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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.

Duration
3-4 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 464,000
Ksh 1,392,000 to Ksh 1,856,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 313,700
Ksh 941,100 to Ksh 1,254,800 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 464,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,392,000 to Ksh 1,856,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 313,700 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, part-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 6 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

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.

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 favourAgainst it
Kenya's food processing industry creates demandLaboratory equipment and reagents are expensive
Access to KEBS, KIRDI and food companiesRequires access to food processing facilities
Research contributes to food security and safetyFood 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

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 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.

Subject requirements
MSc in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Biochemistry or related fieldRelevant Masters from recognised university

When it next starts

Taught at 6 institutions
January 20276 institutions

Including Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi, Chuka University.

May 20276 institutions

Including Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi, Chuka University.

September 20276 institutions

Including Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi, Chuka 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

  • 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

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.

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

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.

Further reading

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