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Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies

The Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Institute of Development Studies (IDS). It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in development studies, development policy and social change. The programme addresses Kenya's development challenges including poverty, inequality, governance and sustainable development.

Duration
3-5 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 285,333
Ksh 855,999 to Ksh 1,426,665 total
Private tuition
Ksh 333,533
Ksh 1,000,599 to Ksh 1,667,665 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 285,333 a year at a public institution, Ksh 855,999 to Ksh 1,426,665 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 333,533 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 9 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Adolescent Mentorship Officer, at 14 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 development theory, development economics, governance and development, rural development, urban development, gender and development, poverty analysis, climate change and development, project planning and management, and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops development insights for Kenya's social and economic challenges.

Kenya's development challenges including poverty, regional inequality, governance issues, youth unemployment, climate change vulnerability and the need for evidence-based development policy create demand for doctoral-level development studies expertise. The programme supports Kenya's development planning and Vision 2030 goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework and supervised research at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Nairobi. Application fee is KSh 5,000. Prospective applicants must be cleared by IDS before formal application to the Graduate School. The IDS is a leading development research institute in Eastern Africa.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, development researchers, policy analysts, development consultants and programme managers. They work in universities, Ministry of Planning, international development organisations, NGOs, think tanks and research institutes.

The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in development studies, economics, sociology, political science or related fields who wish to contribute original research to development studies.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Development Theory and Paradigms
  • Development Economics and Policy
  • Governance and Development
  • Rural Development and Livelihoods
  • Urban Development and Planning
  • Gender and Development
  • Poverty Analysis and Measurement
  • Climate Change and Development
  • Project Planning and Management
  • Research Methods in Development Studies

Modules

8 in the programme

  • Development Theory and Paradigms

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Theoretical approaches to development, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.

  • Development Economics and Policy

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Economics of development, analysing policy frameworks, implementation strategies, and their impact on practice within the Kenyan and broader African context.

  • Governance and Development

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Governance in development, exploring development theories, sustainable practices, and their application in addressing contemporary challenges in Kenya and beyond.

  • Poverty Analysis and Measurement

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Analysis and measurement of poverty, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and current analytical techniques used in advanced research and professional practice.

  • Project Planning and Management

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Planning and management of development projects, requiring students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems, conduct independent research, and present findings in a scholarly format.

  • Research Methods in Development Studies

    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

  • Gender and Development

    Research on gender and development

  • Rural Development

    Research on rural development

  • Poverty and Inequality

    Research on poverty and inequality

  • Governance and Development

    Research on governance and development

A day as a student

A typical day involves analysing development data, reviewing development policy documents, conducting field research in communities, attending seminars on development theory, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with IDS, Ministry of Planning, UNDP and World Bank for development research.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Kenya's development challenges and Vision 2030 create strong demandField research in rural areas can be logistically challenging
Access to IDS, UNDP, World Bank and KIPPRA in NairobiRequires interdisciplinary knowledge of economics, politics and sociology
Research directly impacts development policy and practiceDevelopment research can be politically sensitive

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses
Public248k to 285k
248k at Egerton University285k at University of Nairobi
Private200k to 334k
200k at Mount Kenya University334k at Kabarak 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 285K/yr avg (ids.uonbi.ac.ke). Egerton 248K/yr (egerton.ac.ke). MKU 200K/yr. Kabarak 334K/yr.

HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. UNDP and World Bank may provide research grants. CODESRIA provides research grants for social science research in Africa.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

  • UNDP Research Grant

  • CODESRIA Research Grant

Scholarships

4 recorded

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

    ScholarshipKenyan

    Postgraduate students in Kenya

  • UNDP Research Grant

    Grant

    Development researchers

  • HELB Postgraduate Scholarship

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan postgraduate students

  • CODESRIA Research Grant

    Grant

    Social science researchers in Africa

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
Masters Degreeminimum entry
Alternative entry

At UoN IDS: Prospective applicants must submit a concept note and be cleared by IDS before formal application to Graduate School. Application fee KSh 5,000. Masters degree in relevant field from UoN or recognised institution.

Subject requirements
MA/MSc in Development Studies, Economics, Sociology, Political Science or related fieldRelevant Masters from recognised university

When it next starts

Taught at 9 institutions
January 20279 institutions

Including Mount Kenya University, Murang'a University of Technology, Kisii University.

May 20279 institutions

Including Mount Kenya University, Murang'a University of Technology, Kisii University.

September 20279 institutions

Including Mount Kenya University, Murang'a University of Technology, Kisii University.

How you are assessed

3 components

  • Coursework

    Continuous assessment30% of the mark

    Assignments, policy analysis projects and seminar presentations

  • Thesis Proposal Defence

    Oral defence20% of the mark

    Defence of research proposal before faculty panel

  • Thesis

    Thesis50% 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 University of Nairobi (Institute of Development Studies, application fee KSh 5,000). IDS is a leading development research institute in Eastern Africa. Prospective applicants must be cleared by IDS before formal application.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Development Researcher

    High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Research at IDS and KIPPRA

  • Development Consultant

    High demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000

    Consulting at UNDP, World Bank and NGOs

  • University Professor

    High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Teaching and research in development studies

  • Policy Analyst

    High demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000

    Policy analysis at Ministry of Planning

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, development researchers, policy analysts and development consultants. They work at IDS, Ministry of Planning, UNDP, World Bank, KIPPRA and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Development studies is just about charity work.

    The field covers development theory, economics, governance, poverty analysis and policy research.

  • There is no demand for development studies PhDs in Kenya.

    Kenya's development challenges and Vision 2030 create strong demand.

  • Development research is purely qualitative.

    The programme uses economic analysis, statistical methods and empirical research.

  • Only social workers study development PhDs.

    The programme attracts economists, political scientists and planners.

Further reading

Read next