Social Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy in Population Studies

The Doctor of Philosophy in Population Studies is a postgraduate research programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Population Studies and Research Institute. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on demography, population dynamics, reproductive health, and population-development relationships, contributing to evidence-based population policies in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced demographic theory, population research methods, reproductive health, migration studies, and population-development interrelationships. The programme involves coursework, comprehensive examinations, and thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent demographic research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to population studies.

Kenya's population is growing rapidly, with significant implications for health, education, employment, and sustainable development. The programme addresses national priorities under Vision 2030 and the Kenya Health Policy by training researchers who can analyse population trends and inform policy on family planning, fertility, mortality, migration, and urbanisation.

Teaching methods include lectures, demographic data analysis, field research, policy analysis, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to the Population Studies and Research Institute and collaborate with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the National Council for Population and Development, UNFPA, and other development partners.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, demographers, population researchers, policy analysts, and programme evaluators in universities, government agencies, UN agencies, and international development organisations.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in population studies, demography, sociology, or related social sciences who are committed to advancing knowledge in population studies.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 320,333
Private, up to: Ksh 320,333
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 8 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Demographic Theory
Population Research Methods
Reproductive Health
Migration Studies
Population-Development Interrelationships
Research Methodology
Fertility and Mortality
Thesis Research
Biostatistics
Population Policy

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Demography and Population Dynamics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Demography, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Advanced Demographic Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced demographic theory including demographic transition, fertility theories, mortality, and migration models
Population Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Research methods for population studies including survey design, census analysis, and demographic estimation techniques
Fertility and Reproductive Health
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Fertility, covering clinical principles, evidence-based practice, and contemporary challenges in healthcare delivery and research.
Reproductive Health and Family Planning
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Reproductive health including fertility regulation, maternal health, adolescent health, and family planning programmes
Migration Studies and Population Mobility
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Migration, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Population and Development Economics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Population and development, exploring development theories, sustainable practices, and their application in addressing contemporary challenges in Kenya and beyond.
Population-Development Interrelationships
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Analysis of relationships between population growth and economic development, environment, education, and health
Demographic Methods and Techniques
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Demographic methods, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Migration and Urbanisation
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Migration theories, urbanisation trends, rural-urban dynamics, and displacement in Kenya and Africa
Population Health and Epidemiology
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Population health including disease patterns, epidemiological transition, and health systems in developing countries
Research Methods in Population Studies
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

Public Health Data Analysis
Specialization in Public Health Data Analysis, preparing graduates for careers such as data-analyst-in-public-health.
Social Data Science
Specialization in Social Data Science, preparing graduates for careers such as social-data-scientist.
Economic Data Science
Specialization in Economic Data Science, preparing graduates for careers such as economic-data-scientist.
Academic Research in Social Sciences
Specialization in Academic Research in Social Sciences, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Public Health (Junior)
Specialization in Public Health (Junior), preparing graduates for careers such as public-health-data-analyst-junior.
Public Health Research
Specialization in Public Health Research, preparing graduates for careers such as public-health-specialist.
Urbanisation
Research on urbanisation
Population and Development
Research on population and development
Fertility and Reproductive Health
Research on fertility
Migration Studies
Research on migration

A day as a student

A typical day combines demographic data analysis with population research, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend seminars at the Population Studies and Research Institute, present findings at colloquia, and collaborate with KNBS and UNFPA on population research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's population dynamics create research demand
Access to KNBS, UNFPA and NCPD
Research contributes to development planning
Unique expertise in demographic analysis and population projections

Against it

Limited direct industry demand outside government
Access to census and survey data can be restricted
Requires strong quantitative skills
Four-year programme requires long-term commitment

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

Public272k to 320k

272k at Kenyatta University320k at University of Nairobi

Private256k to 320k

256k at Mount Kenya University320k at Catholic University of Eastern Africa

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 avg (uonbi.ac.ke). KU, CUEA, MKU values unverified from existing data.

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and UNFPA research fellowships for population studies research.

Funding options

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

Scholarships

5 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities
DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for doctoral study
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers in Kenya

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 or Master of Arts in Population Studies, Demography, Sociology, or related social science from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences, Statistics, or related field
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

5 components

Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework30% of the mark
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, data projects and seminar presentations
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel
Research Reports and Data Analysis
Coursework20% of the mark
Thesis Examination
Coursework100% 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

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

7 roles

Public Health Data Analyst
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Analyses population health data at KEMRI, the Ministry of Health, or international organisations
University Lecturer (Population Studies)
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Teaches population studies and conducts research in university social science departments
Population Programme Manager
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages population and reproductive health programmes at UNFPA or NGOs
Demographer
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Analyses population data at KNBS, NCPD, or research institutions
Population Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Research at Population Council
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in population studies
Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Policy at Ministry of Planning

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, demographers, population researchers, and policy analysts in universities, government agencies, UN agencies, and international development organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Population studies is just about counting people
Population studies analyses fertility, mortality, migration, population structure, and their interactions with development, health, and policy.
A PhD in population studies has limited career prospects
Governments, UN agencies, and research institutions need demographers for census, surveys, policy analysis, and programme evaluation.
Population research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya's rapid population growth and youth bulge make demographic research essential for planning education, health, employment, and infrastructure.
Population studies is the same as sociology
Population studies is a specialised field focused on demographic processes and measurement, though it overlaps with sociology, economics, and health sciences.