Doctor of Philosophy of Arts in History and Archaeology
The Doctor of Philosophy of Arts in History and 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 at the intersection of history and archaeology.
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 2 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
The programme addresses Kenya's historical and archaeological research and cultural heritage development needs.
Students engage with advanced topics in historical research, African history, archaeological methods, East African prehistory, oral history, historiography, historical archaeology, cultural heritage, archival methods and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops historical and archaeological insights for Kenya's cultural heritage challenges.
Kenya's rich historical heritage, oral traditions, colonial and post-colonial history, archaeological sites, cultural tourism, heritage management, museum development and the demand for historical research create demand for doctoral-level history and archaeology expertise. The programme supports Kenya's cultural heritage preservation and historical research goals.
Teaching is delivered through research and supervised thesis work. At UoN, the Department of History and Archaeology offers PhD by thesis. PhD by thesis total KSh 450,000. Application fee KSh 4,000. Foreign students USD 14,639. The department also offers Postgraduate Diploma in History and Archaeology with specialisations in History (General) and Women in History.
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, historical researchers, heritage managers, museum curators and cultural consultants. They work in universities, National Museums of Kenya, Kenya National Archives, Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage and international organisations.
What you study
10 subjects- Advanced Historiography and Historical Methods
- African History and Historiography
- Archaeological Methods and Theory
- East African Prehistory and Archaeology
- Oral History and Traditions
- Historical Archaeology of East Africa
- Cultural Heritage Management
- Archival Research and Documentation
- Colonial and Post-Colonial African History
- Research Methods in History and Archaeology
Modules
8 in the programmeAdvanced Historiography and Historical Methods
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Historiography, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
African History and Historiography
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
African history, covering historical methods, archaeological techniques, and their application in understanding past societies.
Archaeological Methods and Theory
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Archaeological methods, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
Oral History and Traditions
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Oral history, covering historical methods, archaeological techniques, and their application in understanding past societies.
Cultural Heritage Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Heritage management, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
Research Methods in History and 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
Oral History
Research on oral history
Historical Archaeology
Research on historical archaeology
Cultural Heritage
Research on cultural heritage
African History
Research on African history
A day as a student
A typical day involves conducting historical and archaeological research, analysing archival documents, reviewing historiography, attending seminars on African history, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with NMK, Kenya National Archives and BIEA for research collaboration. Fieldwork at historical and archaeological sites is common.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Kenya's rich heritage creates research opportunities | Limited career opportunities outside academia |
| Access to NMK, Kenya National Archives and BIEA | Archival and fieldwork can be time-consuming |
| Research contributes to cultural preservation | Funding for historical 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 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
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 recordedDAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
CODESRIA Research Grant
Grant
Social science and cultural 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 UoN: Masters degree from UoN or equivalent from recognised institution. Submit research proposal. Department of History and Archaeology. PhD by thesis. Total KSh 450,000. Application fee KSh 4,000. Foreign students USD 14,639.
When it next starts
Taught at 2 institutionsIncluding University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University.
Including University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University.
Including University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University.
How you are assessed
3 componentsThesis 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
Research Seminars
Continuous assessment20% of the mark
Seminar presentations and research progress reports
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 by thesis, total KSh 450,000). Postgraduate Diploma in History and Archaeology also offered with History (General) and Women in History specialisations.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesUniversity Professor
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in history departments
Historical Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Research at archives and research institutes
Heritage Manager
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Heritage management at NMK and Ministry
Museum Curator
Moderate demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Curation at National Museums of Kenya
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, historical researchers, heritage managers and museum curators. They work at NMK, Kenya National Archives, Ministry of Culture and universities.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Applied EthicistArts & Humanities20Low exposure
- ChoreographerArts & Humanities20Low exposure
- Interfaith Dialogue FacilitatorArts & Humanities20Low exposure
- EpigrapherArts & Humanities22Low exposure
- Indigenous Knowledge SpecialistArts & Humanities22Low exposure
- Manuscript ConservatorArts & Humanities22Low exposure
- Museum EducatorArts & Humanities22Low exposure
- Theological ResearcherArts & Humanities22Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
History and archaeology PhD is just about memorising dates.
The field covers historiography, archaeological methods, oral history, heritage management and archival research.
There is no demand for this PhD in Kenya.
Kenya's cultural heritage and tourism create demand.
Historical research is purely archival.
The programme uses archaeological methods, oral history, GIS and interdisciplinary approaches.
Only historians study this PhD.
The programme attracts archaeologists, anthropologists and cultural heritage professionals.