Agriculture

Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Economics

The Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Economics is a doctoral programme offered at Egerton University, Kenyatta University and the University of Nairobi. It produces highly skilled applied economists focused on quantitatively-based economic research addressing agricultural production, marketing, policy and natural resource management. The programme combines economic theory with empirical methods to solve development challenges.

Students undertake coursework in microeconomic theory, econometric methods, agricultural policy analysis, production economics, development economics and research methodology. At Egerton University, the programme is completed through research, dissertation and oral examination with a minimum duration of 36 months and maximum of 60 months. At Kenyatta University, fees are KSh 326,400 per year for East Africans.

Kenya's agricultural sector faces challenges including climate change, population growth and resource scarcity. The programme addresses the need for experts in policy evaluation, data-driven analysis and advocacy for sustainable agricultural development. It supports Kenya's Vision 2030 agricultural transformation goals and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, seminars and supervised research. Students at Egerton undertake in-depth study and write a dissertation followed by viva-voce, working under an academic supervisor. The programme is offered full-time and part-time depending on the institution.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, agricultural policy analysts, research economists at KALRO and international research institutes, and consultants to government and development organisations. They contribute to policy formulation on food security, agricultural trade and rural development.

The programme is ideal for individuals with strong quantitative backgrounds in economics or agricultural economics who wish to contribute original research to agricultural policy and development.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 464,000
Private, up to: Ksh 168,000
Job market: High

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

Microeconomic Theory
Econometric Methods
Agricultural Production Economics
Agricultural Policy Analysis
Development Economics
Natural Resource Economics
Research Methodology
Agricultural Marketing
Quantitative Analysis
International Agricultural Trade

Modules

8 in the programme

Advanced Microeconomic Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Consumer and producer theory, market structure and welfare economics, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Econometric Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced econometric techniques for agricultural economics research, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in.
Agricultural Production Economics
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Economic analysis of agricultural production systems and efficiency, covering economic theories, analytical frameworks, and their application to policy and decision-making in the field.
Agricultural Policy Analysis
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Analysis of agricultural policies and their impacts on producers and consumers, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and current analytical techniques used in advanced.
Development Economics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Economic development theory applied to agricultural transformation, exploring development theories, sustainable practices, and their application in addressing contemporary challenges in Kenya and.
Research Methodology
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research design, data collection and analytical methods, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research.
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

Agricultural Policy
Research on agricultural policy formulation and impact
Agricultural Trade
International trade in agricultural commodities
Natural Resource Economics
Economic analysis of natural resource use in agriculture
Production Economics
Efficiency and productivity analysis in agriculture

A day as a student

A typical day involves analysing agricultural datasets using econometric software, reviewing economic theory and policy literature, attending seminars on agricultural development, presenting research findings, meeting with supervisors to discuss thesis chapters, and engaging with policy makers and researchers at conferences.

The trade offs

In its favour

Agriculture is Kenya's largest sector, creating strong demand for economic expertise
DAAD-AERC scholarships specifically available for agricultural economics
Research directly informs agricultural policy and food security

Against it

Requires strong quantitative and econometric skills
Field research requires travel to rural areas
Competitive funding for agricultural research

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 464k

252k at Egerton University464k at University of Nairobi

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

UoN 464K/yr (uonbi.ac.ke). KU 326K. Egerton 252K. KeMU 168K, MKU 150K

HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD-AERC offers CMAAE PhD scholarships covering up to 3 years for agricultural economics students. RUFORUM provides research grants for agricultural innovation at member universities.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD-AERC CMAAE PhD Scholarship
RUFORUM Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

RUFORUM Research Grant
Grant
Agricultural researchers at RUFORUM member universities
DAAD-AERC CMAAE PhD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Agricultural economics students at CMAAE network universities
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: Masters Degree
Alternative entry: Holder of relevant Masters degree from a recognised university. Candidates weak in econometrics may be required to undertake remedial courses.

MSc in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness Management, Economics or related field
Relevant Masters with coursework and thesis

How you are assessed

3 components

Comprehensive Examinations
Examination20% of the mark
Written examinations on core courses
Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis, dissertation and viva-voce examination
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, econometric exercises and seminar presentations

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at Egerton University (Faculty of Agriculture), Kenyatta University and the University of Nairobi. The programme is part of the CMAAE regional network coordinated by AERC.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Development Consultant
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 380,000
Consulting for World Bank, FAO and development organisations
Research Economist
High demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 400,000
Research at KALRO, IFPRI, AERC and international research institutes
Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 350,000
Advising government on agricultural and food policy
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in agricultural economics departments

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, agricultural policy analysts, research economists and development consultants. They work in academia, KALRO, IFPRI, AERC and government ministries.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Agricultural economics is just about farming.
The field covers trade policy, natural resource management, development economics, food security and international markets.
There are no jobs for agricultural economics PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's agricultural transformation agenda and international development priorities create strong demand for agricultural economists.
Agricultural economics research lacks quantitative rigour.
The programme uses advanced econometric methods and quantitative analysis to produce rigorous evidence-based research.
Only people from farming backgrounds study agricultural economics.
The programme attracts economists, statisticians and development practitioners from diverse backgrounds.