmental policy for government and international organisations
Environmental Law Researcher
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Research on environmental law
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in law faculties
Environmental Legal Consultant
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Consulting on environmental compliance

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, environmental law researchers, environmental lawyers, legal advisors, and policy analysts in universities, law firms, government, NEMA, UNEP, and international environmental organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Environmental law is just about prosecuting polluters
Environmental law encompasses international environmental treaties, climate change law, natural resource governance, environmental justice, compliance mechanisms, and policy development, not just enforcement and prosecution.
A PhD in environmental law has limited career prospects
Growing environmental regulation and climate change policy in Kenya creates demand for environmental law researchers at universities, law firms, NEMA, UNEP, and international organisations.
Environmental law research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya's Constitution guarantees a clean environment, and the country faces environmental challenges including deforestation, pollution, and climate change, making environmental law research critical for governance and justice.
Environmental law is only for practising lawyers
While many candidates are lawyers, the programme accepts graduates with Master's degrees in environmental studies, policy, or related fields for research and policy-focused careers.