Agriculture

Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics

The Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics is a postgraduate research programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on the epidemiology and economics of animal diseases, including disease surveillance, risk analysis, economic impact assessment, and control strategies, contributing to animal health and food security in Kenya and the region.

Students engage with advanced veterinary epidemiology, veterinary economics, disease modelling, risk analysis, surveillance systems, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent field and analytical research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to veterinary epidemiology and economics.

Kenya's livestock sector is economically significant and vulnerable to transboundary animal diseases, zoonoses, and emerging health threats. The programme addresses national priorities under Vision 2030 and the Kenya Veterinary Policy by training researchers who can inform disease control strategies, surveillance systems, and economic decision-making for livestock health.

Teaching methods include lectures, field research, data analysis, disease modelling, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to UoN's veterinary research facilities at the Upper Kabete campus and collaborate with the Directorate of Veterinary Services and international animal health organisations.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, veterinary epidemiologists, animal health economists, disease surveillance specialists, and veterinary researchers in universities, the Directorate of Veterinary Services, KALRO, FAO, AU-IBAR, and international animal health organisations.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in veterinary epidemiology, veterinary medicine, public health, or related veterinary or agricultural sciences who are committed to advancing knowledge in animal disease epidemiology and economics.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 428,000
Private, up to: Ksh 300,000
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: 0 months
Average class: 5 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Veterinary Epidemiology
Veterinary Economics
Disease Modelling
Risk Analysis
Disease Surveillance Systems
Research Methodology
Biostatistics
Thesis Research
Zoonotic Disease Control
Animal Health Policy

Modules

10 in the programme

Advanced Veterinary Epidemiology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced epidemiological methods for studying animal disease distribution, determinants, and control including observational and experimental study designs
Veterinary Economics and Decision Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Economic analysis of animal health programmes including cost-benefit analysis, partial budgeting, and decision analysis for disease control
Disease Modelling and Simulation
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Mathematical and computational modelling of disease transmission dynamics including compartmental models and spatial analysis
Risk Analysis and Food Safety
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Quantitative risk assessment methods for animal diseases and food safety including import risk analysis and HACCP
Disease Surveillance Systems
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Design and evaluation of animal disease surveillance systems including passive and active surveillance, syndromic surveillance, and reporting frameworks
Zoonotic Disease Epidemiology
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Epidemiology of zoonotic diseases including rabies, brucellosis, Rift Valley fever, and avian influenza at the human-animal interface
Research Methodology and Biostatistics
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Research design, ethical considerations, and advanced statistical methods for veterinary epidemiology research
Animal Health Policy and Programme Management
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Analysis of animal health policy frameworks, programme design, and implementation of disease control strategies in Kenya and East Africa
Thesis Proposal Development
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Development and defence of a doctoral research proposal on a veterinary epidemiology and economics topic
Thesis Research and Writing
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Independent doctoral research culminating in a thesis defended before internal and external examiners

Specialisations

Veterinary Research Science
Specialization in Veterinary Research Science, preparing graduates for careers such as veterinary-research-scientist.
Veterinary Epidemiology Research
Specialization in Veterinary Epidemiology Research, preparing graduates for careers such as veterinary-epidemiologist.
Public Health Practice
Specialization in Public Health Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as public-health-specialist.
Veterinary Public Health
Specialization in Veterinary Public Health, preparing graduates for careers such as veterinary-public-health-officer.
Epidemiology Research
Specialization in Epidemiology Research, preparing graduates for careers such as epidemiologist.
Academic Research
Specialization in Academic Research, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.

A day as a student

A typical day combines data analysis on disease outbreaks with epidemiological modelling, field research in livestock farming areas, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend veterinary research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with DVS surveillance teams.

The trade offs

In its favour

Addresses Kenya's livestock disease challenges with strong policy relevance
Diverse career paths in academia, government, FAO, AU-IBAR, and international organisations
Combines epidemiology with economics for comprehensive animal health analysis
Contributes to food security and trade through disease control

Against it

Requires veterinary or strong quantitative background
Tuition fees are relatively high at KES 396,000 per year
Field research in remote pastoral areas can be logistically challenging
Research funding for veterinary epidemiology is competitive

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 303 agriculture courses

Public337k to 428k

337k at Kenyatta University428k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 300k

150k at Mount Kenya University300k 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 428K/yr (uonbi.ac.ke). KU & private unverified for vet programme

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and FAO animal health fellowships.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
DAAD Scholarship
Scholarship
NRF Research Grant
Grant
FAO Animal Health Fellowship
Fellowship

Scholarships

3 recorded

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 Veterinary Epidemiology, Veterinary Medicine, Public Health, or related veterinary/agricultural science from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture, or related field
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

4 components

Thesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark
Field and Analytical Reports
Coursework20% of the mark
Oral Viva Voce
Coursework100% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework30% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Veterinary graduates may register with the Kenya Veterinary Board (KVB).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Veterinary Epidemiologist
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 200,000
Leads disease surveillance and epidemiological analysis at DVS, FAO, or international animal health organisations
Animal Health Economist
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Conducts economic analysis of animal health programmes at KALRO, FAO, or agricultural policy institutions
University Lecturer (Veterinary Epidemiology)
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches veterinary epidemiology and conducts research in university veterinary departments
Disease Surveillance Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Designs and manages disease surveillance systems for government and international animal health organisations

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, veterinary epidemiologists, animal health economists, and disease surveillance specialists in universities, DVS, KALRO, FAO, AU-IBAR, and international animal health organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Veterinary epidemiology is only about animal diseases
Veterinary epidemiology also addresses zoonotic diseases that transfer from animals to humans, food safety, and the economic impact of animal diseases on livelihoods and national economies.
Veterinary economics is not a real field
Veterinary economics applies economic analysis to animal health decisions including cost-benefit analysis of disease control, optimal resource allocation, and economic impact assessment of livestock diseases.
A PhD in vet epidemiology has limited career prospects
There is demand at DVS, KALRO, FAO, AU-IBAR, and international animal health organisations for expertise in disease surveillance, risk analysis, and animal health economics.
Animal disease research is not relevant to Kenya's development
Kenya's livestock sector supports millions of pastoralists and farmers, and transboundary diseases threaten food security and trade, making epidemiological research critical for economic development.

Related courses

Doctor of philosophy in veterinary pathology and microbiology