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Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural and Rural Innovation

The Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural and Rural Innovation is a regional doctoral programme offered at Egerton University as part of the RUFORUM network. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research on agricultural innovation systems, rural development and the transformation of livelihoods in agricultural communities. The programme integrates social science perspectives with agricultural science to address complex development challenges.

Duration
3 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 326,400
Ksh 979,200 total
Private tuition
Ksh 168,000
Ksh 504,000 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 326,400 a year at a public institution, Ksh 979,200 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 168,000 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of Masters Degree or above, plus 1 subject grade. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 3 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 Adolescent Mentorship Officer, at 14 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

Students engage with advanced topics in innovation systems theory, participatory research methods, agricultural services delivery, organisational development, knowledge management and rural transformation. The curriculum emphasises original research that examines how agricultural innovations are developed, disseminated and adopted in African contexts.

Kenya's agricultural sector employs the majority of the rural population and contributes significantly to GDP. The programme addresses the need for experts who can bridge the gap between agricultural research, extension services and farmer adoption of innovations. It supports Kenya's agricultural transformation agenda and the African Union's Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme.

Teaching is delivered through coursework at Egerton University's main campus in Njoro, followed by independent field research in rural communities. Students attend RUFORUM network seminars, present research at regional conferences and engage with agricultural development organisations. The programme is offered full-time and part-time with a minimum duration of three years.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, rural development researchers, agricultural innovation specialists, extension service directors and consultants to development organisations. They work in universities, government ministries, NGOs and international agricultural research organisations.

The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in agriculture, rural development, extension education or social sciences who wish to contribute original research to agricultural innovation and rural transformation in Africa.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Innovation Systems Theory
  • Participatory Research Methods
  • Agricultural Services Delivery
  • Organisational Development
  • Knowledge Management and Communication
  • Rural Transformation Studies
  • Quantitative Research Methods
  • Agricultural Development in Africa
  • Extension Evaluation
  • Social Entrepreneurship in Agriculture

Modules

8 in the programme

  • Agricultural and Rural Development in Africa

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Historical and contemporary perspectives on agricultural development in Africa, exploring development theories, sustainable practices, and their application in addressing contemporary challenges.

  • Innovations for Agricultural and Rural Development

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Theories and frameworks for understanding agricultural innovation systems, exploring development theories, sustainable practices, and their application in addressing contemporary challenges in.

  • Participatory Methods and Action Research

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Participatory research approaches for engaging communities in innovation, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to.

  • Quantitative Research and Statistical Applications

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Statistical methods for analysing agricultural and rural development data, including probability theory, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, and statistical software applications for doctoral.

  • Agricultural Services Delivery and Social Entrepreneurship

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Models for delivering agricultural services and promoting entrepreneurship, examining social theories, cultural dynamics, and their implications for research and professional practice.

  • Knowledge Management and Communication

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Managing and communicating agricultural knowledge for innovation, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.

  • Departmental Seminars

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Research presentations and peer review of doctoral work, providing a platform for doctoral candidates to present research findings, engage with peer feedback, and explore contemporary debates in.

  • Thesis Research

    Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore

    Doctoral thesis research and dissertation writing, involving original research, literature review, data analysis, and the production of a doctoral dissertation contributing new knowledge to the.

Specialisations

  • Rural Livelihoods

    Research on rural household strategies and livelihood diversification

  • Agricultural Innovation Systems

    Research on how agricultural innovations are developed and adopted

  • Social Entrepreneurship in Agriculture

    Entrepreneurial approaches to agricultural development

  • Extension and Advisory Services

    Innovations in agricultural extension delivery

A day as a student

A typical day involves reviewing literature on innovation systems, conducting field interviews with farmers and agricultural organisations, analysing qualitative data from rural communities, attending seminars on agricultural development, meeting supervisors to discuss thesis progress, and engaging with RUFORUM network researchers.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Part of RUFORUM regional network with access to pan-African research communityField research requires extended stays in rural communities
RUFORUM research grants available for doctoral studentsInterdisciplinary nature requires competence in both social and agricultural sciences
Research directly impacts agricultural development and rural livelihoodsLimited number of supervisors with innovation systems specialisation

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
Public252k to 326k
252k at Egerton University326k at Kenyatta University
Private150k to 168k
150k at Mount Kenya University168k at Kenya Methodist 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

Egerton 252K/yr (egerton.ac.ke). KU 326K unverified. KeMU 168K, MKU 150K

HELB provides postgraduate loans. RUFORUM offers research grants for doctoral students at member universities. DAAD provides scholarships for postgraduate study in Kenya.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

  • RUFORUM Research Grant

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

    ScholarshipKenyan

    Postgraduate students in Kenya

  • HELB Postgraduate Scholarship

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan postgraduate students

  • RUFORUM Research Grant

    Grant

    Doctoral students at RUFORUM member 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
Masters Degreeminimum entry
Alternative entry

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in agricultural-related sciences or social sciences from a recognised university. A 4-5 page concept note indicating research interests is required.

Subject requirements
MSc in Agriculture, Rural Development, Extension or related social science fieldRelevant Masters from recognised university

When it next starts

Taught at 1 institution
January 20271 institution

Including Egerton University.

May 20271 institution

Including Egerton University.

September 20271 institution

Including Egerton University.

How you are assessed

3 components

  • Comprehensive Examinations

    Examination20% of the mark

    Written examinations on core courses

  • Thesis

    Thesis50% of the mark

    Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence

  • Coursework

    Continuous assessment30% of the mark

    Assignments, research exercises and seminar presentations

Accreditation

  • Commission for University Education

    AcademicRequired

    Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at Egerton University as a RUFORUM regional doctoral programme. The programme is hosted at the African Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture and Agribusiness Management (CESAAM).

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Rural Development Researcher

    High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 380,000

    Research at universities, RUFORUM and international research institutes

  • Agricultural Innovation Specialist

    High demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 350,000

    Designing and managing agricultural innovation programmes

  • Extension Service Director

    Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 320,000

    Leading agricultural extension services at county or national level

  • University Professor

    High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Teaching and research in agriculture and rural development departments

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, rural development researchers, agricultural innovation specialists and extension service directors. They work in universities, government, NGOs and international agricultural research organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Agricultural innovation is just about new farming technologies.

    The programme examines the entire innovation system including social, organisational and institutional dimensions of agricultural change.

  • Rural innovation research is not rigorous.

    The programme employs both qualitative and quantitative research methods to produce evidence-based scholarship.

  • This programme is only for agriculture graduates.

    It attracts social scientists, development practitioners and agriculture graduates interested in rural transformation.

  • There is no demand for rural innovation PhDs in Kenya.

    Kenya's agricultural transformation agenda and devolution create demand for experts in rural innovation systems.

Further reading

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