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Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Resource Management

The Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Resource Management is a doctoral programme focused on the sustainable management of agricultural resources including land, water, labour and capital. Offered at Kenyan universities, the programme produces scholars capable of advancing research on resource allocation, efficiency and sustainability in agricultural systems.

Duration
3 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 470,000
Ksh 1,410,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 168,000
Ksh 504,000 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 470,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,410,000 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 years, full-time, part-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 5 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 engage with advanced topics in resource economics, land economics, water resource management, agricultural labour economics, farm management, environmental economics, sustainable agriculture and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that addresses the competing demands on agricultural resources in Kenya and East Africa.

Kenya faces increasing pressure on agricultural resources due to population growth, climate change, land fragmentation and water scarcity. The programme supports sustainable resource management practices that balance productivity with environmental conservation, aligned with Kenya's Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, seminars and supervised research. Students conduct field research on resource use patterns, analyse economic data and develop management models. The programme is offered full-time and part-time with a minimum duration of three years.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, resource management researchers, agricultural policy analysts, land management consultants and environmental economists. They work in universities, government ministries, NEMA, international organisations and agricultural development agencies.

The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in agricultural economics, environmental science or natural resource management who wish to contribute original research to sustainable agricultural resource use.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Resource Economics
  • Land Economics
  • Water Resource Management
  • Agricultural Labour Economics
  • Farm Management
  • Environmental Economics
  • Sustainable Agriculture
  • Research Methods in Resource Management
  • Natural Resource Policy
  • Agricultural Systems Analysis

Modules

8 in the programme

  • Advanced Resource Economics

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Economic theory applied to agricultural resource allocation and management, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.

  • Land Economics and Management

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Economic analysis of land use, valuation and management, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.

  • Water Resource Management

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Management of water resources for agricultural production, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.

  • Environmental Economics

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Economic analysis of environmental impacts of agriculture, covering ecological principles, environmental management approaches, and sustainability challenges in contemporary contexts.

  • Sustainable Agriculture Systems

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Frameworks for sustainable agricultural resource use, covering agricultural principles, production technologies, and their application in sustainable farming systems.

  • Research Methods in Resource Management

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Research design and methodology for resource studies, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in.

  • 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

  • Environmental Economics

    Economic analysis of environmental impacts

  • Sustainable Agriculture

    Research on sustainable farming systems

  • Land Resource Management

    Economic analysis of land use and management

  • Water Resource Economics

    Economics of water resource allocation in agriculture

A day as a student

A typical day involves analysing resource use data using economic models, reviewing literature on sustainable resource management, conducting field research on farming systems, attending seminars on environmental economics, meeting with supervisors to discuss thesis progress, and engaging with NEMA and county government officials on research findings.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Addresses Kenya's pressing resource scarcity and sustainability challengesRequires competence in both economics and environmental science
Relevant to multiple sectors including agriculture, environment and waterField research requires travel to diverse agricultural zones
Research informs policy on sustainable resource useLimited funding for resource management 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
Public367k to 470k
367k at Kenyatta University470k 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 470,000/yr (uonbi.ac.ke). KU 367,200/yr (ku.ac.ke). Private: KeMU 168,000, MKU 150,000/yr

HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. RUFORUM provides research grants for agricultural research at member universities.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

  • RUFORUM Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • HELB Postgraduate Scholarship

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan postgraduate students

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

    ScholarshipKenyan

    Postgraduate students in Kenya

  • RUFORUM Research Grant

    Grant

    Agricultural researchers 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

Holder of relevant Masters degree from a recognised university. Must submit a research proposal.

Subject requirements
MSc in Agricultural Economics, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management or related fieldRelevant Masters from recognised university

When it next starts

Taught at 5 institutions
January 20275 institutions

Including Maasai Mara University, Maseno University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

May 20275 institutions

Including Maasai Mara University, Maseno University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

September 20275 institutions

Including Maasai Mara University, Maseno University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

How you are assessed

3 components

  • Thesis Proposal Defence

    Oral defence20% of the mark

    Defence of research proposal before departmental panel

  • Coursework

    Continuous assessment30% of the mark

    Assignments, economic modelling exercises and seminar presentations

  • Thesis

    Thesis50% of the mark

    Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence

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 Kenyan universities as part of agricultural economics and resource management programmes.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Environmental Economist

    Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 350,000

    Economic analysis of environmental and agricultural policies

  • University Professor

    High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Teaching and research in agricultural economics and resource management

  • Resource Management Researcher

    Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 380,000

    Research at KALRO, universities and international organisations

  • Land Management Consultant

    Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 320,000

    Advising on land use and agricultural resource management

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, resource management researchers, policy analysts and environmental economists. They work in universities, government, NEMA and international organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Agricultural resource management is just about farm management.

    The field covers land, water, labour and capital resources at farm, watershed and national levels.

  • There is no demand for resource management PhDs.

    Kenya's resource scarcity challenges and environmental regulations create demand for expertise.

  • Resource management research is purely theoretical.

    Research addresses practical challenges in land use, water allocation and sustainable farming.

  • Resource management is only for agricultural economists.

    The programme attracts environmental scientists, geographers and development practitioners.

Further reading

Read next