Hospitality & Tourism

Doctor of Philosophy in Hospitality Management and Tourism Management

The Doctor of Philosophy in Hospitality Management and Tourism Management is a postgraduate research programme offered at Kenyatta University through the School of Hospitality and Tourism. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on hospitality and tourism management, including tourism economics, hospitality operations, sustainable tourism, and destination management, contributing to Kenya's tourism industry and economic development.

Students engage with advanced hospitality management theory, tourism economics, sustainable tourism development, destination management, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent field and industry research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to hospitality and tourism management.

Tourism is a key pillar of Kenya's economy contributing significantly to GDP, employment, and foreign exchange earnings. The programme addresses national priorities under Vision 2030 which identifies tourism as a flagship sector by training researchers who can improve tourism competitiveness, sustainability, and hospitality service quality.

Teaching methods include lectures, industry case studies, field research at tourism destinations and hospitality establishments, data analysis, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to KU's hospitality and tourism facilities and collaborate with the Kenya Tourism Board, KWS, and tourism industry associations.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, hospitality and tourism researchers, tourism consultants, hospitality managers, and policy analysts in universities, the Kenya Tourism Board, hotels, tourism companies, and international tourism organisations.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in hospitality management, tourism management, business administration, or related fields who are committed to advancing knowledge in hospitality and tourism management.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 244,800
Private, up to: Ksh 288,000
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

Hospitality Management Theory
Tourism Economics
Sustainable Tourism Development
Destination Management
Research Methodology
Tourism Policy and Planning
Thesis Research
Hospitality Operations Management
Statistics for Tourism
Consumer Behaviour in Tourism

Modules

10 in the programme

Advanced Hospitality Management Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced theories of hospitality management including service operations, quality management, and strategic management in hospitality
Tourism Economics and Policy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Economic analysis of tourism including tourism demand, economic impact, tourism GDP contribution, and tourism policy in Kenya
Sustainable Tourism Development
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Sustainable tourism including ecotourism, community-based tourism, environmental impacts, and sustainable tourism certifications
Destination Management and Marketing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Destination management including destination competitiveness, branding, marketing strategies, and destination governance
Hospitality Operations and Service Quality
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced hospitality operations including service design, quality management, technology in hospitality, and guest experience management
Consumer Behaviour in Tourism and Hospitality
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research on tourist and hospitality consumer behaviour including decision-making, satisfaction, loyalty, and experience design
Research Methodology and Statistics
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Quantitative and qualitative research methods for hospitality and tourism research including survey design and data analysis
Tourism Policy and Planning
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Tourism policy and planning including national tourism strategies, regulatory frameworks, and tourism development planning in Kenya
Thesis Proposal Development
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Development and defence of a doctoral research proposal on a hospitality and tourism management topic
Thesis Research and Writing
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Independent doctoral research culminating in a thesis defended before internal and external examiners

Specialisations

Tourism and Hospitality Management
Specialization in Tourism and Hospitality Management, preparing graduates for careers such as tourism-hospitality.
Academic Research in Business
Specialization in Academic Research in Business, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Hotel Revenue Management
Specialization in Hotel Revenue Management, preparing graduates for careers such as hotel-revenue-manager.
Hospitality Management Practice
Specialization in Hospitality Management Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as hospitality-manager.
Adventure Tourism Management
Specialization in Adventure Tourism Management, preparing graduates for careers such as adventure-tourism-manager.
Tourism Policy Analysis
Specialization in Tourism Policy Analysis, preparing graduates for careers such as tourism-policy-analyst-junior.

A day as a student

A typical day combines industry research at tourism destinations and hospitality establishments with data analysis on tourism trends, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend hospitality and tourism research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with the Kenya Tourism Board and KWS for industry research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Tourism is a key pillar of Kenya's economy with significant growth potential
Relatively affordable tuition at KES 244,800 per year
Strong institutional links with Kenya Tourism Board, KWS, and KAHC
Diverse career paths in academia, industry, government, and consulting

Against it

Tourism is vulnerable to security, health, and economic crises
Research funding for tourism studies is limited
Industry research requires access to commercial data which can be restricted
Tourism PhD is less established than business or economics PhDs in Kenya

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 91 hospitality & tourism courses

Public208k to 245k

208k at University of Nairobi245k at Kenyatta University

Private200k to 288k

200k at Mount Kenya University288k at Kabarak 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 244.8k, UoN unverified. Kabarak 288k, MKU 200k/yr (kabarak.ac.ke/kenyayote)

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and UNWTO research fellowships for hospitality and tourism research.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
DAAD Scholarship
Scholarship
NRF Research Grant
Grant
UNWTO Research Fellowship
Fellowship

Scholarships

3 recorded

NRF Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers at Kenyan institutions conducting research relevant to national development
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 Hospitality Management, Tourism Management, MBA, or related field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Hospitality, Tourism, Business, or related field
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework30% of the mark
Thesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark
Oral Viva Voce
Coursework100% of the mark
Industry Research Reports
Coursework20% 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

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Tourism Policy Analyst
Low demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Analyses tourism policy for government and international organisations
Hospitality Manager
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages hotels, resorts, or hospitality establishments with advanced research-based management expertise
University Lecturer (Hospitality/Tourism)
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches hospitality and tourism management and conducts research in university tourism departments
Tourism & Hospitality Management Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Advises tourism boards, hotels, and government on tourism strategy and hospitality management

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, hospitality and tourism researchers, tourism consultants, and hospitality managers in universities, the Kenya Tourism Board, hotels, tourism companies, and international tourism organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Hospitality and tourism management is just about running hotels
Hospitality and tourism management encompasses tourism economics, sustainable development, destination management, policy analysis, consumer behaviour, and strategic management, requiring rigorous academic training.
A PhD in hospitality and tourism management has limited career prospects
Tourism is a key pillar of Kenya's economy creating demand for researchers and managers at universities, the Kenya Tourism Board, hotels, and international tourism organisations.
Hospitality and tourism research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya's Vision 2030 identifies tourism as a flagship sector, and the industry faces challenges including sustainability, competition, and crisis management, making research critical for competitiveness.
Hospitality and tourism PhD is only for those who want to work in hotels
Graduates work as researchers, consultants, policy analysts, and educators in diverse settings including universities, government, and international organisations, not only in hotels.