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.

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.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 367,200
Private, up to: Ksh 400,000
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

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 favour

High demand for sports nutrition expertise in Kenya's athletic community
Kenya's athletic dominance creates unique opportunities
Access to Athletics Kenya and Kenya Academy of Sports
Combines nutrition, exercise science, and public health

Against it

Access to elite athletes for research can be difficult
Laboratory testing equipment is expensive
Only one public institution confirmed with exact fee data
Professional 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

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 Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, Sports Science, Exercise Science, or related health science from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, Sports Science, 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
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

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.

Accredited by

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

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

Industry links

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.