Agriculture

Doctor of Philosophy in Genetics and Plant Breeding

The Doctor of Philosophy in Genetics and Plant Breeding is a doctoral programme offered by Kenyan universities, designed to provide advanced training and research opportunities in philosophy and ethical studies. The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and delivered through coursework, seminars, and independent research.

Students engage with ethical theory, logic, metaphysics, and philosophy of mind through a structured curriculum that combines theoretical foundations with practical applications. The programme emphasises critical reasoning, ethical analysis, and philosophical inquiry and prepares scholars to contribute original research to the discipline.

Kenya's ethical challenges in technology, governance, and society require philosophical expertise. The programme addresses national development priorities and aligns with Kenya's Vision 2030, which emphasises the need for highly trained professionals in philosophy and ethics. Graduates are equipped to tackle complex challenges facing the country and the East African region.

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, laboratory sessions where applicable, fieldwork, and supervised research. Students work closely with faculty supervisors to develop their research proposals, conduct original research, and produce a thesis or dissertation that contributes new knowledge to the field.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, ethics consultants, policy analysts, and researchers in universities, research institutions, government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and private sector firms. The programme provides a strong foundation for academic careers and leadership roles in philosophy and ethics.

This programme is ideal for individuals with a strong academic background in philosophy or a related humanities field who are passionate about research and advancing knowledge in philosophy and ethical studies. It suits those who wish to contribute to policy development, innovation, and evidence-based decision-making in Kenya and beyond.

Duration: 3-4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 464,000
Private, up to: Ksh 313,700
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: 8 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Ethical Theory
Logic
Research Methods
Metaphysics
Epistemology
Philosophy of Mind
Political Philosophy
African Philosophy
Philosophy of Science
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

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.
Plant Genetics and Cytogenetics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Genetics and cytogenetics of plants, covering genetic principles, molecular techniques, and their application in heredity and biotechnology research.
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.
Plant Breeding Methods and Strategies
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Methods and strategies in plant breeding, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
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.
Molecular Plant Breeding and Marker-Assisted Selection
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Molecular breeding and MAS, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
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.
Quantitative Genetics in Plant Breeding
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Quantitative genetics for breeding, covering genetic principles, molecular techniques, and their application in heredity and biotechnology research.
Epistemology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced study of epistemology, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Plant Biotechnology and Tissue Culture
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Biotechnology and tissue culture, covering technological tools, digital platforms, and information systems relevant to contemporary research and professional practice.
Philosophy of Mind
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced study of philosophy of mind, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Research Methods in Plant Breeding
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

Logic
Specialization in Logic, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Philosophy of Mind
Specialization in Philosophy of Mind, preparing graduates for careers such as applied-ai-ethicist.
Metaphysics
Specialization in Metaphysics, preparing graduates for careers such as policy-analyst-social-policy.
Ethical Theory
Specialization in Ethical Theory, preparing graduates for careers such as philosopher.
Epistemology
Specialization in Epistemology, preparing graduates for careers such as research-ethics-coordinator.
Specialisation Methods
Specialization in Specialisation Methods, preparing graduates for careers such as bioethicist.
Plant Genetic Resources
Research on plant genetic resources conservation
Stress Tolerance Breeding
Research on breeding for stress tolerance
Disease Resistance Breeding
Research on breeding for disease resistance
Molecular Plant Breeding
Research on molecular plant breeding and MAS

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures and seminars with afternoon research activities, laboratory sessions, or fieldwork. Students engage with faculty supervisors, attend research seminars, review literature, and work on their thesis research projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

Advanced research skills open doors to academic and research careers in Kenya and internationally
Kenya's food security challenges create strong demand
Addresses real-world challenges relevant to Kenya's development priorities
Strong professional network through university and research collaborations

Against it

Field trials require land and long growing seasons
Laboratory equipment for molecular breeding is expensive
GMO research requires NBA approvals
Research funding can be limited, requiring students to seek external grants

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

Public252k to 464k

252k at Egerton University464k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 314k

150k at Mount Kenya University314k at Kabarak 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 (uonbi.ac.ke). Egerton 252K/yr. MKU 150K, Kabarak 314K/yr

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships for African scholars, and university-specific research grants. Some programmes offer teaching assistantships that provide fee waivers and stipends.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Scholarships
Scholarship
African Union Research Grants
Grant

Scholarships

5 recorded

DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for postgraduate study in relevant fields
HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
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 in relevant field
Second Class Honours (Upper Division) or equivalent
Research proposal
Approved by prospective supervisor
KCSE or equivalent
C+ (Plus) minimum mean grade

How you are assessed

5 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework20% of the mark
Thesis Defence
Coursework100% of the mark
Coursework Examinations
Coursework30% of the mark
Research Seminars
Coursework20% of the mark
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Professional body registration may be required depending on the field of specialisation.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya
Relevant Professional Body
Professional certification
Professional registration may be required depending on the field of specialisation
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya
Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service
Professional
Regulates plant health, seeds and plant varieties in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

8 roles

Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 65,000 to Ksh 200,000
Provides research-based policy advice to government, NGOs, and international organisations.
Program Manager
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 190,000
Manages research and development programmes in NGOs, government agencies, or private sector organisations.
University Lecturer
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 250,000
Teaches and conducts research in a university department, contributing to knowledge generation and student mentorship.
Research Scientist
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 220,000
Conducts independent and collaborative research in research institutions, contributing to publications and innovation.
Seed Industry Specialist
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Seed industry at KEPHIS and companies
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in agriculture departments
Genetics Researcher
High demandKsh 190,000 to Ksh 480,000
Research at KALRO and BecA
Plant Breeder
High demandKsh 190,000 to Ksh 480,000
Breeding at KALRO and seed companies

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, research scientists, policy analysts, and consultants in universities, research institutions, government agencies, and private sector organisations across Kenya and the East African region.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

GenStat
Analytics
CRISPR Design Tools (e.g., Benchling, CRISPRdirect)
Code
R
AnalyticsPrimary
SPSS
Analytics
BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool)
Code
BLAST
Analytics
Field trial management software (e.g., AGROBASE, BreedBase)
Database
Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary

Certifications

Commission for University Education (CUE) Accreditation

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This doctoral programme is only for those who want to become university lecturers
Graduates pursue diverse careers including research, policy analysis, consulting, and leadership roles in government, NGOs, and private sector organisations across Kenya and internationally.
The programme is purely theoretical with no practical application
The curriculum combines theoretical foundations with practical research, fieldwork, and industry engagement, ensuring graduates can apply their knowledge to real-world challenges.
Research in this field has limited relevance to Kenya's development
The programme directly addresses national development priorities under Vision 2030, with research topics often focused on local challenges and solutions relevant to the Kenyan context.
There are no funding opportunities for postgraduate students in this field
Multiple funding sources exist including HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, bilateral cooperation programmes, and university-specific research grants for qualifying students.