Agriculture

Doctor of Philosophy in Fish Science

The Doctor of Philosophy in Fish Science is a postgraduate research programme offered at Moi University through the School of Natural Resource Management and at Kisii University. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on fish biology, aquaculture, fisheries management, and aquatic ecosystem science, contributing to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced fish biology, aquaculture systems, fisheries management, aquatic ecology, fish nutrition, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent laboratory and field research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to fish science.

Kenya has significant fisheries resources including Lake Victoria, the Indian Ocean coast, and growing aquaculture potential, but faces challenges including overfishing, habitat degradation, and food security needs. The programme addresses national priorities under Vision 2030 and the Fisheries Policy by training researchers who can develop sustainable aquaculture technologies, improve fisheries management, and contribute to blue economy development.

Teaching methods include lectures, laboratory sessions on fish biology and health, field research at lakes and aquaculture facilities, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to university aquatic science laboratories and collaborate with KMFRI, the State Department for Fisheries, and international fisheries research institutions.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, fish science researchers, aquaculture specialists, fisheries managers, and aquatic resource consultants in universities, KMFRI, the State Department for Fisheries, FAO, and private aquaculture companies.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in fisheries, aquaculture, aquatic science, zoology, or related fields who are committed to advancing knowledge in fish science and sustainable fisheries.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 392,000
Private, up to: Ksh 168,000
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

Fish Biology and Physiology
Aquaculture Systems
Fisheries Management
Aquatic Ecology
Fish Nutrition and Feed
Research Methodology
Fish Health and Diseases
Thesis Research
Biostatistics
Aquatic Resource Conservation

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Fish Biology and Physiology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of fish biology including physiology, reproduction, growth, adaptation, and taxonomy of African fish species
Advanced Fish Biology and Aquatic Ecology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Fish biology, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Aquaculture Systems and Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced aquaculture including pond, cage, and recirculating systems, hatchery management, and sustainable aquaculture practices
Aquaculture Production and Management Systems
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Aquaculture, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
Fisheries Management and Conservation
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Fisheries management approaches including stock assessment, fisheries policy, co-management, and ecosystem-based fisheries management
Aquatic Ecology and Ecosystem Health
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Ecology of aquatic ecosystems including limnology, water quality, habitat assessment, and ecosystem health monitoring
Fish Health Management and Pathology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Fish health, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
Fish Nutrition and Feed Technology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Fish nutrition including nutritional requirements, feed formulation, feed manufacturing, and alternative feed ingredients for aquaculture
Fisheries Population Dynamics and Stock Assessment
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Population dynamics, covering assessment design, evaluation methodologies, data-driven decision-making, and quality assurance processes.
Fish Health and Diseases
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Fish diseases including viral, bacterial, parasitic, and nutritional diseases, disease diagnosis, and health management in aquaculture
Research Methods in Fisheries Science
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research methods, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in the field.
Research Methodology and Biostatistics
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Research design, data analysis methods, and statistical techniques for fisheries and aquaculture research

Specialisations

Marine and Coastal Conservation
Specialization in Marine and Coastal Conservation, preparing graduates for careers such as marine-coastal-conservation-officer.
Marine Conservation
Specialization in Marine Conservation, preparing graduates for careers such as marine-conservation-officer-junior.
Agricultural Research Science
Specialization in Agricultural Research Science, preparing graduates for careers such as agricultural-research-scientist.
Marine Conservationist Practice
Specialization in Marine Conservationist Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as marine-conservationist.
Academic Research in Agriculture
Specialization in Academic Research in Agriculture, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Aquaculture Technology
Specialization in Aquaculture Technology, preparing graduates for careers such as aquaculture-technologist.
Fish Health Management
Research on fish diseases
Fish Processing Technology
Research on fish processing
Fish Genetics and Breeding
Research on fish genetics
Aquaculture Production
Research on aquaculture systems

A day as a student

A typical day combines laboratory work on fish biology and health with field research at lakes, rivers, or aquaculture facilities, data analysis on fisheries and aquaculture data, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend aquatic science seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with KMFRI and LVFO for collaborative research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Contributes to Kenya's blue economy strategy and aquaculture development
Access to KMFRI, Kenya Fisheries Service and LVFO
Growing aquaculture sector creates diverse career opportunities
Opportunities for international collaboration through FAO and WorldFish

Against it

Fieldwork at lakes and coast can be logistically challenging
Field research at lakes and coast can be logistically challenging
Specialised aquaculture equipment is expensive
Research funding for fisheries is limited compared to other agricultural sciences

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 303 agriculture courses

Public367k to 392k

367k at Kenyatta University392k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 168k

150k at Mount Kenya University168k at Kenya Methodist 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 392K (biology.uonbi.ac.ke), KU 367K/yr. MKU 150K, KeMU 168K. Moi unverified.

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and WorldFish research fellowships for fish science research.

Funding options

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

Scholarships

5 recorded

NRF Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers at Kenyan institutions conducting research relevant to national development
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers in Kenya
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities

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 Fisheries, Aquaculture, Aquatic Science, Zoology, or related field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Fisheries, Biology, Zoology, or related science 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
Oral Viva Voce
Coursework100% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework30% of the mark
Thesis Examination
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

7 roles

Fish Science Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Conducts fisheries and aquaculture research at KMFRI, WorldFish, or international research institutions
University Lecturer (Fisheries)
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches fish science and conducts research in university fisheries and aquatic science departments
Fisheries Manager
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Manages fisheries resources at the State Department for Fisheries, LVFO, or county governments
Aquaculture Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Develops and manages aquaculture operations at private companies, NGOs, or government agencies
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in fisheries departments
Fisheries Researcher
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Research at KMFRI and research institutes
Fisheries Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Policy at Kenya Fisheries Service

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, fish science researchers, aquaculture specialists, and fisheries managers in universities, KMFRI, the State Department for Fisheries, FAO, WorldFish, and private aquaculture companies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Fish science is just about catching fish
Fish science encompasses fish biology, aquaculture systems design, fisheries management, aquatic ecology, fish nutrition, fish health, and aquatic resource conservation, requiring multidisciplinary scientific training.
A PhD in fish science has limited career prospects
Kenya's blue economy strategy and growing aquaculture sector create demand for fish science researchers at universities, KMFRI, the State Department for Fisheries, FAO, and private aquaculture companies.
Fish science research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya's fisheries resources including Lake Victoria and the Indian Ocean coast support millions of livelihoods, and aquaculture development is a national priority under the blue economy strategy.
Fish science is only for those who want to be fish farmers
Graduates work as researchers, university lecturers, fisheries managers, policy advisors, and consultants in diverse settings, not only as fish farmers.