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Doctor of Philosophy in Geomatic Engineering

The Doctor of Philosophy in Geomatic Engineering is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Geospatial and Space Technology and at JKUAT through the Department of Geomatic Engineering and Geospatial Information Systems. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in geomatic engineering, surveying and geospatial science. The programme addresses Kenya's surveying, mapping and spatial infrastructure development needs.

Duration
3-5 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 572,000
Ksh 1,716,000 to Ksh 2,860,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 168,000
Ksh 504,000 to Ksh 840,000 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 572,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,716,000 to Ksh 2,860,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 168,000 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 3-5 years, full-time, part-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 3 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Overhead Transmission Technician, at 10 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 geodesy and geodynamics, photogrammetry, remote sensing, satellite positioning, cadastral surveying, land information systems, hydrographic surveying, engineering surveying, geospatial data integration and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops geomatic engineering innovations for Kenya's spatial infrastructure.

Kenya's land reform agenda, cadastral surveying needs, infrastructure development, mapping requirements, satellite positioning infrastructure and spatial data integration create demand for doctoral-level geomatic engineering expertise. The programme supports Kenya's land management and spatial infrastructure development goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, laboratory sessions, fieldwork and supervised research. At UoN, the Department of Geospatial and Space Technology offers PhD in Geospatial Engineering (F806) with tuition at KSh 540,000/year, total KSh 1,756,000 over 3 years. At JKUAT, the Department of Geomatic Engineering and Geospatial Information Systems offers PhD with total cost KSh 510,500 over 3 years.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, geomatic engineering researchers, surveying consultants, GIS specialists and land information managers. They work in universities, Survey of Kenya, Ministry of Lands, county governments and engineering consulting firms.

The programme is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in geomatic engineering, surveying, GIS, civil engineering or related fields who wish to contribute original research to geomatic engineering.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Geodesy and Geodynamics
  • Photogrammetry and Close-Range Sensing
  • Remote Sensing and Satellite Image Analysis
  • Global Navigation Satellite Systems
  • Cadastral Surveying and Land Registration
  • Land Information Systems and Cadastre
  • Hydrographic Surveying
  • Engineering Surveying and Deformation Monitoring
  • Geospatial Data Integration and Quality Control
  • Research Methods in Geomatic Engineering

Modules

8 in the programme

  • Geodesy and Geodynamics

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Geodesy and geodynamics, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.

  • Photogrammetry and Close-Range Sensing

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Photogrammetry, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.

  • Global Navigation Satellite Systems

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    GNSS and positioning, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.

  • Cadastral Surveying and Land Registration

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Cadastral surveying, covering geospatial principles, mapping technologies, and their application in spatial analysis and research.

  • Land Information Systems and Cadastre

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Land information systems, covering technological tools, digital platforms, and information systems relevant to contemporary research and professional practice.

  • Research Methods in Geomatic Engineering

    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

  • Cadastral Surveying

    Research on cadastral surveying and land registration

  • Photogrammetry

    Research on photogrammetry and remote sensing

  • GNSS

    Research on satellite positioning systems

  • Geodesy

    Research on geodesy and geodynamics

A day as a student

A typical day involves processing satellite imagery, running geodetic computations, analysing survey data, reviewing geomatics literature, attending seminars on geospatial engineering, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and visiting Survey of Kenya, Ministry of Lands and RCMRD for research collaboration.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Kenya's land reform and infrastructure development create strong demandSurveying equipment and software are expensive
Access to Survey of Kenya and RCMRD for researchRequires strong mathematical and computational skills
Research contributes to land management and spatial infrastructureSmall cohort with limited peer interaction

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 332 engineering courses
Public170k to 572k
170k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology572k at University of Nairobi
Private150k to 168k
150k at Mount Kenya University168k at Kenya Methodist 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 572,000/yr F806 (uonbi.ac.ke). JKUAT 170,167/yr. KeMU 168,000, MKU 150,000/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 in Geospatial Engineering from UoN or recognised institution. Department of Geospatial and Space Technology. F806. Total KSh 1,756,000 over 3 years. At JKUAT: MSc in Engineering from JKUAT or recognised institution. Application fee KSh 1,500. Total KSh 510,500 over 3 years.

Subject requirements
MSc in Geomatic Engineering, Surveying, Geospatial Engineering or related fieldRelevant Masters from recognised university

When it next starts

Taught at 3 institutions
January 20273 institutions

Including Kenyatta University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, University of Nairobi.

May 20273 institutions

Including Kenyatta University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, University of Nairobi.

September 20273 institutions

Including Kenyatta University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, University of Nairobi.

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, surveying projects 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 University of Nairobi (Department of Geospatial and Space Technology, F806, total KSh 1,756,000) and JKUAT (Department of Geomatic Engineering and GEGIS, total KSh 510,500).

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Land Information Manager

    High demandKsh 190,000 to Ksh 480,000

    Land information at Ministry of Lands

  • University Professor

    High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Teaching and research in engineering departments

  • Geomatic Engineering Researcher

    High demandKsh 190,000 to Ksh 480,000

    Research on geomatic engineering

  • Surveying Consultant

    High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Consulting on surveying projects

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, geomatic engineering researchers, surveying consultants and land information managers. They work at Survey of Kenya, Ministry of Lands, county governments and engineering firms.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Geomatic engineering is just about land surveying.

    The field covers geodesy, photogrammetry, remote sensing, GNSS and land information systems.

  • There is no demand for geomatic engineering PhDs in Kenya.

    Kenya's land reform and infrastructure development create strong demand.

  • Geomatic engineering research is purely field-based.

    The programme uses satellite data processing, computational modelling and data integration.

  • Only surveyors study this PhD.

    The programme attracts engineers, computer scientists and geographers.

Further reading

Read next