Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education

The Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education is a doctoral programme that develops scholars and educators at the intersection of music theory, music pedagogy, African musicology, ethnomusicology, and educational research. Students investigate how music is taught and learned, the role of music in cultural identity, and the documentation and preservation of African musical traditions.

The programme is offered at Kenyatta University, which is accredited by the Commission for University Education. Maseno University also offers doctoral programmes in music and ethnomusicology. Admission requires a Master's degree in Music Education, Music, or a closely related field.

Students develop expertise in music education research methods, curriculum design, assessment in music education, African musicology, and ethnomusicological field methods. Research areas include music pedagogy in Kenyan schools, indigenous music preservation, music technology in education, and the role of music in cognitive and social development.

Kenya has rich musical traditions across its forty-plus ethnic communities, combined with a growing contemporary music industry. This creates unique opportunities for research on music education, cultural transmission, and the intersection of traditional and modern musical practices in educational settings.

The programme combines coursework in music education theory and research methodology with independent doctoral research. Full-time study is the primary mode, with some institutions offering part-time options. Assessment includes coursework, research proposal defence, and thesis examination.

Graduates serve as university lecturers, music curriculum developers, arts education consultants, ethnomusicology researchers, and cultural policy advisors. The programme suits music educators and performers who wish to contribute original research to music education in African contexts.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 320,000
Private, up to: Ksh 310,200
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: 3 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Art History
Design Theory
Drawing and Painting
Sculpture
Digital Media
Photography
Music Theory
Theatre Arts
Creative Writing
Cultural Studies

Modules

8 in the programme

Design Studio / Industry Attachment
Year 1Semester 16 creditsCore
Supervised placement at a design agency, studio or in-house creative team, covering design principles, methodologies, and practical approaches to creating effective solutions in professional contexts.
Portfolio Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Curating, presenting and defending a professional design portfolio, exploring development theories, sustainable practices, and their application in addressing contemporary challenges in Kenya and.
Advanced Music Pedagogy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Critical examination of music teaching methods, curriculum design theories, and pedagogical approaches for diverse educational settings in Kenya and Africa.
Music Education Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Quantitative and qualitative research methods specific to music education, including action research, case study, and ethnographic approaches in educational settings.
Final Year Design Project
Year 2Semester 18 creditsCore
Capstone design project: research, concept, execution and exhibition, requiring students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems, conduct independent research, and present findings.
African Musicology and Ethnomusicology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced study of African music traditions, ethnomusicological field methods, and the documentation and analysis of indigenous musical practices.
Design Business & Freelance Practice
Year 2Semester 22 creditsCore
Client management, pricing, contracts, intellectual property and creative entrepreneurship.
Doctoral Thesis in Music Education
Year 3Semester 112 creditsCore
Independent doctoral research on a specialised topic in music education, culminating in an original thesis contributing new knowledge to the field.

Specialisations

Graphic & Digital Design
Visual communication, branding, typography, UI/UX design and digital illustration. Students build portfolios for agency, in-house and freelance design roles.
Fine Art & Painting
Drawing, painting, sculpture and mixed media. Students develop artistic technique, creative expression and portfolio building for gallery and commission work.
Fashion & Textiles
Fashion design, textile technology, garment construction and fashion business. Students learn to design, produce and market clothing and textile products.
Interior & Spatial Design
Space planning, interior architecture, materials and lighting design. Students learn to create functional and aesthetic interior environments.
Photography & Film
Photography, cinematography, visual storytelling and post-production. Students gain skills for commercial photography, film and content creation.

A day as a student

Doctoral students conduct ethnomusicological fieldwork with traditional musicians, analyse music education research data, compose or arrange music for academic study, develop curriculum frameworks for school music education, and present research at music education and ethnomusicology conferences.

The trade offs

In its favour

Music education research addresses Kenya's genuine need for music pedagogy expertise in schools and universities
Ethnomusicology research on Kenyan traditions attracts international collaboration and research funding
Kenya Music Festival network provides unique community engagement and performance research opportunities

Against it

Music education academic positions in Kenya are very limited in number
Ethnomusicological fieldwork requires extended time in communities with limited infrastructure
Academic music salaries are modest relative to successful commercial music careers

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 education courses

Public245k to 320k

245k at Kenyatta University320k at University of Nairobi

Private170k to 310k

170k at Kenya Methodist University310k 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 320K/yr; KU 244,800 Music Ed (mawese.com). KeMU 170K; Kabarak 310K/yr (kabarak.ac.ke).

HELB loans, British Council Arts Grants, Kenya Film Commission grants, and university merit scholarships. Creative industry grants are increasingly available.

Funding options

HELB loan
County bursary
University scholarship
British Council Arts Grants

Scholarships

5 recorded

HELB Arts Loan
PartialKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizen; Arts/design programme; Financial need
Kenya Film Commission Creative Scholarship
PartialKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan; Creative arts student; Portfolio submission; Under 30
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
FullKsh 8,000,000Kenyan
Kenyan; Academic excellence; Financial need; Leadership
County Government Arts Bursary
PartialKsh 60,000Kenyan
Resident of county; Arts student; Financial need
GoDown Arts Centre Bursary
PartialKsh 100,000Kenyan
Kenyan; Visual/performing arts student; Portfolio; Financial need

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: B+
Alternative entry: Master's degree in Music or related field with a strong thesis component; portfolio of research or creative work may be required.

How you are assessed

4 components

Studio / Portfolio
Practical40% of the mark
Studio work and portfolio submission.
Project
Project25% of the mark
A creative or production project.
Continuous Assessment
Cat15% of the mark
Critique and theory tests.
End-of-Semester Examination
Exam20% of the mark
Theory and art-history examinations.

Accreditation

Arts and humanities programs are accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Creative arts programs may also seek industry accreditation from Adobe, Autodesk, or ABRSM.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
NationalRequired
Accredits all university-level programmes (Bachelor, Master, PhD) in Kenya.
Teachers Service Commission
Professional
Registration required to teach in Kenyan public schools.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Music Education Professor / Researcher
Medium demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 380,000
Teaches music theory, performance, and pedagogy at university level and publishes in music education journals.
Ethnomusicologist / Heritage Specialist
Low demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 300,000
Documents and preserves traditional Kenyan musical traditions through field recording, analysis, and archival work.
Music Curriculum Developer (KICD)
Low demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 320,000
Develops national music and performing arts curriculum content for Kenya's primary and secondary education system.
Arts Education Policy Advisor
Low demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 350,000
Advising on arts and music education policy, curriculum standards, and cultural heritage preservation for government and educational institutions.

Graduate outcomes

PhD graduates work as music education professors, as ethnomusicologists documenting Kenya's musical heritage, as music curriculum developers at KICD, and as music festival artistic directors.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Turnitin
Education
Moodle
Learning managementPrimary
Zoom
CloudPrimary
Microsoft Teams
Cloud
Google Scholar
Research
Microsoft Word
Design
Microsoft Excel
Spreadsheet
Microsoft PowerPoint
Creative

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Arts degrees lead to unemployment.
Creative industries are growing rapidly in Kenya with opportunities in graphic design, film, advertising, digital media, fashion, and arts management.
Art is about natural talent, not training.
Professional art requires technical skills, theoretical knowledge, historical context, and critical thinking — all developed through formal education.
Only experienced teachers can become curriculum developers
Many developers come from instructional design, research, or subject matter expert backgrounds.
Curriculum development is a low-paying field
Senior roles at KICD or international NGOs can earn over KES 250,000 monthly.