Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Communication and Technology

The Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Communication and Technology is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Educational Communication, Technology and Pedagogical Studies, at Kenyatta University, at Moi University, and at Maseno University. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in educational communication, technology and pedagogy. The programme addresses Kenya's educational technology integration and communication needs.

Students engage with advanced topics in educational communication, educational technology, instructional design, e-learning, media in education, ICT integration in education, pedagogical innovation, digital literacy, open educational resources and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops communication and technology insights for Kenya's education sector.

Kenya's digital literacy programme, ICT integration in schools, e-learning expansion, the need for educational media and the growth of educational technology create demand for doctoral-level educational communication and technology expertise. The programme supports Kenya's education sector digital transformation goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework and supervised research. At UoN, the Department of Educational Communication, Technology and Pedagogical Studies offers PhD with KSh 50,000 per unit, KSh 30,000 per unit for subsequent years, thesis examination KSh 50,000, and KSh 150,000/year for subsequent 2 years. At KU, application fee is KSh 3,000. At Moi University, application fee is KSh 2,000 for PhD. At Maseno, the programme is offered as Educational Technology.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, educational technology researchers, instructional designers, e-learning specialists and educational media consultants. They work in universities, KICD, Ministry of Education, ICT Authority and educational technology companies.

The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in education, educational technology, communication, ICT or related fields who wish to contribute original research to educational communication and technology.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 320,000
Private, up to: Ksh 310,200
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: 5 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Educational Communication Theory
Educational Technology and ICT Integration
Instructional Design and Development
E-Learning and Digital Pedagogy
Media in Education
Pedagogical Innovation and Change
Digital Literacy and Skills
Open Educational Resources
Educational Broadcasting
Research Methods in Educational Technology

Modules

8 in the programme

Educational Communication Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theory of educational communication, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
Educational Technology and ICT Integration
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
ICT integration in education, covering technological tools, digital platforms, and information systems relevant to contemporary research and professional practice.
Instructional Design and Development
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Design of instruction, exploring development theories, sustainable practices, and their application in addressing contemporary challenges in Kenya and beyond.
E-Learning and Digital Pedagogy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
E-learning and digital pedagogy, examining pedagogical theories, educational frameworks, and their application in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.
Media in Education
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Educational media, examining pedagogical theories, educational frameworks, and their application in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.
Research Methods in Educational Technology
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

E-Learning
Research on e-learning and digital pedagogy
Educational Technology
Research on educational technology
Instructional Design
Research on instructional design
Educational Media
Research on educational media

A day as a student

A typical day involves designing and testing educational technology tools, analysing ICT integration data, reviewing EdTech literature, attending seminars on educational communication, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with KICD, ICT Authority and KENET for research collaboration.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's digital literacy programme creates strong demand
Access to KICD, ICT Authority and KENET for research
Research contributes to digital transformation in education

Against it

Requires understanding of both education and technology
Technology tools and platforms can be expensive
Rapidly evolving technology requires continuous learning

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

Public281k to 320k

281k 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 ECT ~281,398/yr (ku.ac.ke). Kabarak ~310,200, MKU ~250,000/yr.

HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. UNESCO provides research grants for educational technology 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 and technology researchers

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: Masters Degree
Alternative entry: At UoN: Masters in Education or related field from UoN or recognised institution. Department of Educational Communication, Technology and Pedagogical Studies. KSh 50,000/unit. At KU: Masters degree in relevant area. Application fee KSh 3,000. At Moi: Application fee KSh 2,000 for PhD. At Maseno: Masters degree from Maseno or recognised institution.

MEd/Masters in Education, Educational Technology, Communication or related field
Relevant Masters from recognised university

How you are assessed

3 components

Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, technology projects and seminar presentations
Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at University of Nairobi (Department of Educational Communication, Technology and Pedagogical Studies, KSh 50,000/unit), Kenyatta University (application fee KSh 3,000), Moi University (application fee KSh 2,000) and Maseno University (Educational Technology).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

E-Learning Specialist
High demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
E-learning at KICD and universities
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in education departments
Educational Technology Researcher
High demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Research on educational technology
Instructional Designer
High demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Design at universities and e-learning organisations

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, educational technology researchers, instructional designers and e-learning specialists. They work at KICD, ICT Authority, Ministry of Education, KENET and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Educational communication and technology is just about using computers in class.
The field covers communication theory, instructional design, e-learning, media and pedagogical innovation.
There is no demand for this PhD in Kenya.
Kenya's digital literacy programme and ICT integration create strong demand.
EdTech research is purely technical.
The programme integrates pedagogy, communication theory and technology.
Only IT professionals study this PhD.
The programme attracts educators, media specialists and instructional designers.