Arts & Humanities

PhD in Arts

The PhD in Arts is a postgraduate research programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Faculty of Arts. The programme allows scholars to pursue advanced research in disciplines such as literature, history, philosophy, linguistics, music, theatre, and the fine arts, contributing to knowledge in the humanities and cultural studies in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced theory and research methods in their chosen arts discipline, including critical analysis, historiography, textual analysis, archival research, and creative practice. The programme is by thesis, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to the arts and humanities.

Kenya's rich cultural heritage and contemporary creative industries require advanced research in the arts. The programme addresses national priorities under Vision 2030 by training scholars who can preserve and interpret culture, contribute to education, and support the creative economy.

Teaching methods include seminars, individual supervision, archival and field research, and critical workshops. Students have access to UoN's Faculty of Arts and collaborate with the National Museums of Kenya, the Kenya Cultural Centre, the GoDown Arts Centre, and international humanities networks.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, researchers, cultural practitioners, and arts administrators in universities, museums, cultural institutions, media, and the creative industries.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in arts, humanities, or related fields who are committed to advancing knowledge in the arts.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 244,800
Private, up to: Ksh 200,000
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: 8 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Research Methods in the Arts
Critical Theory
Cultural Studies
Historiography
Textual Analysis
Aesthetics
Archival Research
Thesis Research
Interdisciplinary Arts
Creative Practice

Modules

10 in the programme

Research Methods in the Arts and Humanities
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methods including archival, ethnographic, textual, and practice-based approaches in the arts
Critical Theory and Cultural Studies
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced critical theory and cultural studies relevant to African and global contexts
Historiography and Historical Methods
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Historical research methods and the philosophy of history, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Textual Analysis and Hermeneutics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Analysis of literary, philosophical, and cultural texts, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and current analytical techniques used in advanced research and professional.
Aesthetics and the Arts
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Philosophical aesthetics and theories of art, music, theatre, and visual culture
Archival and Field Research Methods
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Methods for archival research, oral history, and fieldwork in the humanities, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to.
Research Methodology and Statistics
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Research design and methods for humanities and social sciences research, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to.
Interdisciplinary Arts Seminar
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Interdisciplinary seminar on current debates and research in the arts, providing a platform for doctoral candidates to present research findings, engage with peer feedback, and explore.
Thesis Proposal Development
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Development and defence of a doctoral research proposal in an arts discipline, involving original research, literature review, data analysis, and the production of a doctoral dissertation.
Thesis Research and Writing
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Independent doctoral research culminating in a thesis defended before internal and external examiners

Specialisations

Museum Curation
Specialization in Museum Curation, preparing graduates for careers such as digital-museum-experience-curator.
Archaeology
Specialization in Archaeology, preparing graduates for careers such as archaeologist.
Cultural Heritage Consulting
Specialization in Cultural Heritage Consulting, preparing graduates for careers such as cultural-heritage-consultant.
Art History
Specialization in Art History, preparing graduates for careers such as art-historian.
Digital Humanities
Specialization in Digital Humanities, preparing graduates for careers such as digital-humanities-scholar.
Academic Research in Humanities
Specialization in Academic Research in Humanities, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.

A day as a student

A typical day combines reading and archival research with writing, critical analysis, seminars, and thesis supervision. Students may conduct fieldwork, interviews, or creative practice, and engage with cultural institutions and academic networks.

The trade offs

In its favour

Affordable tuition at KES 192,000 per year
Contributes to cultural preservation and the creative economy
Flexible research across literature, history, philosophy, music, theatre, and fine arts
Diverse career paths in academia, culture, media, and the arts

Against it

Career paths in the arts can be competitive and under-funded
UoN is the only confirmed institution with exact fees
Research funding for humanities is limited
Academic positions require publications and research output

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

Public224k to 245k

224k at University of Nairobi245k at Kenyatta University

Private192k to 200k

192k at KCA University200k 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 224K, KU 244.8K for arts PhDs (ku.ac.ke). MKU 200K. KCA unverified.

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and CODESRIA research grants for arts and humanities research.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
DAAD Scholarship
Scholarship
NRF Research Grant
Grant
CODESRIA Research Grant
Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities
NRF Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers at Kenyan institutions conducting research relevant to national development
DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for doctoral study

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

Master's Degree
Master of Arts or related master's degree in an arts or humanities discipline from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Arts or related humanities field
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

4 components

Thesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark
Oral Viva Voce
Coursework100% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework30% of the mark
Seminars and Research Papers
Coursework20% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

University Lecturer (Arts)
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches and conducts research in university arts and humanities departments
Cultural Heritage Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Advises on cultural heritage, preservation, and arts projects
Arts Administrator
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Manages programmes and projects in cultural organisations, NGOs, or government
Arts Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Conducts research in cultural institutions, museums, or research centres

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, researchers, cultural practitioners, and arts administrators in universities, museums, cultural institutions, media, and the creative industries.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

A PhD in arts is not useful for employment
Arts PhD holders are needed in universities, museums, cultural institutions, media, and policy roles, and contribute to education and the creative economy.
Arts research is not rigorous
Arts research uses rigorous methods including archival, ethnographic, textual, and critical analysis, and contributes to knowledge of culture and society.
Arts is only about creativity and not research
A PhD in arts is a research degree that can include critical, historical, and practice-based research, requiring original contributions to knowledge.
Arts degrees are not relevant to Kenya's development
Arts and humanities are essential for cultural preservation, education, national identity, and the creative economy.

Related courses

Doctor of philosophy in translation studies