Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering

The Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering is a doctoral programme offered at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology through various engineering departments in the College of Engineering. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research across engineering disciplines. The programme addresses Kenya's broad engineering research and industrial development needs.

Students engage with advanced topics specific to their engineering specialisation, which may include mechanical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechatronic engineering, telecommunications engineering, geomatic engineering, biomedical engineering or other engineering fields. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops engineering innovations for Kenya's industrial and infrastructure development.

Kenya's infrastructure development, industrialisation agenda, manufacturing growth, construction expansion and the need for engineering innovation create demand for doctoral-level engineering expertise across multiple disciplines. The programme supports Kenya's industrialisation and Vision 2030 goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, laboratory sessions and supervised research at JKUAT. The College of Engineering includes departments of mechanical, mechatronic, telecommunication and information, geomatic and geospatial information systems, electrical and electronic, and civil engineering. Total PhD cost is KSh 510,500 over 3 years. Application fee is KSh 1,500. International students pay 20% more.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, engineering researchers, engineering consultants and R&D specialists. They work in universities, KIRDI, engineering consulting firms, manufacturing companies and government infrastructure projects.

The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in any engineering discipline who wish to contribute original research to engineering.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 572,000
Private, up to: Ksh 168,000
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: 4 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Advanced Engineering Mathematics
Engineering Research Methods
Advanced Engineering Modelling and Simulation
Engineering Innovation and Design
Sustainable Engineering Practices
Engineering Project Management
Advanced Materials Engineering
Engineering Economics and Optimisation
Industrial Systems Engineering
Specialisation-Specific Advanced Topics

Modules

8 in the programme

Advanced Engineering Mathematics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced mathematics for engineering, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Engineering Research Methods
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.
Advanced Engineering Modelling and Simulation
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Modelling and simulation techniques, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Sustainable Engineering Practices
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Sustainability in engineering, covering engineering principles, design methodologies, and their application in solving complex technical problems.
Engineering Innovation and Design
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Innovation and design in engineering, covering design principles, methodologies, and practical approaches to creating effective solutions in professional contexts.
Specialisation-Specific Advanced Topics
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced topics in chosen specialisation, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
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

Electrical Engineering
Research on electrical engineering
Mechatronic Engineering
Research on mechatronic engineering
Civil Engineering
Research on civil engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Research on mechanical engineering

A day as a student

A typical day involves conducting engineering experiments, running simulations, analysing engineering data, reviewing engineering literature, attending seminars on engineering research, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and visiting KIRDI, NCA and industry partners for research collaboration.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's industrialisation creates strong demand
Multiple specialisation options within College of Engineering
Research contributes to infrastructure and industrial development

Against it

Laboratory equipment and software are expensive
Requires strong mathematical and analytical skills
Broad programme 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 332 engineering courses

Public170k to 572k

170k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology572k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 168k

150k at Mount Kenya University168k at Kenya Methodist 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 572,000/yr, 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 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers in Kenya

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: Masters Degree
Alternative entry: At JKUAT: MSc in Engineering from JKUAT or recognised institution. Application fee KSh 1,500. Total KSh 510,500 over 3 years. International students pay 20% more. College of Engineering offers multiple specialisations.

MSc in Engineering or related field from recognised university
Relevant Masters from recognised university

How you are assessed

3 components

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

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at JKUAT (College of Engineering, total KSh 510,500 over 3 years). Multiple engineering departments available. EBK regulates the engineering profession. International students pay 20% more.

Accredited by

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

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in engineering departments
Engineering Consultant
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Consulting on engineering projects
R&D Specialist
High demandKsh 190,000 to Ksh 480,000
R&D at manufacturing and technology companies
Engineering Researcher
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Research at KIRDI and research institutes

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, engineering researchers, engineering consultants and R&D specialists. They work at KIRDI, NCA, engineering firms, manufacturing companies and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

A general engineering PhD is less valuable than a specialised one.
The programme allows specialisation within a specific engineering discipline while providing broad engineering research training.
There is no demand for engineering PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's industrialisation and infrastructure development create strong demand.
Engineering research is purely practical.
The programme uses advanced mathematics, modelling, simulation and theoretical analysis.
Only engineers study this PhD.
The programme attracts physicists, mathematicians and technologists.