Doctor of Philosophy in Landscape Planning and Conservation
The Doctor of Philosophy in Landscape Planning and Conservation is a doctoral programme offered at JKUAT through the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in landscape planning, environmental conservation and sustainable land management. The programme addresses Kenya's landscape planning research and environmental conservation development needs.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 251,900 a year at a public institution, Ksh 755,700 to Ksh 1,259,500 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 313,700 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 3 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Aquaculture Technologist, at 3 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 landscape planning theory, environmental conservation, land use planning, watershed management, biodiversity conservation, landscape ecology, geographic information systems for planning, climate change adaptation, community-based natural resource management and research methods.
The curriculum emphasises original research that develops landscape planning insights for Kenya's environmental challenges.
Kenya's environmental degradation challenges, deforestation, watershed management needs, biodiversity conservation priorities, climate change impacts, land use conflicts and sustainable development goals create demand for doctoral-level landscape planning expertise. The programme supports Kenya's environmental conservation and sustainable land management goals.
Teaching is delivered through coursework, fieldwork and supervised research at JKUAT. The programme builds on the MSc in Landscape Planning and Conservation offered at JKUAT. JKUAT's PhD total cost is approximately KSh 510,500 over 3 years. Application fee is KSh 1,500.
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, landscape planning researchers, conservation specialists, environmental consultants and land use planners. They work in universities, NEMA, KFS, KWS, county governments and environmental NGOs.
What you study
10 subjects- Landscape Planning Theory and Practice
- Environmental Conservation and Management
- Land Use Planning and Policy
- Watershed Management and Hydrology
- Biodiversity Conservation Strategies
- Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Services
- GIS for Landscape Planning
- Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
- Community-Based Natural Resource Management
- Research Methods in Environmental Planning
Modules
8 in the programmeLandscape Planning Theory and Practice
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Landscape planning theory, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
Environmental Conservation and Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Conservation management, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
Watershed Management and Hydrology
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Watershed management, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Services
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Landscape ecology, covering ecological principles, environmental management approaches, and sustainability challenges in contemporary contexts.
GIS for Landscape Planning
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
GIS applications, covering planning theories, methodologies, and practical approaches to strategic and spatial planning in professional contexts.
Research Methods in Environmental Planning
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
Watershed Management
Research on watershed management
Climate Change Adaptation
Research on climate change adaptation
Land Use Planning
Research on land use planning
Biodiversity Conservation
Research on biodiversity conservation
A day as a student
A typical day involves conducting landscape research, analysing GIS data, reviewing conservation literature, attending seminars on environmental planning, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with NEMA, KFS, KWS and environmental NGOs for research collaboration.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Kenya's environmental challenges create demand | Field research in remote areas can be challenging |
| Access to NEMA, KFS, KWS and UNEP | Requires GIS and ecological modelling skills |
| Research contributes to environmental conservation | Funding for environmental research can be limited |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 181 environmental science 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
Egerton ~252K, JKUAT ~170K/yr. KeMU ~168K, Kabarak ~314K/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 recordedNACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers in Kenya
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
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 JKUAT: Masters degree from JKUAT or recognised institution. College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Application fee KSh 1,500. Total approximately KSh 510,500 over 3 years. Duration 3-5 years.
When it next starts
Taught at 3 institutionsIncluding Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenyatta University, Multimedia University of Kenya.
Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenyatta University, Multimedia University of Kenya.
Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenyatta University, Multimedia University of Kenya.
How you are assessed
3 componentsThesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, field reports and seminar presentations
Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
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 (College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, total approximately KSh 510,500). Builds on MSc in Landscape Planning and Conservation at JKUAT.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesConservation Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Conservation at KWS, KFS and NGOs
University Professor
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in environmental departments
Landscape Planning Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Research on landscape planning
Environmental Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Consulting on environmental projects
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, landscape planning researchers, conservation specialists and environmental consultants. They work at NEMA, KFS, KWS, county governments and environmental NGOs.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Aquaculture TechnologistAgriculture3Low exposure
- Climate-Resilient Seed BreederAgriculture3Low exposure
- Veterinary Public OfficerAgriculture3Low exposure
- Veterinary OfficerAgriculture7Low exposure
- Climate Change AnalystEnvironmental Science10Low exposure
- Wildlife Corridors EcologistEnvironmental Science10Low exposure
- Farm Insurance AssessorAgriculture11Low exposure
- Finance AnalystEnvironmental Science11Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Landscape planning is just about gardening.
The field covers land use planning, watershed management, biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation.
There is no demand for this PhD in Kenya.
Kenya's environmental challenges and conservation priorities create demand.
Landscape planning research is purely descriptive.
The programme uses GIS, spatial analysis, ecological modelling and empirical research.
Only foresters study this PhD.
The programme attracts environmental scientists, geographers, planners and conservationists.