Skip to content
Pathrel
Start free
All courses
Social Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy in Peace, Security and Conflict Management

The Doctor of Philosophy in Peace, Security and Conflict Management is a postgraduate research programme offered at Kenyatta University through the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on peace building, conflict resolution, security studies, and conflict management, contributing to peace, stability, and security in Kenya, the East African region, and the African continent.

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 333,533
Ksh 1,000,599 to Ksh 1,667,665 total
Job market
Moderate
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 333,533 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of C+ or above, plus 3 subject grades. 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 2 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

Students engage with advanced peace and conflict theory, security studies, conflict resolution methodologies, peace building research, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent field and policy research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to peace, security, and conflict management.

Kenya and the East African region face security challenges including terrorism, ethnic conflicts, border disputes, and electoral violence, requiring rigorous academic analysis. The programme addresses national and regional priorities by training researchers who can inform peace building, conflict prevention, and security policy through evidence-based research.

Teaching methods include lectures, conflict case studies, field research in conflict-affected areas, policy analysis, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to KU's humanities and social sciences resources and collaborate with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, IGAD, and peace building NGOs.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, peace and conflict researchers, peacebuilding specialists, conflict resolution officers, and security policy analysts in universities, government, IGAD, the African Union, UN agencies, and peace building NGOs.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in peace studies, conflict management, international relations, political science, or related social sciences who are committed to advancing knowledge in peace, security, and conflict management.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Peace and Conflict Theory
  • Security Studies
  • Conflict Resolution Methods
  • Peacebuilding Research
  • Research Methodology
  • African Conflicts
  • International Peace and Security
  • Thesis Research
  • Statistics for Social Research
  • Transitional Justice

Modules

10 in the programme

  • Advanced Peace and Conflict Theory

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Advanced theories of peace and conflict including structural violence, positive peace, conflict transformation, and critical peace studies

  • Security Studies and Human Security

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Security studies including traditional security, human security, terrorism, counter-terrorism, and security sector reform in Africa

  • Conflict Resolution and Mediation

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Conflict resolution methods including mediation, negotiation, arbitration, and traditional dispute resolution mechanisms

  • Peacebuilding and Post-Conflict Reconstruction

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Peacebuilding including post-conflict reconstruction, DDR, state building, and peacebuilding evaluation

  • African Conflicts and Regional Security

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Analysis of African conflicts including the Horn of Africa, Great Lakes, and Sahel, and regional security frameworks

  • Transitional Justice and Reconciliation

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Transitional justice mechanisms including truth commissions, prosecutions, reparations, and reconciliation processes

  • Research Methodology and Statistics

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Quantitative and qualitative research methods for peace and conflict research including case study and ethnographic methods

  • International Peace and Security Architecture

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    International peace architecture including UN peacekeeping, AU peace operations, IGAD conflict prevention, and international law

  • Thesis Proposal Development

    Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore

    Development and defence of a doctoral research proposal on a peace, security, and conflict management topic

  • Thesis Research and Writing

    Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore

    Independent doctoral research culminating in a thesis defended before internal and external examiners

Specialisations

  • Conflict Resolution Practice

    Specialization in Conflict Resolution Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as conflict-resolution-officer-junior.

  • Diplomatic Service

    Specialization in Diplomatic Service, preparing graduates for careers such as diplomat.

  • Academic Research in Social Sciences

    Specialization in Academic Research in Social Sciences, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.

  • Peacebuilding Practice

    Specialization in Peacebuilding Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as peacebuilding-specialist.

  • Political Consultancy

    Specialization in Political Consultancy, preparing graduates for careers such as political-consultant.

  • Governance Program Management

    Specialization in Governance Program Management, preparing graduates for careers such as governance-program-manager.

A day as a student

A typical day combines conflict case study analysis with field research in conflict-affected areas, policy analysis, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend social science research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with NCIC and IGAD for peace and security research.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Addresses critical peace and security challenges in Kenya and the regionField research in conflict-affected areas can be risky
Relatively affordable tuition at KES 244,800 per yearResearch funding for peace studies is limited
Strong institutional links with NCIC, IGAD, AU, and UNDPPeace research can be politically sensitive
Diverse career paths in academia, government, regional organisations, and NGOsCareer prospects depend on the security environment and funding availability

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses
Public237k to 245k
237k at University of Nairobi245k at Kenyatta University
Private200k to 334k
200k at Mount Kenya University334k 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 237K/yr avg (uonbi.ac.ke). KU 245K/yr (ku.ac.ke). Kabarak 334K/yr. MKU 200K unverified.

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and UNDP research fellowships for peace and conflict research.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    LoanKsh 80,000

  • DAAD Scholarship

    Scholarship

  • NRF Research Grant

    Grant

  • UNDP Research Fellowship

    Fellowship

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • NRF Research Grant

    GrantKenyan

    Researchers at Kenyan institutions conducting research relevant to national development

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan

    Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities

  • DAAD Scholarship

    ScholarshipKenyan

    African graduates meeting academic criteria for doctoral study

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
C+minimum entry
Alternative entry

Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

Subject requirements
Master's DegreeMA in Peace Studies, Conflict Management, International Relations, Political Science, or related social science from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualificationBachelor's degree in Social Sciences, Humanities, or related field
Research capabilityEvidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

When it next starts

Taught at 2 institutions
January 20272 institutions

Including Garissa University, Kenyatta University.

May 20272 institutions

Including Garissa University, Kenyatta University.

September 20272 institutions

Including Garissa University, Kenyatta University.

How you are assessed

4 components

  • Oral Viva Voce

    Coursework100% of the mark

  • Case Study and Field Reports

    Coursework20% of the mark

  • Thesis Examination

    Coursework100% of the mark

  • Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)

    Coursework30% of the mark

Accreditation

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)

    Academic accreditationRequired

    Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • University Lecturer (Peace Studies)

    High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000

    Teaches peace and conflict studies and conducts research in university social science departments

  • Conflict Resolution Officer (Junior)

    Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000

    Works on conflict resolution at NCIC, county governments, or peace building organisations

  • Peacebuilding & Conflict Resolution Specialist

    Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000

    Manages peacebuilding programmes at UN agencies, the AU, IGAD, or NGOs

  • Diplomat / Foreign Service Officer

    Low demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000

    Serves in Kenya's foreign service with peace and security expertise

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, peace and conflict researchers, peacebuilding specialists, and security policy analysts in universities, government, IGAD, the African Union, UN agencies, and peace building NGOs.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • Turnitin

    Education

  • Moodle

    Learning management

  • Zoom

    Cloud

  • Canva

    Creative

  • Google Scholar

    ResearchPrimary

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

    CreativePrimary

  • Python (Research)

    Code

  • Microsoft Teams

    Cloud

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Peace and conflict studies is just about mediation

    Peace and conflict studies encompasses conflict theory, security analysis, peacebuilding research, transitional justice, and international relations, requiring rigorous academic training.

  • A PhD in peace and conflict has limited career prospects

    Kenya and the East African region face ongoing security challenges creating demand for peace researchers at universities, government, IGAD, the AU, UN, and NGOs.

  • Peace research is not relevant to Kenya

    Kenya has experienced electoral violence, ethnic conflicts, and terrorism, making peace and conflict research critical for national stability and regional security.

  • Peace studies is only for those who want to work in NGOs

    Graduates work in academia, government, regional organisations, international bodies, and the private sector, not only in NGOs.

Further reading

Read next