Doctor of Philosophy in National Security and Strategy
The Doctor of Philosophy in National Security and Strategy is a doctoral programme offered at the National Defence University-Kenya (NDU-K) through the National Defence College (NDC) and the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC). NDU-K is headquartered in Lanet, Nakuru, and is a chartered institution comprising specialised constituent colleges.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 450,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,350,000 to Ksh 2,250,000 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 1 institution.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Adolescent Mentorship Officer, at 14 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
The programme is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in national security, strategic studies and defence policy.
Students engage with advanced topics in national security, strategic studies, defence policy, security sector governance, conflict analysis, peace support operations, counter-terrorism, intelligence studies, cybersecurity policy, regional security and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops security and strategic insights for Kenya's national security challenges.
Kenya's security challenges including terrorism, border security, cyber threats, regional instability, transnational crime, maritime security, internal conflicts and the demand for security research create demand for doctoral-level national security expertise. The programme supports Kenya's national security and defence development goals.
Teaching is delivered through coursework, seminars and supervised research. At NDU-K, the National Defence College trains senior military officers and civil servants in national security and strategy. IPSTC conducts postgraduate programmes including Master of Arts in Crisis Response and Disaster Management. NDU-K provides a unique platform to blend theory and practice in security and strategy.
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, security analysts, defence consultants, policy researchers and intelligence analysts. They work in universities, Ministry of Defence, National Intelligence Service, Kenya Defence Forces, security think tanks and international organisations.
What you study
10 subjects- Advanced National Security and Strategic Studies
- Defence Policy and Security Sector Governance
- Conflict Analysis and Peace Support Operations
- Counter-Terrorism and Asymmetric Warfare
- Intelligence Studies and Security Analysis
- Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy
- Regional Security and Geopolitics
- Maritime Security and Border Management
- Security Sector Reform and Governance
- Research Methods in Security Studies
Modules
8 in the programmeAdvanced National Security and Strategic Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
National security, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Defence Policy and Security Sector Governance
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Defence policy, analysing policy frameworks, implementation strategies, and their impact on practice within the Kenyan and broader African context.
Counter-Terrorism and Asymmetric Warfare
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Counter-terrorism, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Intelligence Studies and Security Analysis
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Intelligence studies, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and current analytical techniques used in advanced research and professional practice.
Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Cybersecurity, analysing policy frameworks, implementation strategies, and their impact on practice within the Kenyan and broader African context.
Research Methods in Security 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
Counter-Terrorism
Research on counter-terrorism
Cybersecurity Policy
Research on cybersecurity policy
Peace Support Operations
Research on peace support
Intelligence Studies
Research on intelligence
A day as a student
A typical day involves conducting security research, analysing security policies, reviewing intelligence literature, attending strategic studies seminars, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with Ministry of Defence, NDU-K and security think tanks for research collaboration.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Kenya's security challenges create strong demand | Security research may require security clearance |
| Access to NDU-K, IPSTC and Ministry of Defence | Access to classified information is restricted |
| Research contributes to national security | Programme may be primarily for military/government personnel |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 241 social sciences 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
Kabarak 288K/yr (kabarak.ac.ke). KeMU 170K (eafinder). NDU-K/UoN unverified.
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 recordedHELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
CODESRIA Research Grant
Grant
Social science researchers in Africa
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 NDU-K: Masters degree from NDU-K or recognised institution. National Defence College and IPSTC. Programme may require security clearance. Military and government personnel may have priority.
When it next starts
Taught at 1 institutionIncluding National Defence University - Kenya.
Including National Defence University - Kenya.
How you are assessed
3 componentsCoursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, policy briefs 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
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at National Defence University-Kenya (NDU-K, Lanet, Nakuru, chartered institution). National Defence College trains senior military officers and civil servants. IPSTC conducts postgraduate programmes. NDU-K provides a unique platform to blend theory and practice in security and strategy.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesDefence Consultant
High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000
Consulting on defence and security
Policy Researcher
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Policy research at government and NGOs
Security Analyst
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Security analysis at think tanks
University Professor
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in security studies
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, security analysts, defence consultants and policy researchers. They work at Ministry of Defence, NDU-K, security think tanks and international organisations.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Adolescent Mentorship OfficerSocial Sciences14Low exposure
- Correctional CounselorSocial Sciences15Low exposure
- Child Protection OfficerSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- CriminologistSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- Human Rights InvestigatorSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- Social GerontologistSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- Community Resilience SpecialistSocial Sciences17Low exposure
- Gender Integration SpecialistSocial Sciences17Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
National security PhD is only for military officers.
The programme is open to civil servants, security analysts and researchers.
There is no demand for security PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's security challenges create strong demand.
Security studies is purely military.
The field covers cybersecurity, intelligence, governance, peace support and regional security.
Only NDU-K offers security programmes.
UoN also offers PhD in Armed Conflict and Peace Studies.