Science

Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Aquatic Science

The Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Aquatic Science is a doctoral programme focused on the study and management of aquatic ecosystems, including freshwater and marine environments. Offered at Kenyan universities including Kenyatta University, the programme produces scholars capable of advancing research on aquatic ecology, fisheries management, water quality and aquatic biodiversity conservation.

Students engage with advanced topics in aquatic ecology, limnology, marine biology, fisheries science, water quality management, aquatic pollution, aquaculture, aquatic biodiversity and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that addresses threats to Kenya's aquatic ecosystems, including pollution, overexploitation, climate change and habitat degradation.

Kenya's freshwater resources including Lake Victoria, Lake Naivasha and the Tana River, along with its marine resources in the Indian Ocean, face increasing pressure from pollution, overfishing and climate change. The programme supports Kenya's Blue Economy agenda and the sustainable management of aquatic resources under Vision 2030.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, field studies and supervised research. Students conduct field research at lakes, rivers and coastal ecosystems, analyse water and biological samples, 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, aquatic science researchers, fisheries managers, water quality specialists and environmental consultants. They work in universities, KMFRI, Water Resources Authority, NEMA and international conservation organisations.

The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in aquatic science, biology, environmental science or fisheries who wish to contribute original research to aquatic ecosystem management.

Duration: 3-4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 392,000
Private, up to: Ksh 150,000
Job market: Moderate

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: 3 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Aquatic Ecology
Limnology
Marine Biology
Fisheries Science
Water Quality Management
Aquatic Pollution
Aquaculture Systems
Research Methods in Aquatic Science
Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation
Blue Economy and Aquatic Resources

Modules

8 in the programme

Advanced Aquatic Ecology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Ecological processes in aquatic ecosystems, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Limnology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Study of inland waters including lakes, rivers and wetlands, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Fisheries Science and Management
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Sustainable management of fisheries resources, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
Water Quality Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Monitoring and management of water quality, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
Aquatic Pollution and Impact Assessment
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Pollution sources, impacts and remediation in aquatic systems, covering assessment design, evaluation methodologies, data-driven decision-making, and quality assurance processes.
Research Methods in Aquatic Science
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research design and methodology for aquatic research, 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

Freshwater Ecology
Research on lakes, rivers and wetland ecosystems
Water Quality Management
Monitoring and management of water quality
Marine Science
Research on marine ecosystems and coastal resources
Fisheries Management
Sustainable management of fisheries resources

A day as a student

A typical day involves collecting water and biological samples from lakes or rivers, analysing samples in the laboratory, reviewing literature on aquatic ecology, attending seminars on aquatic science, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and visiting KMFRI research stations for collaboration.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's Blue Economy agenda creates demand for aquatic expertise
Access to Lake Victoria, Indian Ocean and other aquatic ecosystems
KMFRI provides research collaboration opportunities

Against it

Field research requires boats, sampling equipment and travel
Laboratory analysis requires specialised water testing equipment
Limited number of supervisors with aquatic science specialisation

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 science courses

Public367k to 392k

367k at Kenyatta University392k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 150k

150k at Mount Kenya University150k at Mount Kenya 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 392K/yr (uonbi SBS), KU 367.2K/yr (ku.ac.ke). MKU 150K/yr (mku.ac.ke).

HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. NACOSTI provides research grants for science and technology research. KMFRI may offer research collaboration and attachment opportunities.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
NACOSTI Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers in Kenya
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. Must submit a research proposal.

MSc in Aquatic Science, Biology, Environmental Science, Fisheries 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 departmental panel
Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Field reports, laboratory analyses and seminar presentations

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at Kenyatta University through the School of Pure and Applied Sciences. Related programmes are available at Egerton University and Kisii University.

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

Fisheries Manager
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 320,000
Managing fisheries resources at Kenya Fisheries Service
Water Quality Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 350,000
Water quality monitoring at WRA or environmental consultancies
Aquatic Science Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 380,000
Research at KMFRI, universities and international research institutes
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in aquatic science and biology departments

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, aquatic science researchers, fisheries managers and water quality specialists. They work at KMFRI, WRA, NEMA, universities and conservation organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Aquatic science is just about fish.
The field covers aquatic ecology, water quality, limnology, marine biology and ecosystem management.
There is no demand for aquatic science PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's Blue Economy agenda and water resource challenges create demand for aquatic expertise.
Aquatic research is purely observational.
The programme uses experimental design, statistical analysis and ecological modelling.
Aquatic science is only for coastal areas.
The programme covers both freshwater and marine ecosystems across Kenya.