Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering

The Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi and JKUAT. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, transportation engineering, water resources engineering and construction management. The programme addresses Kenya's infrastructure development needs through rigorous engineering research.

Students engage with advanced topics in structural analysis and design, geotechnical engineering, transportation systems, water resources engineering, construction technology, environmental engineering, engineering materials and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops engineering solutions for Kenya's infrastructure challenges including roads, buildings, water supply and sanitation.

Kenya's massive infrastructure investment under Vision 2030, including roads, railways, dams and buildings, creates strong demand for doctoral-level civil engineering expertise. The programme supports Kenya's construction sector and contributes to sustainable infrastructure development.

Teaching is delivered through coursework and supervised research. At the University of Nairobi, the programme is offered through the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, School of Engineering. Regular PhD programmes are by thesis only, with candidates undertaking research guided by at least two supervisors. The programme runs for a minimum of three years and maximum of six years.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, civil engineering researchers, structural engineers, infrastructure consultants and construction project directors. They work in universities, engineering consulting firms, construction companies, government infrastructure agencies and international development organisations.

The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in civil engineering, construction or related engineering fields who wish to contribute original research to civil engineering.

Duration: 3-6 years
Public, up to: Ksh 572,000
Private, up to: Ksh 150,000
Job market: High

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: 3 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Structural Analysis and Design
Geotechnical Engineering
Transportation Engineering
Water Resources Engineering
Construction Technology and Management
Environmental Engineering
Engineering Materials
Research Methods in Engineering
Earthquake Engineering
Sustainable Construction

Modules

8 in the programme

Advanced Structural Analysis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced methods for structural analysis and design, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and current analytical techniques used in advanced research and professional practice.
Geotechnical Engineering Research
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced soil mechanics and foundation engineering, covering engineering principles, design methodologies, and their application in solving complex technical problems.
Transportation Systems Analysis
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Transportation planning and traffic engineering research, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and current analytical techniques used in advanced research and professional.
Water Resources Engineering
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Hydrology, hydraulics and water resource systems, covering engineering principles, design methodologies, and their application in solving complex technical problems.
Construction Technology and Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced construction methods and project management, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
Research Methods in Engineering
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research design and methodology for engineering 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

Structural Engineering
Research on structural design and analysis
Transportation Engineering
Research on transportation systems
Geotechnical Engineering
Research on soil mechanics and foundations
Water Resources Engineering
Research on water resources and hydraulic systems

A day as a student

A typical day involves developing engineering models using computational software, conducting laboratory tests on construction materials, analysing structural and geotechnical data, reviewing engineering literature, attending seminars on civil engineering, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and visiting construction sites for field research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's Vision 2030 infrastructure investment creates strong demand
Access to major infrastructure projects for research
Engineering skills are highly valued and well-compensated

Against it

Requires strong mathematical and computational skills
Laboratory and field research can be expensive
Limited funding for engineering 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 332 engineering courses

Public170k to 572k

170k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology572k at University of Nairobi

Private120k to 150k

120k at Strathmore University150k 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 572,000/yr, JKUAT 170,167/yr (uonbi.ac.ke). MKU 150,000/yr. Strathmore unverified.

HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. NACOSTI provides research grants for science and technology research.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
NACOSTI Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers in Kenya
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: Admission is open to holders of Master of Science degree in the respective field of specialisation from UoN or other universities recognised by the Senate. Must submit a draft research proposal. Interim registration of 6 months may be granted pending full proposal preparation.

MSc in Civil Engineering or related engineering field
Relevant Masters from recognised university

How you are assessed

3 components

Research 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
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 Civil and Construction Engineering, School of Engineering, College of Architecture and Engineering) and JKUAT. UoN programme is by thesis only with two supervisors. Minimum 3 years, maximum 6 years.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya
Engineers Board of Kenya
Professional
Regulates engineering practice and education in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Structural Engineer
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Structural design and analysis at engineering firms
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in civil engineering departments
Construction Project Director
High demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 600,000
Directing major construction projects
Infrastructure Consultant
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Consulting on infrastructure projects

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, civil engineering researchers, structural engineers and infrastructure consultants. They work in universities, engineering firms, construction companies and government agencies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

A PhD in Civil Engineering is just about building things.
The programme covers structural analysis, geotechnics, transportation, water resources and sustainable construction research.
There is no demand for civil engineering PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's massive infrastructure investment under Vision 2030 creates strong demand.
Engineering research is purely practical.
The programme uses mathematical modelling, computational analysis and experimental research.
Only practising engineers study civil engineering PhDs.
The programme attracts researchers, academics and engineering consultants.