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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.

Duration
3-5 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 367,200
Ksh 1,101,600 to Ksh 1,836,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 400,000
Ksh 1,200,000 to Ksh 2,000,000 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 367,200 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,101,600 to Ksh 1,836,000 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 2 institutions.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 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.

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 favourAgainst it
Kenya's malnutrition burden creates strong demandCommunity nutrition research requires field work
Multiple public universities offer the programme providing choice and fee rangeNutrition research requires ethical approvals
Research contributes to public health and food securityField research in communities with malnutrition can be emotionally challenging
Strong institutional links with KNDI, KEMRI, Ministry of Health, and UNICEFNutrition 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

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 DegreeMSc in Human Nutrition, Food Science and Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition, or related field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualificationBachelor's degree in Nutrition, Food Science, or related science field
Research capabilityEvidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

When it next starts

Taught at 2 institutions
January 20272 institutions

Including University of Eldoret, Technical University of Kenya.

May 20272 institutions

Including University of Eldoret, Technical University of Kenya.

September 20272 institutions

Including University of Eldoret, Technical University of Kenya.

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

  • 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

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

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.

Further reading

Read next