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Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies

The Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies and at Kenyatta University through the School of Education and Lifelong Learning. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in religious studies, comparative religion and theology. The programme addresses Kenya's religious diversity research and interfaith understanding needs.

Duration
3 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 192,000
Ksh 576,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 288,000
Ksh 864,000 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 192,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 576,000 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 years, full-time, part-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 10 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Adolescent Mentorship Officer, at 14 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 religious studies, Christianity, Islam, African religion, comparative religion, philosophy of religion, religious ethics, interfaith dialogue, religion and society, religious texts and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops religious studies insights for Kenya's religious and social challenges.

Kenya's religious diversity, Christian and Islamic traditions, African indigenous religions, interfaith relations, religion and politics, religious extremism, religious education, religion and development and the demand for religious studies research create demand for doctoral-level religious studies expertise. The programme supports Kenya's social cohesion and interfaith understanding goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, seminars and supervised research. At UoN, the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies offers PhD in Religious Studies (C813), 3 years. Tuition KSh 192,000/year, Year 1 total KSh 224,000, Year 2 KSh 219,000, Year 3 KSh 269,000, total KSh 712,000 over 3 years. Application fee KSh 4,000.

At KU, PhD in Religious Studies with options in Christianity, Islam and African Religion. KSh 244,800/year for East Africans. Application fee KSh 3,000.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, religious studies researchers, interfaith coordinators, religious consultants and theology educators. They work in universities, faith-based organisations, interfaith councils and international organisations.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Advanced Religious Studies and Methodology
  • Christianity: Theology and History
  • Islam: Theology and History
  • African Religion and Indigenous Belief Systems
  • Comparative Religion and Interfaith Dialogue
  • Philosophy of Religion
  • Religious Ethics and Moral Theology
  • Religion and Society in Africa
  • Sacred Texts and Hermeneutics
  • Research Methods in Religious Studies

Modules

8 in the programme

  • Advanced Religious Studies and Methodology

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Religious studies methodology, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.

  • Christianity: Theology and History

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Christianity, covering historical methods, archaeological techniques, and their application in understanding past societies.

  • Islam: Theology and History

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Islam, covering historical methods, archaeological techniques, and their application in understanding past societies.

  • African Religion and Indigenous Belief Systems

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    African religion, covering theological principles, hermeneutical methods, and their application in religious scholarship.

  • Comparative Religion and Interfaith Dialogue

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Comparative religion, covering theological principles, hermeneutical methods, and their application in religious scholarship.

  • Research Methods in Religious Studies

    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

  • Islam

    Research on Islam

  • African Religion

    Research on African religion

  • Christianity

    Research on Christianity

  • Comparative Religion

    Research on comparative religion

A day as a student

A typical day involves conducting religious studies research, analysing religious texts, reviewing religious studies literature, attending seminars on comparative religion, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with faith-based organisations and interfaith councils for research collaboration. Fieldwork at religious communities and sacred sites is common.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Kenya's religious diversity creates research opportunitiesLimited direct industry demand outside academia
Access to faith-based organisations and interfaith councilsReligious sensitivities can affect research
Research contributes to interfaith understandingFunding for religious studies 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 courses
Public192k to 192k
192k at Egerton University192k at University of Nairobi
Private170k to 288k
170k at Kenya Methodist University288k 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 192K (philosophy.uonbi.ac.ke). Egerton 192K (Egerton 2024 PDF). KeMU 170K, 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

3 recorded

  • 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
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 UoN: MA from UoN or recognised institution in Religious Studies or relevant discipline. Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies. PhD in Religious Studies (C813), 3 years. Total KSh 712,000. Application fee KSh 4,000. At KU: MA or MTh from KU or recognised institution. School of Education and Lifelong Learning. PhD in Religious Studies with options in Christianity, Islam and African Religion. KSh 244,800/year. Application fee KSh 3,000.

Subject requirements
MA in Religious Studies, Theology, Philosophy or related fieldRelevant Masters from recognised university

When it next starts

Taught at 10 institutions
January 202710 institutions

Including Kenyatta University, Africa International University, Kenya Highlands Evangelical University.

May 20279 institutions

Including Kenyatta University, Kenya Highlands Evangelical University, Catholic University of Eastern Africa.

September 202710 institutions

Including Kenyatta University, Africa International University, Kenya Highlands Evangelical University.

How you are assessed

3 components

  • 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, essays and seminar presentations

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 Philosophy and Religious Studies, PhD in Religious Studies C813, 3 years, total KSh 712,000, application fee KSh 4,000) and Kenyatta University (School of Education and Lifelong Learning, PhD in Religious Studies with options in Christianity, Islam and African Religion, KSh 244,800/year, application fee KSh 3,000).

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • University Professor

    High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Teaching and research in religious studies departments

  • Interfaith Coordinator

    Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Interfaith at councils and organisations

  • Theology Educator

    Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Teaching at theological colleges

  • Religious Studies Researcher

    Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Research on religion and society

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, religious studies researchers, interfaith coordinators and theology educators. They work at faith-based organisations, interfaith councils and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Religious studies is just about learning scriptures.

    The field covers comparative religion, philosophy of religion, ethics, hermeneutics and religion and society.

  • There is no demand for religious studies PhDs in Kenya.

    Kenya's religious diversity and interfaith challenges create demand.

  • Religious studies research is purely theological.

    The programme uses historical analysis, phenomenology, comparative methods and social science research.

  • Only religious leaders study this PhD.

    The programme attracts philosophers, historians, sociologists and educators.

Further reading

Read next