Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Pedagogy

The Doctor of Philosophy in Pedagogy is a postgraduate research programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Centre for Pedagogy and Andragogy, and at Kenyatta University through its Philosophy of Education and related education PhD specialisations. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on teaching and learning theory, instructional design, curriculum pedagogy, and educational practice, contributing to improved teaching and learning in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced pedagogical theory, learning sciences, instructional design, curriculum studies, philosophy of education, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent educational research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to pedagogy.

Kenya's education system has undergone major reforms including the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and the transition to university education. The programme addresses national priorities under Vision 2030 and the Kenya Kwanza education reforms by training researchers who can inform pedagogy, teacher professional development, and education policy.

Teaching methods include lectures, curriculum analysis, classroom research, instructional design projects, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to UoN's Centre for Pedagogy and Andragogy and KU's School of Education resources, and collaborate with KICD, KNEC, and teachers' colleges.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, curriculum developers, teacher educators, education researchers, and pedagogical consultants in universities, KICD, KNEC, teachers' colleges, and education NGOs.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in education, philosophy of education, curriculum studies, or related fields who are committed to advancing knowledge in pedagogy.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 320,000
Private, up to: Ksh 310,200
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: 10 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Pedagogical Theory
Learning Sciences
Instructional Design
Curriculum Studies
Philosophy of Education
Research Methodology
Teacher Education
Thesis Research
Educational Assessment
Comparative Education

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Pedagogical Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced theories of pedagogy including constructivism, sociocultural theory, critical pedagogy, and African indigenous pedagogies
Ethical Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of ethical theory, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Learning Sciences and Cognitive Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Learning sciences including cognitive development, motivation, metacognition, and neuroscience of learning
Logic
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced study of logic, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Instructional Design and Technology
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Instructional design including learning objectives, assessment, multimedia learning, and integration of educational technology in teaching
Research Methods
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced study of research methods, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Curriculum Studies and Pedagogy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Curriculum studies including curriculum theory, implementation, evaluation, and the relationship between curriculum and pedagogy
Metaphysics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of metaphysics, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Philosophy of Education
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Philosophical foundations of education including epistemology, ethics, and philosophy of teaching and learning
Epistemology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced study of epistemology, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Teacher Education and Professional Development
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Teacher education including models of teacher training, continuing professional development, and teacher education policy in Kenya
Philosophy of Mind
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced study of philosophy of mind, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.

Specialisations

Education Policy Analysis
Specialization in Education Policy Analysis, preparing graduates for careers such as education-policy-analyst.
Education Technology Research
Specialization in Education Technology Research, preparing graduates for careers such as education-technology-consultant.
School Counselling
Specialization in School Counselling, preparing graduates for careers such as school-counsellor.
Curriculum Development
Specialization in Curriculum Development, preparing graduates for careers such as curriculum-developer.
Academic Advising
Specialization in Academic Advising, preparing graduates for careers such as academic-advisor.
Academic Research in Education
Specialization in Academic Research in Education, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Metaphysics
Specialization in Metaphysics, preparing graduates for careers such as policy-analyst-social-policy.
Specialisation Methods
Specialization in Specialisation Methods, preparing graduates for careers such as bioethicist.
Ethical Theory
Specialization in Ethical Theory, preparing graduates for careers such as philosopher.
Philosophy of Mind
Specialization in Philosophy of Mind, preparing graduates for careers such as applied-ai-ethicist.

A day as a student

A typical day combines pedagogical theory reading with classroom observation and research, instructional design projects, curriculum analysis, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend education research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with KICD and TSC for education research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Advanced research skills open doors to academic and research careers in Kenya and internationally
Relatively affordable tuition at KES 244,800 per year
Strong institutional links with KICD, KNEC, and TSC
Diverse career paths in academia, curriculum development, and teacher education

Against it

Requires significant time commitment, typically 3-4 years for PhD and 2 years for Masters
Career progression in academia requires publications and research grants
Research funding can be limited, requiring students to seek external grants
Job market for highly specialised roles may be concentrated in a few institutions

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 education courses

Public245k to 320k

245k at Kenyatta University320k at University of Nairobi

Private170k to 310k

170k at Kenya Methodist University310k 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 320K/yr (uonbi.ac.ke); KU 244,800/yr (ku.ac.ke). KeMU 170K; Kabarak 310K/yr.

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and UNESCO research fellowships for pedagogy research.

Funding options

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

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities
NRF Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers at Kenyan institutions conducting research relevant to national development
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
MEd or MA in Education, Philosophy of Education, Curriculum Studies, or related field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Education or related field
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

5 components

Coursework Examinations
Coursework30% of the mark
Thesis Defence
Coursework100% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework20% of the mark
Thesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark
Curriculum and Pedagogy Projects
Coursework20% 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
Relevant Professional Body
Professional certification
Professional registration may be required depending on the field of specialisation

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

8 roles

Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 75,000 to Ksh 240,000
Offers specialised expertise to organisations, drawing on advanced training and research experience.
Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 65,000 to Ksh 200,000
Provides research-based policy advice to government, NGOs, and international organisations.
Research Scientist
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 220,000
Conducts independent and collaborative research in research institutions, contributing to publications and innovation.
Program Manager
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 190,000
Manages research and development programmes in NGOs, government agencies, or private sector organisations.
Education Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Analyses education policy at the Ministry of Education, KNEC, or think tanks
University Lecturer (Education)
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches pedagogy and conducts research in university education departments
Teacher Educator
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Trains teachers at universities and teachers' colleges
Curriculum Developer
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Develops curriculum and pedagogical materials at KICD or education NGOs

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, curriculum developers, teacher educators, and education researchers in universities, KICD, KNEC, teachers' colleges, and education NGOs.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Pedagogy is just about teaching techniques
Pedagogy encompasses teaching and learning theory, learning sciences, curriculum design, philosophy of education, and educational research, requiring rigorous academic training.
A PhD in pedagogy has limited career prospects
Kenya's education reforms including CBC and teacher professional development create demand for pedagogy researchers at universities, KICD, KNEC, and teacher training institutions.
Pedagogy research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya's ongoing curriculum and teacher education reforms require evidence-based pedagogy research to improve learning outcomes and teacher quality.
Pedagogy is the same as curriculum development
Pedagogy focuses on teaching and learning processes, while curriculum development focuses on what is taught. Pedagogy informs how curriculum is implemented in classrooms.

Related courses

Doctor of philosophy in curriculum and instruction