Science

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.

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.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 392,000
Private, up to: Ksh 150,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 5 students
Award: PhD

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 favour

Kenya's mining sector growth creates demand for geological expertise
Kenya's mining and oil exploration create strong demand
Research contributes to mineral and water resource development
Opportunities for industry collaboration through KenGen and Tullow Oil

Against it

Field research in remote areas can be logistically challenging
Field research in remote and harsh environments
Field research in remote areas can be physically demanding and logistically challenging
Laboratory 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

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 Geology, Earth Sciences, or related field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Geology, Earth Sciences, 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
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

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

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

Industry links

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.

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