Agriculture

Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science and Technology

The Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science and Technology is a postgraduate research programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on food processing, preservation, safety, quality, and product development, contributing to food security, nutrition, and the food industry in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced food chemistry, food microbiology, food processing engineering, food safety, product development, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent laboratory and pilot-scale research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to food science and technology.

Kenya's food industry is growing rapidly with increasing demand for safe, nutritious, and shelf-stable food products for domestic and export markets. The programme addresses national priorities under Vision 2030 and the Food and Nutrition Security Strategy by training researchers who can develop innovative food processing technologies, improve food safety, and contribute to value addition in the agricultural sector.

Teaching methods include lectures, laboratory sessions on food analysis and processing, pilot plant research, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to UoN's food science laboratories and pilot processing facilities and collaborate with KEMRI, KEBS, and the food industry.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, food science researchers, food technologists, food safety specialists, and quality assurance managers in universities, KEBS, KEMRI, food companies, and international food organisations.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in food science, food technology, nutrition, or related fields who are committed to advancing knowledge in food science and technology.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 464,000
Private, up to: Ksh 168,000
Job market: High

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: 6 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Food Chemistry
Food Microbiology
Food Processing Engineering
Food Safety and Quality
Product Development
Research Methodology
Food Analysis
Thesis Research
Biostatistics
Food Regulations and Standards

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Food Chemistry and Analysis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced food chemistry including food composition, chemical reactions in foods, additives, and analytical methods for food quality
Food Microbiology and Safety
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced food microbiology including foodborne pathogens, fermentation, preservation, and food safety management systems
Food Processing Engineering and Unit Operations
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Food processing, covering engineering principles, design methodologies, and their application in solving complex technical problems.
Food Processing Engineering
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced food processing including thermal processing, drying, freezing, extrusion, and novel processing technologies
Food Microbiology and Safety Management
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Food microbiology, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
Food Product Development and Innovation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Systematic approach to food product development including formulation, sensory evaluation, shelf-life testing, and commercialisation
Food Quality Assurance and Control
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Quality management systems including HACCP, ISO 22000, statistical quality control, and food safety regulations in Kenya
Food Biotechnology and Fermentation Technology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Food biotechnology, covering technological tools, digital platforms, and information systems relevant to contemporary research and professional practice.
Food Regulations and International Standards
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Food regulatory frameworks including KEBS standards, Codex Alimentarius, FDA regulations, and export market requirements
Research Methods in Food Science and Technology
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 food science research
Departmental Seminars
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Research presentations and peer review, providing a platform for doctoral candidates to present research findings, engage with peer feedback, and explore contemporary debates in the field.

Specialisations

Food Science Research
Specialization in Food Science Research, preparing graduates for careers such as food-scientist.
Nutrition and Dietetics Research
Specialization in Nutrition and Dietetics Research, preparing graduates for careers such as nutritionist-dietitian.
Academic Research in Science
Specialization in Academic Research in Science, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Food Technology Practice
Specialization in Food Technology Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as food-technologist.
Food Safety and Quality Assurance
Specialization in Food Safety and Quality Assurance, preparing graduates for careers such as food-safety-and-quality-assurance-manager.
Biomedical Research
Specialization in Biomedical Research, preparing graduates for careers such as biomedical-scientist.
Food Microbiology and Safety
Research on food safety
Food Processing Engineering
Research on food processing
Post-harvest Technology
Research on post-harvest technology
Food Biotechnology
Research on food biotechnology

A day as a student

A typical day combines laboratory work on food analysis and processing with pilot plant experiments, data analysis, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend food science seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with KEBS and food companies for industry research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Strong institutional links with KEBS, KIRDI, and food companies
Research contributes to food security and value addition
Contributes to food security and value addition in Kenya's agricultural sector
Opportunities for international collaboration through FAO and IUFoST

Against it

UoN PhD is expensive (KSh 1,432,000 total)
Food safety compliance adds regulatory complexity
Laboratory and pilot plant research requires significant resources
Food industry in Kenya faces challenges including limited processing infrastructure

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 464k

367k at Kenyatta University464k 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 464K (foodtech.uonbi.ac.ke), KU 367K/yr. MKU 150K, KeMU 168K/yr.

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

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
DAAD Scholarship
Scholarship
NRF Research Grant
Grant
FAO 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 Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for doctoral study
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers in Kenya
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students

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 Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition, or related field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Chemistry, or related science field
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
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, laboratory projects and seminar presentations
Laboratory and Pilot Plant Reports
Coursework20% of the mark
Oral Viva Voce
Coursework100% 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
Kenya Bureau of Standards
Professional
Regulates food standards and quality in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

8 roles

Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages food safety and quality systems at KEBS, food companies, or regulatory bodies
Food Technologist
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Develops food products and processes at food companies and processing firms
University Lecturer (Food Science)
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Teaches food science and conducts research in university food science departments
Food Scientist
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Conducts food science research at research institutions, KIRDI, or international organisations
University Professor
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaching and research in food science departments
Food Quality Director
High demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 600,000
Quality management at food companies
Food Technology Researcher
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Research at KIRDI and research institutes
Food Processing Engineer
High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000
Processing at food manufacturing companies

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, food science researchers, food technologists, and food safety specialists in universities, KEBS, KEMRI, food companies, and international food organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Food science is just about cooking
Food science encompasses food chemistry, microbiology, processing engineering, safety, quality assurance, product development, and regulatory compliance, requiring rigorous scientific training.
A PhD in food science has limited career prospects
Kenya's growing food industry and export market creates high demand for food science researchers at universities, KEBS, food companies, and international organisations.
Food science research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya's Vision 2030 prioritises food security and value addition in agriculture, making food science research critical for developing safe, nutritious, and shelf-stable food products.
Food science is only for those who want to work in food factories
Graduates work in diverse settings including universities, regulatory bodies, research institutions, consulting firms, and international organisations, not only in food manufacturing.