Health Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology

The Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology is a postgraduate research programme offered at the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University through their respective departments of pharmacy and pharmacology. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on drug action, toxicology, molecular pharmacology, and clinical pharmacology, contributing to drug discovery and safe medicines use in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced pharmacology, molecular mechanisms of drug action, toxicology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent laboratory and clinical research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to pharmacology.

Kenya's pharmaceutical sector is growing, but the country still relies heavily on imported medicines and faces challenges with drug safety, resistance, and access. The programme addresses national priorities under Vision 2030 and the Kenya Health Policy by training researchers who can develop new therapeutics, study drug safety, and inform rational medicines use.

Teaching methods include lectures, pharmacology laboratory sessions, molecular biology techniques, toxicology studies, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to UoN's Department of Pharmacy and KU's pharmacology facilities, and collaborate with KEMRI, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, and the Kenya Medical Research Institute.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, pharmacology researchers, clinical pharmacists, toxicologists, and pharmaceutical scientists in universities, KEMRI, pharmaceutical companies, and regulatory bodies.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in pharmacology, pharmacy, molecular pharmacology, or related biomedical sciences who are committed to advancing knowledge in pharmacology.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 571,200
Private, up to: Ksh 400,000
Job market: High

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

Molecular Pharmacology
Toxicology
Pharmacokinetics
Pharmacodynamics
Drug Discovery
Research Methodology
Clinical Pharmacology
Thesis Research
Biostatistics
Pharmacogenomics

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Molecular Pharmacology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Molecular mechanisms of drug action including receptors, signal transduction, and drug-receptor interactions
Advanced Pharmacology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced drug action study, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and dose-response relationships
Toxicology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Study of toxic effects, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Toxicology and Drug Safety
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Toxicology including mechanisms of toxicity, risk assessment, and drug safety monitoring
Pharmacokinetics
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Drug absorption and metabolism, covering pharmacological principles, drug development processes, and their application in therapeutic practice.
Drug Discovery and Development
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Drug discovery including target identification, lead optimisation, preclinical testing, and clinical trials
Molecular Pharmacology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Molecular basis of drug action, covering pharmacological principles, drug development processes, and their application in therapeutic practice.
Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Clinical pharmacology including rational prescribing, pharmacovigilance, and therapeutic drug monitoring
Pharmacogenomics and Personalised Medicine
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Pharmacogenomics including genetic factors affecting drug response and personalised medicine approaches
Ethnopharmacology
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Traditional medicine pharmacology, covering pharmacological principles, drug development processes, and their application in therapeutic practice.
Research Methodology and Biostatistics
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Research design, data analysis methods, and statistical techniques for pharmacology research

Specialisations

Hospital Pharmacy Practice
Specialization in Hospital Pharmacy Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as hospital-pharmacist.
Pharmaceutical Science (Junior)
Specialization in Pharmaceutical Science (Junior), preparing graduates for careers such as pharmaceutical-scientist-junior.
Clinical Pharmacology Practice
Specialization in Clinical Pharmacology Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as clinical-pharmacist.
Academic Research in Pharmacy
Specialization in Academic Research in Pharmacy, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Toxicology Research
Specialization in Toxicology Research, preparing graduates for careers such as toxicologist.
Pharmaceutical Science Research
Specialization in Pharmaceutical Science Research, preparing graduates for careers such as pharmaceutical-scientist.
Clinical Pharmacology
Research on clinical drug effects
Molecular Pharmacology
Research on molecular drug action
Toxicology
Research on drug toxicity
Ethnopharmacology
Research on traditional medicine

A day as a student

A typical day combines laboratory research on drug mechanisms and toxicity with data analysis, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend pharmacology research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and collaborate with KEMRI and PPB on drug safety and efficacy research.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for pharmacology expertise in Kenya's growing pharmaceutical sector
Kenya's pharmaceutical industry creates demand for pharmacology expertise
Two public universities offer the programme with different fee points
Diverse career paths in academia, industry, regulation, and clinical research

Against it

KU fees are high at KES 571,200 per year
Funding for pharmacology research can be competitive
Pharmacology research requires expensive laboratory reagents and equipment
Competition for research funding and positions can be intense

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses

Public428k to 571k

428k at University of Nairobi571k at Kenyatta University

Private200k to 400k

200k at Mount Kenya University400k at Aga Khan 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 428K, KU 571K/yr verified (pharmacy.uonbi.ac.ke, ku.ac.ke). MKU 200K. AKU unverified.

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, WHO/TDR research grants, NRF research grants, and DAAD scholarships for pharmacology research.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
WHO/TDR Research Grant
Grant
NRF Research Grant
Grant
DAAD Scholarship
Scholarship

Scholarships

5 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
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
Wellcome Trust Research Grant
Grant
Health researchers in Africa

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
Master of Science in Pharmacology, Molecular Pharmacology, Master of Pharmacy, or related biomedical science from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor of Pharmacy, Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science, or related degree
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

5 components

Oral Viva Voce
Coursework100% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework30% of the mark
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel
Coursework
Continuous assessment20% of the mark
Assignments, laboratory work and seminar presentations
Thesis
Thesis60% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Professional registration with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) is required for pharmacy practice in Kenya.

Accredited by

Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB)
Professional registrationRequired
Professional registration required for pharmacy practice in Kenya
Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya
Pharmacy and Poisons Board
Professional
National pharmacy regulatory body; registration required for clinical practice

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

University Lecturer (Pharmacology)
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 220,000
Teaches pharmacology and conducts research in university pharmacy and medical schools
Clinical Pharmacist
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Provides clinical pharmacy services in hospitals and manages drug therapy
Toxicologist
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Assesses drug and chemical toxicity at regulatory agencies, KEBS, or research institutions
Pharmacology Researcher
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Conducts pharmacology research at KEMRI, universities, or pharmaceutical companies
Pharmaceutical Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Drug discovery and development
University Professor
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in pharmacology

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, pharmacology researchers, clinical pharmacists, toxicologists, and pharmaceutical scientists in universities, KEMRI, pharmaceutical companies, and regulatory bodies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Pharmacology is just about knowing drug names
Pharmacology involves molecular mechanisms of drug action, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, toxicology, and drug discovery, requiring advanced biomedical training.
A PhD in pharmacology only leads to academic careers
Graduates work in pharmaceutical industry, regulatory agencies, KEMRI, clinical research, and drug safety monitoring, not only in universities.
Pharmacology research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya faces challenges with drug resistance, counterfeit medicines, and tropical disease treatment, making pharmacology research critical for public health.
Pharmacology is the same as pharmacy
Pharmacology is the science of drug action and research, while pharmacy is the profession focused on dispensing and medicines optimisation.

Related courses

Phd in pharmacognosy and complementary medicine