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Doctor of Philosophy in Geomatics and Geospatial Information Science

The Doctor of Philosophy in Geomatics and Geospatial Information Science is a doctoral programme offered at JKUAT through the Department of Geomatic Engineering and Geospatial Information Systems (GEGIS) and at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Geospatial and Space Technology.

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 1 institution.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Cloud Security Engineer, 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 geomatics, geospatial information science and spatial data engineering. The programme addresses Kenya's spatial data infrastructure and geospatial technology development needs.

Students engage with advanced topics in geospatial data science, spatial databases, remote sensing analytics, GNSS and positioning, photogrammetry, cartographic science, spatial data infrastructure, geospatial web services, spatial data quality and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops geospatial information science innovations for Kenya's spatial data needs.

Kenya's National Spatial Data Infrastructure, land management digitalisation, urban planning technology, location-based services growth, satellite data utilisation and geospatial industry expansion create demand for doctoral-level geomatics and geospatial information science expertise. The programme supports Kenya's digital spatial infrastructure goals.

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

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, geospatial researchers, spatial data scientists, GIS consultants and geospatial project managers. They work in universities, Survey of Kenya, ICT Authority, RCMRD and geospatial technology companies.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Geospatial Data Science and Analytics
  • Spatial Database Design and Management
  • Remote Sensing Analytics and Image Processing
  • GNSS and Precision Positioning
  • Photogrammetry and 3D Modelling
  • Cartographic Science and Visualisation
  • Spatial Data Infrastructure and Standards
  • Geospatial Web Services and Cloud GIS
  • Spatial Data Quality and Uncertainty
  • Research Methods in Geospatial Information Science

Modules

8 in the programme

  • Geospatial Data Science and Analytics

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Data science for geospatial applications, covering geospatial principles, mapping technologies, and their application in spatial analysis and research.

  • Spatial Database Design and Management

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Spatial databases, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.

  • Remote Sensing Analytics and Image Processing

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

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

  • GNSS and Precision Positioning

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

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

  • Spatial Data Infrastructure and Standards

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    SDI and standards, covering data collection, analysis techniques, and computational tools for managing and interpreting complex datasets.

  • Research Methods in Geospatial Information Science

    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

  • Spatial Data Infrastructure

    Research on SDI and standards

  • Geospatial Data Science

    Research on geospatial data science

  • Remote Sensing

    Research on remote sensing analytics

  • GNSS

    Research on GNSS and positioning

A day as a student

A typical day involves processing geospatial data, developing spatial algorithms, running remote sensing analyses, reviewing geomatics literature, attending seminars on geospatial science, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and visiting Survey of Kenya, RCMRD and ICT Authority for research collaboration.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Kenya's spatial data infrastructure creates strong demandSoftware licences and equipment are expensive
Access to Survey of Kenya, RCMRD and ICT AuthorityRequires programming, mathematics and spatial analysis skills
Research contributes to digital 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 572K/yr (geospatial.uonbi.ac.ke). JKUAT 170K/yr (kenyaeducationguide). KeMU 168K, MKU 150K/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

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

    ScholarshipKenyan

    Postgraduate students in Kenya

  • NACOSTI Research Grant

    GrantKenyan

    Science and technology researchers 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 JKUAT: MSc from JKUAT or recognised institution. Department of GEGIS. Total KSh 510,500 over 3 years. At UoN: MSc in Geospatial Engineering from UoN or recognised institution. F806. Total KSh 1,756,000.

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

When it next starts

Taught at 1 institution
January 20271 institution

Including Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.

May 20271 institution

Including Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.

September 20271 institution

Including Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.

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, geospatial 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 JKUAT (Department of GEGIS, total KSh 510,500) and UoN (Department of Geospatial and Space Technology, F806, total KSh 1,756,000).

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • GIS Consultant

    High demandKsh 190,000 to Ksh 480,000

    Consulting on geospatial projects

  • Spatial Data Scientist

    High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Data science at ICT Authority and companies

  • Geospatial Researcher

    High demandKsh 190,000 to Ksh 480,000

    Research on geospatial science

  • University Professor

    High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Teaching and research in geospatial departments

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, geospatial researchers, spatial data scientists and GIS consultants. They work at Survey of Kenya, ICT Authority, RCMRD and geospatial companies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Geomatics is the same as geography.

    Geomatics is an engineering discipline focused on spatial data acquisition, processing and management.

  • There is no demand for geomatics PhDs in Kenya.

    Kenya's spatial data infrastructure development creates strong demand.

  • Geospatial research is purely software-based.

    The programme integrates field surveying, satellite data processing and computational analysis.

  • Only surveyors study geomatics PhDs.

    The programme attracts computer scientists, engineers and geographers.

Further reading

Read next