Social Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy in International Studies

The Doctor of Philosophy in International Studies is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Diplomacy and International Studies (IDIS) and at USIU-Africa. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing interdisciplinary research in international studies, combining diplomacy, international relations, international law and international economics.

The programme addresses Kenya's international studies research and global engagement development needs.

Students engage with advanced topics in international studies theory, diplomatic studies, international law, international political economy, global governance, foreign policy, security studies, international development, regional integration and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original interdisciplinary research that develops international studies insights for Kenya's global engagement.

Kenya's strategic position as a regional hub, UN headquarters in Nairobi, EAC membership, AU participation, peacekeeping roles, trade diplomacy and the need for interdisciplinary international studies research create demand for doctoral-level expertise. The programme supports Kenya's international engagement and diplomatic goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework and supervised research. At UoN, IDIS offers PhD in International Studies by thesis. Total fees KSh 450,000. Application fee KSh 4,000 for PhD. Specialisations include Diplomacy, International Relations, International Law, International Economics and International Politics. At USIU-Africa, PhD in International Studies is offered with an international curriculum.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, international studies researchers, diplomatic advisors, policy analysts and international consultants. They work in universities, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UN agencies, EAC, AU and international organisations.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 244,800
Private, up to: Ksh 378,000
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: 5 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

International Studies Theory and Foundations
Diplomatic Studies and Practice
International Law and Organisations
International Political Economy
Global Governance and Multilateralism
Foreign Policy Analysis and Formulation
Conflict, Security and Peace Studies
International Development Cooperation
Regional Integration in Africa
Research Methods in International Studies

Modules

8 in the programme

International Studies Theory and Foundations
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theory and foundations, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
Diplomatic Studies and Practice
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Diplomatic studies, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
International Law and Organisations
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
International law, examining legal frameworks, regulatory regimes, and their practical implications for professional practice in Kenya.
Global Governance and Multilateralism
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Global governance, covering political theories, governance frameworks, and their application in public administration.
Regional Integration in Africa
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Regional integration, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Research Methods in International Studies
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

International Politics
Research on international politics
International Economics
Research on international economics
International Law
Research on international law
Diplomacy
Research on diplomatic studies

A day as a student

A typical day involves conducting international studies research, analysing global affairs data, reviewing IR literature, attending seminars on diplomacy and governance, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UN agencies and regional bodies for research collaboration.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's UN presence and regional leadership create strong demand
Access to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UN, EAC and AU
Interdisciplinary field with broad research scope

Against it

Political research can be sensitive
Funding for international studies research can be limited
Accessing diplomatic data can be challenging

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses

Public150k to 245k

150k at University of Nairobi245k at Kenyatta University

Private288k to 378k

288k at Kabarak University378k at United States International University Africa

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

USIU PhD IR 378K/yr (eafinder). Kabarak 288K/yr. KU 244.8K (ku.ac.ke). UoN 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 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
CODESRIA Research Grant
Grant
Social science researchers in Africa
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: Masters Degree
Alternative entry: At UoN: Masters degree from UoN or recognised institution with specialisation in Diplomacy, IR, International Law, International Economics or International Politics. IDIS. Application fee KSh 4,000. Total KSh 450,000. At USIU-Africa: Masters degree from USIU or recognised institution.

MA in International Studies, International Relations, Diplomacy, Political Science or related field
Relevant Masters from recognised university

How you are assessed

3 components

Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, policy papers and seminar presentations
Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at University of Nairobi (IDIS, PhD in International Studies, total KSh 450,000) and USIU-Africa. IDIS specialisations: Diplomacy, IR, International Law, International Economics, International Politics.

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

University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in international studies
Policy Analyst
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Analysis at think tanks and government
Diplomatic Advisor
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Advisor at Ministry of Foreign Affairs
International Studies Researcher
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Research on international studies

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, international studies researchers, diplomatic advisors and policy analysts. They work at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UN, EAC, AU and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

International studies is just about politics.
The field covers diplomacy, law, economics, development, security and governance.
There is no demand for this PhD in Kenya.
Kenya's UN presence and regional leadership create strong demand.
International studies research is purely theoretical.
The programme uses empirical research, policy analysis and comparative methods.
Only political scientists study this PhD.
The programme attracts lawyers, economists, historians and diplomats.