Doctor of Philosophy in Global Environmental and ASAL Engineering
The Doctor of Philosophy in Global Environmental and ASAL Engineering is a doctoral programme that focuses on advancing research in environmental engineering solutions for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) and global environmental challenges. It is designed to produce scholars capable of developing engineering solutions for water scarcity, soil conservation and sustainable resource management in ASAL regions.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 572,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,716,000 to Ksh 2,860,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 314,000 a year at a private one.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of Master's degree in Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Agricultural Engineering or related field or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 3-5 years, full-time, part-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 3 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Climate Change Analyst, at 10 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
Students engage with advanced topics in environmental engineering, water resources engineering, soil and water conservation, ASAL development, climate adaptation engineering and research methodology. The curriculum emphasises original research on engineering solutions for environmental challenges in Kenya's ASAL regions.
Kenya's ASAL regions cover over 80 per cent of the country's land mass and face challenges including water scarcity, drought, land degradation and climate change impacts. This creates demand for doctoral-level engineering research to develop sustainable solutions.
Teaching is delivered through coursework, engineering design research, field research in ASAL areas and supervised thesis writing.
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, environmental engineering researchers, ASAL development consultants and water resources engineers. They work in universities, research institutes, government agencies and international development organisations.
The programme is ideal for holders of master's degrees in environmental engineering, civil engineering, water resources engineering, agricultural engineering or related fields who wish to advance to doctoral-level research in global environmental and ASAL engineering, contributing to Kenya's sustainable development through research on engineering solutions for water scarcity, soil conservation and climate adaptation in ASAL regions.
What you study
8 subjects- Advanced Environmental Engineering
- Water Resources Engineering
- Soil and Water Conservation
- ASAL Development Engineering
- Climate Adaptation Engineering
- Research Methods in Environmental Engineering
- Sustainable Resource Management
- Thesis Research
Modules
12 in the programmeAdvanced Environmental Engineering
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced environmental engineering principles, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Environmental Engineering and Pollution Control
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Environmental engineering, covering ecological principles, environmental management approaches, and sustainability challenges in contemporary contexts.
Water Resources Engineering
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Engineering for water resources management, covering engineering principles, design methodologies, and their application in solving complex technical problems.
Water Resources Engineering in ASAL Areas
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Water resources in ASAL, covering engineering principles, design methodologies, and their application in solving complex technical problems.
Soil and Water Conservation
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Engineering for soil and water conservation, covering agricultural principles, production technologies, and their application in sustainable farming systems.
ASAL Development Engineering
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Engineering solutions for ASAL development, exploring development theories, sustainable practices, and their application in addressing contemporary challenges in Kenya and beyond.
Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Irrigation engineering, covering engineering principles, design methodologies, and their application in solving complex technical problems.
Climate Adaptation Engineering
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Engineering for climate adaptation, covering engineering principles, design methodologies, and their application in solving complex technical problems.
Sustainable Land Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Sustainable land management, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
Research Methods in Environmental Engineering
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research methodology for environmental engineering, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in.
Research Methods in Environmental and ASAL Engineering
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.
Departmental Seminars
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Research presentations and peer review of doctoral work, providing a platform for doctoral candidates to present research findings, engage with peer feedback, and explore contemporary debates in.
Specialisations
Water Resources Engineering
Research on water resources in ASAL
Climate Adaptation
Research on climate adaptation engineering
ASAL Development
Research on ASAL development engineering
Soil and Water Conservation
Research on conservation engineering
Sustainable Resource Management
Research on sustainable resource engineering
Drought Resilience
Research on drought resilience engineering
Irrigation Engineering
Research on irrigation engineering
ASAL Water Management
Research on water management in ASAL areas
Climate Adaptation Engineering
Research on climate adaptation engineering
Environmental Engineering
Research on environmental engineering
A day as a student
A typical day involves morning coursework on environmental and water resources engineering, afternoon engineering design research or field work in ASAL areas, data analysis on environmental engineering data, and meetings with thesis supervisors on ASAL engineering research.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Kenya's ASAL regions cover 80 per cent of land mass creating strong research relevance | Field research in remote ASAL areas is challenging |
| Access to NDMA, Ministry of Water and NEMA for research | Requires interdisciplinary engineering and environmental knowledge |
| Access to NDMA and WRA for research collaboration | Small cohort with limited peer interaction |
| Direct contribution to ASAL development and climate adaptation | Limited offering institutions |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 332 engineering coursesAnnual 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 Eng 572K (engineering.uonbi.ac.ke). Egerton 252K (egerton.ac.ke). KeMU 168K, Kabarak ~314K.
HELB postgraduate loans are available. NACOSTI grants support engineering research. NDMA may offer research grants for ASAL development.
Funding options
HELB Postgraduate Loan
NACOSTI Research Grant
NDMA Research Grants
Scholarships
5 recordedNDMA Research Grant
GrantKenyan
ASAL researchers in Kenya
HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizens in postgraduate programmes
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers in Kenya
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
Scholarships you could apply for
2 usable where it is taught- Chevening Scholarships Kenya
Closes 30 November 2026FullUK Government
Full masters in UK
- AfDB Japan Scholarship Program
Closes 28 February 2027FullAfrican Development Bank
Full graduate study abroad
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
Bachelor's and Master's degrees from recognised institutions; draft research proposal
When it next starts
Taught at 3 institutionsIncluding University of Nairobi, Technical University of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Including University of Nairobi, Technical University of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Including University of Nairobi, Technical University of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
How you are assessed
5 componentsThesis
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
Thesis Defence
Thesis50% of the mark
Final oral defence of doctoral thesis
Engineering Design Project
Practical20% of the mark
Assessment of engineering design skills
Coursework Examinations
Written exam30% of the mark
Written examinations on coursework
Accreditation
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body for university accreditation
Engineers Board of Kenya
Professional
Engineering regulatory body
This programme is accredited by CUE and aligns with EBK standards for engineering practice.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
6 rolesWater Resources Engineer
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 220,000
Engineering for water resources in ASAL
University Lecturer in Environmental Engineering
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 220,000
Teaching and research in university engineering departments
Environmental Engineering Researcher
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Research on environmental engineering solutions
ASAL Development Consultant
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 250,000
Consulting on ASAL development engineering
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in engineering departments
ASAL Development Specialist
High demandKsh 190,000 to Ksh 480,000
ASAL development at NDMA and NGOs
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers in academia, environmental engineering research, ASAL development and water resources with high demand for ASAL engineering expertise in Kenya.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Climate Change AnalystEnvironmental Science10Low exposure
- Overhead Transmission TechnicianEngineering10Low exposure
- Wildlife Corridors EcologistEnvironmental Science10Low exposure
- Finance AnalystEnvironmental Science11Low exposure
- Mangrove Restoration SpecialistEnvironmental Science12Low exposure
- Mine Reclamation SpecialistEnvironmental Science12Low exposure
- Riparian Restoration EcologistEnvironmental Science12Low exposure
- Urban Forestry SpecialistEnvironmental Science12Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
ASAL engineering is just about building water dams
The programme covers water resources engineering, soil conservation, climate adaptation, sustainable resource management and environmental engineering for ASAL regions.
The programme has limited career prospects
Kenya's ASAL regions face significant development challenges creating demand for engineering solutions and research.
Only civil engineers can study this programme
The programme accepts holders of master's degrees in environmental engineering, civil engineering, water resources engineering, agricultural engineering or related fields.
ASAL engineering research is not relevant to Kenya
Over 80 per cent of Kenya's land is ASAL, making this research critical for national development.
The programme is purely theoretical
The programme includes field research in ASAL areas and engineering design projects.