Skip to content
Pathrel
Start free
All courses
Health Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy in Sports Nutrition

The Doctor of Philosophy in Sports Nutrition is a postgraduate research programme offered at Kenyatta University through the Departments of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics and Physical Education, Exercise and Sports Science. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on nutrition for athletic performance, exercise metabolism, nutrition assessment, and dietary interventions for athletes, contributing to sports science and public health in Kenya and globally.

Duration
3 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 367,200
Ksh 1,101,600 total
Private tuition
Ksh 400,000
Ksh 1,200,000 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 367,200 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,101,600 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 400,000 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of C+ or above, plus 3 subject grades. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 3 years, full-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 1 institution.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Dental Ceramist, at 3 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

Students engage with advanced sports nutrition, exercise physiology, nutrition biochemistry, research methodology, and nutritional assessment. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent laboratory and field research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to sports nutrition.

Kenya has a proud tradition of athletic performance, and proper nutrition is essential for optimising training, recovery, and competitive outcomes. The programme addresses national priorities under Vision 2030 by training researchers who can support Kenyan athletes, develop sports nutrition guidelines, and promote healthy lifestyles.

Teaching methods include lectures, laboratory analysis, nutrition assessment, field research with athletes, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to KU's nutrition and sports science laboratories and collaborate with the Ministry of Sports, Athletics Kenya, KEMRI, and sports federations.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, sports nutritionists, performance nutrition researchers, dietitians, and sports science consultants in universities, sports organisations, hospitals, and research institutions.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in nutrition, sports science, food science, or related health sciences who are committed to advancing knowledge in sports nutrition.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Sports Nutrition
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Nutrition Biochemistry
  • Nutritional Assessment
  • Research Methodology
  • Exercise Metabolism
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Thesis Research
  • Biostatistics
  • Public Health Nutrition

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Advanced Sports Nutrition

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Nutritional requirements for athletes including energy, macronutrients, micronutrients, hydration, and recovery

  • Advanced Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Sports nutrition, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.

  • Exercise Physiology and Metabolism

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Physiological and metabolic responses to exercise including carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism during training

  • Macronutrient Optimisation for Athletic Performance

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Macronutrients, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.

  • Nutritional Ergogenics and Supplementation

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Ergogenics, covering nutritional science principles, dietary assessment methods, and their application in public health.

  • Nutrition Biochemistry

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Biochemical basis of nutrition including enzymes, hormones, and metabolic pathways relevant to exercise

  • Nutritional Assessment in Sport

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Methods for assessing dietary intake, body composition, hydration, and biochemical status in athletes

  • Hydration and Thermoregulation in Sport

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Hydration, covering exercise science principles, performance analysis, and their application in sports and health.

  • Dietary Supplements and Ergogenic Aids

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Evidence-based evaluation of dietary supplements, sports foods, and ergogenic aids

  • Nutrition for Endurance and Ultra-Endurance Sports

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Endurance nutrition, covering nutritional science principles, dietary assessment methods, and their application in public health.

  • Sports Nutrition for Special Populations

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Nutrition for youth athletes, female athletes, endurance athletes, and athletes in specific sports

  • Research Methods in Sports Nutrition

    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

  • Sports Medicine Research

    Specialization in Sports Medicine Research, preparing graduates for careers such as sports-medicine-physician.

  • Clinical Nutrition

    Specialization in Clinical Nutrition, preparing graduates for careers such as nutritionist-dietitian.

  • Academic Research in Health

    Specialization in Academic Research in Health, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.

  • Sports Nutrition Practice

    Specialization in Sports Nutrition Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as nutritionist-dietitian.

  • Public Health Nutrition

    Specialization in Public Health Nutrition, preparing graduates for careers such as public-health.

  • Sports Coaching

    Specialization in Sports Coaching, preparing graduates for careers such as pe-sports-coach.

  • Endurance Sports Nutrition

    Research on endurance nutrition

  • Hydration and Performance

    Research on hydration

  • Youth Athlete Nutrition

    Research on youth athlete nutrition

  • Nutritional Ergogenics

    Research on ergogenics

A day as a student

A typical day combines sports nutrition laboratory analysis with dietary assessment, exercise physiology testing, literature review, data analysis, and thesis writing. Students attend sports science research seminars, present findings at colloquia, and work with athletes and sports teams for research.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
High demand for sports nutrition expertise in Kenya's athletic communityAccess to elite athletes for research can be difficult
Kenya's athletic dominance creates unique opportunitiesLaboratory testing equipment is expensive
Access to Athletics Kenya and Kenya Academy of SportsOnly one public institution confirmed with exact fee data
Combines nutrition, exercise science, and public healthProfessional registration requires KNDI accreditation for dietetic practice

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
Public337k to 367k
337k at Kenyatta University (Exercise and Sports Science)367k at Kenyatta University (Food, Nutrition and Dietetics)
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

KU 337K-367K/yr verified (ku.ac.ke). MKU 200K verified. AKU unverified.

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and ISSN research grants for sports nutrition research.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    LoanKsh 80,000

  • DAAD Scholarship

    Scholarship

  • NRF Research Grant

    Grant

  • ISSN Research Grant

    Grant

Scholarships

5 recorded

  • DAAD Scholarship

    ScholarshipKenyan

    African graduates meeting academic criteria for doctoral study

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan

    Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities

  • NACOSTI Research Grant

    GrantKenyan

    Science and technology researchers in Kenya

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

    ScholarshipKenyan

    Postgraduate students in Kenya

  • HELB Postgraduate Scholarship

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan postgraduate students

Scholarships you could apply for

2 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
C+minimum entry
Alternative entry

Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

Subject requirements
Master's DegreeMSc in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, Sports Science, Exercise Science, or related health science from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualificationBachelor's degree in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, Sports Science, or related field
Research capabilityEvidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

When it next starts

Taught at 1 institution
January 20271 institution

Including Kenyatta University.

May 20271 institution

Including Kenyatta University.

September 20271 institution

Including Kenyatta University.

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

  • Coursework

    Continuous assessment30% of the mark

    Assignments, laboratory projects and seminar presentations

  • Thesis Examination

    Coursework100% of the mark

  • Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)

    Coursework30% of the mark

Accreditation

  • Kenya Nutritionists and Dietitians Institute (KNDI)

    Professional registrationRequired

    Professional registration required for nutrition and dietetic 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

  • Kenya Nutritionists and Dieticians Institute

    Professional

    Regulates nutrition and dietetics professionals in Kenya

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Professional registration with the Kenya Nutritionists and Dietitians Institute (KNDI) is required for dietetic practice in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

7 roles

  • Sports Nutritionist

    High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000

    Provides nutrition advice to athletes and sports teams at federations, clubs, or private practice

  • Nutritionist / Dietitian

    High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000

    Works in hospitals, sports organisations, or private practice providing clinical and sports nutrition services

  • University Lecturer (Sports Science)

    High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000

    Teaches sports nutrition and conducts research in university health and sports science departments

  • Sports Coach / PE Teacher

    High demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 150,000

    Integrates nutrition knowledge into coaching and physical education in schools and sports organisations

  • University Professor

    High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Teaching and research in nutrition and sports science

  • Sports Nutrition Researcher

    High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000

    Research at sports institutes

  • Athletic Performance Consultant

    High demandKsh 300,000 to Ksh 700,000

    Consulting for elite athletes

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, sports nutritionists, performance nutrition researchers, and dietitians in universities, sports organisations, hospitals, and research institutions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Sports nutrition is just about eating more protein

    Sports nutrition involves complex assessment of energy, macronutrients, hydration, supplements, timing, and recovery for athletic performance.

  • A PhD in sports nutrition is only for elite athletes

    Sports nutrition research benefits amateur athletes, active populations, and public health, and informs guidelines for schools and communities.

  • Sports nutrition is not relevant to Kenya

    Kenya's athletic success and growing interest in fitness and sports make sports nutrition research highly relevant for athlete health and performance.

  • Sports nutrition is the same as general nutrition

    Sports nutrition applies nutritional science specifically to exercise, training, and competition, requiring knowledge of exercise physiology and metabolism.

Further reading

Read next