Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Education
The Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Education is a doctoral programme offered at Egerton University, Kisii University and Chuka University. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in agricultural education, extension pedagogy and training methodologies for the agricultural sector. The programme bridges education theory with agricultural science to improve how agricultural knowledge is taught and disseminated.
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 8 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Early Childhood Strategist, at 10 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 agricultural education theory, curriculum development, extension education methodology, adult learning in agriculture, research methods in education and agricultural training programme evaluation. The curriculum emphasises original research that improves the effectiveness of agricultural education and extension in Kenya.
Kenya's devolved government structure has transferred agricultural extension functions to county governments, creating demand for experts who can design and evaluate agricultural training programmes. The programme supports Kenya's agricultural sector transformation by improving the quality of agricultural education at secondary, tertiary and extension levels.
Teaching is delivered through coursework, seminars and supervised research. Students at Chuka University can study full-time (3 years) or part-time (6 years), with day, evening or weekend options. At Egerton University, the programme is offered through the Faculty of Education and Community Studies.
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, agricultural education researchers, curriculum developers, extension service directors and teacher educators. They work in universities, teacher training colleges, county government extension services and agricultural development organisations.
The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in agricultural education, extension or teaching who wish to contribute original research to improving agricultural knowledge transfer.
What you study
10 subjects- Agricultural Education Theory
- Curriculum Development in Agriculture
- Extension Education Methodology
- Adult Learning in Agriculture
- Research Methods in Education
- Programme Evaluation
- Agricultural Training Design
- Educational Psychology in Agriculture
- Statistics for Educational Research
- Agricultural Knowledge Systems
Modules
8 in the programmeAdvanced Agricultural Education Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theoretical foundations of agricultural education and learning, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Curriculum Development in Agriculture
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Design and evaluation of agricultural education curricula, exploring development theories, sustainable practices, and their application in addressing contemporary challenges in Kenya and beyond.
Extension Education Methodology
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Methods and approaches for agricultural extension delivery, examining pedagogical theories, educational frameworks, and their application in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.
Research Methods in Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Educational research design and methodology, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in the field.
Adult Learning in Agriculture
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Adult learning theories applied to agricultural education, examining pedagogical theories, educational frameworks, and their application in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.
Programme Evaluation
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Evaluation of agricultural education and extension programmes, covering assessment design, evaluation methodologies, data-driven decision-making, and quality assurance processes.
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
Curriculum Development
Design and evaluation of agricultural education curricula
Extension Education
Methods and approaches for agricultural extension
Agricultural Teacher Education
Training and professional development of agricultural teachers
Agricultural Training Programme Evaluation
Evaluation of agricultural training and extension programmes
A day as a student
A typical day involves reviewing educational theory literature, designing curriculum materials for agricultural training, conducting field research with extension officers and farmers, analysing educational data, attending seminars on pedagogy, and meeting with supervisors to discuss thesis progress.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Devolution creates demand for agricultural education experts at county level | Limited funding for educational research in agriculture |
| Research directly improves agricultural knowledge transfer | Few supervisors with agricultural education specialisation |
| Available at multiple universities giving students choice | Field research requires travel to schools and extension offices |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 303 agriculture coursesAnnual 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 251,900/yr (egerton.ac.ke). KU 326,400/yr. Private: KeMU 168,000, MKU 150,000/yr (eafinder, mku.ac.ke)
HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. RUFORUM provides research grants for agricultural education research at member universities.
Funding options
HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
RUFORUM Research Grant
Scholarships
3 recordedRUFORUM Research Grant
Grant
Agricultural researchers at RUFORUM member universities
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
Scholarships you could apply for
2 usable where it is taught- Chevening Scholarships Kenya
Closes 30 November 2026FullUK Government
Full masters in UK
- AfDB Japan Scholarship Program
Closes 28 February 2027FullAfrican Development Bank
Full graduate study abroad
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
Master's degree from a related discipline from institutions recognised by the Senate. Duration can be 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time.
When it next starts
Taught at 8 institutionsIncluding Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Meru University of Science and Technology, Kisii University.
Including Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Meru University of Science and Technology, Kisii University.
Including Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Meru University of Science and Technology, Kisii University.
How you are assessed
3 componentsCoursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, curriculum design exercises and seminar presentations
Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before departmental panel
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 Education and Community Studies), Kisii University and Chuka University.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesTeacher Educator
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 280,000
Training agricultural teachers at teacher training colleges
Extension Service Director
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 300,000
Leading county-level agricultural extension services
Curriculum Developer
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 320,000
Developing agricultural curricula at KICD or educational institutions
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in agricultural education departments
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, agricultural education researchers, curriculum developers and extension service directors. They work in universities, teacher training colleges and county governments.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Early Childhood StrategistEducation10Low exposure
- Special Needs EducatorEducation10Low exposure
- Career Guidance CounselorEducation11Low exposure
- Early Literacy SpecialistEducation14Low exposure
- STEM Laboratory EducatorEducation14Low exposure
- TVET Competency AssessorEducation14Low exposure
- Vocational Workshop InstructorEducation14Low exposure
- Montessori EducatorEducation15Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Agricultural education is just about teaching farming.
The programme covers curriculum theory, adult learning, extension methodology and educational policy in agriculture.
There is no demand for agricultural education PhDs.
Devolution has transferred extension to counties, creating demand for experts who can design agricultural training programmes.
Agricultural education research is not rigorous.
The programme uses both qualitative and quantitative educational research methods.
Only teachers can study agricultural education.
The programme attracts extension officers, development practitioners and agriculture graduates interested in education.