Arts & Humanities

Doctor of Philosophy in Theological Studies

The Doctor of Philosophy in Theological Studies is a doctoral programme offered at Africa International University through the Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (NEGST), at the Adventist University of Africa, and at Tangaza University.

It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in theology, biblical studies and theological development. The programme addresses Kenya's theological research and religious scholarship development needs.

Students engage with advanced topics in systematic theology, biblical studies, church history, theological ethics, African theology, contextual theology, hermeneutics, missiology, pastoral theology, interfaith dialogue and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops theological insights for Kenya's religious and cultural challenges.

Kenya's religious diversity, church leadership development, theological education, African contextual theology, interfaith dialogue, pastoral ministry, religious scholarship, Christian ethics and the demand for theological research create demand for doctoral-level theological expertise. The programme supports Kenya's religious scholarship and theological education goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, seminars and supervised research. At AIU, NEGST offers PhD in Theological Studies with specialisations in Theology and Development. Application fee KSh 2,000. At AUA, PhD in Biblical and Theological Studies, 4 years full-time or part-time. At Tangaza University, PhD/STD in Theology. Application fee KSh 3,000.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, theological researchers, church leaders, theological educators and religious consultants. They work in universities, theological seminaries, churches, religious organisations and interfaith bodies.

Duration: 3-4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 244,800
Private, up to: Ksh 212,050
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 Systematic Theology
Biblical Studies and Hermeneutics
Church History and Historical Theology
Theological Ethics and Moral Theology
African Theology and Contextual Theology
Missiology and Intercultural Studies
Pastoral Theology and Care
Interfaith Dialogue and Religious Studies
Theological Research Methods
Theology and Development

Modules

8 in the programme

Advanced Systematic Theology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Systematic theology, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Biblical Studies and Hermeneutics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Biblical studies, covering theological principles, hermeneutical methods, and their application in religious scholarship.
African Theology and Contextual Theology
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
African theology, covering theological principles, hermeneutical methods, and their application in religious scholarship.
Missiology and Intercultural Studies
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Missiology, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Theological Ethics and Moral Theology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Theological ethics, examining ethical principles, professional conduct, regulatory frameworks, and their application in research and practice.
Theological Research Methods
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

Theology and Development
Research on theology and development
Biblical Studies
Research on biblical studies
African Theology
Research on African theology
Missiology
Research on missiology

A day as a student

A typical day involves conducting theological research, analysing biblical texts, reviewing theological literature, attending seminars on systematic theology, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with churches, seminaries and religious organisations for research collaboration. Library research and fieldwork in religious communities is common.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's religious diversity creates research opportunities
Access to AIU, AUA, Tangaza and CUEA
Research contributes to African theology

Against it

Limited secular career opportunities
Private theological universities can be expensive
Research funding for theology 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 245k

192k at Egerton University245k at Kenyatta University

Private210k to 212k

210k at Tangaza University212k at Africa International 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; Egerton 192K (PDF). AIU 212K (aiu.ac.ke). Tangaza 210K (tangaza.ac.ke).

HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. Church and denominational scholarships are available at theological institutions.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
Church and Denominational Scholarships

Scholarships

3 recorded

Church and Denominational Scholarships
ScholarshipKenyan
Theological students with church sponsorship
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
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 AIU: MA or MDiv from CUE-recognised institution in Theology, Church History, Bible, Religion, Missions, Translation or Pastoral. NEGST. Application fee KSh 2,000. At AUA: MA in Biblical and Theological Studies, MDiv or MA in Missiology with minimum CGPA 3.33. 4 years. At Tangaza: STL or Master's in Theology from recognised institute. Application fee KSh 3,000.

MA/MDiv in Theology, Biblical Studies, Church History, Religion, Missions or related field
Relevant Masters from recognised institution

How you are assessed

3 components

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
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, exegetical papers and seminar presentations

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at Africa International University (NEGST, PhD in Theological Studies, application fee KSh 2,000), Adventist University of Africa (PhD in Biblical and Theological Studies, 4 years), Tangaza University (PhD/STD in Theology, application fee KSh 3,000) and CUEA (PhD in Theology, application fee KSh 2,000). ACTEA also accredits theological programmes.

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

Church Leader
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 400,000
Leadership in church denominations
Theological Educator
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching at seminaries and theological colleges
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in theology departments
Theological Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Research at theological institutes

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, theological researchers, church leaders and theological educators. They work at theological seminaries, churches and religious organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Theological studies PhD is just about reading the Bible.
The field covers systematic theology, hermeneutics, church history, ethics, African theology and missiology.
There is no demand for theology PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's religious diversity and theological education create demand.
Theology research is purely devotional.
The programme uses historical criticism, contextual analysis, comparative religion and social research.
Only pastors study this PhD.
The programme attracts scholars, educators, development workers and interfaith practitioners.