Doctor of Philosophy in History
The Doctor of Philosophy in History is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of History and Archaeology, at Kenyatta University, at Maseno University, and at Karatina University. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in historical studies, historiography and historical methodology. The programme addresses Kenya's historical research and heritage documentation needs.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 244,800 a year at a public institution, Ksh 734,400 to Ksh 1,224,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 155,100 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 7 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Early Childhood Strategist, 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 historiography, historical methodology, African history, Kenyan history, economic history, social history, political history, oral history, archival studies and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops historical insights for Kenya's heritage and understanding.
Kenya's rich historical heritage, the need for documented national history, post-colonial historiography, oral tradition preservation, archaeological research and the growth of heritage studies create demand for doctoral-level history expertise. The programme supports Kenya's heritage preservation and historical scholarship goals.
Teaching is delivered through coursework and supervised research. At UoN, the Department of History and Archaeology offers PhD in History (C807) as a taught PhD with coursework and thesis. Tuition is KSh 192,000/year, total KSh 712,000 over 3 years. Minimum 6 semesters, maximum 10 semesters full-time.
At KU, PhD in History is offered at KSh 244,800/year. At Maseno, application fee KSh 2,000. At Karatina, Masters degree in History plus one publication required.
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, history researchers, archivists, heritage consultants and policy analysts. They work in universities, National Museums of Kenya, Kenya National Archives, Ministry of Culture and research organisations.
What you study
10 subjects- Historiography and Historical Theory
- Historical Research Methodology
- African History and Historiography
- Kenyan History and Nationalism
- Economic History of Africa
- Social and Cultural History
- Political History and Governance
- Oral History and Memory Studies
- Archival Studies and Documentation
- Research Methods in History
Modules
8 in the programmeHistoriography and Historical Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Historiography and theory, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
African History and Historiography
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
African history, covering historical methods, archaeological techniques, and their application in understanding past societies.
Economic History of Africa
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Economic history, covering economic theories, analytical frameworks, and their application to policy and decision-making in the field.
Social and Cultural History
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Social and cultural history, examining social theories, cultural dynamics, and their implications for research and professional practice.
Oral History and Memory Studies
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Oral history, covering historical methods, archaeological techniques, and their application in understanding past societies.
Research Methods in History
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
Economic History
Research on economic history
African History
Research on African history
Political History
Research on political history
Oral History
Research on oral history and memory
A day as a student
A typical day involves conducting archival research, collecting oral histories, analysing historical documents, reviewing historiography, attending seminars on historical research, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and visiting Kenya National Archives, NMK and field sites for research.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Kenya's rich heritage provides research opportunities | Career opportunities outside academia are limited |
| Access to Kenya National Archives and NMK | Funding for humanities research is limited |
| Research contributes to national heritage preservation | Archival access can be restricted |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 188 arts & humanities coursesAnnual 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
KU 244.8K, Chuka 218.5K/yr (chuka.ac.ke). KeMU, MKU unverified.
HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. CODESRIA provides research grants for social science research in Africa.
Funding options
HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
CODESRIA Research Grant
Scholarships
3 recordedDAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
CODESRIA Research Grant
Grant
Social science researchers in Africa
Scholarships you could apply for
2 usable where it is taught- Chevening Scholarships Kenya
Closes 30 November 2026FullUK Government
Full masters in UK
- AfDB Japan Scholarship Program
Closes 28 February 2027FullAfrican Development Bank
Full graduate study abroad
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
At UoN: MA in History from UoN or recognised institution. Taught PhD with coursework and thesis. C807. Total KSh 712,000. Minimum 6 semesters. At KU: Masters degree in relevant area. KSh 244,800/year. At Maseno: Masters degree. Application fee KSh 2,000. At Karatina: Masters in History plus one publication. At Chuka: Masters degree from recognised institution. KSh 119,250/semester.
When it next starts
Taught at 7 institutionsIncluding Laikipia University, Kaimosi Friends University, Chuka University.
Including Laikipia University, Kaimosi Friends University, Chuka University.
Including Laikipia University, Kaimosi Friends University, Chuka University.
How you are assessed
3 componentsThesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, research papers 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 History and Archaeology, C807, taught PhD, total KSh 712,000), Kenyatta University (KSh 244,800/year), Maseno University (application fee KSh 2,000), Karatina University (requires one publication) and Chuka University (KSh 119,250/semester).
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesHistory Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 400,000
Research on historical topics
University Professor
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in history departments
Heritage Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 400,000
Heritage at NMK and Ministry of Culture
Archivist
Moderate demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 400,000
Archives at Kenya National Archives
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, history researchers, archivists and heritage consultants. They work at Kenya National Archives, National Museums of Kenya, Ministry of Culture and universities.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Early Childhood StrategistEducation10Low exposure
- Special Needs EducatorEducation10Low exposure
- Career Guidance CounselorEducation11Low exposure
- Early Literacy SpecialistEducation14Low exposure
- STEM Laboratory EducatorEducation14Low exposure
- TVET Competency AssessorEducation14Low exposure
- Vocational Workshop InstructorEducation14Low exposure
- Montessori EducatorEducation15Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
History is just about memorising dates.
The field covers historiography, economic history, social history, oral history and archival studies.
There is no demand for history PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's heritage preservation and national documentation needs create demand.
History research is purely archival.
The programme uses oral history, archaeology, digital humanities and interdisciplinary methods.
Only history teachers study this PhD.
The programme attracts archaeologists, cultural heritage specialists and policy analysts.