Arts & Humanities

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.

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.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 192,000
Private, up to: Ksh 288,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

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

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 favour

Kenya's religious diversity creates research opportunities
Access to faith-based organisations and interfaith councils
Research contributes to interfaith understanding

Against it

Limited direct industry demand outside academia
Religious sensitivities can affect research
Funding 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

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: Masters Degree
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.

MA in Religious Studies, Theology, Philosophy or related field
Relevant Masters from recognised 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

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).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya

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

Industry links

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.