Media & Communication

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.

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.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 244,800
Private, up to: Ksh 400,000
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: 6 students
Award: PhD

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 favour

Kenya's public health messaging needs create strong demand
Access to Ministry of Health, WHO and UNICEF for research
Growing demand for health communication expertise post-COVID-19
Diverse career paths in academia, government, international organisations, and NGOs

Against it

Interdisciplinary field requires communication and health knowledge
Measuring communication impact is methodologically challenging
Research funding for health communication is limited compared to biomedical research
Health 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

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
MA in Communication, MPH, MSc in Health Communication, or related field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Communication, Public Health, or related 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
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

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

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

Industry links

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.