Media & Communication

Doctor of Philosophy in Theatre Arts and Film Studies

The Doctor of Philosophy in Theatre Arts and Film Studies is a doctoral programme offered at Kenyatta University through the School of Creative and Performing Arts, Film and Media Studies and at Moi University through the School of Arts and Social Sciences.

It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in theatre arts, film studies and performance. The programme addresses Kenya's creative arts research and film industry development needs.

Students engage with advanced topics in theatre arts, film theory, performance studies, dramatic criticism, African theatre, film production, screenwriting, theatre for development, documentary film, digital media and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops theatre and film insights for Kenya's creative industry challenges.

Kenya's growing film industry, theatre tradition, creative economy, performing arts, cultural expression, film classification, local content production, theatre for development, digital content creation, Netflix and streaming platforms and the demand for creative arts research create demand for doctoral-level theatre and film expertise. The programme supports Kenya's creative economy and cultural development goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, studio sessions and supervised research. At KU, the School of Creative and Performing Arts, Film and Media Studies offers PhD in Theatre Arts and Film Studies. KSh 244,800/year for East Africans. Application fee KSh 3,000. At Moi University, the School of Arts and Social Sciences offers related programmes. Application fee KSh 2,000.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, theatre researchers, film scholars, performing arts consultants and creative industry analysts. They work in universities, Kenya Cultural Centre, Kenya Film Commission, Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage and media organisations.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 245,400
Private, up to: Ksh 310,000
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 Theatre Theory and Performance Studies
Film Theory and Criticism
African Theatre and Drama
Film Production and Direction
Screenwriting and Dramaturgy
Theatre for Development and Applied Drama
Documentary Film and Non-Fiction Media
Digital Media and Film Distribution
Performance and Cultural Studies
Research Methods in Theatre and Film

Modules

8 in the programme

Advanced Theatre Theory and Performance Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theatre theory, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Film Theory and Criticism
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Film theory, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
African Theatre and Drama
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
African theatre, covering artistic principles, creative methodologies, and their application in cultural production and research.
Theatre for Development and Applied Drama
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Theatre for development, exploring development theories, sustainable practices, and their application in addressing contemporary challenges in Kenya and beyond.
Digital Media and Film Distribution
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Digital media, covering communication theories, media analysis, and their application in contemporary information environments.
Research Methods in Theatre and Film
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

Performance Studies
Research on performance studies
Theatre for Development
Research on theatre for development
Film Studies
Research on film studies
Theatre Studies
Research on theatre studies

A day as a student

A typical day involves conducting theatre and film research, analysing performances and films, reviewing critical literature, attending seminars on film theory, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with Kenya Film Commission, Kenya Cultural Centre and media organisations for research collaboration. Studio sessions and performance attendance are common.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's growing creative economy creates opportunities
Access to Kenya Film Commission and Cultural Centre
Research contributes to cultural development

Against it

Limited direct industry demand outside academia
Funding for arts research is limited
Research output can be subjective

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 106 media & communication courses

Public245k to 245k

245k at Kenyatta University245k at Egerton University

Private200k to 310k

200k at Strathmore University310k 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

KU 244,800 (ku.ac.ke). Egerton ~245K (egerton.ac.ke). Kabarak ~310K (official PDF). Strathmore unverified.

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
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers in Kenya
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: Masters Degree
Alternative entry: At KU: MA from KU or recognised institution. School of Creative and Performing Arts, Film and Media Studies. PhD in Theatre Arts and Film Studies. KSh 244,800/year. Application fee KSh 3,000. At Moi University: MA from Moi or recognised institution. School of Arts and Social Sciences. Application fee KSh 2,000.

MA in Theatre Arts, Film Studies, Performing Arts, Drama, Literature or related field
Relevant Masters from recognised university

How you are assessed

3 components

Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, performance analysis and seminar presentations
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel
Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at Kenyatta University (School of Creative and Performing Arts, Film and Media Studies, PhD in Theatre Arts and Film Studies, KSh 244,800/year, application fee KSh 3,000) and Moi University (School of Arts and Social Sciences, application fee KSh 2,000).

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

Film Scholar
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Research on film and cinema
Creative Industry Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Analysis at Kenya Film Commission
Theatre Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Research on theatre and performance
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in arts departments

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, theatre researchers, film scholars and creative industry analysts. They work at Kenya Film Commission, Kenya Cultural Centre, media organisations and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Theatre and film PhD is just about acting.
The field covers film theory, performance studies, dramatic criticism, screenwriting, theatre for development and digital media.
There is no demand for theatre and film PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's growing creative economy creates demand.
Theatre and film research is purely practical.
The programme uses critical theory, cultural studies, performance analysis and media studies.
Only actors study this PhD.
The programme attracts journalists, cultural workers, educators and media professionals.