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Doctor of Philosophy in English

The Doctor of Philosophy in English is a doctoral programme offered at Kenyatta University and the University of Nairobi through their respective departments of English and Linguistics. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in English language, literature and literary criticism. The programme addresses Kenya's need for advanced literary scholarship and English language research.

Duration
3-5 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 244,800
Ksh 734,400 to Ksh 1,224,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 313,700
Ksh 941,100 to Ksh 1,568,500 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 244,800 a year at a public institution, Ksh 734,400 to Ksh 1,224,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 313,700 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 6 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 literary theory and criticism, English literature, African literature, postcolonial literature, comparative literature, English language studies, applied linguistics, discourse analysis, research methods in literary studies and English pedagogy. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops literary and linguistic insights for Kenya's academic and cultural context.

Kenya's vibrant literary tradition, the growth of African literary scholarship and the need for English language expertise in education create demand for doctoral-level English scholarship. The programme supports Kenya's literary and cultural development goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework and supervised research. At KU, the programme is offered through the Department of English and Linguistics with annual fees of KSh 244,800 for East Africans. At UoN, the programme is offered through the Faculty of Arts with similar fee structures.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, literary researchers, literary critics, editors and English language consultants. They work in universities, publishing houses, media organisations and educational institutions.

The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in English, literature, linguistics or related fields who wish to contribute original research to English studies.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Literary Theory and Criticism
  • English Literature
  • African Literature
  • Postcolonial Literature
  • Comparative Literature
  • English Language Studies
  • Applied Linguistics
  • Discourse Analysis
  • Research Methods in Literary Studies
  • English Pedagogy

Modules

8 in the programme

  • Literary Theory and Criticism

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Theoretical approaches to literary criticism, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.

  • African Literature

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Study of African literary traditions, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.

  • Postcolonial Literature

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Literature of postcolonial societies, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.

  • Applied Linguistics

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Linguistic analysis of English, covering linguistic theories, language analysis methods, and their application in research and practice.

  • Discourse Analysis

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Analysis of language in use, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and current analytical techniques used in advanced research and professional practice.

  • Research Methods in Literary Studies

    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

  • Literary Criticism

    Research on literary theory and criticism

  • Applied Linguistics

    Research on applied linguistics

  • Postcolonial Literature

    Research on postcolonial literature

  • African Literature

    Research on African literary traditions

A day as a student

A typical day involves reviewing literary texts and criticism, analysing literary and linguistic data, writing critical essays, attending seminars on literary theory, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with literary organisations and publishers for research collaboration.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Kenya's vibrant literary tradition provides rich research materialCareer opportunities outside academia are limited
English is widely spoken creating broad relevanceLimited funding for literary research in Kenya
Research contributes to African literary scholarshipPublishing opportunities in Kenya are limited

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 188 arts & humanities courses
Public152k to 245k
152k at University of Nairobi245k at Kenyatta University
Private170k to 314k
170k at Kenya Methodist University314k 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

KU 244.8K (ku.ac.ke). KeMU 170K (eafinder). Kabarak 313.7K. UoN unverified.

HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. CODESRIA provides research grants for social science and humanities research in Africa.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

  • CODESRIA Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • CODESRIA Research Grant

    Grant

    Social science and humanities researchers in Africa

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

    ScholarshipKenyan

    Postgraduate students in Kenya

  • HELB Postgraduate Scholarship

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan postgraduate students

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 KU: Masters degree in relevant area from KU or recognised institution. Application fee KSh 3,000. At UoN: MA in English or related field from UoN or recognised institution.

Subject requirements
MA in English, Literature, Linguistics or related fieldRelevant Masters from recognised university

When it next starts

Taught at 6 institutions
January 20276 institutions

Including Mount Kenya University, Egerton University, University of Eldoret.

May 20276 institutions

Including Mount Kenya University, Egerton University, University of Eldoret.

September 20276 institutions

Including Mount Kenya University, Egerton University, University of Eldoret.

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, critical essays 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 Kenyatta University (Department of English and Linguistics) and University of Nairobi (Faculty of Arts). KU fees KSh 244,800/year.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Literary Critic

    Low demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 350,000

    Literary criticism for publications and media

  • University Professor

    Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Teaching and research in English departments

  • Editor

    Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 350,000

    Editing at publishing houses and media

  • Literary Researcher

    Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 380,000

    Research on literature and literary criticism

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, literary researchers, literary critics and editors. They work at universities, publishing houses and media organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • English PhD is just about reading novels.

    The field covers literary theory, linguistics, discourse analysis and postcolonial studies.

  • There is no demand for English PhDs in Kenya.

    Kenya's literary tradition and education sector create demand for English scholarship.

  • English research is purely textual analysis.

    The programme uses discourse analysis, sociolinguistics and empirical research methods.

  • Only English teachers study English PhDs.

    The programme attracts literary critics, editors, journalists and cultural researchers.

Further reading

Read next