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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.

Duration
3 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 244,800
Ksh 734,400 total
Private tuition
Ksh 200,000
Ksh 600,000 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 244,800 a year at a public institution, Ksh 734,400 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 200,000 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of C+ or above, plus 3 subject grades. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 3 years, full-time, part-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 2 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Applied Ethicist, at 20 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

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.

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 favourAgainst it
Affordable tuition at KES 192,000 per yearCareer paths in the arts can be competitive and under-funded
Contributes to cultural preservation and the creative economyUoN is the only confirmed institution with exact fees
Flexible research across literature, history, philosophy, music, theatre, and fine artsResearch funding for humanities is limited
Diverse career paths in academia, culture, media, and the artsAcademic 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

Scholarships you could apply for

2 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
C+minimum entry
Alternative entry

Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

Subject requirements
Master's DegreeMaster of Arts or related master's degree in an arts or humanities discipline from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualificationBachelor's degree in Arts or related humanities field
Research capabilityEvidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

When it next starts

Taught at 2 institutions
January 20272 institutions

Including Maseno University, University of Nairobi.

May 20272 institutions

Including Maseno University, University of Nairobi.

September 20272 institutions

Including Maseno University, University of Nairobi.

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

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)

    Academic accreditationRequired

    Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

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

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.

Further reading

Read next