Science

Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science

The Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science is a doctoral programme offered at JKUAT through the College of Pure and Applied Sciences (COPAS) and at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Chemistry.

It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in materials science, nanotechnology and advanced materials. The programme addresses Kenya's materials research and technology development needs.

Students engage with advanced topics in materials science, crystallography, thermodynamics of materials, phase transformations, mechanical properties of materials, electronic materials, nanomaterials, biomaterials, computational materials science and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops materials science innovations for Kenya's technology and manufacturing sectors.

Kenya's manufacturing sector growth, construction materials needs, electronic device assembly, packaging innovation, renewable energy materials and the need for advanced materials research create demand for doctoral-level materials science expertise. The programme supports Kenya's industrialisation and technology development goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, laboratory sessions and supervised research. At JKUAT, COPAS offers PhD in Materials Science with total cost approximately KSh 510,500 over 3 years. At UoN, materials science research is conducted through the Department of Chemistry and related departments.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, materials researchers, nanotechnology specialists, quality assurance managers and manufacturing consultants. They work in universities, KEBS, Kenya Association of Manufacturers, research institutes and manufacturing firms.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 367,200
Private, up to: Ksh 313,700
Job market: Moderate

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

Advanced Materials Science and Engineering
Crystallography and Diffraction
Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Materials
Phase Transformations and Microstructure
Mechanical Properties of Materials
Electronic and Magnetic Materials
Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology
Biomaterials and Biomedical Applications
Computational Materials Science
Research Methods in Materials Science

Modules

8 in the programme

Advanced Materials Science and Engineering
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Materials science, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Crystallography and Diffraction
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Crystallography, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Phase Transformations and Microstructure
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Phase transformations, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Nanomaterials, covering technological tools, digital platforms, and information systems relevant to contemporary research and professional practice.
Computational Materials Science
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Computational methods, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Research Methods in Materials 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

Computational Materials
Research on computational materials science
Nanomaterials
Research on nanomaterials
Electronic Materials
Research on electronic materials
Biomaterials
Research on biomaterials

A day as a student

A typical day involves conducting materials research, testing material properties, running computational models, reviewing materials science literature, attending seminars on advanced materials, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with KEBS, manufacturers and research institutes for research collaboration.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's manufacturing sector creates demand
Access to KEBS and manufacturers
Research contributes to industrialisation

Against it

Requires expensive laboratory and testing equipment
Small field with limited positions in Kenya
UoN science PhD fees are high (KSh 396,000/year)

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 science courses

Public170k to 367k

170k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology367k at Kenyatta University

Private168k to 314k

168k at Kenya Methodist University314k at Kabarak 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

JKUAT 170.2K/yr (kenyaeducationguide). KU 367.2K (ku.ac.ke). KeMU 168K, Kabarak 313.7K/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
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
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. COPAS. Total approximately KSh 510,500 over 3 years. At UoN: MSc from UoN or recognised institution. Department of Chemistry or related.

MSc in Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering 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, laboratory projects 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 JKUAT (COPAS, total approximately KSh 510,500) and University of Nairobi (Department of Chemistry and related departments).

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

Materials Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Research on materials
University Professor
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in science departments
Nanotechnology Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Nanotechnology at research institutes
Manufacturing Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Consulting on manufacturing

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, materials researchers, nanotechnology specialists and manufacturing consultants. They work at KEBS, manufacturing firms, research institutes and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Materials science is just about metals.
The field covers polymers, ceramics, nanomaterials, biomaterials, electronic materials and composites.
There is no demand for materials science PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's manufacturing and construction sectors create demand.
Materials research is purely experimental.
The programme uses computational modelling, crystallography and statistical analysis.
Only chemists study materials science.
The programme attracts physicists, engineers and technologists.