Health Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy in Nutritional Sciences

The Doctor of Philosophy in Nutritional Sciences is a postgraduate research programme offered at JKUAT through the Department of Food Science and Technology, and at Egerton University. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on nutritional biochemistry, metabolism, community nutrition, and diet-disease relationships, contributing to improved nutrition outcomes and public health in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced nutritional biochemistry, metabolism research, community nutrition, clinical nutrition, molecular 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 nutritional sciences.

Kenya faces a double burden of malnutrition including undernutrition in children and rising obesity and non-communicable diseases in adults. 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, dietary assessment, molecular nutrition techniques, 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 nutritional sciences, human nutrition, food science and nutrition, or related fields who are committed to advancing knowledge in nutritional sciences.

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
Metabolism Research
Molecular Nutrition
Community Nutrition
Clinical Nutrition
Research Methodology
Diet and Disease
Thesis Research
Biostatistics
Nutritional Epidemiology

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced nutritional biochemistry including macronutrient and micronutrient metabolism, energy regulation, and metabolic pathways
Advanced Human Nutrition and Metabolism
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Human nutrition, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Molecular Nutrition and Nutrigenomics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Molecular nutrition including gene-nutrient interactions, nutrigenomics, epigenetics, and personalised nutrition
Nutritional Biochemistry and Molecular Nutrition
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Nutritional biochemistry, covering chemical principles, analytical techniques, and their application in research and industrial contexts.
Community Nutrition and Public Health
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Community nutrition including nutrition assessment, programme design, community-based interventions, and nutrition policy
Public Health Nutrition and Policy
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Public health nutrition, analysing policy frameworks, implementation strategies, and their impact on practice within the Kenyan and broader African context.
Clinical Nutrition and Diet Therapy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Clinical nutrition including medical nutrition therapy for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, HIV, and malnutrition
Nutritional Epidemiology and Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Epidemiology, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in the field.
Nutritional Epidemiology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Epidemiological methods for studying diet-disease relationships including cohort studies, case-control studies, and dietary assessment
Maternal and Child Nutrition
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Nutrition during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, and childhood including growth monitoring and infant feeding practices
Research Methodology and Biostatistics
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Quantitative and qualitative research methods for nutrition research including study design and statistical analysis
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 Policy Analysis
Specialization in Health Policy Analysis, preparing graduates for careers such as health-policy-analyst.
Academic Research in Health
Specialization in Academic Research in Health, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Biomedical Research
Specialization in Biomedical Research, preparing graduates for careers such as biomedical-scientist.
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.
Clinical Nutrition
Research on clinical nutrition
Maternal and Child Nutrition
Research on maternal and child nutrition
Nutritional Epidemiology
Research on nutritional epidemiology
Public Health Nutrition
Research on public health nutrition

A day as a student

A typical day combines laboratory work on nutritional biochemistry and molecular nutrition with field research in communities, 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

High demand for nutrition expertise given Kenya's double burden of malnutrition
Multiple public universities offer the programme providing choice and fee range
Research contributes to public health improvement
Strong institutional links with KNDI, KEMRI, Ministry of Health, and UNICEF

Against it

Requires strong biochemistry and clinical knowledge
Laboratory research requires expensive equipment and reagents
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 nutritional sciences research.

Funding options

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

Scholarships

5 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities
WHO Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers working on public health nutrition in developing countries
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers in Kenya
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students

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 Nutritional Sciences, Human Nutrition, Food Science and 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
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, laboratory projects and seminar presentations
Thesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework30% of the mark
Laboratory and Field Reports
Coursework20% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Professional registration with KNDI is required for nutrition and dietetics 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 professionals 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

Biomedical Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Conducts nutrition-related biomedical research at KEMRI or research institutions
University Lecturer (Nutrition)
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Teaches nutritional sciences 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
Nutrition & Dietetics Specialist
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Provides nutrition services at hospitals, clinics, or public health programmes
Nutrition Researcher
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Research at KEMRI and research institutes
University Professor
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaching and research in nutrition departments
Nutrition Policy Analyst
High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000
Policy analysis at UNICEF and FAO

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

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Nutritional sciences is just about advising people to eat well
Nutritional sciences encompasses nutritional biochemistry, metabolism, molecular nutrition, epidemiology, and diet-disease relationships, requiring rigorous scientific training.
A PhD in nutritional sciences has limited career prospects
Kenya's double burden of malnutrition creates high demand for nutrition researchers at universities, KEMRI, the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, and WHO.
Nutrition research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya faces stunting, micronutrient deficiencies, and rising NCDs, making nutrition research critical for achieving Vision 2030 and SDG 2 on zero hunger.
Nutritional sciences is the same as food science
Nutritional sciences focuses on how nutrients affect human health, metabolism, and disease at molecular and population levels, while food science focuses on food processing and safety.