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Doctor of Philosophy in Food Security

The Doctor of Philosophy in Food Security is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Agricultural Economics and at Egerton University through the Faculty of Agriculture.

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 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

It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in food security, food systems and agricultural policy. The programme addresses Kenya's food security research and policy development needs.

Students engage with advanced topics in food security analysis, agricultural economics, food policy, food systems analysis, rural development, climate change and food security, agricultural productivity, food value chains, food access and affordability, vulnerability assessment and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops food security insights for Kenya's food security challenges.

Kenya's recurring food insecurity, drought and famine, climate change impacts on agriculture, rural poverty, food price volatility, agricultural productivity gaps, food value chain inefficiencies, school feeding programmes and the demand for food security policy research create demand for doctoral-level food security expertise. The programme supports Kenya's food security and agricultural development goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, field sessions and supervised research. At UoN, the Department of Agricultural Economics offers PhD in Agricultural and Applied Economics with food security as a research focus. Tuition KSh 432,000/year, total KSh 1,432,000 over 3 years. Application fee KSh 4,000. At Egerton, food security research is conducted through the Faculty of Agriculture. Application fee KSh 2,000.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, food security researchers, agricultural policy analysts, food programme managers and development consultants. They work in universities, Ministry of Agriculture, FAO, World Food Programme, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization and international organisations.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Food Security Analysis and Measurement
  • Agricultural Economics and Food Policy
  • Food Systems Analysis and Modelling
  • Climate Change and Food Security
  • Agricultural Productivity and Technology
  • Food Value Chains and Market Analysis
  • Rural Development and Livelihoods
  • Vulnerability Assessment and Risk Management
  • Food Access, Affordability and Nutrition
  • Research Methods in Food Security

Modules

8 in the programme

  • Food Security Analysis and Measurement

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Food security analysis, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and current analytical techniques used in advanced research and professional practice.

  • Agricultural Economics and Food Policy

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Food policy, analysing policy frameworks, implementation strategies, and their impact on practice within the Kenyan and broader African context.

  • Climate Change and Food Security

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Climate change, covering climate science principles, adaptation strategies, and their application in environmental policy.

  • Food Value Chains and Market Analysis

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Value chains, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and current analytical techniques used in advanced research and professional practice.

  • Vulnerability Assessment and Risk Management

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Vulnerability assessment, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.

  • Research Methods in Food Security

    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 Policy Analysis

    Research on food policy

  • Vulnerability Assessment

    Research on vulnerability

  • Food Value Chains

    Research on food value chains

  • Climate Change and Food Security

    Research on climate change impacts

A day as a student

A typical day involves conducting food security research, analysing agricultural data, reviewing food policy literature, attending seminars on food systems, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with FAO, WFP, KALRO and Ministry of Agriculture for research collaboration. Fieldwork in rural communities is common.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Kenya's food insecurity creates strong demandUoN PhD is expensive (KSh 1,432,000 total)
Access to FAO, WFP, KALRO and IFPRIFieldwork in drought-affected areas is challenging
Research contributes to food security improvementRequires multidisciplinary knowledge

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
Public245k to 464k
245k at Egerton University464k 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

Egerton 245K/yr (egerton.ac.ke), UoN 464K/yr. KeMU 168K (eafinder), 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

  • NACOSTI Research Grant

    GrantKenyan

    Science and technology researchers in Kenya

  • 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 UoN: MSc from UoN or recognised institution. Department of Agricultural Economics. PhD in Agricultural and Applied Economics (AAE 8) with food security focus. Total KSh 1,432,000 over 3 years. Application fee KSh 4,000. At Egerton: MSc from Egerton or recognised institution. Faculty of Agriculture. Application fee KSh 2,000.

Subject requirements
MSc in Agricultural Economics, Agriculture, Economics or related fieldRelevant Masters from recognised university

When it next starts

Taught at 2 institutions
January 20272 institutions

Including Egerton University, University of Nairobi.

May 20272 institutions

Including Egerton University, University of Nairobi.

September 20272 institutions

Including Egerton 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, field 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

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at University of Nairobi (Department of Agricultural Economics, PhD in Agricultural and Applied Economics AAE 8 with food security focus, total KSh 1,432,000 over 3 years, application fee KSh 4,000) and Egerton University (Faculty of Agriculture, application fee KSh 2,000).

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Agricultural Policy Analyst

    High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000

    Policy at Ministry of Agriculture

  • Food Security Researcher

    High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Research at KALRO and FAO

  • University Professor

    High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Teaching and research in agriculture departments

  • Food Programme Manager

    High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000

    Programme management at WFP

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, food security researchers, agricultural policy analysts and food programme managers. They work at FAO, WFP, KALRO, Ministry of Agriculture and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Food security is just about food production.

    The field covers food access, affordability, vulnerability, policy, value chains and climate change.

  • There is no demand for food security PhDs in Kenya.

    Kenya's recurring food insecurity creates strong demand.

  • Food security research is purely descriptive.

    The programme uses econometrics, modelling, GIS, vulnerability analysis and policy research.

  • Only agriculturalists study this PhD.

    The programme attracts economists, nutritionists and development professionals.

Further reading

Read next