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Environmental Science

Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Policy

The Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Policy is a doctoral programme offered at Kenyatta University and the University of Nairobi through their respective departments of environmental studies. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in environmental policy, governance and natural resource management. The programme addresses Kenya's need for evidence-based environmental policy research and analysis.

Duration
3-5 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 474,000
Ksh 1,422,000 to Ksh 2,370,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 168,000
Ksh 504,000 to Ksh 840,000 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 474,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,422,000 to Ksh 2,370,000 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 2 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Adolescent Mentorship Officer, at 14 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 policy analysis, environmental governance, environmental law, natural resource policy, climate change policy, environmental impact assessment, sustainable development policy, environmental economics, comparative environmental policy and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops policy insights for Kenya's environmental management challenges.

Kenya's environmental policy challenges including deforestation, wildlife conservation, climate change adaptation, pollution control and the need for evidence-based environmental governance create demand for doctoral-level environmental policy expertise. The programme supports Kenya's environmental governance and sustainable development goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework and supervised research. At KU, the programme is offered through the School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences or the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences with annual fees of KSh 244,800 for East Africans. At UoN, the programme is offered through the Department of Earth and Climate Sciences with PhD in Environmental Governance and Management at KSh 474,000/year.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, environmental policy analysts, environmental governance specialists, natural resource managers and environmental consultants. They work in universities, Ministry of Environment, NEMA, KFS, KWS, UNEP and international environmental organisations.

The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in environmental science, law, policy studies, public administration or related fields who wish to contribute original research to environmental policy.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Environmental Policy Analysis
  • Environmental Governance
  • Environmental Law and Regulation
  • Natural Resource Policy
  • Climate Change Policy
  • Environmental Impact Assessment
  • Sustainable Development Policy
  • Environmental Economics for Policy
  • Comparative Environmental Policy
  • Research Methods in Environmental Policy

Modules

8 in the programme

  • Environmental Policy Analysis

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

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

  • Environmental Governance

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Governance of environmental resources, covering ecological principles, environmental management approaches, and sustainability challenges in contemporary contexts.

  • Environmental Law and Regulation

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Legal frameworks for environment, examining legal frameworks, regulatory regimes, and their practical implications for professional practice in Kenya.

  • Climate Change Policy

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Policy responses to climate change, analysing policy frameworks, implementation strategies, and their impact on practice within the Kenyan and broader African context.

  • Environmental Impact Assessment

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    EIA theory and practice, covering assessment design, evaluation methodologies, data-driven decision-making, and quality assurance processes.

  • Research Methods in Environmental Policy

    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

  • Climate Change Policy

    Research on climate change policy

  • Environmental Impact Assessment

    Research on EIA policy and practice

  • Natural Resource Policy

    Research on natural resource policy

  • Environmental Governance

    Research on environmental governance

A day as a student

A typical day involves analysing environmental policy documents, reviewing environmental governance literature, conducting policy evaluation research, attending seminars on environmental policy, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with NEMA, UNEP and IUCN for policy-relevant research.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Access to NEMA, UNEP and IUCN in NairobiRequires interdisciplinary knowledge of law, economics and environment
Kenya's environmental governance challenges create demandLimited funding for environmental policy research
Research informs environmental policy and governancePolicy research can be politically sensitive

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 courses
Public170k to 474k
170k at JKUAT474k 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 WMI ~474K/yr, JKUAT ~170K/yr. MKU ~150K, KeMU ~168K/yr.

HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. UNEP and IUCN may provide research grants for environmental policy research.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

  • UNEP Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • HELB Postgraduate Scholarship

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan postgraduate students

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

    ScholarshipKenyan

    Postgraduate students in Kenya

  • UNEP Research Grant

    Grant

    Environmental researchers

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: Masters degree from UoN or recognised institution. PhD in Environmental Governance and Management (A82) has 9 course units plus thesis.

Subject requirements
MSc/Masters in Environmental Science, Environmental Policy, Law, Public Administration or related fieldRelevant Masters from recognised university

When it next starts

Taught at 2 institutions
January 20272 institutions

Including Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi.

May 20272 institutions

Including Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi.

September 20272 institutions

Including Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi.

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, policy analysis projects 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

  • National Environment Management Authority

    Regulatory

    Registers EIA lead experts and regulates environmental compliance

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at Kenyatta University and University of Nairobi (Department of Earth and Climate Sciences, PhD in Environmental Governance and Management, total KSh 1,442,000 over 3 years). NEMA registers EIA lead experts.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Environmental Policy Analyst

    Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Policy analysis at Ministry of Environment and NEMA

  • Environmental Governance Specialist

    Moderate demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000

    Governance at UNEP and IUCN

  • University Professor

    Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Teaching and research in environmental policy departments

  • Natural Resource Manager

    Moderate demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 400,000

    Resource management at KFS and KWS

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, environmental policy analysts, environmental governance specialists and natural resource managers. They work at NEMA, Ministry of Environment, KWS, UNEP, IUCN and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Environmental policy is just about making rules.

    The field covers governance, law, economics, impact assessment and comparative policy analysis.

  • There is no demand for environmental policy PhDs in Kenya.

    Kenya's environmental governance challenges create demand for policy expertise.

  • Environmental policy research is purely qualitative.

    The programme uses policy analysis, economic evaluation and empirical research methods.

  • Only lawyers study environmental policy PhDs.

    The programme attracts environmental scientists, economists and public administrators.

Further reading

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