Agriculture

Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science

The Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science is a doctoral programme offered at Egerton University through the Department of Dairy, Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in food science, food processing and food quality.

The programme addresses Kenya's food science research and food industry development needs.

Students engage with advanced topics in food chemistry, food microbiology, food processing engineering, food quality and safety, dairy science and technology, food product development, food packaging, sensory evaluation, food biotechnology and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops food science insights for Kenya's food industry challenges.

Kenya's food processing industry, dairy sector, food safety regulation, food fortification, value addition to agricultural products, food standards compliance, food exports and the demand for food science research create demand for doctoral-level food science expertise. The programme supports Kenya's food security and agro-processing development goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, laboratory sessions and supervised research. At Egerton, the Department of Dairy, Food Science and Technology offers PhD in Food Science (programme 55). Application fee KSh 2,000. Non-East African students pay 30% higher than indicated rates.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, food science researchers, food quality managers, food product developers and food industry consultants. They work in universities, Kenya Bureau of Standards, food processing companies, Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute and international organisations.

Duration: 3-4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 464,000
Private, up to: Ksh 313,700
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 4 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Advanced Food Chemistry and Biochemistry
Food Microbiology and Safety
Food Processing Engineering and Technology
Food Quality Assurance and Control Systems
Dairy Science and Technology
Food Product Development and Innovation
Food Packaging and Shelf-life Studies
Sensory Evaluation and Consumer Science
Food Biotechnology and Fermentation
Research Methods in Food Science

Modules

8 in the programme

Advanced Food Chemistry and Biochemistry
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Food chemistry, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Food Microbiology and Safety
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Food microbiology, covering biological principles, research techniques, and their application in understanding living systems.
Food Processing Engineering and Technology
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Food processing, covering technological tools, digital platforms, and information systems relevant to contemporary research and professional practice.
Food Quality Assurance and Control Systems
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Quality assurance, covering quality assurance principles, control methodologies, and their application in professional standards.
Dairy Science and Technology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Dairy science, covering technological tools, digital platforms, and information systems relevant to contemporary research and professional practice.
Research Methods in Food Science
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research methods, 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, providing a platform for doctoral candidates to present research findings, engage with peer feedback, and explore contemporary debates in the field.
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

Food Product Development
Research on food product innovation
Food Microbiology and Safety
Research on food safety
Food Processing Engineering
Research on food processing
Dairy Science and Technology
Research on dairy processing

A day as a student

A typical day involves conducting food science research, analysing food samples in the laboratory, reviewing food science literature, attending seminars on food processing, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with KEBS, KIRDI and food companies for research collaboration. Laboratory work is extensive.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's food processing industry creates demand
Access to KEBS, KIRDI and food companies
Research contributes to food security and safety

Against it

Laboratory equipment and reagents are expensive
Requires access to food processing facilities
Food safety compliance adds regulatory complexity

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 303 agriculture courses

Public170k to 464k

170k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology464k at University of Nairobi

Private168k to 314k

168k 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

UoN 464K/yr (foodtech.uonbi.ac.ke), JKUAT 170K/yr. KeMU 168K, Kabarak 314K/yr

HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. NACOSTI provides research grants for science and technology research.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
NACOSTI Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers in Kenya
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: Masters Degree
Alternative entry: At Egerton: MSc from Egerton or recognised institution. Department of Dairy, Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences. PhD in Food Science (programme 55). Application fee KSh 2,000. Non-East Africans pay 30% higher.

MSc in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Biochemistry or related field
Relevant Masters from recognised university

How you are assessed

3 components

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
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, laboratory projects and seminar presentations

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at Egerton University (Department of Dairy, Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, PhD in Food Science programme 55, application fee KSh 2,000, non-East Africans pay 30% higher). KEBS regulates food standards.

Accredited by

Kenya Bureau of Standards
Professional
Regulates food standards and quality in Kenya
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Food Science Researcher
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Research at KIRDI and research institutes
Food Quality Manager
High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000
Quality management at food companies
Food Product Developer
High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000
Product development at food companies
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in food science departments

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, food science researchers, food quality managers and food product developers. They work at KEBS, KIRDI, food processing companies and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Food science is just about cooking.
The field covers food chemistry, microbiology, processing engineering, quality assurance and product development.
There is no demand for food science PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's food processing industry creates demand.
Food science research is purely practical.
The programme uses biochemistry, microbiology, engineering and statistical analysis.
Only food scientists study this PhD.
The programme attracts chemists, microbiologists and engineers.