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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.

Duration
3-5 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 464,000
Ksh 1,392,000 to Ksh 2,320,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 168,000
Ksh 504,000 to Ksh 840,000 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 464,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,392,000 to Ksh 2,320,000 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 3-5 years, full-time, part-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 8 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Forensic Audit Investigator, at 17 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

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.

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 favourAgainst it
Agriculture is Kenya's largest sector, creating strong demand for economic expertiseRequires strong quantitative and econometric skills
DAAD-AERC scholarships specifically available for agricultural economicsField research requires travel to rural areas
Research directly informs agricultural policy and food securityCompetitive 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

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

Holder of relevant Masters degree from a recognised university. Candidates weak in econometrics may be required to undertake remedial courses.

Subject requirements
MSc in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness Management, Economics or related fieldRelevant Masters with coursework and thesis

When it next starts

Taught at 8 institutions
January 20278 institutions

Including Karatina University, South Eastern Kenya University, Kenyatta University.

May 20278 institutions

Including Karatina University, South Eastern Kenya University, Kenyatta University.

September 20278 institutions

Including Karatina University, South Eastern Kenya University, Kenyatta 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, dissertation and viva-voce examination

  • Coursework

    Continuous assessment30% of the mark

    Assignments, econometric 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 (Faculty of Agriculture), Kenyatta University and the University of Nairobi. The programme is part of the CMAAE regional network coordinated by AERC.

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

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.

Further reading

Read next