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Doctor of Philosophy of Arts in Archaeology

The Doctor of Philosophy of Arts in Archaeology is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of History and Archaeology. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in archaeology, prehistory and cultural heritage. The programme addresses Kenya's archaeological research and cultural heritage preservation needs.

Duration
4-5 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 244,800
Ksh 979,200 to Ksh 1,224,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 288,000
Ksh 1,152,000 to Ksh 1,440,000 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 244,800 a year at a public institution, Ksh 979,200 to Ksh 1,224,000 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 4-5 years, full-time, part-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 3 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Applied Ethicist, at 20 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 archaeology, African prehistory, archaeological theory, field methods, cultural heritage management, ethnoarchaeology, zooarchaeology, paleoanthropology, historical archaeology, archaeological dating methods and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops archaeological insights for Kenya's rich prehistoric and cultural heritage.

Kenya's rich archaeological heritage including early hominid sites at Koobi Fora, Olorgesailie and Kariandusi, cultural tourism, heritage management, museum development, community archaeology, archaeological conservation and the demand for archaeological research create demand for doctoral-level archaeology expertise.

The programme supports Kenya's cultural heritage preservation and archaeological research goals.

Teaching is delivered through research and supervised thesis work. At UoN, the Department of History and Archaeology offers PhD in Archaeology by research only. Duration 4 years full-time, 5 years part-time. PhD by thesis total KSh 450,000. Application fee KSh 4,000. The department also offers Postgraduate Diploma in History and Archaeology.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, archaeology researchers, heritage managers, museum curators and cultural consultants. They work in universities, National Museums of Kenya, Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage and international archaeological organisations.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Advanced Archaeological Theory and Methods
  • African Prehistory and Hominid Evolution
  • Cultural Heritage Management and Conservation
  • Field Archaeology and Excavation Methods
  • Ethnoarchaeology and Anthropological Archaeology
  • Zooarchaeology and Archaeobotany
  • Paleoanthropology and Human Origins
  • Historical Archaeology of East Africa
  • Archaeological Dating and Analytical Methods
  • Research Methods in Archaeology

Modules

8 in the programme

  • Advanced Archaeological Theory and Methods

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Archaeological theory, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.

  • African Prehistory and Hominid Evolution

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    African prehistory, covering historical methods, archaeological techniques, and their application in understanding past societies.

  • Cultural Heritage Management and Conservation

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Heritage management, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.

  • Field Archaeology and Excavation Methods

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Field archaeology, covering historical methods, archaeological techniques, and their application in understanding past societies.

  • Paleoanthropology and Human Origins

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Paleoanthropology, covering anthropological theories, ethnographic methods, and their application in cultural analysis.

  • Research Methods in Archaeology

    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

  • Historical Archaeology

    Research on historical archaeology

  • Paleoanthropology

    Research on paleoanthropology

  • Cultural Heritage Management

    Research on heritage management

  • African Prehistory

    Research on African prehistory

A day as a student

A typical day involves conducting archaeological research, analysing artefacts, reviewing archaeological literature, attending seminars on prehistory, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with National Museums of Kenya, British Institute in Eastern Africa and Koobi Fora for research collaboration. Fieldwork at archaeological sites is common.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Kenya's rich archaeological heritage creates opportunitiesLimited career opportunities outside academia and museums
Access to NMK, Koobi Fora and BIEAFieldwork in remote areas can be challenging
Research contributes to cultural heritage preservationFunding for archaeological research is limited

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 188 arts & humanities courses
Public109k to 245k
109k at University of Nairobi245k at Kenyatta University
Private170k to 288k
170k at Kenya Methodist University288k 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 108.7K research PhD (uonbi.ac.ke). KU 244,800. KeMU 170K, Kabarak 288K.

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

  • CODESRIA Research Grant

    Grant

    Social science and cultural researchers in Africa

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

    ScholarshipKenyan

    Postgraduate students in Kenya

  • HELB Postgraduate Scholarship

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan postgraduate students

Scholarships you could apply for

2 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
Masters Degreeminimum entry
Alternative entry

At UoN: Masters degree from UoN or equivalent from recognised institution. Submit research proposal showing capability for original research. Department of History and Archaeology. PhD by research only. Duration 4 years full-time, 5 years part-time. Total KSh 450,000. Application fee KSh 4,000.

Subject requirements
MA in Archaeology, History, Anthropology or related fieldRelevant Masters from recognised university

When it next starts

Taught at 3 institutions
January 20273 institutions

Including Multimedia University of Kenya, University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University.

May 20273 institutions

Including Multimedia University of Kenya, University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University.

September 20273 institutions

Including Multimedia University of Kenya, University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University.

How you are assessed

3 components

  • Research Seminars

    Continuous assessment20% of the mark

    Seminar presentations and research progress reports

  • Thesis Proposal Defence

    Oral defence20% of the mark

    Defence of research proposal before faculty panel

  • Thesis

    Thesis60% of the mark

    Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence

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 University of Nairobi (Department of History and Archaeology, PhD in Archaeology by research only, 4 years full-time, 5 years part-time, total KSh 450,000). National Museums of Kenya manages archaeological heritage.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Archaeology Researcher

    Moderate demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000

    Research at NMK and research institutes

  • Museum Curator

    Moderate demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000

    Curation at National Museums of Kenya

  • University Professor

    Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Teaching and research in archaeology departments

  • Heritage Manager

    Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Heritage management at NMK and Ministry

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, archaeology researchers, heritage managers and museum curators. They work at National Museums of Kenya, Ministry of Culture and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Archaeology is just about digging.

    The field covers archaeological theory, heritage management, paleoanthropology, dating methods and cultural conservation.

  • There is no demand for archaeology PhDs in Kenya.

    Kenya's rich archaeological heritage creates research and heritage management demand.

  • Archaeology research is purely fieldwork.

    The programme uses laboratory analysis, dating methods, GIS, statistical analysis and archival research.

  • Only historians study this PhD.

    The programme attracts anthropologists, geologists and museum professionals.

Further reading

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