Art and Design

Doctor of Philosophy in Music

The Doctor of Philosophy in Music is a doctoral programme offered at Kenyatta University through the Department of Music and Dance, School of Creative Arts, Film and Media Studies. It is the oldest university music department in Kenya and continues to be the premier institution for music education. The programme is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in musicology, ethnomusicology, music education and musical arts.

Students engage with advanced topics in musicology, ethnomusicology, African music, music education, music performance, music composition, music theory and analysis, music technology, cultural studies in music and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops musical insights for Kenya's cultural heritage and music education challenges.

Kenya's rich musical heritage, cultural industries growth, music education needs, performing arts sector, music therapy potential, cultural preservation and the demand for music research create demand for doctoral-level music expertise. The programme supports Kenya's cultural development and music education goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, performances and supervised research. At KU, the Department of Music and Dance offers PhD in Musical Arts, PhD in Music Education, and PhD in (a) African Music, (b) Ethnomusicology, (c) Musicology. Fees KSh 244,800/year for East Africans, KSh 306,000/year for non-East Africans.

PhD in performance requires annual recitals and seminar papers culminating in a thesis and recital. PhD in Music Education requires thesis on approved research problem.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, music researchers, ethnomusicologists, music educators and cultural consultants. They work in universities, cultural institutions, Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage, Kenya Music Festival and international cultural organisations.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 244,800
Private, up to: Ksh 317,200
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 5 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Advanced Musicology and Music Theory
Ethnomusicology and World Music
African Music and Indigenous Traditions
Music Education and Pedagogy
Music Performance and Interpretation
Music Composition and Analysis
Music Technology and Digital Music
Cultural Studies in Music
Music Therapy and Community Music
Research Methods in Music

Modules

8 in the programme

Advanced Musicology and Music Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Musicology, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Ethnomusicology and World Music
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Ethnomusicology, covering artistic principles, creative methodologies, and their application in cultural production and research.
African Music and Indigenous Traditions
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
African music, covering artistic principles, creative methodologies, and their application in cultural production and research.
Music Education and Pedagogy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Music education, examining pedagogical theories, educational frameworks, and their application in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.
Music Technology and Digital Music
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Music technology, covering technological tools, digital platforms, and information systems relevant to contemporary research and professional practice.
Research Methods in Music
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

Music Education
Research on music education
African Music
Research on African music
Music Performance
Research on music performance
Ethnomusicology
Research on ethnomusicology

A day as a student

A typical day involves conducting music research, analysing musical traditions, preparing recitals or compositions, reviewing musicology literature, attending seminars on ethnomusicology, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with cultural institutions, Kenya Music Festival and music departments for research collaboration.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's rich musical heritage creates research opportunities
Oldest university music department in Kenya
Research contributes to cultural preservation

Against it

Limited career opportunities outside academia
Funding for music research is limited
Performance PhD requires recital demonstrations

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 73 art and design courses

Public208k to 245k

208k at University of Nairobi245k at Kenyatta University

Private170k to 317k

170k at Kenya Methodist University317k 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 245K ku.ac.ke. UoN unverified. KeMU 170K eafinder, Kabarak 317K kabarak.ac.ke

HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. CODESRIA provides research grants for social science and cultural 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 and cultural 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 KU: Master of Musical Arts from KU or recognised institution for performance degree. Master of Arts in Musical Performance with extensive performance record. Master of Arts in Musical Composition with record of composing for various ensembles for composition degree. For Music Education: Master of Music Education or Master of Education with Music plus 2 years teaching/research experience. KSh 244,800/year. Application fee KSh 3,000.

Master of Musical Arts, Master of Music, Master of Arts in Music or equivalent
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, recitals, compositions and seminar presentations
Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence (with recital for performance PhD)

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at Kenyatta University (Department of Music and Dance, School of Creative Arts, Film and Media Studies, oldest university music department in Kenya). PhD options: Musical Arts, Music Education, African Music, Ethnomusicology, Musicology. KSh 244,800/year.

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

Ethnomusicologist
Moderate demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Ethnomusicology at cultural institutions
Music Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Research on music and culture
University Professor
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in music departments
Music Educator
Moderate demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Music education at universities and schools

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, music researchers, ethnomusicologists and music educators. They work at universities, cultural institutions, Kenya Music Festival and international cultural organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Music PhD is just about performing.
The field covers musicology, ethnomusicology, music education, composition, theory and cultural studies.
There is no demand for music PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's cultural industries and music education create demand.
Music research is purely practical.
The programme uses ethnographic methods, historical analysis, cultural studies and performance-based research.
Only musicians study this PhD.
The programme attracts educators, cultural anthropologists and arts administrators.