Doctor of Philosophy in Planning
The Doctor of Philosophy in Planning is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Urban and Regional Planning. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in urban and regional planning, spatial planning and development planning. The programme addresses Kenya's urban planning research and spatial development needs.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 480,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,440,000 to Ksh 2,400,000 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 3-5 years, full-time, part-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 6 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 urban and regional planning, spatial planning, land use planning, transportation planning, housing policy, environmental planning, regional development, urban governance, planning theory and research methods.
The curriculum emphasises original research that develops planning insights for Kenya's urbanisation and spatial development challenges.
Kenya's rapid urbanisation, urban sprawl, informal settlements, transportation challenges, housing deficit, land use conflicts, county development planning, metropolitan planning and the demand for planning research create demand for doctoral-level planning expertise. The programme supports Kenya's urban development and spatial planning goals.
Teaching is delivered through coursework, studio sessions and supervised research. At UoN, the Department of Urban and Regional Planning offers PhD in Planning (B80), 3 years. Tuition KSh 480,000/year, Year 1 total KSh 512,000, Year 2 KSh 507,000, Year 3 KSh 557,000, total KSh 1,576,000 over 3 years. Application fee KSh 4,000.
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, planning researchers, urban planning consultants, policy analysts and development planners. They work in universities, Ministry of Lands, county governments, UN-Habitat and international organisations.
What you study
10 subjects- Advanced Urban and Regional Planning
- Spatial Planning and Land Use
- Transportation Planning and Infrastructure
- Housing Policy and Urban Development
- Environmental Planning and Sustainability
- Regional Development and Economic Planning
- Urban Governance and Management
- Planning Theory and Practice
- GIS and Spatial Analysis for Planning
- Research Methods in Planning
Modules
12 in the programmeAdvanced Urban and Regional Planning
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Urban planning, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Ethical Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of ethical theory, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Logic
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced study of logic, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Spatial Planning and Land Use
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Spatial planning, covering planning theories, methodologies, and practical approaches to strategic and spatial planning in professional contexts.
Transportation Planning and Infrastructure
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Transportation, covering planning theories, methodologies, and practical approaches to strategic and spatial planning in professional contexts.
Research Methods
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced study of research methods, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Housing Policy and Urban Development
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Housing, analysing policy frameworks, implementation strategies, and their impact on practice within the Kenyan and broader African context.
Metaphysics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of metaphysics, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Epistemology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced study of epistemology, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Environmental Planning and Sustainability
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Environmental planning, covering planning theories, methodologies, and practical approaches to strategic and spatial planning in professional contexts.
Research Methods in Planning
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.
Philosophy of Mind
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced study of philosophy of mind, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Specialisations
Housing and Urban Development
Research on housing
Urban Planning
Research on urban planning
Regional Development
Research on regional development
Transportation Planning
Research on transportation
Philosophy of Mind
Specialization in Philosophy of Mind, preparing graduates for careers such as applied-ai-ethicist.
Metaphysics
Specialization in Metaphysics, preparing graduates for careers such as policy-analyst-social-policy.
Logic
Specialization in Logic, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Epistemology
Specialization in Epistemology, preparing graduates for careers such as research-ethics-coordinator.
Ethical Theory
Specialization in Ethical Theory, preparing graduates for careers such as philosopher.
Specialisation Methods
Specialization in Specialisation Methods, preparing graduates for careers such as bioethicist.
A day as a student
A typical day involves conducting planning research, analysing spatial data using GIS, reviewing planning literature, attending seminars on urban development, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with Ministry of Lands, county governments and UN-Habitat for research collaboration. Fieldwork in urban and peri-urban areas is common.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Advanced research skills open doors to academic and research careers in Kenya and internationally | UoN PhD is expensive (KSh 1,576,000 total) |
| Devolution creates demand at county level | Requires significant time commitment, typically 3-4 years for PhD and 2 years for Masters |
| Addresses real-world challenges relevant to Kenya's development priorities | Political interference in planning research |
| Research contributes to sustainable urbanisation | Limited number of supervisors in specialised fields may restrict research topics |
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 480K (urbanplanning.uonbi.ac.ke). Egerton 200K (egerton.ac.ke/phd). Kabarak 288K.
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
5 recordedHELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities
DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for postgraduate study in relevant fields
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers in Kenya
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
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: MA/MSc from UoN or recognised institution. Department of Urban and Regional Planning. PhD in Planning (B80), 3 years. Total KSh 1,576,000. Research proposal required. Application fee KSh 4,000.
When it next starts
Taught at 6 institutionsIncluding Garissa University, Kenyatta University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Including Garissa University, Kenyatta University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Including Garissa University, Kenyatta University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
How you are assessed
5 componentsThesis Defence
Coursework100% of the mark
Coursework Examinations
Coursework30% of the mark
Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, studio projects and seminar presentations
Accreditation
Physical Planners Registration Board
ProfessionalRequired
Registers physical planners in Kenya
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya
Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya
Relevant Professional Body
Professional certification
Professional registration may be required depending on the field of specialisation
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at University of Nairobi (Department of Urban and Regional Planning, PhD in Planning B80, 3 years, total KSh 1,576,000, application fee KSh 4,000). Physical Planners Registration Board regulates planning practice.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
8 rolesResearch Scientist
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 220,000
Conducts independent and collaborative research in research institutions, contributing to publications and innovation.
University Lecturer
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 250,000
Teaches and conducts research in a university department, contributing to knowledge generation and student mentorship.
Program Manager
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 190,000
Manages research and development programmes in NGOs, government agencies, or private sector organisations.
Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 75,000 to Ksh 240,000
Offers specialised expertise to organisations, drawing on advanced training and research experience.
Urban Planning Consultant
High demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 600,000
Consulting on urban planning projects
University Professor
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaching and research in planning departments
Planning Researcher
High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000
Research at UN-Habitat and research institutes
Policy Analyst
High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000
Policy at Ministry of Lands and counties
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, planning researchers, urban planning consultants and policy analysts. They work at Ministry of Lands, county governments, UN-Habitat 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
Planning PhD is just about drawing maps.
The field covers spatial planning, transportation, housing, governance, environmental planning and regional development.
There is no demand for planning PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's rapid urbanisation and devolution create demand.
Planning research is purely descriptive.
The programme uses GIS, spatial analysis, modelling, policy analysis and participatory methods.
Only architects study this PhD.
The programme attracts geographers, economists, environmental scientists and sociologists.