Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Planning and Management
The Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Planning and Management is a doctoral programme offered at Kenyatta University through the Department of Educational Management and Policy in the School of Education and Lifelong Learning. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in educational planning, resource allocation and institutional management. The programme addresses Kenya's need for evidence-based educational planning and management research.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 320,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 960,000 to Ksh 1,280,000 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 3-4 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 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 planning theory, education sector analysis, resource allocation in education, educational project management, education finance, strategic planning, institutional management, education policy implementation, research methods in educational planning and comparative education planning. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops planning and management insights for Kenya's education system.
Kenya's education sector planning challenges, the need for efficient resource allocation, education finance and the demand for strategic planning in educational institutions create demand for doctoral-level educational planning and management expertise. The programme supports Kenya's education sector planning and resource management goals.
Teaching is delivered through coursework, examination and thesis at Kenyatta University. The programme is a three-year full-time or four-year part-time programme offered through the Department of Educational Management and Policy. Annual fees are 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, educational planners, education finance specialists, project managers and education consultants. They work in universities, Ministry of Education, county education offices, educational institutions and international education organisations.
The programme is ideal for experienced education planners and administrators who wish to contribute original research to educational planning and management.
What you study
10 subjects- Educational Planning Theory
- Education Sector Analysis
- Resource Allocation in Education
- Educational Project Management
- Education Finance and Economics
- Strategic Planning in Education
- Institutional Management and Leadership
- Education Policy Implementation
- Research Methods in Educational Planning
- Comparative Education Planning
Modules
8 in the programmeEducational Planning Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theoretical foundations of educational planning, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
Education Sector Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Analysis of education sector performance, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and current analytical techniques used in advanced research and professional practice.
Resource Allocation in Education
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Resource allocation and budgeting, examining pedagogical theories, educational frameworks, and their application in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.
Educational Project Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Management of education projects, requiring students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems, conduct independent research, and present findings in a scholarly format.
Education Finance and Economics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Economics of education, examining pedagogical theories, educational frameworks, and their application in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.
Research Methods in Educational Planning
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
Education Finance
Research on education finance and economics
Strategic Planning
Research on strategic planning in education
Resource Allocation
Research on resource allocation in education
Project Management
Research on education project management
A day as a student
A typical day involves reviewing educational planning literature, analysing education sector data, conducting research on resource allocation, attending seminars on educational planning, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with Ministry of Education and UNESCO IIEP for planning research.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| KU Department of Educational Management and Policy is well-established | Career opportunities outside education are limited |
| Access to UNESCO IIEP and World Bank for research | Requires knowledge of economics and finance |
| Research informs education sector planning and resource management | Limited funding for education planning research |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 243 education 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 ~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. World Bank provides scholarships for education planning and development research.
Funding options
HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
World Bank Scholarship
Scholarships
3 recordedDAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
World Bank Scholarship
Scholarship
Education and development researchers
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. The PhD programme is 3-year full-time or 4-year part-time. Application fee KSh 3,000.
When it next starts
Taught at 9 institutionsIncluding Turkana University College, Kenyatta University, Rongo University.
Including Turkana University College, Kenyatta University, Rongo University.
Including Turkana University College, Kenyatta University, Rongo University.
How you are assessed
3 componentsThesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, planning projects and seminar presentations
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 Kenyatta University (Department of Educational Management and Policy, School of Education) as a 3-year full-time or 4-year part-time programme. KU fees KSh 244,800/year. Related programmes at UoN and Egerton University.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesEducation Finance Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 400,000
Finance management in education
Education Project Manager
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 380,000
Managing education development projects
Educational Planner
Moderate demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 400,000
Planning at Ministry of Education
University Professor
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in education departments
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, educational planners, education finance specialists and project managers. They work at Ministry of Education, county education offices, universities and international organisations.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Early Childhood StrategistEducation10Low exposure
- Special Needs EducatorEducation10Low exposure
- Career Guidance CounselorEducation11Low exposure
- Adolescent Mentorship OfficerSocial Sciences14Low exposure
- Early Literacy SpecialistEducation14Low exposure
- STEM Laboratory EducatorEducation14Low exposure
- TVET Competency AssessorEducation14Low exposure
- Vocational Workshop InstructorEducation14Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Educational planning is just about timetabling.
The field covers sector analysis, resource allocation, finance, project management and strategic planning.
There is no demand for educational planning PhDs.
Kenya's education sector planning and resource management create demand for planning expertise.
Educational planning research is purely administrative.
The programme uses economic analysis, statistical modelling and policy research.
Only education officers study educational planning PhDs.
The programme attracts economists, project managers and policy analysts.