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Doctor of Philosophy in Health Communication

The Doctor of Philosophy in Health Communication is a postgraduate research programme offered at Kenyatta University through the School of Health Sciences and the School of Communication and Development. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on health communication, including health behaviour change communication, risk communication, health literacy, and media for health promotion, contributing to improved health outcomes and public health practice in Kenya and globally.

Duration
3-5 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 244,800
Ksh 734,400 to Ksh 1,224,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 400,000
Ksh 1,200,000 to Ksh 2,000,000 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 244,800 a year at a public institution, Ksh 734,400 to Ksh 1,224,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 400,000 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, part-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 1 institution.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Dental Ceramist, at 3 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

Students engage with advanced health communication theory, behaviour change communication, risk and crisis communication, health literacy research, media and health, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent field and media research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to health communication.

Kenya faces significant health communication challenges including misinformation during disease outbreaks, low health literacy in rural communities, and the need for effective behaviour change communication for HIV, malaria, and maternal health. The programme addresses national health priorities under Vision 2030 and the Kenya Health Policy Framework by training researchers who can develop evidence-based health communication strategies.

Teaching methods include lectures, media analysis, field research in communities and health facilities, communication campaign development, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to KU's communication and health sciences resources and collaborate with the Ministry of Health, WHO, and UNICEF.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, health communication researchers, health communications officers, public health consultants, and media specialists in universities, the Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF, NGOs, and media organisations.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in health communication, communication, public health, or related fields who are committed to advancing knowledge in health communication.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Health Communication Theory
  • Behaviour Change Communication
  • Risk and Crisis Communication
  • Health Literacy
  • Media and Health
  • Research Methodology
  • Health Campaign Design
  • Thesis Research
  • Statistics for Health Research
  • Digital Health Communication

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Advanced Health Communication Theory

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Advanced theories of health communication including social cognitive theory, health belief model, transtheoretical model, and integrated models of behaviour change

  • Health Communication Theory and Models

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Theory and models of health communication, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.

  • Behaviour Change Communication Research

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Research on behaviour change communication including design, implementation, and evaluation of behaviour change interventions for health

  • Health Behaviour Change Communication

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Behaviour change communication, covering clinical principles, evidence-based practice, and contemporary challenges in healthcare delivery and research.

  • Risk and Crisis Communication in Health

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Risk and crisis communication during disease outbreaks including outbreak communication, misinformation management, and emergency risk communication

  • Risk and Crisis Communication

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Risk and crisis communication, covering communication theories, media analysis, and their application in contemporary information environments.

  • Health Literacy and Communication Equity

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Research on health literacy including measurement, interventions, and communication equity for vulnerable populations in Kenya

  • Digital Health Communication and Social Media

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Digital health communication, covering clinical principles, evidence-based practice, and contemporary challenges in healthcare delivery and research.

  • Media and Health Research

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Research on media effects on health including health reporting, entertainment education, social media and health, and media advocacy

  • Community Health Communication

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Community health engagement, covering clinical principles, evidence-based practice, and contemporary challenges in healthcare delivery and research.

  • Digital Health Communication

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Digital health communication including mHealth, telehealth communication, social media for health, and digital behaviour change interventions

  • Research Methods in Health Communication

    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

  • Public Relations in Health

    Specialization in Public Relations in Health, preparing graduates for careers such as public-relations-officer.

  • Health Policy Analysis

    Specialization in Health Policy Analysis, preparing graduates for careers such as health-policy-analyst.

  • Health Communications Practice

    Specialization in Health Communications Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as health-communications-officer.

  • Health Education Research

    Specialization in Health Education Research, preparing graduates for careers such as health-educator.

  • Academic Research in Health

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

  • Public Health Research

    Specialization in Public Health Research, preparing graduates for careers such as public-health-specialist.

  • Health Behaviour Change

    Research on health behaviour change

  • Digital Health Communication

    Research on digital health communication

  • Community Health Communication

    Research on community health engagement

  • Risk Communication

    Research on risk and crisis communication

A day as a student

A typical day combines research on health communication campaigns with media analysis, field research in communities and health facilities, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend health and communication research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with the Ministry of Health and WHO for field research.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Kenya's public health messaging needs create strong demandInterdisciplinary field requires communication and health knowledge
Access to Ministry of Health, WHO and UNICEF for researchMeasuring communication impact is methodologically challenging
Growing demand for health communication expertise post-COVID-19Research funding for health communication is limited compared to biomedical research
Diverse career paths in academia, government, international organisations, and NGOsHealth communication is less established than other public health disciplines in Kenya

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 106 media & communication courses
Public200k to 245k
200k at University of Nairobi245k at Kenyatta University
Private144k to 400k
144k at Kenya Methodist University400k at Aga Khan 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

KU 244,800/yr (ku.ac.ke). KeMU 144K (eafinder). UoN & AKU unverified.

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, WHO research grants, UNICEF research fellowships, and NRF research grants for health communication research.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    LoanKsh 80,000

  • WHO Research Grant

    Grant

  • UNICEF Research Fellowship

    Fellowship

  • NRF Research Grant

    Grant

Scholarships

5 recorded

  • WHO Research Grant

    GrantKenyan

    Researchers working on public health and communication in developing countries

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan

    Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities

  • NRF Research Grant

    GrantKenyan

    Researchers at Kenyan institutions conducting research relevant to national development

  • HELB Postgraduate Scholarship

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan postgraduate students

  • UNICEF Research Grant

    Grant

    Communication researchers

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 DegreeMA in Communication, MPH, MSc in Health Communication, or related field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualificationBachelor's degree in Communication, Public Health, or related field
Research capabilityEvidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

When it next starts

Taught at 1 institution
January 20271 institution

Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

May 20271 institution

Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

September 20271 institution

Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

How you are assessed

5 components

  • Thesis

    Thesis50% of the mark

    Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence

  • Oral Viva Voce

    Coursework100% of the mark

  • Thesis Examination

    Coursework100% of the mark

  • Campaign and Field 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

7 roles

  • Health Communication Researcher

    Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000

    Conducts health communication research at research institutions or international organisations

  • University Lecturer (Health Communication)

    High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000

    Teaches health communication and conducts research in university health and communication departments

  • Health Communications Officer

    High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000

    Manages health communication programmes at the Ministry of Health, WHO, or NGOs

  • Public Health Consultant

    Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000

    Advises on health communication strategy for government, NGOs, and international organisations

  • University Professor

    High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Teaching and research in communication departments

  • Health Communication Strategist

    High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Strategy at Ministry of Health and NGOs

  • Public Health Communication Consultant

    High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Consulting on health campaigns

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, health communication researchers, health communications officers, and public health consultants in universities, the Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF, NGOs, and media organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Health communication is just about making health posters

    Health communication encompasses behaviour change theory, risk communication, health literacy research, media effects, digital health communication, and campaign evaluation, requiring rigorous academic training.

  • A PhD in health communication has limited career prospects

    Growing awareness of health communication's role in public health creates demand for researchers at universities, the Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF, and NGOs.

  • Health communication research is not relevant to Kenya

    Kenya faces health communication challenges including misinformation during outbreaks, low health literacy, and behaviour change needs for HIV and malaria, making this research critical for public health.

  • Health communication is the same as journalism

    Health communication applies communication theory and behaviour change science to health contexts, while journalism focuses on news reporting. Health communication involves research, strategy, and evaluation.

Further reading

Read next