Media & Communication

Doctor of Philosophy in Media and Communication Studies

The Doctor of Philosophy in Media and Communication Studies is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, at Maseno University, and at St Paul's University. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in media studies, communication theory and digital media. The programme addresses Kenya's media research and communication development needs.

Students engage with advanced topics in media theory, communication research, digital media, media ethics, media law, development communication, political communication, health communication, corporate communication and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops media and communication insights for Kenya's media landscape.

Kenya's vibrant media sector, digital transformation, press freedom, media regulation, corporate communication needs and the growth of media research create demand for doctoral-level media and communication expertise. The programme supports Kenya's media development and communication goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework and supervised research. At UoN, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication offers PhD in Communication and Information Studies (CIS) with 9 course units at KSh 50,000 each (KSh 450,000), Year 1 total KSh 505,000, Year 2 KSh 223,000, Year 3 KSh 273,000, grand total KSh 1,001,000 over 3 years.

At Maseno University, PhD in Communication and Media Studies is offered with application fee KSh 2,000.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, media researchers, communication consultants, corporate communication directors and policy analysts. They work in universities, Media Council of Kenya, media houses, corporate organisations and international bodies.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 244,800
Private, up to: Ksh 310,000
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

Media Theory and Communication Research
Digital Media and New Communication Technologies
Media Ethics and Professional Standards
Media Law and Regulation
Development Communication
Political Communication and Public Opinion
Health Communication
Corporate Communication and Public Relations
Strategic Communication Management
Research Methods in Media Studies

Modules

8 in the programme

Media Theory and Communication Research
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Media theory, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
Digital Media and New Communication Technologies
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Digital media, covering communication theories, media analysis, and their application in contemporary information environments.
Development Communication
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Development communication, exploring development theories, sustainable practices, and their application in addressing contemporary challenges in Kenya and beyond.
Corporate Communication and Public Relations
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Corporate communication, covering communication theories, media analysis, and their application in contemporary information environments.
Health Communication
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Health communication, covering clinical principles, evidence-based practice, and contemporary challenges in healthcare delivery and research.
Research Methods in Media 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

Corporate Communication
Research on corporate communication and PR
Development Communication
Research on development communication
Digital Media
Research on digital media and new technologies
Health Communication
Research on health communication

A day as a student

A typical day involves conducting media research, analysing communication data, reviewing media studies literature, attending seminars on media theory, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with Media Council, media houses and corporate organisations for research collaboration.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's vibrant media sector creates demand
Access to Media Council, media houses and corporate organisations
Research contributes to media development

Against it

UoN PhD is expensive (KSh 1,001,000 total)
Media research can be politically sensitive
Accessing media organisations for research 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 106 media & communication courses

Public150k to 245k

150k at Maseno University245k at Kenyatta University

Private200k to 310k

200k at Mount Kenya University310k 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

KU 244,800/yr (ku.ac.ke). Maseno 150K (partially verified). Kabarak ~310K (official PDF), MKU ~200K.

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

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

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. School of Journalism and Mass Communication. PhD in CIS. 9 course units + thesis. Total KSh 1,001,000 over 3 years. International students outside EAC pay 25% more. At Maseno: Masters degree from Maseno or recognised institution. Application fee KSh 2,000.

MA in Communication, Media Studies, Mass Communication, Journalism or related field
Relevant Masters from recognised university

How you are assessed

3 components

Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, supervision, submission and oral defence
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
9 course units at KSh 50,000 each, assignments and seminar presentations
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at University of Nairobi (School of Journalism and Mass Communication, PhD in CIS, total KSh 1,001,000 over 3 years), Maseno University (PhD in Communication and Media Studies, application fee KSh 2,000) and St Paul's University (PhD in Communication Studies).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya
Media Council of Kenya
Professional
Regulates media practice and accredits journalists in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Media Researcher
High demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Research on media and communication
Corporate Communication Director
High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000
Communication at corporate organisations
Communication Consultant
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Consulting on communication
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in communication schools

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, media researchers, communication consultants and corporate communication directors. They work at Media Council, media houses, corporate organisations and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Media studies PhD is just about journalism.
The field covers media theory, digital media, corporate communication, health communication and political communication.
There is no demand for media PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's vibrant media sector and digital transformation create demand.
Media research is purely qualitative.
The programme uses content analysis, surveys, big data analytics and mixed methods.
Only journalists study this PhD.
The programme attracts PR professionals, corporate communicators and social scientists.