Health Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy in Human Nutrition

The Doctor of Philosophy in Human Nutrition is a postgraduate research programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, and at Egerton University through the Department of Human Nutrition. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on human nutrition, including nutritional biochemistry, community nutrition, clinical nutrition, and public health nutrition, contributing to improved nutrition outcomes and food security in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced nutritional biochemistry, community nutrition, clinical nutrition, public health nutrition, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent laboratory and field research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to human nutrition.

Kenya faces significant nutrition challenges including stunting, wasting, micronutrient deficiencies, and rising non-communicable diseases related to diet. The programme addresses national priorities under Vision 2030 and the National Nutrition and Dietetics Policy by training researchers who can develop evidence-based nutrition interventions and inform nutrition policy.

Teaching methods include lectures, laboratory sessions on nutritional biochemistry, field research in communities and health facilities, dietary assessment, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to university nutrition laboratories and collaborate with KEMRI, the Ministry of Health, and UNICEF.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, nutrition researchers, public health nutritionists, clinical nutritionists, and nutrition consultants in universities, KEMRI, the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WHO, and NGOs.

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

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 367,200
Private, up to: Ksh 400,000
Job market: High

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

Nutritional Biochemistry
Community Nutrition
Clinical Nutrition
Public Health Nutrition
Research Methodology
Dietary Assessment
Thesis Research
Nutrition Policy
Biostatistics
Maternal and Child Nutrition

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced nutritional biochemistry including macronutrient and micronutrient metabolism, energy balance, and metabolic regulation
Advanced Human Nutrition and Metabolism
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced nutrition and metabolism, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Community Nutrition and Public Health
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Community nutrition including nutrition assessment, nutrition interventions, community-based nutrition programmes, and nutrition education
Nutritional Biochemistry and Molecular Nutrition
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Biochemistry of nutrition, covering chemical principles, analytical techniques, and their application in research and industrial contexts.
Clinical Nutrition and Diet Therapy
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Clinical nutrition including medical nutrition therapy for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, HIV, and malnutrition management
Maternal and Child Nutrition
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Nutrition during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, and childhood including growth monitoring, infant feeding, and child nutrition programmes
Community and Public Health Nutrition
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Public health nutrition, covering clinical principles, evidence-based practice, and contemporary challenges in healthcare delivery and research.
Nutrition Policy and Programme Planning
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Nutrition policy including national nutrition strategies, programme design, implementation, and evaluation of nutrition interventions
Nutritional Epidemiology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Epidemiology of nutrition, covering epidemiological methods, disease surveillance, and their application in public health research.
Dietary Assessment and Research Methods
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Methods for assessing dietary intake including 24-hour recalls, food frequency questionnaires, and biomarkers of nutritional status
Research Methods in Nutrition
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

Nutrition and Dietetics Practice
Specialization in Nutrition and Dietetics Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as nutritionist-dietitian.
Health Education Research
Specialization in Health Education Research, preparing graduates for careers such as health-educator.
Public Health Research
Specialization in Public Health Research, preparing graduates for careers such as public-health-specialist.
Biomedical Research
Specialization in Biomedical Research, preparing graduates for careers such as biomedical-scientist.
Academic Research in Health
Specialization in Academic Research in Health, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Health Policy Analysis
Specialization in Health Policy Analysis, preparing graduates for careers such as health-policy-analyst.
Nutritional Biochemistry
Research on nutritional biochemistry
Clinical Nutrition
Research on clinical nutrition and diet therapy
Public Health Nutrition
Research on public health nutrition
Maternal and Child Nutrition
Research on maternal and child nutrition

A day as a student

A typical day combines laboratory work on nutritional biochemistry with field research in communities and health facilities, dietary data analysis, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend nutrition research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with KEMRI and the Ministry of Health for nutrition research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's malnutrition burden creates strong demand
Multiple public universities offer the programme providing choice and fee range
Research contributes to public health and food security
Strong institutional links with KNDI, KEMRI, Ministry of Health, and UNICEF

Against it

Community nutrition research requires field work
Nutrition research requires ethical approvals
Field research in communities with malnutrition can be emotionally challenging
Nutrition research funding is competitive

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses

Public252k to 367k

252k at Egerton University367k at Kenyatta University

Private150k to 400k

150k at Mount Kenya 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

Egerton 252K/yr (egerton.ac.ke). KU 367K/yr. MKU 150K/yr. AKU unverified.

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

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
WHO Research Grant
Grant
UNICEF Research Fellowship
Fellowship
NRF Research Grant
Grant

Scholarships

5 recorded

NRF Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers at Kenyan institutions conducting research relevant to national development
HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
UNICEF Research Grant
Grant
Nutrition 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
MSc in Human Nutrition, Food Science and Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition, or related field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Nutrition, Food Science, or related science field
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

5 components

Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, laboratory reports and seminar presentations
Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Laboratory and Field Reports
Coursework20% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework30% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Professional registration with KNDI is required for clinical nutrition practice in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya
Kenya Nutritionists and Dieticians Institute (KNDI)
Professional registrationRequired
Professional registration required for nutrition and dietetics practice in Kenya
Kenya Nutritionists and Dieticians Institute
Professional
Regulates nutrition and dietetics practice 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

6 roles

Nutrition Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Conducts nutrition research at KEMRI, research institutions, or international organisations
Nutrition & Dietetics Specialist
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Provides nutrition services at hospitals, clinics, or public health programmes
University Lecturer (Nutrition)
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Teaches human nutrition and conducts research in university nutrition departments
Public Health Nutritionist
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Manages nutrition programmes at the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, or NGOs
Clinical Nutritionist
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Clinical nutrition at hospitals
University Professor
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaching and research in nutrition departments

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, nutrition researchers, public health nutritionists, and clinical nutritionists in universities, KEMRI, the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WHO, and NGOs.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

R/SPSS
Statistical softwarePrimary
Nutrition data analysis.
WHO Anthrop
Assessment software
Growth standards assessment.
Microsoft Excel
Spreadsheet
KenyaEMR
Medical
DHIS2
Database
Google Workspace
Cloud

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Human nutrition is just about advising people to eat balanced diets
Human nutrition encompasses nutritional biochemistry, metabolism, community nutrition, clinical nutrition, public health nutrition policy, and dietary assessment, requiring rigorous scientific training.
A PhD in human nutrition has limited career prospects
Kenya's nutrition challenges including stunting, micronutrient deficiencies, and rising NCDs create high demand for nutrition researchers at universities, KEMRI, the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, and WHO.
Nutrition research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya faces a double burden of malnutrition including undernutrition and overnutrition, making nutrition research critical for achieving Vision 2030 and SDG 2 on zero hunger.
Human nutrition is the same as food science
Human nutrition focuses on how nutrients affect human health, metabolism, and disease, while food science focuses on food processing, preservation, and safety. They are complementary but distinct disciplines.

Related courses

Doctor of philosophy in food science sand technology