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.

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.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 244,800
Private, up to: Ksh 333,533
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: 0 months
Average class: 8 students
Award: PhD

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 favour

Addresses critical peace and security challenges in Kenya and the region
Relatively affordable tuition at KES 244,800 per year
Strong institutional links with NCIC, IGAD, AU, and UNDP
Diverse career paths in academia, government, regional organisations, and NGOs

Against it

Field research in conflict-affected areas can be risky
Research funding for peace studies is limited
Peace research can be politically sensitive
Career 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

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
MA in Peace Studies, Conflict Management, International Relations, Political Science, or related social science from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences, Humanities, or related field
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

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

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

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

Industry links

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.