Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Planning and Management
The Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Planning and Management is a doctoral programme offered at Kenyatta University through the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in environmental planning, land use management and sustainable development. The programme addresses Kenya's environmental planning challenges including urbanisation, land degradation and resource management.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 512,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,536,000 to Ksh 2,560,000 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 Aquaculture Technologist, at 3 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 environmental planning theory, land use planning, environmental impact assessment, geographic information systems, environmental policy, urban and regional planning, natural resource management, climate change adaptation planning, environmental economics and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops planning innovations for Kenya's environmental and development challenges.
Kenya's rapid urbanisation, land use conflicts, environmental degradation and the need for sustainable resource management create demand for doctoral-level environmental planning expertise. The programme supports Kenya's Vision 2030 environmental planning and sustainable development goals.
Teaching is delivered through coursework, research and thesis at Kenyatta University Main Campus. Annual fees are KSh 408,000 for East Africans and KSh 510,000 for non-East Africans. Application fee is KSh 3,000 for East Africans. Intakes are in September and January.
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, environmental planners, environmental policy analysts, GIS specialists and environmental consultants. They work in universities, NEMA, county governments, Ministry of Lands, planning departments and international environmental organisations.
The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in environmental planning, geography, environmental science or related fields who wish to contribute original research to environmental planning and management.
What you study
10 subjects- Environmental Planning Theory
- Land Use Planning and Management
- Environmental Impact Assessment
- Geographic Information Systems
- Environmental Policy and Governance
- Urban and Regional Planning
- Natural Resource Management
- Climate Change Adaptation Planning
- Environmental Economics
- Research Methods in Environmental Planning
Modules
8 in the programmeEnvironmental Planning Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theoretical foundations of environmental planning, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
Land Use Planning and Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Planning and management of land use, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
Environmental Impact Assessment
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Methods for environmental impact assessment, covering assessment design, evaluation methodologies, data-driven decision-making, and quality assurance processes.
Geographic Information Systems
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
GIS for environmental planning, covering technological tools, digital platforms, and information systems relevant to contemporary research and professional practice.
Urban and Regional Planning
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Planning of urban and regional development, covering planning theories, methodologies, and practical approaches to strategic and spatial planning in professional contexts.
Research Methods in Environmental Planning
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research design and methodology for environmental planning, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level.
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
Natural Resource Planning
Research on natural resource planning
Climate Adaptation Planning
Research on climate change adaptation planning
Urban Planning
Research on urban environmental planning
Land Use Management
Research on land use planning and management
A day as a student
A typical day involves analysing spatial data using GIS software, reviewing environmental planning literature, developing planning frameworks, attending seminars on environmental planning, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with NEMA, county governments and UN-Habitat for policy-relevant research.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Kenya's urbanisation creates strong demand for environmental planning | Requires broad knowledge of planning, environment and policy |
| UN-Habitat and UNEP headquartered in Nairobi | Access to spatial data can be restricted |
| Research directly informs land use and environmental policy | Balancing research with work commitments |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 181 environmental science 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 Planning ~512K/yr, KU ~408K/yr. MKU ~150K, KeMU ~168K/yr.
HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. UNEP and UN-Habitat may provide fellowships for environmental planning research.
Funding options
HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
UNEP Fellowship
Scholarships
3 recordedUNEP Fellowship
FellowshipKenyan
Environmental planning researchers
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students 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
Master's degree in any relevant discipline from a recognised university plus undergraduate degree at Second Class Honours (Upper Division) in Environmental Planning and Management, Environmental Studies, Geography, Economics, Architecture, Surveying, Land Economics, Engineering, Law, Sociology, Agriculture, Forestry, Zoology or Botany.
When it next starts
Taught at 4 institutionsIncluding Maasai Mara University, University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University.
Including Maasai Mara University, University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University.
Including Maasai Mara University, University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University.
How you are assessed
3 componentsThesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, planning projects and seminar presentations
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before school 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 (School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences) through Coursework, Research and Thesis. Application fee KSh 3,000. Intakes in September and January. Applicants need Master's degree plus relevant undergraduate degree.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesUniversity Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in environmental science departments
Environmental Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 400,000
Policy analysis at government and international organisations
Environmental Planner
High demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Environmental planning at county governments and NEMA
GIS Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 400,000
GIS analysis for environmental planning
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, environmental planners, environmental policy analysts and GIS specialists. They work at NEMA, county governments, Ministry of Lands, UN-Habitat and universities.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Aquaculture TechnologistAgriculture3Low exposure
- Climate-Resilient Seed BreederAgriculture3Low exposure
- Veterinary Public OfficerAgriculture3Low exposure
- Veterinary OfficerAgriculture7Low exposure
- Climate Change AnalystEnvironmental Science10Low exposure
- Wildlife Corridors EcologistEnvironmental Science10Low exposure
- Farm Insurance AssessorAgriculture11Low exposure
- Finance AnalystEnvironmental Science11Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Environmental planning is just about zoning.
The field covers EIA, GIS, policy, urban planning, climate adaptation and natural resource management.
There is no demand for environmental planning PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's urbanisation and land use conflicts create strong demand for planning expertise.
Environmental planning research is not rigorous.
The programme uses GIS, spatial analysis, statistical modelling and policy analysis.
Only planners study environmental planning PhDs.
The programme attracts geographers, environmental scientists, economists and architects.