Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Electronics Engineering
The Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Electronics Engineering is a doctoral programme offered at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology through the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in electrical and electronics engineering. The programme addresses Kenya's power, electronics and telecommunications engineering development needs.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 572,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,716,000 to Ksh 2,860,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 168,000 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 Overhead Transmission Technician, 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 power systems, control systems, telecommunications, signal processing, microelectronics, embedded systems, renewable energy integration, power electronics, electromagnetic compatibility and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops electrical and electronics engineering innovations for Kenya's industrial and infrastructure development.
Kenya's expanding power infrastructure, electronics manufacturing growth, telecommunications expansion, renewable energy development and industrial automation create demand for doctoral-level electrical and electronics engineering expertise. The programme supports Kenya's industrialisation and infrastructure development goals.
Teaching is delivered through coursework, laboratory sessions and supervised research. At JKUAT, the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering offers PhD with total cost of KSh 510,500 over 3 years. Application fee is KSh 1,500. At UoN, the programme (F804) has tuition at KSh 540,000/year, total KSh 1,756,000 over 3 years.
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, electrical engineering researchers, power systems engineers, electronics designers and telecommunications specialists. They work in universities, Kenya Power, KETRACO, Communications Authority, KIRDI and engineering consulting firms.
The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in electrical engineering, electronic engineering, computer engineering or related fields who wish to contribute original research to electrical and electronics engineering.
What you study
10 subjects- Power Systems Analysis and Stability
- Control Systems and Automation
- Telecommunications and Network Engineering
- Digital Signal Processing
- Microelectronics and Semiconductor Devices
- Embedded Systems and IoT
- Renewable Energy Integration
- Power Electronics and Drives
- Electromagnetic Compatibility
- Research Methods in Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Modules
8 in the programmePower Systems Analysis and Stability
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Analysis and stability of power systems, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and current analytical techniques used in advanced research and professional practice.
Telecommunications and Network Engineering
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Telecommunications systems and networks, covering engineering principles, design methodologies, and their application in solving complex technical problems.
Microelectronics and Semiconductor Devices
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Microelectronics and semiconductor physics, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Embedded Systems and IoT
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Embedded systems and Internet of Things, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Renewable Energy Integration
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Integration of renewable energy into power systems, covering energy systems, sustainability principles, and their application in renewable and conventional energy.
Research Methods in Electrical and Electronics Engineering
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
Renewable Energy
Research on renewable energy integration
Microelectronics
Research on microelectronics and semiconductors
Power Systems
Research on power systems
Telecommunications
Research on telecommunications
A day as a student
A typical day involves designing and testing electrical systems, running circuit simulations, analysing power systems data, reviewing engineering literature, attending seminars on electrical engineering, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and visiting Kenya Power, KETRACO and KIRDI for industry research.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Kenya's power and telecommunications expansion create strong demand | Laboratory equipment and software licences are expensive |
| Access to Kenya Power, KETRACO, CA and KIRDI for research | Requires strong mathematical and analytical skills |
| Research contributes to infrastructure and industrial development | Small cohort with limited peer interaction |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 332 engineering 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 572,000/yr F804, JKUAT 170,167/yr (uonbi.ac.ke). KeMU 168,000, MKU 150,000/yr.
HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. NACOSTI provides research grants for science and technology research.
Funding options
HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
NACOSTI Research Grant
Scholarships
3 recordedDAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers in Kenya
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 JKUAT: MSc in Engineering from JKUAT or recognised institution. Application fee KSh 1,500. Total KSh 510,500 over 3 years. At UoN: MSc in Electrical Engineering from UoN or recognised institution. F804. Total KSh 1,756,000 over 3 years.
When it next starts
Taught at 5 institutionsIncluding Murang'a University of Technology, Technical University of Kenya, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.
Including Murang'a University of Technology, Technical University of Kenya, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.
Including Murang'a University of Technology, Technical University of Kenya, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.
How you are assessed
3 componentsThesis 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
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, design projects and seminar presentations
Accreditation
Engineers Board of Kenya
Professional
Regulates engineering profession in Kenya
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 JKUAT (Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, total KSh 510,500 over 3 years) and UoN (Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, F804, total KSh 1,756,000 over 3 years). EBK regulates the engineering profession.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesPower Systems Engineer
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Engineering at Kenya Power and KETRACO
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in engineering departments
Electronics Designer
High demandKsh 190,000 to Ksh 480,000
Design at electronics companies and KIRDI
Electrical Engineering Researcher
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Research at KIRDI and engineering firms
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, electrical engineering researchers, power systems engineers and telecommunications specialists. They work at Kenya Power, KETRACO, CA, KIRDI, universities and engineering firms.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Overhead Transmission TechnicianEngineering10Low exposure
- Cloud Security EngineerTechnology14Low exposure
- Desalination Systems EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
- District Cooling EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
- HighVoltage Substation EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
- Hydrogen Systems EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
- Industrial Robotics ProgrammerTechnology14Low exposure
- Microgrid Control EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Electrical and electronics engineering is the same as computer engineering.
While related, this field focuses on power systems, electronics, telecommunications and signal processing.
There is no demand for this PhD in Kenya.
Kenya's power and telecommunications infrastructure expansion create strong demand.
Electrical engineering research is purely practical.
The programme uses advanced mathematics, modelling, simulation and control theory.
Only electrical engineers study this PhD.
The programme attracts physicists, computer engineers and telecommunications specialists.