Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration
The Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi, Mount Kenya University and other Kenyan universities. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in business management, corporate strategy, organisational behaviour and business policy. The programme combines rigorous theoretical training with empirical research to address management challenges in Kenya and the East African business environment.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 315,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 945,000 to Ksh 1,890,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 332,500 a year at a private one.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of Masters Degree or above, plus 1 subject grade. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 3-6 years, full-time, part-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 36 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Forensic Audit Investigator, at 17 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
Students engage with advanced topics in strategic management, organisational theory, corporate governance, business research methods, financial management, marketing theory, human resource management, operations management and business policy. The curriculum emphasises original research that contributes to management knowledge and practice in the Kenyan and African context.
Kenya's position as East Africa's business hub, the growth of corporate enterprises and the need for evidence-based management practices create demand for doctoral-level business administration expertise. The programme supports Kenya's Vision 2030 economic pillar and contributes to management capacity building.
Teaching is delivered through coursework, seminars and supervised research. At the University of Nairobi, the programme is offered through the School of Business with specialisations including Accounting, Banking, Finance, Global Management, Human Resources Management and Strategic Information Systems. The programme includes 6 coursework units followed by thesis research. At Mount Kenya University, the programme runs for six semesters.
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, management consultants, corporate executives, business researchers and policy advisors. They work in universities, corporate organisations, consulting firms, government agencies and international organisations.
The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in business, management, economics or related fields who wish to contribute original research to business administration.
What you study
10 subjects- Strategic Management
- Organisational Theory and Behaviour
- Corporate Governance
- Business Research Methods
- Advanced Financial Management
- Marketing Theory and Strategy
- Human Resource Management
- Operations and Supply Chain Management
- Business Policy and Ethics
- International Business
Modules
8 in the programmeAdvanced Strategic Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Strategic management theory and competitive analysis, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Organisational Theory and Behaviour
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced organisational theory and behaviour research, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
Business Research Methods
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Quantitative and qualitative research methods for business, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level.
Corporate Governance and Ethics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Governance frameworks and ethical issues in business, examining ethical principles, professional conduct, regulatory frameworks, and their application in research and practice.
Advanced Financial Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Corporate finance theory and financial decision-making, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Marketing Theory and Strategy
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced marketing theory and consumer behaviour research, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
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
Marketing
Research on marketing strategy and consumer behaviour
Finance
Research on corporate finance and financial markets
Strategic Management
Research on competitive strategy and firm performance
Human Resource Management
Research on HR practices and organisational behaviour
A day as a student
A typical day involves reviewing management literature, analysing business data, developing theoretical frameworks, attending seminars on business strategy and management, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with corporate organisations for case study research and data collection.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Kenya is East Africa's business hub with strong career opportunities | Can be expensive especially at private universities |
| Multiple specialisations available at UoN School of Business | Balancing research with professional commitments is challenging |
| Research informs business practice and policy | Access to corporate data for research can be restricted |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 331 business coursesAnnual 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 315K/yr(uonbi.ac.ke); JKUAT 205K self-spon(kenyaeducationguide); KCA 332.5K Yr1; MKU 200K/yr.
HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. Ford Foundation provides fellowships for research in business and development.
Funding options
HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
Ford Foundation Fellowship
Scholarships
3 recordedDAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
Ford Foundation Fellowship
Fellowship
Researchers in business and development
Scholarships you could apply for
2 usable where it is taught- Chevening Scholarships Kenya
Closes 30 November 2026FullUK Government
Full masters in UK
- AfDB Japan Scholarship Program
Closes 28 February 2027FullAfrican Development Bank
Full graduate study abroad
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
Holder of a Master's degree from UoN or equivalent from a recognised institution. Must submit a research proposal showing capacity for original research.
When it next starts
Taught at 36 institutionsIncluding Kirinyaga University, Kabarak University, Moi University.
Including Kirinyaga University, Kabarak University, Moi University.
Including Kirinyaga University, Kabarak University, Moi University.
How you are assessed
3 componentsThesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before school panel
Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, case studies, examinations and seminar presentations across 6 units
Accreditation
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at the University of Nairobi (School of Business), Mount Kenya University (School of Business and Management), KCA University (School of Business) and Strathmore Business School. UoN offers specialisations in Accounting, Banking, Finance, Global Management, HR Management and Strategic Information Systems.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesUniversity Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in business schools
Business Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Research at think tanks and research institutes
Management Consultant
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Consulting on strategy and management for corporations
Corporate Executive
High demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 600,000
Senior management at large corporations
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, management consultants, corporate executives and business researchers. They work in universities, consulting firms, corporate organisations and government agencies.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Forensic Audit InvestigatorBusiness17Low exposure
- Franchise Operations ManagerBusiness18Low exposure
- Infrastructure Finance SpecialistBusiness18Low exposure
- Intermodal Reefer TechnicianBusiness18Low exposure
- Climate Risk UnderwriterBusiness19Low exposure
- Coldchain Logistics ManagerBusiness19Low exposure
- Municipal Finance SpecialistBusiness19Low exposure
- Islamic Banking SpecialistBusiness20Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
A PhD in Business Administration is just an advanced MBA.
The programme focuses on original research contributing to management knowledge, not just practice.
There is no demand for business PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's business hub status and growing corporate sector create demand for management scholars.
Business research is not rigorous.
The programme uses quantitative and qualitative research methods, econometrics and statistical analysis.
Only business professionals study business PhDs.
The programme attracts economists, psychologists, engineers and public administrators.