Doctor of Philosophy in Exercise and Sports Science
The Doctor of Philosophy in Exercise and Sports Science is a doctoral programme offered at Kenyatta University through the Department of Physical Education, Exercise and Sport Science, School of Health Sciences. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in exercise science, sports performance and physical activity for health. The programme addresses Kenya's growing interest in sports science, athlete performance and physical activity for public health.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 361,600 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,084,800 to Ksh 1,446,400 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 250,000 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 3-4 years, full-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 Dental Ceramist, 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 exercise physiology, sports biomechanics, sports medicine, exercise psychology, motor control and learning, sports nutrition, physical activity epidemiology, sports performance analysis, rehabilitation science and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops exercise and sports science innovations for Kenya's athletic population and public health.
Kenya's position as a world-leading athletics nation, the growth of professional sports, the need for sports medicine expertise and the increasing focus on physical activity for health create demand for doctoral-level exercise and sports science expertise. The programme supports Kenya's sports development and public health goals.
Teaching is delivered through coursework and supervised research at Kenyatta University. The programme is offered in Regular Full-Time mode through the School of Health Sciences. Annual tuition fees are KSh 336,600 for East Africans and KSh 420,750 for non-East Africans, with additional charges of KSh 22,000-25,000 for registration, medical, ID and internet. Application fee is KSh 3,000.
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, exercise physiologists, sports scientists, sports medicine specialists and physical activity researchers. They work in universities, sports institutes, Ministry of Sports, sports federations, hospitals and fitness organisations.
The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in exercise science, sports medicine, kinesiology, physical education or biomedical science who wish to contribute original research to exercise and sports science.
What you study
10 subjects- Advanced Exercise Physiology
- Sports Biomechanics
- Sports Medicine
- Exercise Psychology
- Motor Control and Learning
- Sports Nutrition
- Physical Activity Epidemiology
- Sports Performance Analysis
- Rehabilitation Science
- Research Methods in Exercise Science
Modules
8 in the programmeAdvanced Exercise Physiology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Physiological responses to exercise, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Sports Biomechanics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Biomechanical analysis of sports performance, covering exercise science principles, performance analysis, and their application in sports and health.
Sports Medicine
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Medical aspects of sports and exercise, covering exercise science principles, performance analysis, and their application in sports and health.
Motor Control and Learning
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Control and learning of motor skills, examining pedagogical theories, educational frameworks, and their application in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.
Sports Nutrition
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Nutrition for athletic performance, covering nutritional science principles, dietary assessment methods, and their application in public health.
Research Methods in Exercise Science
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research design and methodology for exercise science, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in.
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
Physical Activity Epidemiology
Research on physical activity and health
Sports Biomechanics
Research on biomechanics of sports
Exercise Physiology
Research on physiological responses to exercise
Sports Medicine
Research on medical aspects of sports
A day as a student
A typical day involves conducting physiological tests on athletes in the laboratory, analysing biomechanical data, reviewing exercise science literature, attending seminars on sports science, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with sports federations and training camps for field research.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Kenya's world athletics leadership creates unique research opportunities | Career opportunities outside academia and sports are limited |
| Leading institution for exercise science training in Kenya | Laboratory research requires specialised equipment |
| Research directly supports athlete performance and public health | Limited funding for sports science research in Kenya |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 243 education 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
KU ~361,600/yr incl. charges (healthsciences.ku.ac.ke). UoN ~320,000/yr. KeMU ~170,000, MKU ~250,000/yr.
HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. Olympic Solidarity may provide scholarships for sports-related research.
Funding options
HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
Olympic Solidarity Scholarship
Scholarships
3 recordedOlympic Solidarity Scholarship
Scholarship
Sports researchers and athletes
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
Applicants should have attained a minimum academic qualification of a Master's degree in Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Sports Medicine, Medicine, Biomedical Science or equivalent from a recognised university. Application fee KSh 3,000 for East Africans.
When it next starts
Taught at 2 institutionsIncluding Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenyatta University.
Including Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenyatta University.
Including Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenyatta University.
How you are assessed
3 componentsThesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before departmental panel
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, laboratory reports and seminar presentations
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 Physical Education, Exercise and Sport Science, School of Health Sciences). Regular Full-Time mode. Application fee KSh 3,000. The department is the leading institution offering training in Exercise and Sport Science in Kenya.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesUniversity Professor
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in health sciences departments
Exercise Physiologist
Moderate demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Physiological testing and research at sports institutes
Sports Medicine Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Sports medicine at hospitals and sports teams
Sports Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Sports science at federations and training centres
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, exercise physiologists, sports scientists and sports medicine specialists. They work at universities, sports institutes, Athletics Kenya, Ministry of Sports and hospitals.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Dental CeramistHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- Occupational Therapist AssistantHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- PsychologyHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- Dental ProsthetistHealth Sciences4Low exposure
- Dental Laboratory TechnicianHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- General DentistHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- Veterinary PathologistHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- Community Health NurseHealth Sciences6Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Exercise and sports science is just about coaching.
The field covers exercise physiology, biomechanics, sports medicine, nutrition and epidemiology.
There is no demand for sports science PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's position as a world athletics leader creates demand for sports science research.
Sports science research is not rigorous.
The programme uses physiological testing, biomechanical analysis and empirical research methods.
Only athletes study sports science PhDs.
The programme attracts medical professionals, physiologists and physical educators.