Skip to content
Pathrel
Start free
All courses
Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy in Geospatial Engineering

The Doctor of Philosophy in Geospatial Engineering is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Geospatial and Space Technology. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in geospatial engineering, positioning science and space technology. The programme addresses Kenya's geospatial engineering and space technology 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 1 institution.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, satellite geodesy, GNSS engineering, remote sensing engineering, photogrammetric engineering, cartographic engineering, spatial data engineering, geospatial software engineering, space technology applications and research methods.

The curriculum emphasises original research that develops geospatial engineering innovations for Kenya's infrastructure and space technology sectors.

Kenya's space technology development through the Kenya Space Agency, satellite positioning infrastructure, geospatial industry growth, infrastructure monitoring needs, mapping modernisation and spatial data engineering create demand for doctoral-level geospatial engineering expertise. The programme supports Kenya's space technology and geospatial infrastructure 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 (FGS81) with tuition at KSh 540,000/year, Year 1 total KSh 572,000, total KSh 1,756,000 over 3 years.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, geospatial engineering researchers, space technology specialists, GNSS engineers and geospatial consultants. They work in universities, Kenya Space Agency, Survey of Kenya, ICT Authority and geospatial engineering companies.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Advanced Geodesy and Satellite Geodesy
  • GNSS Engineering and Applications
  • Remote Sensing Engineering
  • Photogrammetric Engineering
  • Cartographic Engineering and Visualisation
  • Spatial Data Engineering and Infrastructure
  • Geospatial Software Engineering
  • Space Technology and Satellite Applications
  • Deformation Monitoring and Engineering Surveying
  • Research Methods in Geospatial Engineering

Modules

8 in the programme

  • Advanced Geodesy and Satellite Geodesy

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Geodesy and satellite geodesy, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.

  • GNSS Engineering and Applications

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    GNSS engineering, covering engineering principles, design methodologies, and their application in solving complex technical problems.

  • Remote Sensing Engineering

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Remote sensing engineering, covering engineering principles, design methodologies, and their application in solving complex technical problems.

  • Space Technology and Satellite Applications

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

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

  • Spatial Data Engineering and Infrastructure

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Spatial data engineering, covering engineering principles, design methodologies, and their application in solving complex technical problems.

  • Research Methods in Geospatial 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

  • GNSS Engineering

    Research on GNSS engineering

  • Spatial Data Engineering

    Research on spatial data engineering

  • Space Technology

    Research on space technology and satellite applications

  • Satellite Geodesy

    Research on satellite geodesy

A day as a student

A typical day involves processing satellite data, running geodetic computations, developing geospatial software, reviewing geospatial engineering literature, attending seminars on space technology, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and visiting Kenya Space Agency, Survey of Kenya and RCMRD for research collaboration.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Kenya's space agency and spatial infrastructure create strong demandEquipment and software are expensive
Access to Kenya Space Agency, Survey of Kenya and RCMRDRequires strong mathematical and programming skills
Research contributes to space technology and spatial infrastructureVery 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. 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

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

    ScholarshipKenyan

    Postgraduate students in Kenya

  • NACOSTI Research Grant

    GrantKenyan

    Science and technology researchers 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.

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

When it next starts

Taught at 1 institution
January 20271 institution

Including University of Nairobi.

May 20271 institution

Including University of Nairobi.

September 20271 institution

Including 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, engineering 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 Geospatial and Space Technology, F806, total KSh 1,756,000 over 3 years). Kenya Space Agency supports space technology research.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Geospatial Engineering Researcher

    High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Research on geospatial engineering

  • GNSS Engineer

    High demandKsh 190,000 to Ksh 480,000

    GNSS engineering at companies and agencies

  • University Professor

    High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Teaching and research in engineering departments

  • Space Technology Specialist

    High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Space technology at Kenya Space Agency

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, geospatial engineering researchers, space technology specialists and GNSS engineers. They work at Kenya Space Agency, Survey of Kenya, RCMRD and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Geospatial engineering is just about surveying.

    The field covers satellite geodesy, space technology, GNSS engineering and spatial data engineering.

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

    Kenya's space agency and spatial infrastructure create strong demand.

  • Geospatial engineering research is purely field-based.

    The programme uses satellite data processing, computational modelling and software engineering.

  • Only surveyors study this PhD.

    The programme attracts engineers, computer scientists and physicists.

Further reading

Read next