Art and Design

Doctor of Philosophy in Fine Art and Design

The Doctor of Philosophy in Fine Art and Design is a doctoral programme offered at Kenyatta University through the Department of Fine Art and Design, the oldest and only department in Kenya offering degree courses in both fine art and design. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in contemporary art, design theory, creative practice and visual culture. The programme spans fine art and design disciplines with emphasis on creative problem-solving and inventiveness.

Students engage with advanced topics in art theory, design research, visual culture, contemporary art practices, digital media, art history, curatorial studies and research methods. The programme is offered through research in any field of fine art and design, culminating in a thesis. Lecturers are practitioners and educators with national and international exhibition profiles.

Kenya's growing creative economy, the expansion of the cultural sector and the need for design innovation in industry create demand for doctoral-level art and design expertise. The programme supports Kenya's creative economy agenda and contributes to cultural development and design innovation.

Teaching is delivered through supervised research at Kenyatta University's main campus. The Department of Fine Art and Design engages in extensive national and international programmes with visiting artists and speakers, and overseas study programmes. The programme is full-time with a minimum duration of three years. Annual fees are KSh 275,400 for East Africans and KSh 344,250 for non-East Africans.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, art researchers, curators, design consultants, creative directors and cultural policy advisors. They work in universities, museums, galleries, design firms, cultural institutions and creative industries.

The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in fine art, design, visual arts or related creative disciplines who wish to contribute original research to art and design knowledge.

Duration: 3-4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 512,000
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
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 3 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Art Theory and Criticism
Design Research Methods
Visual Culture Studies
Contemporary Art Practices
Digital Media and Art
Art History and Historiography
Curatorial Studies
Research Methods in Art and Design
Creative Industries and Policy
African Art and Aesthetics

Modules

8 in the programme

Art Theory and Criticism
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced theoretical frameworks for art and design research, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
Design Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Research methodologies for design inquiry, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in the field.
Visual Culture Studies
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Analysis of visual culture and contemporary media, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Contemporary Art Practices
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Research on contemporary art practices and trends, covering artistic principles, creative methodologies, and their application in cultural production and research.
African Art and Aesthetics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Research on African art traditions and aesthetics, covering artistic principles, creative methodologies, and their application in cultural production and research.
Research Methods in Art and Design
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research design and methodology for art and design 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

Contemporary Art Practice
Research on contemporary art making and theory
Design Research
Research on design processes and innovation
Curatorial Studies
Research on exhibition practice and curation
Digital Media Art
Research on digital art and new media

A day as a student

A typical day involves developing creative research projects in the studio, reviewing literature on art theory and visual culture, attending seminars on contemporary art and design, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, engaging with visiting artists and speakers, and participating in exhibitions and creative events.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's growing creative economy creates opportunities
Department has international programmes with visiting artists
Only department in Kenya offering both fine art and design at PhD level

Against it

Limited career opportunities outside academia and creative industries
Limited funding for art and design research in Kenya
Small cohort with limited peer interaction

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 73 art and design courses

Public275k to 512k

275k at Kenyatta University512k at University of Nairobi

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 275K ku.ac.ke. UoN 512K arts-design.uonbi.ac.ke. MKU 150K mku.ac.ke. Daystar 344K daystar.ac.ke

HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. Ford Foundation provides fellowships for creative and cultural research. The department has international programmes with visiting artists and overseas study opportunities.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
Ford Foundation Fellowship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
Ford Foundation Fellowship
Fellowship
Researchers in creative and cultural fields
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: Masters Degree
Alternative entry: A holder of Master of Arts with specialisation in Fine Art or Art and Design from Kenyatta University or its equivalent. The common University regulations and entry requirements for all Doctoral Degree courses shall apply.

MA in Fine Art, Art and Design or related field
Master of Arts with specialisation in Fine Art or Art and Design from Kenyatta University or its equivalent

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, studio critiques and seminar presentations

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at Kenyatta University (Department of Fine Art and Design, School of Creative and Performing Arts, Film and Media Studies). The department is the oldest and only one in Kenya offering degree courses in both fine art and design.

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

Curator
Low demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 320,000
Curating exhibitions at museums and galleries
Creative Director
Moderate demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Leading creative teams at agencies and design firms
Design Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 380,000
Consulting on design projects for companies and organisations
University Professor
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in art and design departments

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, art researchers, curators and design consultants. They work in universities, museums, galleries, design firms and cultural institutions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

A PhD in Art and Design is just about making art.
The programme covers art theory, design research, visual culture, curatorial studies and creative industries policy.
There are no career prospects for art PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's growing creative economy and cultural sector create opportunities in academia, curation and design.
Art research is not rigorous.
The programme uses established research methodologies including practice-based research, visual analysis and cultural theory.
Fine art and design are separate fields.
The programme spans both disciplines with emphasis on creative problem-solving and cross-disciplinary research.