Science

Doctor of Philosophy in Organic Chemistry

The Doctor of Philosophy in Organic Chemistry is a postgraduate research programme offered at the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University through their respective departments of chemistry. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on organic synthesis, natural products chemistry, organic reaction mechanisms, and molecular structure, contributing to pharmaceutical development, materials science, and chemical industry in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced organic synthesis, natural products chemistry, spectroscopic methods, reaction mechanisms, organometallic chemistry, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent laboratory research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to organic chemistry.

Kenya has rich biodiversity with potential for discovery of novel natural products for pharmaceutical, agricultural, and industrial applications. The programme addresses national priorities under Vision 2030 by training researchers who can discover and develop new organic compounds for Kenya's pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

Teaching methods include lectures, organic synthesis laboratory sessions, spectroscopic analysis, chromatography, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to university chemistry laboratories and collaborate with KEMRI, KALRO, and pharmaceutical companies.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, organic chemistry researchers, pharmaceutical scientists, analytical chemists, and chemical industry consultants in universities, KEMRI, pharmaceutical companies, and chemical manufacturing firms.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in organic chemistry, chemistry, or related fields who are committed to advancing knowledge in organic chemistry.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 392,000
Private, up to: Ksh 150,000
Job market: Moderate

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

Organic Synthesis
Natural Products Chemistry
Spectroscopic Methods
Reaction Mechanisms
Organometallic Chemistry
Research Methodology
Chromatography
Thesis Research
Stereochemistry
Medicinal Chemistry

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Organic Synthesis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced organic synthesis including retrosynthetic analysis, synthetic strategies, protecting groups, and total synthesis of natural products
Advanced Organic Chemistry and Synthesis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Organic synthesis, involving original research, literature review, data analysis, and the production of a doctoral dissertation contributing new knowledge to the discipline.
Natural Products Chemistry
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Chemistry of natural products including isolation, characterisation, biosynthesis, and bioactivity of compounds from Kenyan medicinal plants
Reaction Mechanisms and Molecular Orbital Theory
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Reaction mechanisms, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
Spectroscopic Methods and Structure Elucidation
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced spectroscopic methods including NMR, mass spectrometry, IR, and UV-Vis for organic structure elucidation
Spectroscopic Methods in Organic Chemistry
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Spectroscopy, covering chemical principles, analytical techniques, and their application in research and industrial contexts.
Organic Reaction Mechanisms
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced reaction mechanisms including substitution, elimination, addition, pericyclic reactions, and radical reactions
Natural Products and Medicinal Chemistry
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Natural products, covering chemical principles, analytical techniques, and their application in research and industrial contexts.
Organometallic Chemistry and Catalysis
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Organometallic chemistry including transition metal catalysis, cross-coupling reactions, and asymmetric catalysis
Green Chemistry and Sustainable Synthesis
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Green chemistry, involving original research, literature review, data analysis, and the production of a doctoral dissertation contributing new knowledge to the discipline.
Stereochemistry and Asymmetric Synthesis
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced stereochemistry including chirality, enantioselective synthesis, and resolution of enantiomers
Research Methods in Organic Chemistry
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

Biochemistry Research
Specialization in Biochemistry Research, preparing graduates for careers such as biochemist.
Biomedical Research
Specialization in Biomedical Research, preparing graduates for careers such as biomedical-scientist.
Chemistry Research and Teaching
Specialization in Chemistry Research and Teaching, preparing graduates for careers such as chemistry.
Academic Research in Science
Specialization in Academic Research in Science, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Pharmaceutical Science Research
Specialization in Pharmaceutical Science Research, preparing graduates for careers such as pharmaceutical-scientist-junior.
Analytical Chemistry Practice
Specialization in Analytical Chemistry Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as analytical-chemist-junior.
Polymer Chemistry
Research on polymer chemistry
Organic Synthesis
Research on organic synthesis
Medicinal Chemistry
Research on medicinal chemistry
Green Chemistry
Research on green chemistry

A day as a student

A typical day combines organic synthesis laboratory work with spectroscopic analysis, chromatographic purification, data analysis, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend chemistry research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with KEMRI and pharmaceutical companies for collaborative research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Access to KIRDI and RSC
ARISE Project scholarships available at UoN
Strong institutional links with KEMRI, KALRO, and PPB
Diverse career paths in academia, pharmaceuticals, regulation, and industry

Against it

UoN PhD is expensive (KSh 1,216,000 total)
Laboratory research requires expensive chemicals and instruments
Handling chemicals requires safety compliance
Organic chemistry research involves handling hazardous chemicals

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 science courses

Public367k to 392k

367k at Kenyatta University392k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 150k

150k at Mount Kenya University150k at Mount Kenya 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 Chem PhD ~392K/yr (uonbi.ac.ke). KU ~367K/yr. MKU ~150K/yr (spas.mku.ac.ke).

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and IUPAC research grants for organic chemistry research.

Funding options

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

Scholarships

5 recorded

NRF Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers at Kenyan institutions conducting research relevant to national development
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers in Kenya
ARISE Project Partial Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
East African PhD Chemistry students at UoN

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 Organic Chemistry, Chemistry, or related field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or related science field
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

5 components

Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework30% of the mark
Laboratory Reports
Coursework20% of the mark
Thesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark
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

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya
Kenya Pharmacy and Poisons Board
Professional
Regulates pharmacy and medicines 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

8 roles

University Lecturer (Chemistry)
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches organic chemistry and conducts research in university chemistry departments
Chemistry Research/Teaching
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Conducts chemistry research at research institutions or teaches at secondary and tertiary levels
Pharmaceutical Scientist (Junior)
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Works on drug discovery and development at pharmaceutical companies or research institutions
Analytical Chemist (Junior)
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Performs chemical analysis at quality control labs, KEBS, or environmental agencies
Organic Chemistry Researcher
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Research at KIRDI and research institutes
University Professor
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaching and research in chemistry departments
Pharmaceutical Chemist
High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000
Chemistry at pharmaceutical companies
Polymer Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000
Polymer research at industrial firms

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, organic chemistry researchers, pharmaceutical scientists, and analytical chemists in universities, KEMRI, pharmaceutical companies, and chemical manufacturing firms.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Organic chemistry is just about memorising reactions
Organic chemistry encompasses synthesis design, reaction mechanisms, natural products discovery, stereochemistry, and medicinal chemistry, requiring advanced theoretical and laboratory training.
A PhD in organic chemistry has limited career prospects
Kenya's pharmaceutical industry and biodiversity create demand for organic chemistry researchers at universities, KEMRI, pharmaceutical companies, and chemical firms.
Organic chemistry research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya's rich biodiversity offers potential for discovering novel natural products for pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, making organic chemistry research critical for development.
Organic chemistry is only for those who want to work in laboratories
Graduates work in academia, pharmaceutical industry, regulatory bodies, consulting, and research institutions, not only in laboratory settings.