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Doctor of Philosophy in Fine Art

The Doctor of Philosophy in Fine Art is a doctoral programme offered at Kenyatta University through the School of Visual and Performing Arts. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in fine art, visual arts and artistic practice. The programme addresses Kenya's growing creative economy and the need for advanced artistic research and scholarship.

Duration
3-5 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 512,000
Ksh 1,536,000 to Ksh 2,560,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 317,200
Ksh 951,600 to Ksh 1,586,000 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

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 317,200 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 Applied Ethicist, at 20 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 art theory and criticism, visual culture studies, contemporary art practices, African art history, studio research methods, art and technology, curatorial studies, public art, art entrepreneurship and research methods in fine art. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops artistic and scholarly insights for Kenya's creative economy.

Kenya's growing creative economy, the expansion of the Nairobi art scene, the international recognition of Kenyan artists and the need for art education and research create demand for doctoral-level fine art expertise. The programme supports Kenya's creative economy development and cultural expression goals.

Teaching is delivered through studio practice, coursework and supervised research at Kenyatta University. The School of Visual and Performing Arts offers the programme with annual fees of KSh 244,800 for East Africans. Application fee is KSh 3,000.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, art researchers, curators, art critics and creative entrepreneurs. They work in universities, museums, galleries, cultural institutions and creative industries.

The programme is ideal for practising artists and scholars with backgrounds in fine art, visual arts, art history or related fields who wish to contribute original research to fine art.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Art Theory and Criticism
  • Visual Culture Studies
  • Contemporary Art Practices
  • African Art History
  • Studio Research Methods
  • Art and Technology
  • Curatorial Studies
  • Public Art and Community Engagement
  • Art Entrepreneurship
  • Research Methods in Fine Art

Modules

8 in the programme

  • Art Theory and Criticism

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

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

  • Visual Culture Studies

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

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

  • Contemporary Art Practices

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Current practices in contemporary art, covering artistic principles, creative methodologies, and their application in cultural production and research.

  • African Art History

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    History of African art, covering historical methods, archaeological techniques, and their application in understanding past societies.

  • Curatorial Studies

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Theory and practice of curating, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.

  • Research Methods in Fine Art

    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

  • Sculpture

    Research on sculpture and three-dimensional art

  • Curatorial Studies

    Research on curatorial practice

  • Painting and Drawing

    Research on painting and drawing practices

  • Art History

    Research on art history

A day as a student

A typical day involves studio practice and art production, reviewing art theory and criticism, curating exhibitions, attending seminars on visual culture, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with galleries, museums and art collectives for research collaboration.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Kenya's growing creative economy creates opportunitiesCareer opportunities outside academia are limited
Access to Nairobi's vibrant art scene and galleriesLimited funding for art research in Kenya
Research contributes to African art scholarshipStudio space and materials can be expensive

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 73 art and design courses
Public275k to 512k
275k at Kenyatta University512k at University of Nairobi
Private170k to 317k
170k at Kenya Methodist University317k 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

UoN 512K arts-design.uonbi.ac.ke. KU 275K ku.ac.ke. KeMU 170K eafinder, Kabarak 317K kabarak.ac.ke

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

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

  • CODESRIA Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • CODESRIA Research Grant

    Grant

    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. The School of Visual and Performing Arts offers the programme.

Subject requirements
MA/MFA in Fine Art, Visual Arts, Art History or related fieldRelevant Masters from recognised university

When it next starts

Taught at 2 institutions
January 20272 institutions

Including Kenyatta University, Maseno University.

May 20272 institutions

Including Kenyatta University, Maseno University.

September 20272 institutions

Including Kenyatta University, Maseno University.

How you are assessed

3 components

  • Coursework

    Continuous assessment30% of the mark

    Assignments, studio projects and seminar presentations

  • Thesis

    Thesis50% of the mark

    Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence

  • 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 (School of Visual and Performing Arts). KU fees KSh 244,800/year.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Art Researcher

    Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 380,000

    Research on art and visual culture

  • University Professor

    Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Teaching and research in art departments

  • Art Critic

    Low demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 320,000

    Art criticism for publications

  • Curator

    Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 350,000

    Curating at museums and galleries

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, art researchers, curators and art critics. They work at universities, National Museums of Kenya, galleries and cultural institutions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Fine art PhD is just about painting.

    The field covers art theory, visual culture, curatorial studies, art history and research methods.

  • There is no demand for fine art PhDs in Kenya.

    Kenya's growing creative economy creates demand for art scholarship.

  • Art research is purely practical.

    The programme includes theoretical research, criticism and cultural studies.

  • Only artists study fine art PhDs.

    The programme attracts curators, critics, historians and cultural entrepreneurs.

Further reading

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