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Doctor of Philosophy in Education

The Doctor of Philosophy in Education is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Faculty of Education, at Kenyatta University through the School of Education and Lifelong Learning, at Maseno University, at Moi University, and at Mount Kenya University. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research across the broad field of education. The programme addresses Kenya's education sector development needs including quality, access, equity and management.

Duration
3-5 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 320,000
Ksh 960,000 to Ksh 1,600,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 310,200
Ksh 930,600 to Ksh 1,551,000 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 320,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 960,000 to Ksh 1,600,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 310,200 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, evening, weekend, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 25 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Early Childhood Strategist, at 10 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 educational theory, research methods in education, educational philosophy, sociology of education, comparative education, education policy, curriculum studies, educational psychology, educational measurement and evaluation, and educational technology. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops education insights for Kenya's education sector.

Kenya's education reforms including the CBC, the expansion of education access, teacher professional development, education quality improvement and the need for evidence-based education policy create demand for doctoral-level education expertise. The programme supports Kenya's education sector development goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework and supervised research. At UoN, the Faculty of Education offers PhD in Education with tuition at KSh 288,000/year, Year 1 total KSh 320,000, total programme KSh 1,000,000 over 3 years. At KU, the School of Education offers PhD with annual fees of KSh 244,800 for East Africans. At MKU, PhD in Education costs KSh 250,000/year. At Maseno, the School of Education offers multiple PhD specialisations.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, educational researchers, education policy analysts, teacher educators and education consultants. They work in universities, Ministry of Education, KICD, TSC, KNEC and international education organisations.

The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in education, teaching, educational management or related fields who wish to contribute original research to education.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Educational Theory and Philosophy
  • Research Methods in Education
  • Sociology of Education
  • Comparative and International Education
  • Education Policy and Reform
  • Curriculum Studies and Development
  • Educational Psychology
  • Educational Measurement and Evaluation
  • Educational Technology and Innovation
  • Education and Development

Modules

8 in the programme

  • Educational Theory and Philosophy

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Theory and philosophy of education, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.

  • Research Methods in Education

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Research design and methodology, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in the field.

  • Sociology of Education

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Sociological perspectives on education, examining pedagogical theories, educational frameworks, and their application in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.

  • Comparative and International Education

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Comparative education studies, examining pedagogical theories, educational frameworks, and their application in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.

  • Education Policy and Reform

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Policy and reform in education, analysing policy frameworks, implementation strategies, and their impact on practice within the Kenyan and broader African context.

  • Educational Measurement and Evaluation

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Measurement and evaluation in education, covering assessment design, evaluation methodologies, data-driven decision-making, and quality assurance processes.

  • 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

  • Curriculum Studies

    Research on curriculum studies

  • Educational Psychology

    Research on educational psychology

  • Comparative Education

    Research on comparative education

  • Education Policy

    Research on education policy

A day as a student

A typical day involves analysing education data, reviewing education literature, designing research instruments, attending seminars on education theory, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with Ministry of Education, KICD, schools and TSC for research collaboration.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Kenya's education reforms create strong demandSchool-based research requires coordination with schools
Access to KICD, TSC, KNEC and UNESCO for researchEducation research can be politically sensitive
Research directly impacts education quality and policyBroad field requires choosing a specific specialisation

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 education courses
Public245k to 320k
245k at Kenyatta University320k at University of Nairobi
Private250k to 310k
250k at Mount Kenya University310k 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 ~320,000/yr (education.uonbi.ac.ke). KU ~244,800, Egerton ~251,900/yr. Kabarak ~310,200, MKU ~250,000/yr.

HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. UNESCO provides research grants for education research.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

  • UNESCO Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

    ScholarshipKenyan

    Postgraduate students in Kenya

  • HELB Postgraduate Scholarship

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan postgraduate students

  • UNESCO Research Grant

    Grant

    Education researchers

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: Masters in Education from UoN or recognised institution. Total KSh 1,000,000 over 3 years. At KU: Masters degree in relevant area. KSh 244,800/year. Application fee KSh 3,000. At MKU: Masters degree recognised by MKU Senate. KSh 250,000/year. At Maseno: Masters degree from Maseno or recognised institution.

Subject requirements
MEd/Masters in Education or related fieldRelevant Masters from recognised university

When it next starts

Taught at 25 institutions
January 202725 institutions

Including Pwani University, Kisii University, Karatina University.

May 202725 institutions

Including Pwani University, Kisii University, Karatina University.

September 202725 institutions

Including Pwani University, Kisii University, Karatina University.

How you are assessed

3 components

  • Thesis

    Thesis50% of the mark

    Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence

  • Coursework

    Continuous assessment30% of the mark

    Assignments, research 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 University of Nairobi (Faculty of Education, total KSh 1,000,000 over 3 years), Kenyatta University (KSh 244,800/year), Maseno University, Moi University and Mount Kenya University (KSh 250,000/year).

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Teacher Educator

    High demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 400,000

    Training teachers at universities and colleges

  • Education Policy Analyst

    High demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000

    Policy at Ministry of Education

  • Educational Researcher

    High demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000

    Research at education research institutes

  • University Professor

    High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Teaching and research in education departments

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, educational researchers, education policy analysts and teacher educators. They work at universities, Ministry of Education, KICD, TSC, KNEC and international education organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • PhD in Education is just about teaching.

    The field covers philosophy, sociology, policy, curriculum, psychology, measurement and comparative education.

  • There is no demand for education PhDs in Kenya.

    Kenya's education reforms and sector development create strong demand.

  • Education research is purely descriptive.

    The programme uses empirical research, statistics and policy analysis.

  • Only teachers study education PhDs.

    The programme attracts administrators, policymakers and researchers.

Further reading

Read next