Science

Doctor of Philosophy in Nuclear Science and Technology

The Doctor of Philosophy in Nuclear Science and Technology is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (INST). It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in nuclear science, radiation physics and nuclear technology applications. The programme addresses Kenya's nuclear science research and radiation technology development needs.

Students engage with advanced topics in nuclear physics, radiation detection and measurement, nuclear instrumentation, radiochemistry, radiation protection, nuclear analytical techniques, isotope hydrology, nuclear medicine physics, environmental radioactivity and research methods.

The curriculum emphasises original research that develops nuclear science insights for Kenya's industrial, medical and environmental challenges.

Kenya's radiation medicine needs, industrial radiation applications, nuclear power planning, radiation safety, isotope applications in hydrology, environmental monitoring, nuclear analytical services and the demand for nuclear science research create demand for doctoral-level nuclear science expertise. The programme supports Kenya's nuclear science and radiation technology development goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, laboratory sessions and supervised research. At UoN, the Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology offers PhD in Nuclear Science and Technology. UoN PhD by thesis total KSh 450,000. Foreign students USD 18,639. Application fee KSh 4,000 for PhD. Postgraduate Diploma in Nuclear Science also offered as pathway.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, nuclear science researchers, radiation protection specialists, nuclear analytical scientists and isotope hydrologists. They work in universities, Kenya Radiation Protection Authority, Kenya Bureau of Standards, hospitals and international atomic energy organisations.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 572,000
Private, up to: Ksh 313,700
Job market: Moderate

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: 3 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Advanced Nuclear Physics and Radiation Physics
Radiation Detection and Measurement
Nuclear Instrumentation and Electronics
Radiochemistry and Nuclear Chemistry
Radiation Protection and Dosimetry
Nuclear Analytical Techniques (NAA, XRF, PIXE)
Isotope Hydrology and Geochemistry
Nuclear Medicine Physics
Environmental Radioactivity and Monitoring
Research Methods in Nuclear Science

Modules

8 in the programme

Advanced Nuclear Physics and Radiation Physics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Nuclear physics, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Radiation Detection and Measurement
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Radiation detection, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Nuclear Analytical Techniques
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Analytical techniques, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and current analytical techniques used in advanced research and professional practice.
Isotope Hydrology and Geochemistry
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Isotope hydrology, covering chemical principles, analytical techniques, and their application in research and industrial contexts.
Environmental Radioactivity and Monitoring
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Environmental radioactivity, covering ecological principles, environmental management approaches, and sustainability challenges in contemporary contexts.
Research Methods in Nuclear Science
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

Isotope Hydrology
Research on isotope hydrology
Environmental Radioactivity
Research on environmental radioactivity
Nuclear Analytical Techniques
Research on analytical techniques
Radiation Protection
Research on radiation protection

A day as a student

A typical day involves conducting nuclear science research, running radiation detection experiments, analysing isotope data, reviewing nuclear science literature, attending seminars on radiation physics, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with KRPA, IAEA and KEBS for research collaboration.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's radiation applications create demand
Access to IAEA and KRPA
Research contributes to radiation safety

Against it

Requires specialised nuclear instrumentation
Radiation safety compliance is mandatory
Limited career opportunities outside research

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 science courses

Public202k to 572k

202k at Technical University of Kenya572k at University of Nairobi

Private168k to 314k

168k at Kenya Methodist University314k 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

UoN 572K/yr (nuclear-sciences.uonbi.ac.ke). TUK 202K (eafinder). KeMU 168K, Kabarak 313.7K/yr.

HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. NACOSTI provides research grants. IAEA offers fellowships for nuclear science training.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
NACOSTI Research Grant
IAEA Fellowship

Scholarships

4 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers in Kenya
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
IAEA Fellowship
Fellowship
Nuclear science professionals

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: Masters Degree
Alternative entry: At UoN: MSc from UoN or recognised institution. Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology. PhD by thesis total KSh 450,000. Foreign students USD 18,639. Application fee KSh 4,000. Postgraduate Diploma in Nuclear Science as alternative pathway.

MSc in Nuclear Science, Physics, Chemistry or related field
Relevant Masters from recognised university

How you are assessed

3 components

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
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, laboratory projects and seminar presentations

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at University of Nairobi (Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, PhD by thesis total KSh 450,000, foreign students USD 18,639, application fee KSh 4,000). Postgraduate Diploma in Nuclear Science also offered as pathway. KRPA regulates radiation protection in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya
Kenya Radiation Protection Authority
Professional
Regulates radiation protection and safety in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Nuclear Science Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Research at INST and research institutes
Radiation Protection Specialist
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Radiation protection at KRPA
University Professor
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in physics departments
Nuclear Analytical Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Analytical services at KEBS

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, nuclear science researchers, radiation protection specialists and nuclear analytical scientists. They work at KRPA, KEBS, IAEA and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Nuclear science is just about nuclear power.
The field covers radiation detection, radiochemistry, isotope hydrology, nuclear medicine, environmental monitoring and analytical techniques.
There is no demand for nuclear science PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's radiation medicine and industrial applications create demand.
Nuclear science research is purely theoretical.
The programme uses laboratory experiments, field measurements, analytical techniques and computational methods.
Only physicists study this PhD.
The programme attracts chemists, engineers and environmental scientists.