Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering
The Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering is a doctoral programme offered at JKUAT through the School of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Material Engineering (SOMMME) and at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK). It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in mining engineering, mineral processing and extractive metallurgy.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 290,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 870,000 to Ksh 1,450,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 288,000 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 2 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Overhead Transmission Technician, at 10 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
The programme addresses Kenya's mining engineering research and mineral resources development needs.
Students engage with advanced topics in mining engineering, rock mechanics, mine ventilation, mineral processing, extractive metallurgy, mine planning and design, environmental management in mining, geostatistics, surface and underground mining and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops mining engineering innovations for Kenya's mineral resources challenges.
Kenya's mineral sector growth including titanium, soda ash, fluorspar, gold, rare earth elements, diatomite and gemstones, mining safety needs, environmental management, mineral processing technology and the demand for mining research create demand for doctoral-level mining engineering expertise. The programme supports Kenya's mining sector development goals.
Teaching is delivered through coursework, laboratory sessions and supervised research. At JKUAT, BSc in Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering is offered with PhD programmes through SOMMME. JKUAT PhD total cost approximately KSh 510,500 over 3 years. Application fee KSh 1,500.
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, mining engineering researchers, mineral processing specialists, mine planning consultants and mining safety engineers. They work in universities, mining companies, Ministry of Mining, Kenya Chamber of Mines and research institutes.
What you study
10 subjects- Advanced Mining Engineering and Mine Design
- Rock Mechanics and Ground Control
- Mine Ventilation and Environmental Control
- Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy
- Mine Planning and Optimisation
- Environmental Management in Mining
- Geostatistics and Resource Estimation
- Surface and Underground Mining Methods
- Mining Safety and Risk Management
- Research Methods in Mining Engineering
Modules
8 in the programmeAdvanced Mining Engineering and Mine Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Mining engineering, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Rock Mechanics and Ground Control
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Rock mechanics, covering quality assurance principles, control methodologies, and their application in professional standards.
Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Mineral processing, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Mine Planning and Optimisation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Mine planning, covering planning theories, methodologies, and practical approaches to strategic and spatial planning in professional contexts.
Environmental Management in Mining
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Environmental management, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
Research Methods in Mining Engineering
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
Mine Environmental Management
Research on environmental management
Mine Planning
Research on mine planning and optimisation
Mineral Processing
Research on mineral processing
Rock Mechanics
Research on rock mechanics
A day as a student
A typical day involves conducting mining research, analysing rock mechanics data, modelling mine ventilation, reviewing mining engineering literature, attending seminars on mineral processing, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with mining companies, Ministry of Mining and Kenya Chamber of Mines for research collaboration.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Kenya's mineral sector growth creates demand | Requires access to mining sites for field research |
| Access to mining companies and Ministry of Mining | Environmental and safety compliance is mandatory |
| Research contributes to mineral development | Specialised mining software and equipment is expensive |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 332 engineering 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
TUK ~290K/yr (tukenya portal). JKUAT 170K/yr (jkuat.ac.ke). Kabarak 288K/yr, MKU 150K/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
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
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: MSc from JKUAT or recognised institution. SOMMME. PhD in Mining Engineering. Total approximately KSh 510,500 over 3 years. Application fee KSh 1,500.
When it next starts
Taught at 2 institutionsIncluding Taita Taveta University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Including Taita Taveta University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Including Taita Taveta University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
How you are assessed
3 componentsCoursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, laboratory projects and seminar presentations
Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
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
Engineers Board of Kenya
Professional
Professional body for engineers in Kenya
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at JKUAT (SOMMME, PhD in Mining Engineering, total approximately KSh 510,500) and Technical University of Kenya. EBK registers professional engineers.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesMine Planning Consultant
High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000
Consulting on mine planning
Mineral Processing Specialist
High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000
Mineral processing at mining companies
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in engineering departments
Mining Engineering Researcher
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Research on mining engineering
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, mining engineering researchers, mineral processing specialists and mine planning consultants. They work at mining companies, Ministry of Mining and universities.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Overhead Transmission TechnicianEngineering10Low exposure
- Cloud Security EngineerTechnology14Low exposure
- Desalination Systems EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
- District Cooling EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
- HighVoltage Substation EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
- Hydrogen Systems EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
- Industrial Robotics ProgrammerTechnology14Low exposure
- Microgrid Control EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Mining engineering is just about digging.
The field covers rock mechanics, mineral processing, extractive metallurgy, environmental management and mine planning.
There is no demand for mining PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's mineral sector growth creates demand.
Mining research is purely practical.
The programme uses geostatistics, computational modelling, environmental science and engineering analysis.
Only mining engineers study this PhD.
The programme attracts geologists, metallurgists and environmental engineers.