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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.

Duration
3-5 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 428,000
Ksh 1,284,000 to Ksh 2,140,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 300,000
Ksh 900,000 to Ksh 1,500,000 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 428,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,284,000 to Ksh 2,140,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 300,000 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 3-5 years, full-time, part-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 Aquaculture Technologist, 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 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.

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 favourAgainst it
Addresses Kenya's livestock disease challenges with strong policy relevanceRequires veterinary or strong quantitative background
Diverse career paths in academia, government, FAO, AU-IBAR, and international organisationsTuition fees are relatively high at KES 396,000 per year
Combines epidemiology with economics for comprehensive animal health analysisField research in remote pastoral areas can be logistically challenging
Contributes to food security and trade through disease controlResearch 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

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 Veterinary Epidemiology, Veterinary Medicine, Public Health, or related veterinary/agricultural science from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualificationBachelor's degree in Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture, 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 University of Nairobi.

May 20271 institution

Including University of Nairobi.

September 20271 institution

Including University of Nairobi.

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

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)

    Academic accreditationRequired

    Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya

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

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

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.

Further reading

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