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.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 244,800 a year at a public institution, Ksh 734,400 to Ksh 1,224,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 317,200 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, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 4 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Early Childhood Strategist, at 10 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 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.
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 programmeAdvanced 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 | Against it |
|---|---|
| Kenya's rich musical heritage creates research opportunities | Limited career opportunities outside academia |
| Oldest university music department in Kenya | Funding for music research is limited |
| Research contributes to cultural preservation | 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 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
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 recordedHELB 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
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 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.
When it next starts
Taught at 4 institutionsIncluding Kabarak University, Kenyatta University, Technical University of Kenya.
Including Kabarak University, Kenyatta University, Technical University of Kenya.
Including Kabarak University, Kenyatta University, Technical 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, recitals, compositions and seminar presentations
Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence (with recital for performance PhD)
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 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.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesEthnomusicologist
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- Early Childhood StrategistEducation10Low exposure
- Special Needs EducatorEducation10Low exposure
- Career Guidance CounselorEducation11Low exposure
- Early Literacy SpecialistEducation14Low exposure
- STEM Laboratory EducatorEducation14Low exposure
- TVET Competency AssessorEducation14Low exposure
- Vocational Workshop InstructorEducation14Low exposure
- Montessori EducatorEducation15Low exposure
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.