Arts & Humanities

Doctor of Philosophy in Archaeology

The Doctor of Philosophy in Archaeology is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of History and Archaeology. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research on East Africa's rich archaeological heritage, human origins and past cultures. Kenya is one of the world's most important regions for archaeological research, with significant palaeoanthropological sites in the Rift Valley.

Students engage with advanced topics in archaeological theory, palaeoanthropology, African prehistory, archaeological field methods, geoarchaeology, zooarchaeology, cultural heritage management, archaeometry and research methods. The programme is currently offered by research only, culminating in a doctoral thesis.

Kenya's unique position as the cradle of humankind, with sites at Koobi Fora, Olorgesailie and Kariandusi, creates exceptional research opportunities. The need for heritage preservation, museum curation and evidence-based cultural policy creates demand for doctoral-level archaeology expertise. The programme supports Kenya's cultural tourism and heritage management goals.

Teaching is delivered through supervised research at the University of Nairobi's Department of History and Archaeology. The programme is by research only, with a duration of 4 years full-time and 5 years part-time. Students conduct archaeological fieldwork, analyse artefacts and present research findings at conferences.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, archaeology researchers, museum curators, cultural heritage managers and archaeological consultants. They work in universities, National Museums of Kenya, British Institute in Eastern Africa, international research teams and government heritage agencies.

The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in archaeology, history, anthropology or geology who wish to contribute original research to East African archaeology and heritage.

Duration: 4-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 244,800
Private, up to: Ksh 343,850
Job market: Low

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: 2 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Archaeological Theory
Palaeoanthropology
African Prehistory
Archaeological Field Methods
Geoarchaeology
Zooarchaeology
Cultural Heritage Management
Research Methods in Archaeology
Archaeometry
East African Archaeology

Modules

8 in the programme

Archaeological Theory and Interpretation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theoretical frameworks for archaeological research, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
Palaeoanthropology and Human Evolution
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Study of human origins and evolution in East Africa, covering anthropological theories, ethnographic methods, and their application in cultural analysis.
African Prehistory
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Prehistoric cultures and societies in Africa, covering historical methods, archaeological techniques, and their application in understanding past societies.
Archaeological Field Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Excavation, survey and field documentation techniques, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Cultural Heritage Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Management and conservation of archaeological heritage, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
Research Methods in Archaeology
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research design and methodology for archaeological research, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level.
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

Palaeoanthropology
Research on human origins and evolution
Geoarchaeology
Geological approaches to archaeological research
Historical Archaeology
Archaeology of historical periods in East Africa
Cultural Heritage Management
Management of archaeological and cultural heritage

A day as a student

A typical day involves conducting archaeological fieldwork at sites in the Rift Valley, analysing artefacts in the laboratory, reviewing literature on East African archaeology, attending seminars on archaeological theory, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with National Museums of Kenya researchers.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya is one of the world's most important regions for archaeological research
Access to world-class sites at Koobi Fora, Olorgesailie and Kariandusi
British Institute in Eastern Africa provides research support

Against it

Very limited career opportunities in Kenya outside academia and museums
Fieldwork requires travel to remote sites and is weather-dependent
Limited funding for archaeological research in Kenya

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 188 arts & humanities courses

Public150k to 245k

150k at University of Nairobi245k at Kenyatta University

Private150k to 344k

150k at Mount Kenya University344k 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

KU 244.8K (ku.ac.ke). Daystar 343.85K (daystar.ac.ke). UoN, MKU unverified.

HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. The British Institute in Eastern Africa provides research grants and fieldwork support for archaeological research in East Africa.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
British Institute in Eastern Africa Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
BIEA Research Grant
Grant
Archaeological researchers in East Africa

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: Masters Degree
Alternative entry: Applicants should have a Master's degree from the University of Nairobi or an equivalent qualification from institutions recognised by Senate. Must submit a research proposal showing capacity for original research.

MA in Archaeology, History, Anthropology or related field
Relevant Masters from recognised university

How you are assessed

3 components

Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Research Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before departmental panel
Progress Reviews
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Regular progress reviews and seminar presentations

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at the University of Nairobi (Department of History and Archaeology, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences). The programme is currently offered by research only, culminating in a doctoral thesis.

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

Museum Curator
Low demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 320,000
Curating archaeological collections at National Museums of Kenya
Archaeology Researcher
Low demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 380,000
Research at NMK, BIEA and international research projects
University Professor
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in archaeology and history departments
Cultural Heritage Manager
Low demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 350,000
Managing heritage sites and cultural resources

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, archaeology researchers, museum curators and cultural heritage managers. They work at National Museums of Kenya, universities, BIEA and international research teams.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Archaeology is just about digging for old things.
The field covers human origins, cultural evolution, heritage management, scientific dating and analytical techniques.
There are no career prospects for archaeology PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's world-class archaeological sites and heritage sector create opportunities in research and curation.
Archaeological research is purely descriptive.
The programme uses scientific methods including radiometric dating, isotopic analysis and spatial analysis.
Archaeology is only about the distant past.
The field includes historical archaeology, cultural heritage management and contemporary heritage policy.