Health Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacy

The Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacy 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 across pharmaceutical sciences including clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutics, pharmacology, and drug discovery, contributing to pharmaceutical knowledge and practice in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced pharmaceutical sciences, clinical pharmacy research, drug formulation and delivery, pharmaceutical analysis, and research methodology. The programme is delivered by thesis, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent laboratory and clinical research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to pharmaceutical sciences.

Kenya's pharmaceutical sector is growing with increasing demand for quality medicines, local manufacturing, and clinical pharmacy services. The programme addresses national health priorities under Vision 2030 and the Kenya Health Policy Framework by training researchers who can contribute to drug development, pharmaceutical quality, clinical pharmacy practice, and medicine safety.

Teaching methods include supervised research, laboratory experiments, clinical pharmacy research, seminars, and thesis writing. Students have access to UoN's pharmaceutical sciences laboratories at the KNH campus and collaborate with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board and pharmaceutical industry partners.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, pharmaceutical researchers, clinical pharmacy specialists, pharmaceutical industry consultants, and regulatory affairs specialists in universities, KEMRI, pharmaceutical companies, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, and international health organisations.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master of Pharmacy or MSc in pharmaceutical sciences who are committed to advancing knowledge in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 396,000
Private, up to: Ksh 200,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 5 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Advanced Pharmaceutical Sciences
Clinical Pharmacy Research
Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery
Pharmaceutical Analysis
Drug Discovery
Research Methodology
Pharmacovigilance
Thesis Research
Biostatistics
Pharmaceutical Policy

Modules

10 in the programme

Advanced Pharmaceutical Sciences
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of pharmaceutical sciences including drug formulation, delivery systems, and pharmaceutical technology
Clinical Pharmacy Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Research methods for studying clinical pharmacy practice including medication therapy management, pharmacovigilance, and patient outcomes
Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Systems
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced drug formulation, controlled release systems, nanotechnology in drug delivery, and pharmaceutical manufacturing
Pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality Control
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Analytical methods for pharmaceutical quality control including chromatography, spectroscopy, and pharmacopoeial standards
Drug Discovery and Development
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Principles and methods of drug discovery including target identification, screening, preclinical evaluation, and clinical trials
Pharmacovigilance and Medicine Safety
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Principles of pharmacovigilance, adverse drug reaction monitoring, and medicine safety systems in Kenya and globally
Research Methodology and Biostatistics
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Research design, ethical considerations, and statistical methods for pharmaceutical sciences research
Pharmaceutical Policy and Regulatory Science
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Analysis of pharmaceutical policy frameworks, regulatory requirements, and medicine access in Kenya and East Africa
Thesis Proposal Development
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Development and defence of a doctoral research proposal on a pharmacy topic, involving original research, literature review, data analysis, and the production of a doctoral dissertation.
Thesis Research and Writing
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Independent doctoral research culminating in a thesis defended before internal and external examiners

Specialisations

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.
Hospital Pharmacy Practice
Specialization in Hospital Pharmacy Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as hospital-pharmacist.
Regulatory Affairs Research
Specialization in Regulatory Affairs Research, preparing graduates for careers such as regulatory-affairs-pharmacist.
Pharmacy Practice
Specialization in Pharmacy Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as pharmacist.
Academic Research in Pharmacy
Specialization in Academic Research in Pharmacy, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.

A day as a student

A typical day combines laboratory work on pharmaceutical analysis and drug formulation with clinical pharmacy research, data analysis, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend pharmacy research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with pharmaceutical industry and regulatory partners.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's growing pharmaceutical sector creates demand for research expertise
Diverse career paths in academia, industry, regulation, and clinical practice
Opportunities for international collaboration through FIP and WHO
Contributes to medicine quality, safety, and access in Kenya

Against it

Requires strong pharmaceutical and laboratory skills
Tuition fees are relatively high at KES 396,000 per year
Research funding for pharmaceutical sciences is competitive
Balancing clinical practice with research demands strong time management

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 courses

Public367k to 396k

367k at Kenyatta University396k at University of Nairobi

Private144k to 200k

144k at Kenya Methodist University200k at Mount Kenya 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 396k, KU 367.2k/yr (pharmacy.uonbi/ku.ac.ke). KeMU 144k, MKU 200k/yr (eafinder/kenyayote)

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and FIP research fellowships for pharmaceutical sciences research.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
DAAD Scholarship
Scholarship
NRF Research Grant
Grant
FIP Research Fellowship
Fellowship

Scholarships

3 recorded

DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for doctoral study
NRF Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers at Kenyan institutions conducting research relevant to national development
HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

Master's Degree
Master of Pharmacy or MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor of Pharmacy or related degree from a recognised university
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

3 components

Oral Viva Voce
Coursework100% of the mark
Thesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark
Proposal Defence
Coursework100% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Pharmacy graduates must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) for professional practice.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

University Lecturer (Pharmacy)
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Teaches pharmacy and conducts research in university pharmacy departments
Pharmaceutical Research Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Conducts pharmaceutical research at KEMRI, research institutions, or pharmaceutical companies
Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Advises pharmaceutical companies and regulatory bodies on drug registration and compliance
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 220,000
Provides advanced clinical pharmacy services at teaching hospitals and conducts practice-based research

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, pharmaceutical researchers, clinical pharmacy specialists, and regulatory affairs specialists in universities, KEMRI, pharmaceutical companies, and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

A PhD in pharmacy is only for community pharmacists
A PhD in pharmacy prepares graduates for careers in pharmaceutical research, drug development, clinical pharmacy, regulatory affairs, academia, and the pharmaceutical industry, not just community pharmacy.
Pharmacy research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya's growing pharmaceutical sector requires research on drug quality, local manufacturing, medicine safety, and access to essential medicines, making pharmacy research critical for national health.
A PhD in pharmacy has limited career prospects
There is demand for pharmaceutical researchers at universities, KEMRI, pharmaceutical companies, the PPB, and international health organisations addressing drug safety and access.
Pharmacy is only about dispensing medicines
Pharmacy encompasses drug discovery, formulation, clinical pharmacy, pharmacovigilance, pharmaceutical policy, and regulatory science, requiring diverse research and practice skills.