Health Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology and Biostatistics

The Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology and Biostatistics is a postgraduate research programme offered at JKUAT and Kenyatta University through their respective Schools of Public Health. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on disease distribution, determinants of health, and statistical methods for health research, contributing to disease prevention, public health surveillance, and evidence-based health policy in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced epidemiological methods, biostatistical modelling, infectious disease epidemiology, chronic disease epidemiology, research methodology, and public health surveillance. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent epidemiological and statistical research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to epidemiology and biostatistics.

Kenya faces significant disease burdens from infectious diseases including malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis, as well as emerging non-communicable diseases requiring robust epidemiological research. The programme addresses national health priorities under Vision 2030 and the Kenya Health Policy Framework by training researchers who can conduct disease surveillance, evaluate health interventions, and inform evidence-based health policy.

Teaching methods include lectures, statistical computing laboratories, field epidemiology research, analysis of health datasets, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to university computing and public health resources and collaborate with KEMRI, the Ministry of Health, and CDC Kenya.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, epidemiology researchers, biostatisticians, public health consultants, and disease surveillance specialists in universities, KEMRI, the Ministry of Health, CDC, WHO, and international health organisations.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, or related health sciences who are committed to advancing knowledge in epidemiology and biostatistics.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 464,000
Private, up to: Ksh 400,000
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 6 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Epidemiological Methods
Biostatistical Modelling
Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Chronic Disease Epidemiology
Research Methodology
Public Health Surveillance
Thesis Research
Statistical Computing
Spatial Epidemiology
Clinical Trials

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Epidemiological Methods
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced epidemiological study designs including cohort, case-control, cross-sectional, and intervention studies with causal inference frameworks
Ethical Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of ethical theory, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Advanced Biostatistical Methods
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced statistical methods for health research, including probability theory, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, and statistical software applications for doctoral research.
Biostatistical Modelling
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced statistical modelling for health data including regression, survival analysis, longitudinal data analysis, and Bayesian methods
Logic
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced study of logic, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Epidemiological Study Design
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Design of epidemiological studies, covering design principles, methodologies, and practical approaches to creating effective solutions in professional contexts.
Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Epidemiology of infectious diseases including transmission dynamics, outbreak investigation, and mathematical modelling of infectious diseases
Research Methods
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced study of research methods, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Statistical Computing and Data Analysis
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Statistical software and computing, including probability theory, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, and statistical software applications for doctoral research.
Chronic Disease Epidemiology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Epidemiology of non-communicable diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and risk factor analysis in African populations
Metaphysics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of metaphysics, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Survival Analysis
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Analysis of time-to-event data, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and current analytical techniques used in advanced research and professional practice.

Specialisations

Epidemiology Practice
Specialization in Epidemiology Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as epidemiologist.
Academic Research in Health
Specialization in Academic Research in Health, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Public Health Research
Specialization in Public Health Research, preparing graduates for careers such as public-health-specialist.
Health Education Research
Specialization in Health Education Research, preparing graduates for careers such as health-educator.
Biostatistics Research
Specialization in Biostatistics Research, preparing graduates for careers such as biostatistician.
Health Programme Monitoring
Specialization in Health Programme Monitoring, preparing graduates for careers such as health-program-monitoring-evaluation-officer.
Biostatistical Methods
Research on statistical methods
Spatial Statistics
Research on spatial statistics in health
Genetic Epidemiology
Research on genetic epidemiology
Clinical Trials
Research on clinical trial methodology

A day as a student

A typical day combines statistical computing and data analysis on health datasets with field epidemiology research, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend public health research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with KEMRI and CDC for collaborative research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's clinical trials and health research create strong demand
Advanced research skills open doors to academic and research careers in Kenya and internationally
Strong institutional links with KEMRI, CDC, and WHO
Addresses real-world challenges relevant to Kenya's development priorities

Against it

Requires strong quantitative and statistical skills
Requires significant time commitment, typically 3-4 years for PhD and 2 years for Masters
Ethical clearance for health data research can be complex
Statistical computing skills require continuous updating

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses

Public367k to 464k

367k at Kenyatta University464k at University of Nairobi

Private200k to 400k

200k at Mount Kenya University400k at Aga Khan 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 464K/yr (sphun.uonbi.ac.ke). KU 367K/yr (ku.ac.ke). MKU & AKU unverified

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, WHO/TDR research grants, CDC fellowships, and NRF research grants for epidemiology and biostatistics research.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
WHO/TDR Research Grant
Grant
CDC Fellowship
Fellowship
NRF Research Grant
Grant

Scholarships

5 recorded

WHO Research Grant
Grant
Public health researchers
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
CDC Fellowship
FellowshipKenyan
Public health professionals working on epidemiology and disease surveillance in Kenya
WHO/TDR Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers from low- and middle-income countries working on tropical diseases

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 Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Public Health, or related health field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Statistics, Public Health, Medicine, 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 faculty panel
Research Seminars
Coursework20% of the mark
Coursework Examinations
Coursework30% 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
Relevant Professional Body
Professional certification
Professional registration may be required depending on the field of specialisation

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

8 roles

Epidemiologist
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Conducts epidemiological research and disease surveillance at KEMRI, Ministry of Health, or international organisations
Biostatistician
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Provides statistical expertise for health research at universities, research institutions, or pharmaceutical companies
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in biostatistics departments
Biostatistics Researcher
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Research at KEMRI and CDC Kenya
Clinical Trial Statistician
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Statistical analysis for clinical trials
Program Manager
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 190,000
Manages research and development programmes in NGOs, government agencies, or private sector organisations.
Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 75,000 to Ksh 240,000
Offers specialised expertise to organisations, drawing on advanced training and research experience.
Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 65,000 to Ksh 200,000
Provides research-based policy advice to government, NGOs, and international organisations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, epidemiology researchers, biostatisticians, and disease surveillance specialists in universities, KEMRI, the Ministry of Health, CDC, WHO, and international health organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

R
AnalyticsPrimary
Python
Code
Zotero
Database
SPSS
Analytics
Tableau
Analytics
DHIS2
Database
Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
STATA
Analytics

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Epidemiology is just about counting disease cases
Epidemiology encompasses study design, causal inference, disease transmission modelling, outbreak investigation, and evaluation of public health interventions using advanced statistical methods.
A PhD in epidemiology and biostatistics has limited career prospects
High demand for epidemiologists and biostatisticians in Kenya at KEMRI, the Ministry of Health, CDC, WHO, and universities, especially after COVID-19 highlighted the need for disease surveillance expertise.
Epidemiology research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya faces significant disease burdens from infectious and non-communicable diseases, making epidemiological research critical for disease prevention, health policy, and outbreak response.
Biostatistics is just about applying statistical formulas
Biostatistics involves developing and applying statistical methods for health research including survival analysis, longitudinal data analysis, Bayesian methods, and causal inference.