Doctor of Philosophy in Conservation Biology (Research)
The Doctor of Philosophy in Conservation Biology (Research) is a doctoral programme offered at Mount Kenya University through the School of Pure and Applied Sciences and at Maseno University through the School of Arts and Social Sciences. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in conservation biology, biodiversity conservation and wildlife management. The programme addresses Kenya's biodiversity conservation challenges and wildlife protection needs.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 367,200 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,101,600 to Ksh 1,836,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 168,000 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 3-5 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 Forensic DNA Scientist, at 15 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 conservation biology, biodiversity assessment, population ecology, habitat management, conservation genetics, wildlife ecology, protected area management, conservation policy, climate change and biodiversity, ecosystem services and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops conservation biology insights for Kenya's biodiversity challenges.
Kenya's rich biodiversity, threatened wildlife populations, habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, climate change impacts and the economic importance of wildlife tourism create demand for doctoral-level conservation biology expertise. The programme supports Kenya's biodiversity conservation and wildlife tourism goals.
Teaching is delivered through thesis-only research at MKU with total cost of KSh 450,000 over 3 years (KSh 150,000/year). At Maseno University, the programme is offered through the School of Arts and Social Sciences with conservation biology as a key research area.
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, conservation biologists, wildlife researchers, protected area managers and biodiversity consultants. They work in universities, Kenya Wildlife Service, National Museums of Kenya, conservation NGOs and international conservation organisations.
The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in biology, ecology, wildlife management, environmental science or related fields who wish to contribute original research to conservation biology.
What you study
10 subjects- Conservation Biology Theory
- Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring
- Population Ecology and Viability Analysis
- Habitat Management and Restoration
- Conservation Genetics
- Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour
- Protected Area Management
- Conservation Policy and Governance
- Climate Change and Biodiversity
- Research Methods in Conservation Biology
Modules
8 in the programmeConservation Biology Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theory of conservation biology, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Assessment and monitoring of biodiversity, covering assessment design, evaluation methodologies, data-driven decision-making, and quality assurance processes.
Population Ecology and Viability Analysis
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Population ecology and viability, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and current analytical techniques used in advanced research and professional practice.
Conservation Genetics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Genetics for conservation, covering ecological principles, conservation strategies, and their application in biodiversity management.
Protected Area Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Management of protected areas, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
Research Methods in Conservation Biology
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research design and methodology, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in the 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
Habitat Restoration
Research on habitat restoration
Wildlife Conservation
Research on wildlife conservation
Conservation Genetics
Research on conservation genetics
Protected Area Management
Research on protected area management
A day as a student
A typical day involves conducting biodiversity field surveys, analysing population data, reviewing conservation literature, attending seminars on conservation biology, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and visiting KWS, national parks and IUCN for research collaboration.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Access to KWS, IUCN and WWF in Nairobi for research | Field research in remote areas can be logistically challenging |
| Kenya's wildlife tourism creates demand for conservation expertise | Conservation funding can be limited |
| Research contributes to biodiversity conservation | Requires interdisciplinary knowledge of biology and policy |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 181 environmental science 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
KU PhD ~367K/yr (mawese.com). JKUAT ~170K. MKU 150K (mku.ac.ke), KeMU ~168K/yr
HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. IUCN and WWF provide research grants for conservation biology research.
Funding options
HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
IUCN Research Grant
WWF Research Grant
Scholarships
4 recordedIUCN Research Grant
Grant
Conservation researchers
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
WWF Research Grant
Grant
Conservation researchers
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
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
At MKU: Masters degree in relevant field or equivalent recognised by MKU Senate. Thesis only mode. Total cost KSh 450,000 over 3 years. At Maseno: Masters degree in relevant field from Maseno or recognised institution.
When it next starts
Taught at 2 institutionsIncluding Maseno University, Mount Kenya University.
Including Maseno University, Mount Kenya University.
Including Maseno University, Mount Kenya University.
How you are assessed
2 componentsThesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel
Thesis
Thesis80% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
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 Mount Kenya University (School of Pure and Applied Sciences, thesis only, total KSh 450,000 over 3 years) and Maseno University (School of Arts and Social Sciences).
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesProtected Area Manager
Moderate demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 400,000
Management at KWS and KFS
Conservation Biologist
Moderate demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Conservation at KWS and NGOs
University Professor
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in biology departments
Wildlife Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Research at KWS and wildlife institutes
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, conservation biologists, wildlife researchers and protected area managers. They work at KWS, NMK, KFS, IUCN, WWF and universities.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Forensic DNA ScientistScience15Low exposure
- Neuromorphic Computing ResearcherScience15Low exposure
- Agricultural EntomologistScience17Low exposure
- Neurotechnology Research EngineerScience17Low exposure
- Phage Therapy ResearcherScience17Low exposure
- Applied GeochemistScience18Low exposure
- Computational ToxicologistScience18Low exposure
- Computational Toxicology SpecialistScience18Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Conservation biology is just about saving animals.
The field covers biodiversity assessment, population ecology, habitat management, genetics and policy.
There is no demand for conservation biology PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's wildlife tourism and biodiversity challenges create demand.
Conservation research is purely field-based.
The programme uses genetics, modelling, GIS and statistical analysis.
Only biologists study conservation PhDs.
The programme attracts ecologists, environmental scientists and policy analysts.