Technology

Doctor of Philosophy in Geographical Information Systems

The Doctor of Philosophy in Geographical Information Systems is a postgraduate research programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Geospatial and Space Technology in the Faculty of Engineering. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on GIS, remote sensing, spatial data infrastructure, and geospatial technologies, contributing to spatial decision-making, urban planning, and natural resource management in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced GIS, remote sensing, spatial data analysis, geospatial programming, spatial data infrastructure, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent computational and field research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to GIS science.

Kenya is developing its National Spatial Data Infrastructure and faces spatial planning challenges including urbanisation, land management, natural resource allocation, and disaster management requiring GIS expertise. The programme addresses national priorities under Vision 2030 by training researchers who can develop geospatial solutions for planning, resource management, and decision-making.

Teaching methods include lectures, GIS and remote sensing laboratory sessions, spatial programming, field validation of spatial data, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to UoN's geospatial laboratories and collaborate with the Survey of Kenya, RCMRD, and NEMA.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, GIS researchers, geospatial system developers, spatial data analysts, and GIS consultants in universities, the Survey of Kenya, RCMRD, NEMA, and private sector companies.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in GIS, geomatics, surveying, geography, or related fields who are committed to advancing knowledge in GIS and geospatial technology.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 572,000
Private, up to: Ksh 300,000
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

Geographic Information Systems
Remote Sensing
Spatial Data Analysis
Geospatial Programming
Spatial Data Infrastructure
Research Methodology
Digital Image Processing
Thesis Research
Spatial Statistics
Web GIS and Cloud Services

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Geographic Information Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced GIS concepts including spatial data models, spatial analysis algorithms, topology, and GIS architecture
GIS Theory and Advanced Applications
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theory and applications of GIS, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced remote sensing including multispectral and hyperspectral imaging, image classification, and change detection techniques
Remote Sensing and Earth Observation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Remote sensing and earth observation, covering artistic principles, creative methodologies, and their application in cultural production and research.
Geospatial Programming and Development
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Programming for GIS including Python, JavaScript, GIS APIs, custom tool development, and geospatial web services
Spatial Data Analysis and Modelling
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Analysis and modelling of spatial data, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and current analytical techniques used in advanced research and professional practice.
Spatial Data Infrastructure and Standards
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Spatial data infrastructure including data standards, interoperability, metadata, and NSDI development for Kenya
Geospatial Database Design and Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Databases for geospatial data, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
Spatial Statistics and Geostatistics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Statistical methods for spatial data including spatial autocorrelation, kriging, spatial regression, and point pattern analysis
GIS Programming and Web GIS
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Programming for GIS and web mapping, covering geospatial principles, mapping technologies, and their application in spatial analysis and research.
Web GIS and Cloud Geospatial Services
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Web-based GIS including cloud computing, web mapping APIs, spatial data sharing, and mobile GIS applications
Research Methods in Geospatial Science
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

Climate Data Science
Specialization in Climate Data Science, preparing graduates for careers such as climate-data-scientist.
Environmental Data Analysis
Specialization in Environmental Data Analysis, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-data-analyst.
Protected Area GIS Specialisation
Specialization in Protected Area GIS Specialisation, preparing graduates for careers such as protected-area-gis-specialist.
Academic Research in Engineering
Specialization in Academic Research in Engineering, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Environmental Science Research
Specialization in Environmental Science Research, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-scientist.
Environmental Engineering Research
Specialization in Environmental Engineering Research, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-engineer.
Spatial Decision Support
Research on spatial decision support systems
Web GIS
Research on web GIS and geospatial web services
Spatial Data Science
Research on spatial data analysis and modelling
Remote Sensing
Research on remote sensing and earth observation

A day as a student

A typical day combines GIS and remote sensing analysis with spatial programming, geospatial data processing, field validation of spatial data, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend geospatial technology seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with RCMRD and the Survey of Kenya for spatial data research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's spatial data infrastructure creates strong demand
Two public universities offer the programme providing choice and fee range
Research contributes to spatial planning and decision-making
Diverse career paths in academia, government, tech industry, and consulting

Against it

Requires both technical computing skills and spatial thinking
Spatial data access can be restricted
UoN engineering-based fees are relatively high at KES 432,000 per year
Rapidly evolving technology requires continuous skills updating

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 191 technology courses

Public245k to 572k

245k at Kenyatta University572k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 300k

150k at Mount Kenya University300k 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 GIS 572K(geospatial.uonbi.ac.ke). KU 244.8K(ku.ac.ke). MKU 150K. Private max unverified

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and RCMRD research fellowships for GIS research.

Funding options

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

Scholarships

5 recorded

NRF Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers at Kenyan institutions conducting research relevant to national development
DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for doctoral study
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

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 GIS, Geomatics, Surveying, Geography, or related field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Geomatics, Geography, Environmental Science, or related field
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

5 components

Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, GIS projects and seminar presentations
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
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
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

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Spatial Data Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Analyses spatial data for planning, environmental management, or business intelligence at various organisations
GIS Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Conducts GIS and remote sensing research at RCMRD, research institutions, or international organisations
University Lecturer (GIS/Geospatial)
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches GIS and conducts research in university geospatial and engineering departments
Geospatial System Developer
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Develops GIS applications and spatial data systems at tech companies, government, or consultancies
Geospatial Consultant
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Consulting on geospatial projects
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in geospatial departments

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, GIS researchers, geospatial system developers, and spatial data analysts in universities, the Survey of Kenya, RCMRD, NEMA, and private sector companies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

GIS is just about making maps
GIS encompasses spatial data analysis, remote sensing, geospatial programming, spatial data infrastructure, and spatial decision support systems, not just cartography.
A PhD in GIS has limited career prospects
Growing demand for spatial data and geospatial technology in Kenya creates opportunities at the Survey of Kenya, RCMRD, NEMA, tech companies, and international organisations.
GIS research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya's urbanisation, land management, natural resource allocation, and disaster management require robust GIS solutions, making GIS research critical for national development.
GIS is only for geographers
GIS is used across disciplines including engineering, environmental science, agriculture, health, urban planning, and business, making it relevant to diverse professional backgrounds.

Related courses

Doctor of philosophy in environmental information systems