Science

Doctor of Philosophy in Space Science

The Doctor of Philosophy in Space Science is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Physics and at Kenyatta University through the School of Pure and Applied Sciences. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in space science, atmospheric physics and remote sensing.

The programme addresses Kenya's space science research and space technology development needs.

Students engage with advanced topics in space physics, atmospheric science, remote sensing, satellite technology, GPS and navigation, space weather, astrophysics, cosmology, planetary science, GIS applications and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops space science insights for Kenya's space technology and environmental monitoring challenges.

Kenya's space programme development, Kenya Space Agency establishment, satellite technology, remote sensing for environmental monitoring, GPS applications, telecommunications, space weather, astronomical research and the demand for space science research create demand for doctoral-level space science expertise. The programme supports Kenya's space technology and scientific development goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, computational sessions and supervised research. At UoN, the Department of Physics offers PhD with space science focus. Application fee KSh 4,000. At KU, the School of Pure and Applied Sciences offers physics PhD with space science options. KSh 336,600/year for East Africans. Application fee KSh 3,000.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, space scientists, remote sensing specialists, satellite engineers and space agency researchers. They work in universities, Kenya Space Agency, Ministry of Defence and international space organisations.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 251,900
Private, up to: Ksh 313,700
Job market: High

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: 3 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Advanced Space Physics and Astrophysics
Atmospheric Science and Space Weather
Remote Sensing and Earth Observation
Satellite Technology and Applications
GPS and Satellite Navigation Systems
Cosmology and Galactic Astronomy
Planetary Science and Solar System Studies
Space Environment and Radiation Physics
GIS and Spatial Data Analysis
Research Methods in Space Science

Modules

8 in the programme

Advanced Space Physics and Astrophysics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Space physics, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Atmospheric Science and Space Weather
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Atmospheric science, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Remote Sensing and Earth Observation
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Remote sensing, covering artistic principles, creative methodologies, and their application in cultural production and research.
Satellite Technology and Applications
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Satellite technology, covering technological tools, digital platforms, and information systems relevant to contemporary research and professional practice.
GPS and Satellite Navigation Systems
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
GPS, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Research Methods in Space 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

Remote Sensing
Research on remote sensing
Astrophysics
Research on astrophysics
Satellite Technology
Research on satellite technology
Space Weather
Research on space weather

A day as a student

A typical day involves conducting space science research, analysing satellite and remote sensing data, reviewing astrophysics literature, attending seminars on space physics, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with Kenya Space Agency and RCMRD for research collaboration. Computational work with satellite data and modelling is extensive.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya Space Agency creates new opportunities
Access to KSA, RCMRD and UNOOSA
Research contributes to space technology development

Against it

Requires strong physics and computing skills
Access to satellite data can be expensive
Limited laboratory infrastructure in Kenya

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 science courses

Public175k to 252k

175k at University of Nairobi252k at Egerton University

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

Egerton 251.9K/yr (egerton.ac.ke). UoN unverified. KeMU 168K, Kabarak 313.7K/yr (kabarak.ac.ke).

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

DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers 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: MSc from UoN or recognised institution. Department of Physics. PhD with space science focus. Application fee KSh 4,000. At KU: MSc from KU or recognised institution. School of Pure and Applied Sciences. KSh 336,600/year. Application fee KSh 3,000.

MSc in Physics, Space Science, Astronomy, Mathematics 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
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, computational projects and seminar presentations
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at University of Nairobi (Department of Physics, PhD with space science focus, application fee KSh 4,000) and Kenyatta University (School of Pure and Applied Sciences, KSh 336,600/year, application fee KSh 3,000). Kenya Space Agency established in 2017.

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

Space Scientist
High demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 600,000
Research at Kenya Space Agency
University Professor
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaching and research in physics departments
Remote Sensing Specialist
High demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 600,000
Remote sensing at RCMRD and agencies
Satellite Technology Researcher
High demandKsh 300,000 to Ksh 700,000
Satellite technology at space agencies

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, space scientists, remote sensing specialists and satellite technology researchers. They work at Kenya Space Agency, RCMRD and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Space science is just about astronomy.
The field covers remote sensing, satellite technology, atmospheric science, GPS and space weather.
There is no demand for space science PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya Space Agency and satellite technology create demand.
Space science research is purely observational.
The programme uses computational modelling, data analysis, remote sensing and instrumentation.
Only physicists study this PhD.
The programme attracts engineers, geographers and computer scientists.