Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology of Education

The Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology of Education is a postgraduate research programme offered at Kenyatta University and the University of Nairobi. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on the social dimensions of education, including education and social inequality, school and society, curriculum and socialisation, and education policy, contributing to a deeper understanding of education as a social institution in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced sociology of education theory, social theory, education and development, research methodology, and the critical analysis of educational systems. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent sociological research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to sociology of education.

Kenya's education system reflects and shapes social inequalities, and reforms such as the Competency-Based Curriculum and changes in financing have social implications. The programme addresses national priorities under Vision 2030 by training researchers who can analyse education from a sociological perspective and inform policies for equity, inclusion, and social development.

Teaching methods include lectures, sociological analysis of education, policy research, field studies, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to KU's School of Education and UoN's Faculty of Education, and collaborate with KICD, KNEC, the Ministry of Education, and civil society organisations.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, sociology of education researchers, education policy analysts, curriculum developers, and research consultants in universities, KICD, KNEC, and research institutions.

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

Duration: 3-4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 320,000
Private, up to: Ksh 310,200
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: 0 months
Average class: 10 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Sociology of Education Theory
Social Theory
Education and Social Inequality
School and Society
Curriculum and Socialisation
Research Methodology
Education Policy Analysis
Thesis Research
Comparative Education
Ethnography in Education

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Sociology of Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced theories in sociology of education including functionalism, conflict theory, interactionism, and critical perspectives
Social Theory and Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Major social theories and their application to educational institutions, processes, and reform
Educational Inequality and Social Stratification
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Inequality, examining pedagogical theories, educational frameworks, and their application in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.
Education and Social Inequality
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Analysis of how education intersects with class, gender, ethnicity, and region in Kenya and globally
Sociology of Curriculum and Knowledge
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Curriculum sociology, covering sociological theories, research methods, and their application in understanding social structures.
School and Society in Kenya
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Study of the role of schools in Kenyan society, including socialisation, values, and national development
Education and Social Change
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Social change, examining pedagogical theories, educational frameworks, and their application in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.
Curriculum and Socialisation
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Sociological analysis of curriculum, hidden curriculum, and the socialisation functions of education
Gender and Education in Society
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Gender and education, examining pedagogical theories, educational frameworks, and their application in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.
Education Policy and Reform
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Critical analysis of education policies including CBC, financing, access, and quality in Kenya
Research Methods in Sociology of Education
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.
Research Methodology and Statistics
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Quantitative and qualitative research methods including ethnography and policy analysis for education research

Specialisations

Sociology Practice
Specialization in Sociology Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as sociologist.
Sociology Research
Specialization in Sociology Research, preparing graduates for careers such as sociology-research-analyst.
Curriculum Development
Specialization in Curriculum Development, preparing graduates for careers such as curriculum-developer.
Social Work
Specialization in Social Work, preparing graduates for careers such as social-worker.
Academic Research in Education
Specialization in Academic Research in Education, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Education Policy Analysis
Specialization in Education Policy Analysis, preparing graduates for careers such as education-policy-analyst.
Educational Inequality
Research on educational inequality
Gender and Education
Research on gender and education
Curriculum Sociology
Research on curriculum sociology
Education and Social Change
Research on education and social change

A day as a student

A typical day combines sociological reading and theory with education policy analysis, field research in schools, data analysis, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend education research seminars, present findings at colloquia, and engage with KICD and KNEC for sociological research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Provides critical analysis of education and social issues in Kenya
Access to KICD, Ministry of Education and UNESCO
Relatively affordable tuition at KES 244,800 per year
Strong links with KICD, KNEC, and the Ministry of Education

Against it

Research funding for sociology of education is limited
Access to school data can be restricted
Requires strong sociological and educational knowledge
Academic positions require publications and research output

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

Public180k to 320k

180k at Moi 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; KU 244,800/yr (mawese.com). Moi 180K unverified. KeMU 170K; Kabarak 310K/yr.

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

Funding options

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

Scholarships

5 recorded

DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers in Kenya
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities
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 Sociology of Education, Sociology, Education, or related social science from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Education, Sociology, or related field
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

5 components

Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel
Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework30% of the mark
Thesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark
Seminars and Research Papers
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
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

Sociology of Education Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Research on education and society
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in education faculties
Educational Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Consulting on education equity
Sociology Research Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Conducts sociological research at research institutions, NGOs, or government
University Lecturer (Education)
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches sociology of education and conducts research in university education departments
Curriculum Developer
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Develops curriculum and educational materials at KICD or education NGOs
Education Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Analyses education policy at KICD, KNEC, the Ministry of Education, or think tanks

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, sociology of education researchers, education policy analysts, and curriculum developers in universities, KICD, KNEC, and research institutions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Sociology of education is just about schools and students
Sociology of education examines the relationships between education and society, including inequality, socialisation, policy, and power, using sociological theory and research.
A PhD in sociology of education has limited career prospects
Graduates are needed in universities, KICD, KNEC, the Ministry of Education, and research institutions for policy and curriculum analysis.
Sociology of education is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya's education reforms and social inequalities make sociological analysis of education highly relevant for policy and practice.
Sociology of education is the same as educational sociology
Both share similar concerns; sociology of education applies sociological theory to understand education as a social institution and process.

Related courses

Doctor of philosophy in philosophy of education