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Environmental Science

Doctor of Phiosophy in Environmental Science

The Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science is a doctoral programme offered at Kenyatta University through the Department of Environmental Science and Education and at the University of Nairobi through the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in environmental science, environmental management and sustainability. The programme addresses Kenya's environmental research and sustainable development needs.

Duration
3-5 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 474,000
Ksh 1,422,000 to Ksh 2,370,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 313,700
Ksh 941,100 to Ksh 1,568,500 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 474,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,422,000 to Ksh 2,370,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 313,700 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 3-5 years, full-time, part-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 8 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Climate Change Analyst, at 10 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 environmental science, climate change, environmental pollution, biodiversity conservation, environmental impact assessment, sustainable resource management, environmental governance, ecosystem services, environmental policy and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops environmental science insights for Kenya's environmental challenges.

Kenya's environmental degradation, climate change impacts, biodiversity loss, pollution, deforestation, water scarcity, environmental compliance, green economy transition and the demand for environmental research create demand for doctoral-level environmental science expertise. The programme supports Kenya's environmental sustainability and green economy development goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, field sessions and supervised research. At KU, the Department of Environmental Science and Education offers PhD in Environmental Science (ENS 900) by thesis only, 3 years minimum. Candidate must publish two articles in refereed journals.

KSh 367,200/year for East Africans, KSh 459,000/year for non-East Africans. At UoN, the Wangari Maathai Institute offers PhD in Environmental Governance and Management, total KSh 1,442,000 over 3 years. Application fee KSh 4,000.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, environmental scientists, environmental consultants, climate change specialists and environmental policy analysts. They work in universities, NEMA, Ministry of Environment, UNEP and international organisations.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Advanced Environmental Science and Management
  • Climate Change Science and Adaptation
  • Environmental Pollution and Toxicology
  • Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Services
  • Environmental Impact Assessment and Auditing
  • Sustainable Resource Management
  • Environmental Governance and Policy
  • Environmental Modelling and GIS
  • Green Economy and Sustainable Development
  • Research Methods in Environmental Science

Modules

8 in the programme

  • Advanced Environmental Science and Management

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

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

  • Climate Change Science and Adaptation

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Climate change, covering climate science principles, adaptation strategies, and their application in environmental policy.

  • Environmental Pollution and Toxicology

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Pollution, covering ecological principles, environmental management approaches, and sustainability challenges in contemporary contexts.

  • Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Services

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Biodiversity, covering ecological principles, conservation strategies, and their application in biodiversity management.

  • Environmental Governance and Policy

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Governance, analysing policy frameworks, implementation strategies, and their impact on practice within the Kenyan and broader African context.

  • Research Methods in Environmental Science

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Research methods, 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, providing a platform for doctoral candidates to present research findings, engage with peer feedback, and explore contemporary debates in the field.

  • 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

  • Environmental Pollution

    Research on pollution

  • Climate Change

    Research on climate change

  • Environmental Governance

    Research on environmental governance

  • Biodiversity Conservation

    Research on biodiversity

A day as a student

A typical day involves conducting environmental research, analysing environmental data, reviewing environmental science literature, attending seminars on climate change, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with NEMA, UNEP and Ministry of Environment for research collaboration. Fieldwork at degraded sites, forests and water bodies is common.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
UNEP headquarters in Nairobi creates unique opportunitiesUoN PhD is expensive (KSh 1,442,000 total)
Access to NEMA, UNEP and ICRAFFieldwork in remote and degraded areas is challenging
Research contributes to environmental sustainabilityEnvironmental research permits can be time-consuming

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 181 environmental science courses
Public252k to 474k
252k at Egerton University474k 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 WMI ~474K/yr, Egerton ~252K/yr. KeMU ~168K, Kabarak ~314K/yr.

HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. NACOSTI provides research grants for science and technology research.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

  • NACOSTI Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • HELB Postgraduate Scholarship

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan postgraduate students

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

    ScholarshipKenyan

    Postgraduate students in Kenya

  • NACOSTI Research Grant

    GrantKenyan

    Science and technology researchers in Kenya

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 KU: MSc from KU or recognised institution. Department of Environmental Science and Education. PhD in Environmental Science (ENS 900), by thesis only, 3 years minimum. Must publish two articles in refereed journals. KSh 367,200/year. At UoN: MSc from UoN or recognised institution. Wangari Maathai Institute. PhD in Environmental Governance and Management. Total KSh 1,442,000. Application fee KSh 4,000.

Subject requirements
MSc in Environmental Science, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences or related fieldRelevant Masters from recognised university

When it next starts

Taught at 8 institutions
January 20278 institutions

Including Chuka University, Maseno University, Kisii University.

May 20278 institutions

Including Chuka University, Maseno University, Kisii University.

September 20278 institutions

Including Chuka University, Maseno University, Kisii University.

How you are assessed

3 components

  • Coursework

    Continuous assessment30% of the mark

    Assignments, field projects and seminar presentations

  • Thesis Proposal Defence

    Oral defence20% of the mark

    Defence of research proposal before faculty panel

  • Thesis

    Thesis50% 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

  • National Environment Management Authority

    Professional

    Regulates environmental practice and EIA experts in Kenya

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at Kenyatta University (Department of Environmental Science and Education, PhD in Environmental Science ENS 900, by thesis only, 3 years, KSh 367,200/year, must publish two refereed articles) and University of Nairobi (Wangari Maathai Institute, PhD in Environmental Governance and Management, total KSh 1,442,000, application fee KSh 4,000). NEMA regulates environmental practice.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Climate Change Specialist

    High demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 600,000

    Climate change at UNEP and Ministry

  • University Professor

    High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Teaching and research in environmental science

  • Environmental Consultant

    High demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 600,000

    Consulting on EIA and environmental compliance

  • Environmental Scientist

    High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000

    Research at NEMA and research institutes

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, environmental scientists, environmental consultants and climate change specialists. They work at NEMA, UNEP, Ministry of Environment and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Environmental science is just about conservation.

    The field covers climate change, pollution, governance, impact assessment and sustainable development.

  • There is no demand for environmental science PhDs in Kenya.

    Kenya's environmental challenges and UNEP presence create demand.

  • Environmental research is purely fieldwork.

    The programme uses GIS, modelling, laboratory analysis, policy research and remote sensing.

  • Only biologists study this PhD.

    The programme attracts chemists, geographers, engineers and policy analysts.

Further reading

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