Social Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology

The Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Institute of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research on human cultures, social structures, biological diversity and cultural heritage in Africa. The programme combines social anthropology, biological anthropology and African studies to address contemporary challenges.

Students engage with advanced topics in anthropological theory, ethnographic research methods, African cultural studies, medical anthropology, environmental anthropology, political anthropology, gender studies and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that contributes to understanding African societies, cultures and development challenges.

Kenya's diverse cultural heritage, the need for evidence-based cultural policy and the growing interest in African studies create demand for doctoral-level anthropology expertise. The programme supports Kenya's cultural preservation efforts and contributes to understanding contemporary social issues including governance, health and environmental change.

Teaching is delivered through seminars, workshops and supervised fieldwork at the University of Nairobi's Institute of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies, located at Museum Hill in Nairobi. Students conduct ethnographic field research, present findings at conferences and engage with cultural institutions. The programme is offered full-time with a duration of three years.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, anthropological researchers, cultural heritage specialists, policy advisors and development consultants. They work in universities, museums, cultural institutions, government ministries and international development organisations.

The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in anthropology, sociology, African studies or related social sciences who wish to contribute original research to African anthropology.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 316,000
Private, up to: Ksh 373,850
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 4 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Anthropological Theory
Ethnographic Research Methods
African Cultural Studies
Medical Anthropology
Environmental Anthropology
Political Anthropology
Gender and Anthropology
Research Methods in Social Science
Biological Anthropology
African Heritage Studies

Modules

8 in the programme

Advanced Anthropological Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theoretical frameworks in social and cultural anthropology, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Ethnographic Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Fieldwork methods and ethnographic writing, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in the field.
African Cultural Studies
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Study of African cultures, societies and knowledge systems, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Medical Anthropology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Anthropological perspectives on health, illness and healing, covering clinical principles, evidence-based practice, and contemporary challenges in healthcare delivery and research.
Environmental Anthropology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Human-environment interactions and ecological anthropology, covering ecological principles, environmental management approaches, and sustainability challenges in contemporary contexts.
Research Methods in Social Science
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Qualitative and quantitative research methods, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in the field.
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

Political Anthropology
Power, governance and political systems
Environmental Anthropology
Human-environment interactions
Cultural Heritage
Preservation and management of cultural heritage
Medical Anthropology
Research on health, illness and healing practices

A day as a student

A typical day involves reviewing anthropological literature, conducting ethnographic fieldwork in communities, analysing qualitative data from interviews and observations, attending seminars on anthropological theory, meeting with supervisors to discuss thesis progress, and engaging with cultural institutions and museums.

The trade offs

In its favour

Located at Museum Hill with access to National Museums of Kenya
Kenya's cultural diversity provides rich research opportunities
CODESRIA grants available for African social science research

Against it

Ethnographic fieldwork requires extended stays in communities
Limited funding for anthropological research in Kenya
Few supervisors with anthropology specialisation in Kenya

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses

Public245k to 316k

245k at Kenyatta University316k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 374k

150k at Mount Kenya University374k at Daystar 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 316K/yr avg (uonbi.ac.ke). KU 245K/yr (ku.ac.ke). MKU 150K/yr. Daystar 374K/yr (daystar.ac.ke).

HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. CODESRIA provides research grants for social science research in Africa. The British Institute in Eastern Africa may offer research collaboration opportunities.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
CODESRIA Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
CODESRIA Research Grant
Grant
Social science researchers in Africa

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: Masters Degree
Alternative entry: Holder of a Master's degree from the Institute of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies or equivalent from institutions recognised by Senate.

MA in Anthropology, Sociology, African Studies or related field
Relevant Masters from recognised university

How you are assessed

3 components

Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before institute panel
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Essays, seminar presentations and fieldwork reports
Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at the University of Nairobi through the Institute of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies at Museum Hill, Nairobi. The institute also offers PhD in Gender and related programmes.

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

University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in anthropology and social science departments
Anthropological Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 380,000
Research at universities, CODESRIA and research institutes
Cultural Heritage Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 320,000
Working at National Museums of Kenya and cultural institutions
Development Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 350,000
Consulting for NGOs and development organisations on cultural issues

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, anthropological researchers, cultural heritage specialists and development consultants. They work in universities, museums, cultural institutions and development organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Anthropology is just about studying ancient cultures.
The field addresses contemporary issues including health, environment, governance, gender and development.
There are no career prospects for anthropology PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's cultural diversity, heritage preservation needs and development challenges create demand.
Anthropological research is just observation.
The programme uses rigorous ethnographic methods, quantitative analysis and theoretical frameworks.
Anthropology is not relevant to development.
Anthropological research informs development policy, health interventions and cultural preservation.