Social Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Management

The Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Management is a doctoral programme developing researchers and analysts who rigorously investigate, evaluate, and design effective public policy and public sector management systems. Students develop expertise in policy analysis, evaluation methodology, public administration theory, political economy, regulatory governance, and public finance.

The programme is offered at the Technical University of Kenya as PhD in Global Developments and Public Policy, and at the University of Nairobi through its Institute of Development Studies. Both are accredited by the Commission for University Education. Admission requires a relevant Master's degree and a research proposal.

Students develop advanced skills in policy analysis frameworks, quantitative and qualitative research methods, programme evaluation, public expenditure tracking, and evidence-based policy making. Research areas include governance, decentralisation, service delivery, regulatory reform, and public sector accountability in African development contexts.

Public policy research is critical for Kenya's development, with challenges in governance, service delivery, resource allocation, and institutional reform. The Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), government ministries, and international development partners create demand for doctoral-level policy researchers.

The programme combines coursework in policy theory, research methodology, and public management with independent doctoral research. Full-time and part-time study modes are available. Assessment includes coursework, research proposal defence, and thesis examination by internal and external examiners.

Graduates work as university lecturers, policy researchers at KIPPRA and think tanks, government policy analysts, development consultants, and programme managers in international organisations. The programme suits public sector professionals seeking to advance evidence-based policy research.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 272,000
Private, up to: Ksh 285,000
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: 3 months
Average class: 50 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Sociology
Psychology
Political Science
Economics
Anthropology
Social Research Methods
Public Administration
Human Rights
Gender Studies
Conflict Resolution

Modules

8 in the programme

Advanced Policy Analysis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced quantitative and qualitative methods for policy analysis, including cost-benefit analysis, policy evaluation frameworks, and evidence-based decision-making.
Field Attachment / Community Placement
Year 1Semester 16 creditsCore
Supervised placement with NGO, government agency or community organisation, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral.
Public Sector Reform and Governance
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Comparative analysis of public sector reform strategies, governance frameworks, and institutional change in African development contexts.
Social Policy & Administration
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Policy analysis, social welfare, public administration and social programme evaluation.
Public Finance and Expenditure Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of public finance theory, budgeting systems, expenditure tracking, and fiscal policy analysis in developing country contexts.
Research Project / Dissertation
Year 2Semester 16 creditsCore
Independent social research project: design, fieldwork, analysis and report, involving original research, literature review, data analysis, and the production of a doctoral dissertation.
Ethics & Professional Practice
Year 2Semester 22 creditsCore
Professional ethics, research ethics, social responsibility and ethical decision-making.
Doctoral Thesis in Public Policy
Year 3Semester 112 creditsCore
Independent doctoral research on a specialised topic in public policy and management, culminating in an original thesis contributing new knowledge to the field.

Specialisations

Sociology & Community Development
Social research, community organising, project management and social policy. Students learn to analyse social issues and drive community empowerment.
Psychology & Counselling
Human behaviour, mental health, counselling techniques and psychological assessment. Students gain skills for clinical, organisational and community roles.
Political Science & Public Administration
Governance, public policy, political theory and administration. Students learn to navigate government, NGOs and international organisations.
Economics & Development Studies
Microeconomics, macroeconomics, development theory and policy analysis. Students learn to address poverty, inequality and economic growth challenges.
Geography & GIS
Spatial analysis, geographic information systems, remote sensing and environmental planning. Students learn to map and analyse geographic data for decision-making.

A day as a student

Students conduct policy evaluation research using quasi-experimental and mixed-methods approaches, analyse Kenya's public expenditure data to assess allocative efficiency, develop regulatory impact assessments, engage with KIPPRA, World Bank Kenya Country Office, and Treasury policy teams, write papers for World Development and Journal of Development Economics, and present research at African policy conferences.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's devolution and policy reform agenda create substantial demand for qualified public policy researchers and advisors
International financial institution consultancy offers among the highest single-project income available to policy PhD holders
Public policy and management PhD applies across government, development organisations, and academia

Against it

Government policy advisory positions require navigating complex political dynamics and bureaucratic constraints
Senior international consultancy roles are competitive and require both technical excellence and strong professional networks
Policy research impact takes years to realise as findings slowly enter government decision-making cycles

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

Public239k to 272k

239k at Technical University of Kenya272k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 285k

150k at Mount Kenya University285k at Private universities

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

KU 245K/yr (ku.ac.ke). UoN, TUK partially verified. Private unverified.

HELB loans, county bursaries, UN scholarship programs, and university merit scholarships. International development organizations occasionally sponsor social science students.

Funding options

HELB loan
County bursary
University scholarship
UN scholarship programs

Scholarships

5 recorded

HELB Humanities Loan
PartialKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizen; Humanities/social sciences; Financial need
Chevening Scholarships Kenya
FullKsh 5,000,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizen; Leadership potential; Postgraduate study in UK
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
FullKsh 8,000,000Kenyan
Kenyan; Academic excellence; Financial need; Leadership
Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship
FullKsh 6,000,000Kenyan
Kenyan; Academic excellence; Leadership; Community service
County Government Bursary
PartialKsh 60,000Kenyan
Resident of county; Financial need

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

Alternative entry: A relevant Master's degree and a defensible research proposal; some programmes interview candidates.

How you are assessed

3 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat30% of the mark
Tests and tutorial participation.
Term Paper / Essay
Project20% of the mark
Research essay or term paper.
End-of-Semester Examination
Exam50% of the mark
Theory examinations.

Accreditation

Social science programs are accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Professional certifications from IPSK, PMP, and M&E Society of Kenya complement academic qualifications.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
NationalRequired
Accredits all university-level programmes (Bachelor, Master, PhD) in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Public Policy Researcher (University / KIPPRA)
Medium demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 480,000
Conducts policy-relevant research on Kenya's public sector performance, governance, and development effectiveness.
Senior Policy Analyst / Advisor (Government Ministry)
Medium demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 520,000
Provides evidence-based policy advisory to a government ministry on sector policy design and reform strategies.
Development Economics Consultant (World Bank / IMF / UNDP)
Low demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 900,000
Provides technical advisory on public finance, regulation, and development policy to international financial institutions.
Public Sector Management Consultant
Medium demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 600,000
Consulting on public sector reform, institutional capacity building, and governance improvement for government and development partners.

Graduate outcomes

PhD graduates work as public policy researchers and professors at universities and KIPPRA, as senior government policy analysts, as development economics consultants, and as public finance management specialists at international financial institutions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Python (Research)
Code
Turnitin
Education
Moodle
Learning management
Zoom
Cloud
Microsoft Teams
Cloud
Google Scholar
ResearchPrimary
Microsoft PowerPoint
CreativePrimary
Canva
Creative

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Social sciences are not 'real' sciences.
Social sciences use rigorous research methods, statistical analysis, and evidence-based approaches to study human behaviour and society.
Graduates end up unemployed.
Social science graduates work in HR, project management, research, policy analysis, social work, and community development across all sectors.
Lecturers have a light workload.
They balance heavy teaching loads, research publication demands, and administrative duties, often with limited resources.
Salaries in public universities are low.
While base pay is modest, lecturers can augment income through consulting, research grants, and part-time roles at private universities.