Agriculture

Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Breeding

The Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Breeding is a postgraduate research programme offered at the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on crop improvement, quantitative genetics, germplasm conservation, and the development of superior plant varieties, contributing to food security and agricultural resilience in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced quantitative genetics, breeding methods, germplasm management, molecular breeding, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent field and laboratory research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to plant breeding.

Kenya's agriculture faces challenges from climate change, pests, diseases, and the need for higher yielding and nutritious crop varieties. The programme addresses national priorities under Vision 2030 and the Big Four Agenda by training researchers who can develop improved crop varieties adapted to Kenyan conditions and farmer needs.

Teaching methods include lectures, field trials, molecular breeding laboratory work, germplasm characterisation, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to UoN's Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection and KU's School of Agriculture, and collaborate with KALRO, CIMMYT, and international agricultural research centres.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, plant breeders, crop improvement scientists, and agricultural researchers in universities, KALRO, seed companies, and international agricultural research organisations.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in plant breeding, horticulture, agronomy, crop science, or related agricultural sciences who are committed to advancing knowledge in plant breeding.

Duration: 3-4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 470,000
Private, up to: Ksh 300,000
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: 6 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Quantitative Genetics
Plant Breeding Methods
Germplasm Management
Molecular Breeding
Crop Improvement
Research Methodology
Biometry and Statistics
Thesis Research
Seed Science
Biotic and Abiotic Stress Resistance

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Quantitative Genetics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced quantitative genetics including heritability, genetic gain, genotype-environment interaction, and selection theory
Advanced Plant Breeding and Genetics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Plant breeding, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Plant Breeding Methods and Strategies
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Breeding methods for self-pollinated, cross-pollinated, and clonally propagated crops including hybrid development and population improvement
Quantitative Genetics and Selection Theory
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Quantitative genetics, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
Germplasm Conservation and Utilisation
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Conservation and utilisation of plant genetic resources including gene banks, diversity analysis, and pre-breeding
Molecular Breeding and Marker-Assisted Selection
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Molecular breeding, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Molecular Breeding and Genomics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Molecular tools in breeding including marker-assisted selection, QTL mapping, genomic selection, and association mapping
Cultivar Development and Variety Testing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Cultivar development, exploring development theories, sustainable practices, and their application in addressing contemporary challenges in Kenya and beyond.
Biotic and Abiotic Stress Resistance
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Breeding for resistance to drought, heat, salinity, diseases, and pests in Kenyan crop production systems
Breeding for Disease Resistance
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Disease resistance, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Seed Science and Technology
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Seed production, processing, quality testing, and seed systems in Kenya, covering technological tools, digital platforms, and information systems relevant to contemporary research and professional.
Research Methods in Plant Breeding
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research methods, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in the field.

Specialisations

Agricultural Science Research
Specialization in Agricultural Science Research, preparing graduates for careers such as agricultural-scientist-junior.
Plant Breeding Practice
Specialization in Plant Breeding Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as plant-breeder.
Agricultural Biotechnology
Specialization in Agricultural Biotechnology, preparing graduates for careers such as agricultural-biotechnologist.
Academic Research in Science
Specialization in Academic Research in Science, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Agronomy Research
Specialization in Agronomy Research, preparing graduates for careers such as agronomist-kenya.
Plant Breeding and Genetics
Specialization in Plant Breeding and Genetics, preparing graduates for careers such as plant-breeder-geneticist.
Molecular Breeding
Research on molecular breeding
Seed Science
Research on seed science
Disease Resistance Breeding
Research on disease resistance
Stress Tolerance Breeding
Research on stress tolerance

A day as a student

A typical day combines field trials with quantitative genetic analysis, molecular marker analysis, germplasm characterisation, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend crop science research seminars, present findings at colloquia, and collaborate with KALRO and CIMMYT on breeding programmes.

The trade offs

In its favour

Critical for Kenya's food security and crop improvement
Kenya's food security creates demand for crop improvement
Access to KALRO, KEPHIS, CIMMYT and ICRISAT
Diverse career paths in academia, seed industry, and research

Against it

Field trials require multiple seasons and locations
Variety release process through KEPHIS is lengthy
UoN fees are high at KES 432,000 per year
Plant breeding requires long-term field trials and patience

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 303 agriculture courses

Public252k to 470k

252k at Egerton University470k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 300k

150k at Mount Kenya University300k at Strathmore 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 470K/yr (uonbi.ac.ke). Egerton 252K/yr. MKU 150K. Strathmore unverified

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and CIMMYT research fellowships for plant breeding research.

Funding options

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

Scholarships

5 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers in Kenya
DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for doctoral study
NRF Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers at Kenyan institutions conducting research relevant to national development

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
MSc in Plant Breeding, Horticulture, Agronomy, Agriculture, Crop Protection, or related field from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Plant Sciences, or related field
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

5 components

Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, field and laboratory projects and seminar presentations
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
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya
Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service
Professional
Regulates plant health, seed certification and variety release in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

7 roles

University Professor
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaching and research in agriculture departments
Genetic Resource Manager
Moderate demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Genetic resources at gene banks
Seed Technologist
High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000
Seed technology at KEPHIS and seed companies
Plant Breeder / Geneticist
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Combines genetics and breeding for crop improvement and germplasm management
Plant Breeder
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Develops improved crop varieties at KALRO, seed companies, or international research centres
University Lecturer (Crop Science)
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Teaches plant breeding and conducts research in university agriculture departments
Agronomist
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Advises on crop production and management at agricultural institutions or extension services

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, plant breeders, crop improvement scientists, and agricultural researchers in universities, KALRO, seed companies, and international agricultural research organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Plant breeding is just about crossing plants
Plant breeding combines quantitative genetics, molecular biology, statistics, and field research to develop improved crop varieties with specific traits.
A PhD in plant breeding has limited career prospects
Kenya's seed industry and agricultural research institutions need plant breeders for food security and crop improvement.
Plant breeding research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya needs improved crop varieties for drought tolerance, disease resistance, and higher yields, making plant breeding research central to agricultural development.
Plant breeding is the same as plant biotechnology
Plant breeding focuses on genetic improvement through selection and crossing, while biotechnology uses molecular tools; they are complementary but distinct disciplines.

Related courses

Doctor of philosophy in plant biotechnology