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Doctor of Philosophy in Pastoral Theology

The Doctor of Philosophy in Pastoral Theology is a degree programme that equips students with knowledge and skills in doctor of philosophy in pastoral theology. The programme falls under the Social Sciences & Humanities category and typically spans 3-5 years of full-time study at accredited Kenyan universities.

Duration
3-5 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 244,800
Ksh 734,400 to Ksh 1,224,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 212,050
Ksh 636,150 to Ksh 1,060,250 total
Job market
Low
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 244,800 a year at a public institution, Ksh 734,400 to Ksh 1,224,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 212,050 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of Master's Degree (Postgraduate) or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 3-5 years, full-time, part-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 3 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Adolescent Mentorship Officer, at 14 out of 100.The detail

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Overview

The curriculum covers Pastoral Theology, Practical Theology, Ministry Studies, Theological Research, Research Methods, Thesis Research. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical applications, developing competencies in Abnormal Psychology, African Leadership Challenges, Animation Software Proficiency, Art History Research, Basic Christian Doctrine. The coursework is designed to build progressive understanding from foundational concepts to advanced topics.

Throughout the programme, students study Field Attachment / Community Placement, Social Policy & Administration, Research Project / Dissertation, Ethics & Professional Practice. The teaching approach combines lectures, laboratory practicals, tutorials, assignments and independent research projects. This blend ensures graduates can apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems in their field.

The programme offers specialisations in Sociology & Community Development, Psychology & Counselling, Political Science & Public Administration. Students can focus their studies on areas of particular interest, allowing them to tailor their degree to specific career goals. The flexibility enables graduates to pursue diverse professional paths within the sector.

Graduates of the Doctor of Philosophy in Pastoral Theology pursue careers as Animation Producer, Backend Developer, Chaplain, Public Administration & Civil Service. They find employment in various sectors including government agencies, private companies, research institutions, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions. The degree opens doors to both local and international opportunities.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and offered at recognised universities across Kenya. Students benefit from industry attachments, fieldwork and practical training that complement classroom learning and enhance employability upon graduation.

What you study

6 subjects
  • Pastoral Theology
  • Practical Theology
  • Ministry Studies
  • Theological Research
  • Research Methods
  • Thesis Research

Modules

8 in the programme

  • Advanced Pastoral Care and Counselling

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Advanced study of pastoral care theories, counselling methodologies, and pastoral interventions for individuals, families, and communities in African contexts.

  • Field Attachment / Community Placement

    Year 1Semester 16 creditsCore

    Supervised placement with NGO, government agency or community organisation, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral.

  • Pastoral Theology and Praxis

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Critical examination of the relationship between pastoral theology and pastoral practice, including contextual analysis of pastoral ministry in contemporary Africa.

  • Social Policy & Administration

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Policy analysis, social welfare, public administration and social programme evaluation.

  • African Contextual Theology

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Exploration of African theological perspectives, inculturation theology, and contextual approaches to pastoral ministry in African church and society settings.

  • Research Project / Dissertation

    Year 2Semester 16 creditsCore

    Independent social research project: design, fieldwork, analysis and report, involving original research, literature review, data analysis, and the production of a doctoral dissertation.

  • Ethics & Professional Practice

    Year 2Semester 22 creditsCore

    Professional ethics, research ethics, social responsibility and ethical decision-making.

  • Doctoral Thesis in Pastoral Theology

    Year 3Semester 112 creditsCore

    Independent doctoral research on a specialised topic in pastoral theology, culminating in an original thesis contributing new knowledge to the field.

Specialisations

  • Sociology & Community Development

    Social research, community organising, project management and social policy. Students learn to analyse social issues and drive community empowerment.

  • Psychology & Counselling

    Human behaviour, mental health, counselling techniques and psychological assessment. Students gain skills for clinical, organisational and community roles.

  • Political Science & Public Administration

    Governance, public policy, political theory and administration. Students learn to navigate government, NGOs and international organisations.

  • Economics & Development Studies

    Microeconomics, macroeconomics, development theory and policy analysis. Students learn to address poverty, inequality and economic growth challenges.

  • Geography & GIS

    Spatial analysis, geographic information systems, remote sensing and environmental planning. Students learn to map and analyse geographic data for decision-making.

A day as a student

A typical day blends lectures, practicals and group work, with attachment/internship in the field.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Transferable skills across sectors.Competitive entry-level market.
Diverse career paths.Some paths need further specialisation.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 188 arts & humanities courses
Public186k to 245k
186k at Egerton University245k at Kenyatta University
Private210k to 212k
210k at Tangaza University212k at Africa International 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 245K ku.ac.ke. AIU 212K victormatara. Tangaza 210K tangaza.ac.ke. Egerton unverified

HELB loans, county scholarships and university bursaries available.

Funding options

  • HELB Loan

  • Government Bursary

  • CDF Scholarship

  • Self-sponsored

Scholarships

5 recorded

  • HELB Humanities Loan

    PartialKsh 60,000Kenyan

    Kenyan citizen; Humanities/social sciences; Financial need

  • Chevening Scholarships Kenya

    FullKsh 5,000,000Kenyan

    Kenyan citizen; Leadership potential; Postgraduate study in UK

  • Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

    FullKsh 8,000,000Kenyan

    Kenyan; Academic excellence; Financial need; Leadership

  • Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship

    FullKsh 6,000,000Kenyan

    Kenyan; Academic excellence; Leadership; Community service

  • County Government Bursary

    PartialKsh 60,000Kenyan

    Resident of county; Financial need

Scholarships you could apply for

2 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
Master's Degree (Postgraduate)minimum entry
Alternative entry

A relevant Master's degree and a research proposal.

When it next starts

Taught at 3 institutions
January 20273 institutions

Including Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Tangaza University, Multimedia University of Kenya.

May 20272 institutions

Including Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Multimedia University of Kenya.

September 20273 institutions

Including Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Tangaza University, Multimedia University of Kenya.

How you are assessed

3 components

  • Continuous Assessment Tests

    Cat30% of the mark

    Continuous Assessment Tests for this programme.

  • Term Paper/Essay

    Project20% of the mark

    Term Paper/Essay for this programme.

  • End-of-Semester Exam

    Exam50% of the mark

    End-of-Semester Exam for this programme.

Accreditation

  • Commission for University Education

    NationalRequired

    Accredits university-level programmes.

Accredited by CUE (Commission for University Education) and the relevant professional body.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

  • Animation Producer

    High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 150,000

    Graduates can work as animation producer in Kenya's social sciences & humanities sector.

  • Backend Developer

    High demandKsh 78,000 to Ksh 300,000

    Graduates can work as backend developer in Kenya's social sciences & humanities sector.

  • Chaplain

    Medium demandKsh 42,000 to Ksh 180,000

    Graduates can work as chaplain in Kenya's social sciences & humanities sector.

  • Public Administration & Civil Service

    Medium demandKsh 72,000 to Ksh 300,000

    Graduates can work as public administration & civil service in Kenya's social sciences & humanities sector.

  • Animation & Film Production

    Medium demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 300,000

    Graduates can work as animation & film production in Kenya's social sciences & humanities sector.

  • Art Conservator

    Low demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 180,000

    Graduates can work as art conservator in Kenya's social sciences & humanities sector.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates find opportunities across social sciences & humanities in Kenya's public, private and entrepreneurship sectors.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • Microsoft Excel

    SpreadsheetPrimary

  • SPSS

    AnalyticsPrimary

  • Google Scholar

    Research

  • NVivo

    Analytics

  • Zotero

    Research

  • ChatGPT / Claude

    Ai

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • This course has limited career prospects.

    Graduates find opportunities across the public service, private industry, entrepreneurship, and further academic study.

  • The course is too theoretical with no practical value.

    Programmes incorporate practical training, internships, and industry attachment to ensure graduates are job-ready.

  • You must have a related background to enrol.

    Most programmes accept students from diverse academic backgrounds, with bridging support where needed.

  • Graduates of this course earn very little.

    Earnings grow steadily with experience, specialisation, and professional certification.

Further reading

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