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Doctor of Philosophy in Geology

The Doctor of Philosophy in Geology is a postgraduate research programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Geology in the Faculty of Science and Technology. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on geological processes, earth materials, mineral resources, and earth history, contributing to mineral exploration, groundwater management, geological hazard assessment, and natural resource development in Kenya and globally.

Duration
3-5 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 392,000
Ksh 1,176,000 to Ksh 1,960,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 150,000
Ksh 450,000 to Ksh 750,000 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 392,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,176,000 to Ksh 1,960,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 150,000 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of C+ or above, plus 3 subject grades. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 3-5 years, full-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 2 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Forensic DNA Scientist, at 15 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

Students engage with advanced mineralogy, petrology, structural geology, economic geology, hydrogeology, engineering geology, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent field and laboratory research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to geology.

Kenya has significant geological resources including minerals, geothermal energy, and groundwater, and faces geological hazards including landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic activity. The programme addresses national priorities under Vision 2030 and the Mining Act by training researchers who can support mineral exploration, geothermal energy development, water resource management, and geological hazard mitigation.

Teaching methods include lectures, geological field mapping, laboratory analysis of rocks and minerals, geophysical surveys, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to UoN's geology laboratories and conduct field research in diverse geological settings across Kenya.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, geology researchers, mining geologists, hydrogeologists, and petroleum geologists in universities, the Ministry of Mining, Kengen, Tullow Oil, water companies, and international mining and energy companies.

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

What you study

10 subjects
  • Mineralogy and Petrology
  • Structural Geology
  • Economic Geology
  • Hydrogeology
  • Engineering Geology
  • Research Methodology
  • Geophysics
  • Thesis Research
  • Geochemistry
  • Sedimentology and Stratigraphy

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Advanced Mineralogy and Petrology

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Advanced study of minerals and rocks including crystallography, optical mineralogy, igneous and metamorphic petrology

  • Advanced Petrology and Mineralogy

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Petrology and mineralogy, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.

  • Environmental Geology

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Geological aspects of environmental science, covering ecological principles, environmental management approaches, and sustainability challenges in contemporary contexts.

  • Structural Geology and Tectonics

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Advanced structural geology including rock deformation, structural analysis, tectonics, and geological mapping techniques

  • Hydrogeology

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Groundwater geology and hydrology, covering geospatial principles, mapping technologies, and their application in spatial analysis and research.

  • Economic Geology and Mineral Exploration

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Geology of mineral deposits including ore genesis, exploration methods, and mineral economics with applications to Kenyan deposits

  • Engineering Geology

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Geological principles in engineering, covering engineering principles, design methodologies, and their application in solving complex technical problems.

  • Economic Geology and Mineral Deposits

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Economic geology, covering economic theories, analytical frameworks, and their application to policy and decision-making in the field.

  • Hydrogeology and Groundwater Resources

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Advanced hydrogeology including groundwater flow, aquifer characterisation, groundwater modelling, and water resource management in Kenya

  • Economic Geology

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Geology of mineral resources, covering economic theories, analytical frameworks, and their application to policy and decision-making in the field.

  • Engineering Geology and Geohazards

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Engineering geology including site investigation, slope stability, geological hazards, and geotechnical analysis for construction

  • Geological Hazards

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Geological hazards and risk assessment, covering geospatial principles, mapping technologies, and their application in spatial analysis and research.

Specialisations

  • Academic Research in Science

    Specialization in Academic Research in Science, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.

  • Hydrogeology Practice

    Specialization in Hydrogeology Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as hydrogeologist.

  • Petroleum Engineering Research

    Specialization in Petroleum Engineering Research, preparing graduates for careers such as petroleum-engineer.

  • Environmental Engineering Research

    Specialization in Environmental Engineering Research, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-engineer.

  • Environmental Science Research

    Specialization in Environmental Science Research, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-scientist.

  • Mining Engineering Research

    Specialization in Mining Engineering Research, preparing graduates for careers such as mining-engineer.

  • Economic Geology

    Research on mineral resources

  • Environmental Geology

    Research on geological aspects of environment

  • Hydrogeology

    Research on groundwater geology

  • Geological Hazards

    Research on geological hazards and risk

A day as a student

A typical day combines geological field mapping with laboratory analysis of rock and mineral samples, geophysical data processing, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend geology research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with the Ministry of Mining and KenGen for field research.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Kenya's mining sector growth creates demand for geological expertiseField research in remote areas can be logistically challenging
Kenya's mining and oil exploration create strong demandField research in remote and harsh environments
Research contributes to mineral and water resource developmentField research in remote areas can be physically demanding and logistically challenging
Opportunities for industry collaboration through KenGen and Tullow OilLaboratory equipment for geochemistry is expensive

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 science courses
Public367k to 392k
367k at Kenyatta University392k at University of Nairobi
Private150k to 150k
150k at Mount Kenya University150k at Mount Kenya 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 Geology PhD ~392K/yr (uonbi.ac.ke). KU ~367K/yr (ku.ac.ke). MKU ~150K/yr.

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and industry research grants from mining and energy companies for geology research.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    LoanKsh 80,000

  • DAAD Scholarship

    Scholarship

  • NRF Research Grant

    Grant

  • Tullow Oil Research Grant

    Grant

Scholarships

5 recorded

  • NACOSTI Research Grant

    GrantKenyan

    Science and technology researchers in Kenya

  • HELB Postgraduate Scholarship

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan postgraduate students

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

    ScholarshipKenyan

    Postgraduate students in Kenya

  • DAAD Scholarship

    ScholarshipKenyan

    African graduates meeting academic criteria for doctoral study

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan

    Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities

Scholarships you could apply for

2 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade
C+minimum entry
Alternative entry

Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

Subject requirements
Master's DegreeMSc in Geology, Earth Sciences, or related field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualificationBachelor's degree in Geology, Earth Sciences, or related science field
Research capabilityEvidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

When it next starts

Taught at 2 institutions
January 20272 institutions

Including University of Nairobi, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology.

May 20272 institutions

Including University of Nairobi, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology.

September 20272 institutions

Including University of Nairobi, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology.

How you are assessed

5 components

  • Thesis

    Thesis50% of the mark

    Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence

  • Coursework

    Continuous assessment30% of the mark

    Assignments, field reports, laboratory reports and seminar presentations

  • Thesis Examination

    Coursework100% of the mark

  • Field and Laboratory Reports

    Coursework20% of the mark

  • Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)

    Coursework30% of the mark

Accreditation

  • 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

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

8 roles

  • Hydrogeologist

    High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000

    Manages groundwater resources at WRA, water companies, or environmental consultancies

  • University Lecturer (Geology)

    High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000

    Teaches geology and conducts research in university geology departments

  • Geologist

    Moderate demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000

    Geological work at mining companies and survey

  • University Professor

    Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Teaching and research in geology departments

  • Environmental Consultant

    Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 380,000

    Consulting on environmental geology

  • Geology Researcher

    High demandKsh 190,000 to Ksh 480,000

    Research at Kenya Geological Survey

  • Petroleum Geologist

    Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 250,000

    Conducts geological work for oil and gas exploration at Tullow Oil or international energy companies

  • Mining Geologist

    Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000

    Conducts geological work for mineral exploration and mining at mining companies or the Ministry of Mining

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, geology researchers, mining geologists, hydrogeologists, and petroleum geologists in universities, the Ministry of Mining, KenGen, Tullow Oil, and international mining and energy companies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Geology is just about collecting rocks

    Geology encompasses mineralogy, petrology, structural geology, economic geology, hydrogeology, engineering geology, and geophysics, applying scientific methods to understand Earth processes and resources.

  • A PhD in geology has limited career prospects in Kenya

    Kenya's mining sector, geothermal energy development, oil exploration, and water resource management create demand for geology researchers at universities, government, and energy companies.

  • Geology research is not relevant to Kenya

    Kenya has significant mineral resources, geothermal energy potential, oil discoveries, and geological hazards, making geology research critical for resource development and hazard mitigation.

  • Geology is only for those who want to work in mines

    Graduates work in diverse settings including universities, government agencies, energy companies, water authorities, environmental consultancies, and construction companies, not only in mining.

Further reading

Read next