Engineering

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.

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.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 572,000
Private, up to: Ksh 168,000
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: 3 students
Award: PhD

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 favour

Kenya's spatial data infrastructure creates strong demand
Access to Survey of Kenya, RCMRD and ICT Authority
Research contributes to digital spatial infrastructure

Against it

Software licences and equipment are expensive
Requires programming, mathematics and spatial analysis skills
Small 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

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: Masters Degree
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.

MSc in Geomatics, Geospatial Engineering, GIS, Surveying 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
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

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).

Accredited by

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

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

Industry links

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.