Health Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Physics

The Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Physics is a postgraduate research programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Physics. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on the application of physics principles to medicine, including medical imaging, radiation therapy, radiation protection, and dosimetry, contributing to healthcare quality and safety in Kenya and beyond.

Students engage with advanced medical physics, radiation dosimetry, medical imaging physics, radiotherapy physics, radiation protection, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent laboratory and clinical research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to medical physics.

Kenya is expanding its cancer treatment infrastructure with radiotherapy centres at KNH, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, and county hospitals. The programme addresses national health priorities by training medical physicists who can ensure safe and effective use of radiation in medicine, support cancer treatment, and develop imaging technologies under Vision 2030.

Teaching methods include lectures, laboratory sessions, clinical training at radiotherapy and imaging centres, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to UoN's physics laboratories and clinical facilities at Kenyatta National Hospital.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, medical physicists, radiation protection officers, imaging scientists, and health physics consultants in universities, hospitals, cancer treatment centres, the Radiation Protection Board, and international health organisations. The programme provides advanced expertise for leadership roles in medical physics research and clinical practice.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in medical physics, physics, or related physical sciences who are committed to advancing knowledge in the application of physics to medicine.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 392,000
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
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 5 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Medical Imaging Physics
Radiotherapy Physics
Radiation Dosimetry
Radiation Protection and Safety
Nuclear Medicine Physics
Research Methodology
Biostatistics
Thesis Research
Medical Instrumentation
Health Physics

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Medical Imaging Physics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Physics of medical imaging modalities including X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound, and PET including image quality and optimisation
Advanced Medical Physics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Medical physics, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Radiotherapy Physics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Physics of radiation therapy including external beam, brachytherapy, treatment planning, and dose calculation algorithms
Radiation Therapy Physics and Dosimetry
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Radiation therapy, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Radiation Dosimetry
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Principles and methods of radiation dose measurement including ionisation chambers, dosimeters, and Monte Carlo simulations
Diagnostic Imaging Physics
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Diagnostic imaging, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Radiation Protection and Safety
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of radiation protection, regulatory frameworks, shielding design, and safety protocols for medical radiation facilities
Nuclear Medicine Physics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Physics of nuclear medicine including radiopharmaceuticals, SPECT, PET imaging, and internal dosimetry
Radiotherapy Treatment Planning
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Treatment planning, covering planning theories, methodologies, and practical approaches to strategic and spatial planning in professional contexts.
Medical Instrumentation and Electronics
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Design, calibration, and quality assurance of medical physics instrumentation and electronic systems
Research Methods in Medical Physics
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

Radiotherapy Physics
Specialization in Radiotherapy Physics, preparing graduates for careers such as medical-laboratory-scientist.
Medical Imaging Research
Specialization in Medical Imaging Research, preparing graduates for careers such as research-scientist.
Clinical Medical Physics
Specialization in Clinical Medical Physics, preparing graduates for careers such as radiologist.
Radiation Protection
Specialization in Radiation Protection, preparing graduates for careers such as public-health-specialist.
Nuclear Medicine Research
Specialization in Nuclear Medicine Research, preparing graduates for careers such as biomedical-scientist.
Academic Research in Physics
Specialization in Academic Research in Physics, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Diagnostic Imaging
Research on diagnostic imaging
Nuclear Medicine
Research on nuclear medicine physics
Radiation Therapy Physics
Research on radiation therapy

A day as a student

A typical day combines laboratory work on radiation dosimetry and imaging physics with clinical training at KNH's radiotherapy department, data analysis, and thesis writing. Students attend medical physics seminars, present research at departmental colloquia, and engage with clinical physicists at treatment centres.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's cancer treatment expansion creates demand
Access to KRPA, KNH and IAEA
Opportunities for international collaboration through IAEA and AFOMP
Diverse career paths in academia, clinical physics, and radiation protection

Against it

Requires strong physics and mathematics background
Radiation safety compliance is mandatory
Tuition fees are relatively high at KES 396,000 per year
Clinical training requires access to radiotherapy facilities which are limited in Kenya

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

Public337k to 392k

337k at Kenyatta University392k at University of Nairobi

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

KU 337K/yr, UoN 392K/yr (physics.uonbi.ac.ke). MKU 150K/yr. AKU unverified.

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, IAEA fellowships, DAAD scholarships, and NRF research grants for medical physics research.

Funding options

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

Scholarships

5 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities
IAEA Fellowship
FellowshipKenyan
Scientists from member states working on peaceful applications of nuclear technology
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers 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 Medical Physics, Physics, or related physical science from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Physics or related physical science
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 projects and seminar presentations
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework30% of the mark
Laboratory Practicals
Coursework20% of the mark
Thesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Graduates must register with the Radiation Protection Board (RPB) for clinical practice involving radiation.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya
Radiation Protection Board (RPB)
Professional registrationRequired
Required for clinical practice involving radiation in Kenya
Kenya Radiation Protection Authority
Professional
Regulates radiation protection and safety 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

University Lecturer (Medical Physics)
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Teaches medical physics and conducts research in university physics or medical departments
Imaging Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 200,000
Develops and optimises medical imaging technologies and protocols at research institutions or industry
Medical Physicist (Clinical)
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 250,000
Provides medical physics services in radiotherapy, imaging, and nuclear medicine at hospitals and cancer centres
Clinical Medical Physicist
High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000
Clinical physics at cancer centres
Medical Physics Researcher
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Research on medical physics
University Professor
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaching and research in physics departments
Radiation Protection Officer
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Ensures radiation safety compliance at hospitals, research institutions, and industrial facilities

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, medical physicists, radiation protection officers, and imaging scientists in universities, hospitals, cancer treatment centres, and the Radiation Protection Board.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Medical physics is just about X-rays
Medical physics encompasses medical imaging, radiation therapy for cancer treatment, nuclear medicine, radiation protection, dosimetry, and the development of new medical technologies.
There is no demand for medical physicists in Kenya
Kenya is expanding cancer treatment infrastructure creating strong demand for medical physicists at KNH, Moi Hospital, and new radiotherapy centres across the country.
Medical physics is only for physics graduates
While a physics background is essential, the programme is interdisciplinary, combining physics, biology, and medicine, and accepts graduates from related physical sciences.
Radiation work is too dangerous
Medical physicists are trained in radiation safety and protection protocols, and their expertise is specifically about ensuring safe use of radiation in medicine.

Related courses

Doctor of philosophy in nuclear science