Doctor of Philosophy in Design
The Doctor of Philosophy in Design is a doctoral programme offered at Kenyatta University through the School of Visual and Performing Arts and the Department of Design. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in design theory, design practice and design innovation. The programme addresses Kenya's growing creative economy and the need for advanced design research and scholarship.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 512,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,536,000 to Ksh 2,560,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 317,200 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 4 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 topics in design theory, design research methods, visual communication design, product design, design history, design and technology, human-centred design, design entrepreneurship, sustainable design, and design education. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops design insights for Kenya's creative economy and industrial development.
Kenya's growing creative economy, the expansion of design industries, the need for product innovation, branding and advertising growth and the demand for design education create demand for doctoral-level design expertise. The programme supports Kenya's creative economy and industrial development goals.
Teaching is delivered through studio practice, coursework and supervised research at Kenyatta University. The School of Visual and Performing Arts offers the programme with annual fees of KSh 244,800 for East Africans and KSh 306,000 for non-East Africans. Application fee is KSh 3,000.
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, design researchers, design consultants, creative directors and design entrepreneurs. They work in universities, design agencies, advertising firms, manufacturing companies and creative industries.
The programme is ideal for practising designers and scholars with backgrounds in design, fine art, architecture or related fields who wish to contribute original research to design.
What you study
10 subjects- Design Theory and Criticism
- Design Research Methods
- Visual Communication Design
- Product and Industrial Design
- Design History and Culture
- Design and Technology
- Human-Centred Design
- Design Entrepreneurship
- Sustainable Design
- Design Education
Modules
8 in the programmeDesign Theory and Criticism
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theoretical approaches to design, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
Design Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Research methods for design, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in the field.
Visual Communication Design
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Visual communication theory, covering design principles, methodologies, and practical approaches to creating effective solutions in professional contexts.
Product and Industrial Design
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Product design research, covering design principles, methodologies, and practical approaches to creating effective solutions in professional contexts.
Human-Centred Design
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Human-centred design approaches, covering design principles, methodologies, and practical approaches to creating effective solutions in professional contexts.
Design Education
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Education in design, covering design principles, methodologies, and practical approaches to creating effective solutions in professional contexts.
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
Human-Centred Design
Research on human-centred design
Visual Communication
Research on visual communication design
Design Education
Research on design education
Product Design
Research on product and industrial design
A day as a student
A typical day involves studio practice and design research, developing design prototypes, reviewing design theory literature, attending seminars on design research, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with design agencies, KIRDI and creative industries for research collaboration.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Kenya's growing creative economy creates opportunities | Career opportunities outside academia are limited |
| Access to KIRDI for product design research | Limited funding for design research in Kenya |
| Research contributes to creative economy and industrial development | Studio space and materials can be expensive |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 73 art and design 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 512K arts-design.uonbi.ac.ke. KU 275K ku.ac.ke. KeMU 170K eafinder, Kabarak 317K kabarak.ac.ke
HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. CODESRIA provides research grants for humanities research in Africa.
Funding options
HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
CODESRIA Research Grant
Scholarships
3 recordedCODESRIA Research Grant
Grant
Humanities researchers in Africa
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
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 KU: Masters degree in relevant area from KU or recognised institution. Application fee KSh 3,000. The School of Visual and Performing Arts, Department of Design offers the programme.
When it next starts
Taught at 4 institutionsIncluding Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Technical University of Kenya, Maseno University.
Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Technical University of Kenya, Maseno University.
Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Technical University of Kenya, Maseno University.
How you are assessed
3 componentsThesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, studio projects and seminar presentations
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel
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 Kenyatta University (School of Visual and Performing Arts, Department of Design). KU fees KSh 244,800/year for East Africans.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesCreative Director
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Creative direction at agencies
Design Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 400,000
Research at design agencies and KIRDI
University Professor
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in design departments
Design Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Consulting on design projects
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, design researchers, design consultants and creative directors. They work at universities, design agencies, KIRDI, advertising firms and creative industries.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Applied EthicistArts & Humanities20Low exposure
- ChoreographerArts & Humanities20Low exposure
- Interfaith Dialogue FacilitatorArts & Humanities20Low exposure
- EpigrapherArts & Humanities22Low exposure
- Indigenous Knowledge SpecialistArts & Humanities22Low exposure
- Manuscript ConservatorArts & Humanities22Low exposure
- Museum EducatorArts & Humanities22Low exposure
- Theological ResearcherArts & Humanities22Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Design PhD is just about making things look good.
The field covers design theory, research methods, human-centred design, sustainability and entrepreneurship.
There is no demand for design PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's growing creative economy creates demand for design scholarship.
Design research is purely practical.
The programme includes theoretical research, design history and cultural studies.
Only graphic designers study design PhDs.
The programme attracts product designers, architects and educators.