Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Planning and Development
The Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Planning and Development is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Department of Urban and Regional Planning and at Kenyatta University through the School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 512,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,536,000 to Ksh 2,560,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 313,700 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 4 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
It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in urban planning, urban development and regional planning. The programme addresses Kenya's urban planning research and urban development needs.
Students engage with advanced topics in urban planning theory, regional planning, land use planning, urban development management, housing policy, urban economics, environmental planning, transportation planning, urban governance, spatial planning and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops urban planning insights for Kenya's urbanisation challenges.
Kenya's rapid urbanisation, metropolitan planning, housing deficit, informal settlements, urban infrastructure, land use conflicts, urban governance, county planning, Vision 2030 urbanisation, UN-Habitat partnerships and the demand for urban planning research create demand for doctoral-level urban planning expertise. The programme supports Kenya's urban development and planning goals.
Teaching is delivered through coursework, studio sessions and supervised research. At UoN, the Department of Urban and Regional Planning offers PhD in Urban Planning. Tuition approximately KSh 480,000/year. Application fee KSh 4,000. At KU, the School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences offers related programmes. KSh 244,800/year for East Africans. Application fee KSh 3,000.
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, urban planning researchers, city planners, regional planners and urban development consultants. They work in universities, Ministry of Transport, county governments, UN-Habitat and planning firms.
What you study
10 subjects- Advanced Urban Planning Theory and Practice
- Regional Planning and Spatial Development
- Land Use Planning and Management
- Urban Development Management
- Housing Policy and Urban Housing
- Urban Economics and Real Estate
- Environmental Planning and Sustainability
- Urban Governance and Policy
- Transportation Planning and Urban Mobility
- Research Methods in Urban Planning
Modules
8 in the programmeAdvanced Urban Planning Theory and Practice
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Urban planning, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Regional Planning and Spatial Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Regional planning, exploring development theories, sustainable practices, and their application in addressing contemporary challenges in Kenya and beyond.
Land Use Planning and Management
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Land use, covering strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and contemporary management challenges relevant to professional practice.
Housing Policy and Urban Housing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Housing, analysing policy frameworks, implementation strategies, and their impact on practice within the Kenyan and broader African context.
Urban Governance and Policy
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Urban governance, analysing policy frameworks, implementation strategies, and their impact on practice within the Kenyan and broader African context.
Research Methods in Urban Planning
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
Urban Governance
Research on urban governance
Housing and Urban Development
Research on housing
Regional Planning
Research on regional planning
Environmental Planning
Research on environmental planning
A day as a student
A typical day involves conducting urban planning research, analysing spatial and demographic data, reviewing planning literature, attending studio sessions and seminars on urban development, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with UN-Habitat, county governments and planning firms for research collaboration. Fieldwork in urban areas and communities is common.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Kenya's rapid urbanisation and devolution create demand | UoN PhD is expensive (KSh 480,000/year) |
| Access to UN-Habitat and county governments | Requires multidisciplinary knowledge |
| Research contributes to sustainable urban development | Access to planning data can be restricted |
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 coursesAnnual 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 Planning 512K(urbanplanning.uonbi.ac.ke). Egerton 251.9K. KeMU 170K. Kabarak 313.7K
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 recordedDAAD 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
Scholarships you could apply for
2 usable where it is taught- Chevening Scholarships Kenya
Closes 30 November 2026FullUK Government
Full masters in UK
- AfDB Japan Scholarship Program
Closes 28 February 2027FullAfrican Development Bank
Full graduate study abroad
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
At UoN: MA/MSc from UoN or recognised institution. Department of Urban and Regional Planning. PhD in Urban Planning and Development. Application fee KSh 4,000. At KU: MA/MSc from KU or recognised institution. KSh 244,800/year. Application fee KSh 3,000.
When it next starts
Taught at 4 institutionsIncluding Technical University of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, University of Nairobi.
Including Technical University of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, University of Nairobi.
Including Technical University of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, University of Nairobi.
How you are assessed
3 componentsCoursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, planning projects and seminar presentations
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
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 University of Nairobi (Department of Urban and Regional Planning, PhD in Urban Planning and Development, tuition approximately KSh 480,000/year, application fee KSh 4,000) and Kenyatta University (KSh 244,800/year, application fee KSh 3,000). KIP regulates planning practice.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesCity Planner
High demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 600,000
Planning at county governments
University Professor
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaching and research in planning departments
Urban Planning Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000
Research on urban planning
Urban Development Consultant
High demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 600,000
Consulting at UN-Habitat and firms
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, urban planning researchers, city planners and urban development consultants. They work at UN-Habitat, county governments, Ministry of Transport and universities.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Adolescent Mentorship OfficerSocial Sciences14Low exposure
- Correctional CounselorSocial Sciences15Low exposure
- Child Protection OfficerSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- CriminologistSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- Human Rights InvestigatorSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- Social GerontologistSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- Community Resilience SpecialistSocial Sciences17Low exposure
- Gender Integration SpecialistSocial Sciences17Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Urban planning PhD is just about zoning.
The field covers regional planning, housing policy, urban economics, environmental planning, governance and transportation.
There is no demand for urban planning PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's rapid urbanisation and devolution create demand.
Urban planning research is purely technical.
The programme uses social research, economic analysis, GIS, environmental modelling and policy analysis.
Only planners study this PhD.
The programme attracts architects, geographers, economists and sociologists.