Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy in Structural Engineering

The Doctor of Philosophy in Structural Engineering is a postgraduate research programme offered at the University of Nairobi and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). The programme trains engineers to conduct advanced research on structural analysis, design, materials, and resilience of buildings, bridges, and infrastructure, contributing to safe and sustainable construction in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced structural analysis, structural dynamics, earthquake engineering, advanced materials, finite element methods, and research methodology. 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 structural engineering.

Kenya's infrastructure development, including buildings, bridges, dams, and transportation networks, requires engineers who can design safe and resilient structures in seismic and environmental conditions. The programme addresses national priorities under Vision 2030 and the Big Four Agenda by training researchers who can advance structural engineering knowledge and inform construction standards.

Teaching methods include lectures, computer modelling, structural laboratory testing, site visits, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to UoN's Department of Civil and Construction Engineering and JKUAT's School of Biosystems and Environmental Engineering, and collaborate with the Engineers Board of Kenya, the Kenya Bureau of Standards, and construction industry partners.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, structural engineers, researchers, and infrastructure consultants in universities, consulting firms, construction companies, and government agencies.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in structural engineering, civil engineering, or related engineering fields who are committed to advancing knowledge in structural engineering.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 572,000
Private, up to: Ksh 575,000
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: 5 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Advanced Structural Analysis
Structural Dynamics
Earthquake Engineering
Advanced Construction Materials
Finite Element Methods
Research Methodology
Structural Design
Thesis Research
Structural Reliability
Bridge Engineering

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Structural Analysis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced methods of structural analysis including matrix methods, plastic analysis, and non-linear behaviour
Advanced Structural Analysis and Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Structural analysis, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and current analytical techniques used in advanced research and professional practice.
Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Dynamic analysis of structures including seismic design, response spectra, and earthquake-resistant design
Finite Element Methods in Structural Engineering
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Finite element modelling and analysis of structures, including software applications and validation
Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete Structures
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Concrete structures, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Advanced Construction Materials
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Properties and behaviour of concrete, steel, timber, composites, and new materials for structural applications
Steel and Composite Structures
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Steel structures, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Structural Reliability and Risk Assessment
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Reliability-based design, load and resistance factors, and risk assessment for structural systems
Finite Element Analysis and Computational Mechanics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
FEA, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and current analytical techniques used in advanced research and professional practice.
Bridge and Special Structures
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Design and analysis of bridges, tall buildings, shells, and other special structures
Research Methods in Structural Engineering
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
Research design, data analysis, and statistical methods for engineering research

Specialisations

Academic Research in Engineering
Specialization in Academic Research in Engineering, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Structural Engineering Practice
Specialization in Structural Engineering Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as structural-engineer.
Civil Engineering Practice
Specialization in Civil Engineering Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as civil-engineer.
Civil Engineering
Specialization in Civil Engineering, preparing graduates for careers such as civil-engineering.
Construction Technology
Specialization in Construction Technology, preparing graduates for careers such as construction-technology-specialist.
Junior Civil Engineering
Specialization in Junior Civil Engineering, preparing graduates for careers such as junior-civil-engineer.
Bridge Engineering
Research on bridge engineering
Earthquake Engineering
Research on earthquake engineering
Concrete Structures
Research on concrete structures
Structural Reliability
Research on structural reliability

A day as a student

A typical day combines structural analysis with computer modelling, laboratory testing of materials, site visits to construction projects, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend engineering research seminars, present findings at colloquia, and collaborate with consulting firms and KEBS on structural research.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for structural engineers in Kenya's infrastructure development
Kenya's infrastructure boom creates demand
Direct relevance to construction, safety, and national development
Opportunities for international collaboration through IABSE and ASCE

Against it

UoN engineering PhD is very expensive (KSh 1,756,000 total)
Tuition fees are high at KES 540,000 per year
Laboratory testing equipment is expensive
Professional registration with EBK is required for practice

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 332 engineering courses

Public459k to 572k

459k at Kenyatta University572k at University of Nairobi

Private200k to 575k

200k at Mount Kenya University575k at Strathmore 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 572K (engineering.uonbi.ac.ke). KU 459K (ku.ac.ke). Strathmore 575K (strathmore.edu). MKU 200K.

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and IABSE research grants for structural engineering research.

Funding options

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

Scholarships

5 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
NRF Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers at Kenyan institutions conducting research relevant to national development
DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for doctoral study
HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities

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 Structural Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related engineering field from a recognised university
Professional registration
Eligible for registration with the Engineers Board of Kenya
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or engineering projects

How you are assessed

5 components

Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Oral Viva Voce
Coursework100% of the mark
Thesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework30% of the mark
Design and Laboratory Projects
Coursework20% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Professional registration with the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) is required for engineering practice in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya
Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK)
Professional registrationRequired
Professional registration required for engineering practice in Kenya
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya
Engineers Board of Kenya
ProfessionalRequired
Registers and regulates engineers in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

8 roles

Structural Engineering Researcher
High demandKsh 300,000 to Ksh 700,000
Research at engineering research institutes
Structural Consultant
High demandKsh 350,000 to Ksh 800,000
Consulting on structural design projects
Bridge Engineer
High demandKsh 300,000 to Ksh 700,000
Bridge engineering at KeNHA and firms
University Professor
High demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 600,000
Teaching and research in engineering departments
University Lecturer (Engineering)
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 250,000
Teaches structural engineering and conducts research in university engineering departments
Civil Engineer
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 300,000
Manages civil engineering projects including infrastructure, water, and transportation
Junior Civil Engineer
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 200,000
Works under senior engineers on design and project implementation
Structural Engineer
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 350,000
Designs and analyses buildings, bridges, and infrastructure at consulting firms or construction companies

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, structural engineers, researchers, and infrastructure consultants in universities, consulting firms, construction companies, and government agencies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Structural engineering is just about drawing buildings
Structural engineering involves advanced analysis, design, and testing of structures to ensure safety, stability, and resilience under loads and environmental conditions.
A PhD in structural engineering is only for academics
Graduates work in consulting firms, construction companies, government, and research, designing and evaluating real infrastructure.
Structural engineering research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya's infrastructure development and need for earthquake-resistant, sustainable structures make structural engineering research critical for national development.
Structural engineering is the same as civil engineering
Structural engineering is a specialisation within civil engineering focused on the design and analysis of load-bearing structures.