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Doctor of Philosophy in Security Studies

The Doctor of Philosophy in Security Studies is a doctoral programme offered at Kenyatta University and at the University of Nairobi through the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in security studies, conflict resolution and peace building.

Duration
3-5 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 432,000
Ksh 1,296,000 to Ksh 2,160,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 288,000
Ksh 864,000 to Ksh 1,440,000 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 432,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,296,000 to Ksh 2,160,000 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 3 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

The programme addresses Kenya's security research and national security development needs.

Students engage with advanced topics in security studies, conflict analysis, peace building, national security strategy, terrorism and counter-terrorism, intelligence studies, security governance, border security, cybersecurity policy, regional security and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops security studies insights for Kenya's security challenges.

Kenya's terrorism threats, Al-Shabaab insurgency, border security, internal conflicts, radicalisation, election violence, cybersecurity threats, regional instability, transnational crime, refugees and security and the demand for security research create demand for doctoral-level security studies expertise. The programme supports Kenya's national security and peace building goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, seminars and supervised research. At KU, the School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences offers PhD in Security Studies. KSh 244,800/year for East Africans, KSh 306,000/year for non-East Africans. Application fee KSh 3,000. At UoN, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences offers security studies research. Application fee KSh 4,000.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, security researchers, intelligence analysts, security policy analysts and conflict resolution consultants. They work in universities, National Intelligence Service, Ministry of Interior, Kenya Defence Forces and international organisations.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Advanced Security Studies and Strategic Studies
  • Conflict Analysis and Resolution
  • Peace Building and Post-Conflict Reconstruction
  • Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism Studies
  • Intelligence Studies and Security Analysis
  • Security Governance and Policy
  • Border Security and Regional Security
  • Cybersecurity Policy and Governance
  • Radicalisation and Violent Extremism
  • Research Methods in Security Studies

Modules

8 in the programme

  • Advanced Security Studies and Strategic Studies

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

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

  • Conflict Analysis and Resolution

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Conflict analysis, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and current analytical techniques used in advanced research and professional practice.

  • Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism Studies

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Terrorism, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.

  • Intelligence Studies and Security Analysis

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Intelligence, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and current analytical techniques used in advanced research and professional practice.

  • Security 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 Security 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

  • Conflict Resolution

    Research on conflict resolution

  • Cybersecurity Policy

    Research on cybersecurity policy

  • Intelligence Studies

    Research on intelligence

  • Counter-Terrorism

    Research on counter-terrorism

A day as a student

A typical day involves conducting security research, analysing conflict data, reviewing security studies literature, attending seminars on terrorism and conflict, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with NIS, NCTC and ACCORD for research collaboration. Fieldwork in conflict-affected areas is common.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Kenya's security challenges create demandAccess to classified security data is restricted
Access to NIS, NCTC and ACCORDFieldwork in conflict areas is risky
Research contributes to peace and securitySecurity sensitivities can limit publication

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses
Public200k to 432k
200k at Egerton University432k 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

Egerton 200K/yr (egerton.ac.ke). UoN 432K unverified. KeMU 170K, Kabarak 288K/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

  • 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 KU: MA from KU or recognised institution. School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences. PhD in Security Studies. KSh 244,800/year. Application fee KSh 3,000. At UoN: MA from UoN or recognised institution. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Application fee KSh 4,000.

Subject requirements
MA/MSc in Security Studies, International Relations, Political Science, Peace Studies or related fieldRelevant Masters from recognised university

When it next starts

Taught at 3 institutions
January 20273 institutions

Including Rongo University, Kenyatta University, National Intelligence Research University.

May 20272 institutions

Including Rongo University, Kenyatta University.

September 20273 institutions

Including Rongo University, Kenyatta University, National Intelligence Research 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, policy briefs 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 Kenyatta University (School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences, PhD in Security Studies, KSh 244,800/year, application fee KSh 3,000) and University of Nairobi (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, application fee KSh 4,000).

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Intelligence Analyst

    High demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 600,000

    Analysis at NIS and security agencies

  • Security Policy Analyst

    High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000

    Policy at Ministry of Interior

  • University Professor

    High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Teaching and research in security studies

  • Security Researcher

    High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000

    Research at think tanks and institutes

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, security researchers, intelligence analysts and security policy analysts. They work at NIS, Ministry of Interior, NCTC and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Security studies is just about military strategy.

    The field covers conflict resolution, peace building, intelligence, cybersecurity policy and radicalisation.

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

    Kenya's terrorism threats and regional instability create demand.

  • Security research is purely strategic.

    The programme uses qualitative research, case studies, policy analysis and field research.

  • Only military personnel study this PhD.

    The programme attracts political scientists, lawyers, journalists and diplomats.

Further reading

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