Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy in Material and Textile Engineering

The Doctor of Philosophy in Material and Textile Engineering is a postgraduate research programme offered at JKUAT through the Department of Manufacturing, Industrial and Textile Engineering. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on textile materials, textile engineering, fibre science, and material processing, contributing to Kenya's textile and manufacturing industry development.

Students engage with advanced textile materials science, fibre engineering, textile processing technology, composite materials, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent laboratory and industrial research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to material and textile engineering.

Kenya's textile industry is a significant employer and exporter under AGOA, but faces challenges including technology gaps, quality standards, and competition from imported textiles. The programme addresses national priorities under Vision 2030 and the Manufacturing Sector MTP by training researchers who can improve textile manufacturing, develop new materials, and enhance competitiveness of Kenya's textile sector.

Teaching methods include lectures, textile laboratory sessions, material testing, industrial research at textile factories, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to JKUAT's textile engineering laboratories and collaborate with textile manufacturers in Export Processing Zones and cotton-growing regions.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, textile engineering researchers, material engineers, textile technologists, and manufacturing consultants in universities, textile companies, research institutions, and manufacturing firms.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in textile engineering, material science, manufacturing engineering, or related fields who are committed to advancing knowledge in material and textile engineering.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 572,000
Private, up to: Ksh 314,000
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: 4 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Textile Materials Science
Fibre Engineering
Textile Processing Technology
Composite Materials
Research Methodology
Textile Testing and Quality
Thesis Research
Polymer Science
Nanomaterials and Smart Textiles
Manufacturing Processes

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Textile Materials Science
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of textile materials including natural and synthetic fibres, yarn structure, fabric formation, and material properties
Advanced Material Science and Engineering
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Material science, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Fibre Engineering and Polymer Science
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced fibre and polymer science including polymer synthesis, fibre spinning, fibre modification, and biopolymer fibres
Textile Engineering and Technology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Textile engineering, covering technological tools, digital platforms, and information systems relevant to contemporary research and professional practice.
Textile Processing Technology
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced textile processing including spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing, finishing, and process optimisation
Polymer Science and Engineering
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Polymer science, covering engineering principles, design methodologies, and their application in solving complex technical problems.
Composite Materials and Technical Textiles
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Textile composites and technical textiles including fibre-reinforced composites, medical textiles, and protective textiles
Composite Materials and Applications
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Composite materials, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Textile Testing and Quality Control
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced textile testing including fibre, yarn, and fabric testing, quality standards, and statistical quality control
Material Characterisation and Testing
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Material characterisation, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Nanomaterials and Smart Textiles
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Nanotechnology in textiles including nano-fibres, smart textiles, e-textiles, and functional nano-coatings
Research Methods in Material Engineering
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

Sustainable Fashion Design
Specialization in Sustainable Fashion Design, preparing graduates for careers such as sustainable-fashion-designer.
Textile Engineering Practice
Specialization in Textile Engineering Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as textile-engineer.
Additive Manufacturing Research
Specialization in Additive Manufacturing Research, preparing graduates for careers such as additive-manufacturing-engineer.
Junior Textile Print Design
Specialization in Junior Textile Print Design, preparing graduates for careers such as junior-textile-print-designer.
Academic Research in Engineering
Specialization in Academic Research in Engineering, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Textile Design Research
Specialization in Textile Design Research, preparing graduates for careers such as textile-designer.
Composite Materials
Research on composite materials
Polymer Science
Research on polymer science
Nanomaterials
Research on nanomaterials
Textile Manufacturing
Research on textile manufacturing processes

A day as a student

A typical day combines textile laboratory work on material testing and processing with industrial research at textile factories, data analysis on material properties, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend engineering research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with KAM and EPZA for industry research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Contributes to Kenya's textile industry development under AGOA and Big Four Agenda
Access to KEBS and manufacturing firms
Research contributes to industrialisation
Opportunities for international collaboration through ITMF and ACTIF

Against it

Requires laboratory and testing equipment
Textile engineering is a niche field with limited positions in Kenya
Industry access for research can be challenging
Textile laboratory equipment can be expensive

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 332 engineering courses

Public337k to 572k

337k at Kenyatta University572k at University of Nairobi

Private200k to 314k

200k at Mount Kenya University314k 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

UoN 572K (engineering.uonbi.ac.ke). KU 337K (ku.ac.ke). MKU 200K, Kabarak ~314K/yr.

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and ACTIF research fellowships for textile engineering research.

Funding options

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

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
DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for doctoral study

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 Textile Engineering, Material Science, Manufacturing Engineering, or related engineering field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Textile Engineering, Material Science, or related engineering 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
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, laboratory projects and seminar presentations
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel
Laboratory and Industry Reports
Coursework20% of the mark
Thesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Professional registration with the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) is required for engineering practice in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya
Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK)
Professional registrationRequired
Professional registration required for engineering practice in Kenya
Engineers Board of Kenya
Professional
Professional body for engineers 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

Manufacturing Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Advises textile and manufacturing companies on process improvement and technology adoption
Textile Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Works on textile manufacturing and material development at textile companies and EPZ factories
University Lecturer (Textile Engineering)
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches textile engineering and conducts research in university engineering departments
Additive Manufacturing Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Works on advanced manufacturing including 3D printing of textile and composite materials
Material Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Research on materials
University Professor
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in engineering departments

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, textile engineering researchers, material engineers, and textile technologists in universities, textile companies, research institutions, and manufacturing firms.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Textile engineering is just about making clothes
Textile engineering encompasses fibre science, polymer engineering, composite materials, nanomaterials, smart textiles, and manufacturing processes, requiring advanced scientific and engineering training.
A PhD in textile engineering has limited career prospects
Kenya's textile industry under AGOA and the push for local manufacturing create demand for textile engineering researchers at universities, textile companies, and manufacturing firms.
Textile engineering research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya's textile industry is a significant employer and exporter, and the government's Big Four Agenda includes manufacturing, making textile engineering research critical for industrial development.
Textile engineering is outdated technology
Modern textile engineering includes advanced materials, nanotechnology, smart textiles, technical textiles for medical and industrial applications, and sustainable manufacturing, making it a cutting-edge field.