Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy
The Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy is a postgraduate research programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Pharmacy in the Faculty of Health Sciences. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on drug action, drug discovery from natural products, and complementary medicine, contributing to pharmaceutical knowledge and drug development relevant to Kenyan and African health needs.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 396,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,188,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 200,000 a year at a private one.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of C+ or above, plus 3 subject grades. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 3 years, full-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 Dental Ceramist, at 3 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
Students engage with advanced pharmacology, pharmacognosy, natural product chemistry, drug discovery, ethnopharmacology, and research methodology. The programme is delivered by thesis, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent laboratory research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to pharmacology and pharmacognosy.
Kenya has rich biodiversity and a long tradition of medicinal plant use, providing opportunities for drug discovery from natural products. The programme addresses national health priorities under Vision 2030 and the Kenya Health Policy Framework by training researchers who can discover new drugs from Kenyan medicinal plants, evaluate traditional medicines scientifically, and contribute to pharmaceutical development.
Teaching methods include supervised research, laboratory experiments on drug action and natural product analysis, seminars, and thesis writing. Students have access to UoN's pharmacology and pharmacognosy laboratories and collaborate with KEMRI's Centre for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research.
Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, pharmaceutical researchers, pharmacognosy specialists, drug discovery scientists, and pharmacology consultants in universities, KEMRI, pharmaceutical companies, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, and international research institutions.
This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in pharmacy, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, or related pharmaceutical or biomedical sciences who are committed to advancing knowledge in drug action and natural product research.
What you study
10 subjects- Advanced Pharmacology
- Pharmacognosy and Natural Products
- Drug Discovery and Development
- Ethnopharmacology
- Natural Product Chemistry
- Research Methodology
- Toxicology
- Thesis Research
- Biostatistics
- Pharmaceutical Analysis
Modules
10 in the programmeAdvanced Pharmacology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of drug-receptor interactions, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and drug action mechanisms at molecular and cellular levels
Pharmacognosy and Natural Product Research
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced study of medicinal plants, natural product chemistry, extraction techniques, and bioactive compound identification
Drug Discovery and Development
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Principles and methods of drug discovery from natural products including screening, lead compound identification, and preclinical evaluation
Ethnopharmacology and Traditional Medicine
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Scientific evaluation of traditional medicines, ethnobotanical surveys, and validation of traditional medicinal plant use in Kenya
Natural Product Chemistry and Analysis
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced techniques for isolation, characterisation, and structural elucidation of bioactive natural products including chromatography and spectroscopy
Toxicology and Drug Safety
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Principles of toxicology, safety evaluation of natural products and drugs, and regulatory requirements for drug safety assessment
Research Methodology and Biostatistics
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Research design, ethical considerations, and statistical methods for pharmacology and pharmacognosy research
Pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality Control
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Analytical methods for pharmaceutical quality control including standardisation of herbal medicines and drug formulation analysis
Thesis Proposal Development
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Development and defence of a doctoral research proposal on a pharmacology and pharmacognosy topic
Thesis Research and Writing
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Independent doctoral research culminating in a thesis defended before internal and external examiners
Specialisations
Pharmacy Practice
Specialization in Pharmacy Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as pharmacist.
Regulatory Affairs Research
Specialization in Regulatory Affairs Research, preparing graduates for careers such as regulatory-affairs-pharmacist.
Hospital Pharmacy Practice
Specialization in Hospital Pharmacy Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as hospital-pharmacist.
Academic Research in Pharmacy
Specialization in Academic Research in Pharmacy, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Research
Specialization in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Research, preparing graduates for careers such as industrial-pharmacist-pharmaceutical-manufacturing.
Clinical Pharmacy Research
Specialization in Clinical Pharmacy Research, preparing graduates for careers such as clinical-pharmacist.
A day as a student
A typical day combines laboratory work on natural product extraction and bioassays with pharmacological experiments on drug action mechanisms, data analysis, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend pharmacy research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with traditional medicine researchers at KEMRI.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Kenya's rich biodiversity offers unique opportunities for natural product drug discovery | Requires strong chemistry and pharmacology background |
| Strong institutional links with KEMRI's traditional medicine research centre | Tuition fees are relatively high at KES 396,000 per year |
| Combines modern pharmacology with traditional medicine research | Natural product research can be time-consuming with low hit rates |
| Contributes to drug discovery and evaluation of traditional medicines | Research funding for pharmacognosy is competitive |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 349 health 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
UoN 396k, KU 367.2k/yr (pharmacy.uonbi/ku.ac.ke). KeMU 144k, MKU 200k/yr (eafinder/kenyayote)
Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, WHO/TDR research grants, DAAD scholarships, and NRF research grants for pharmacology and pharmacognosy research.
Funding options
HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
WHO/TDR Research Grant
Grant
DAAD Scholarship
Scholarship
NRF Research Grant
Grant
Scholarships
3 recordedHELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities
WHO/TDR Career Development Fellowship
FellowshipKenyan
Researchers from low- and middle-income countries working on tropical diseases and traditional medicine
DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for doctoral study
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
Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification
When it next starts
Taught at 1 institutionIncluding University of Nairobi.
Including University of Nairobi.
Including University of Nairobi.
How you are assessed
3 componentsThesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark
Oral Viva Voce
Coursework100% of the mark
Proposal Defence
Coursework100% of the mark
Accreditation
Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Pharmaceutical research involving human medicines requires oversight from the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB).
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesPharmacognosy Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Specialises in natural product drug discovery at research institutions or pharmaceutical companies
University Lecturer (Pharmacy)
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Teaches pharmacology and pharmacognosy and conducts research in university pharmacy departments
Drug Safety Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 200,000
Advises pharmaceutical companies and regulatory bodies on drug safety and traditional medicine evaluation
Pharmaceutical Research Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Conducts drug discovery and pharmacology research at KEMRI, research institutions, or pharmaceutical companies
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as university lecturers, pharmaceutical researchers, pharmacognosy specialists, and drug discovery scientists in universities, KEMRI, pharmaceutical companies, and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Dental CeramistHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- Occupational Therapist AssistantHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- PsychologyHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- Dental ProsthetistHealth Sciences4Low exposure
- Dental Laboratory TechnicianHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- General DentistHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- Veterinary PathologistHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- Community Health NurseHealth Sciences6Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Pharmacognosy is outdated in the era of synthetic drugs
Pharmacognosy remains highly relevant as many modern drugs are derived from natural products, and Kenya's rich biodiversity offers significant potential for new drug discovery from medicinal plants.
A PhD in pharmacology and pharmacognosy has limited career prospects
There is demand for pharmaceutical researchers at universities, KEMRI, pharmaceutical companies, the PPB, and international research institutions working on drug discovery and traditional medicine evaluation.
Traditional medicine research is not scientific
Pharmacognosy applies rigorous scientific methods including phytochemistry, bioassays, clinical trials, and molecular pharmacology to evaluate traditional medicines and discover new therapeutic compounds.
Pharmacology research is only for pharmacists
The programme accepts graduates with Master's degrees in pharmacy, medicine, veterinary medicine, biological sciences, or related fields, not only pharmacists.