Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Clinical Studies
The Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Clinical Studies is a doctoral programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in veterinary clinical studies, veterinary medicine, surgery and theriogenology.
The programme addresses Kenya's veterinary clinical research and animal health development needs.
Students engage with advanced topics in veterinary clinical medicine, veterinary surgery, theriogenology, clinical diagnostics, internal medicine, anaesthesiology, critical care, clinical pharmacology, evidence-based veterinary medicine and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops veterinary clinical insights for Kenya's animal health challenges.
Kenya's livestock industry, dairy farming, poultry production, companion animal practice, wildlife health, clinical veterinary services, disease diagnosis, surgical interventions, reproductive health and the demand for clinical veterinary research create demand for doctoral-level veterinary clinical expertise. The programme supports Kenya's animal health and livestock development goals.
Teaching is delivered through coursework, clinical rotations and supervised research. At UoN, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine offers PhD in Veterinary Clinical Studies (J87/JCL8). The programme equips candidates with knowledge that integrates medicine, surgery and theriogenology. Application fee KSh 4,000. PhD in Agriculture or Veterinary Sciences approximately KSh 600,000 for entire programme.
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, veterinary clinical researchers, veterinary surgeons, theriogenologists and specialist veterinary practitioners. They work in universities, veterinary hospitals, Kenya Wildlife Service, Department of Veterinary Services and private practice.
- Duration
- 3-5 years
- Public, up to
- Ksh 788,000
- Private, up to
- Ksh 317,200
- 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
- 4 students
- Award
- PhD
What you study
10 subjects- Advanced Veterinary Clinical Medicine
- Veterinary Surgery and Anaesthesiology
- Theriogenology and Animal Reproduction
- Clinical Diagnostics and Laboratory Medicine
- Internal Medicine and Critical Care
- Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine
- Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
- Wildlife and Zoo Animal Medicine
- Dairy and Production Animal Medicine
- Research Methods in Veterinary Clinical Studies
Modules
8 in the programmeAdvanced Veterinary Clinical Medicine
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Clinical medicine, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.
Veterinary Surgery and Anaesthesiology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Surgery, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Theriogenology and Animal Reproduction
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Theriogenology, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Clinical Diagnostics and Laboratory Medicine
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Diagnostics, providing hands-on experience through laboratory work, field exercises, and practical applications of theoretical concepts.
Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Evidence-based medicine, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Research Methods in Veterinary Clinical 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
Veterinary Surgery
Research on veterinary surgery
Theriogenology
Research on animal reproduction
Wildlife Medicine
Research on wildlife medicine
Internal Medicine
Research on internal medicine
A day as a student
A typical day involves conducting clinical veterinary research, examining clinical cases, running diagnostic tests, reviewing clinical literature, attending clinical rounds and seminars, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with veterinary hospitals, KWS and DVS for research collaboration. Clinical rotations and fieldwork with animals is extensive.
The trade offs
In its favour
- Kenya's livestock industry creates demand
- Access to KWS, DVS and WOAH
- Research contributes to animal health
Against it
- Requires veterinary medical qualification
- Clinical work with animals is physically demanding
- Clinical research requires access to animal patients
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 303 agriculture 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 788K clinicalstudies.uonbi.ac.ke. Egerton 245K egerton.ac.ke. KeMU 144K eafinder, Kabarak 317K
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 recordedNACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers in Kenya
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 UoN: MSc from UoN or recognised institution. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. PhD in Veterinary Clinical Studies (J87/JCL8). Application fee KSh 4,000. Most useful for those in veterinary clinical teaching career and private practice.
MSc in Veterinary Clinical Studies, Veterinary Medicine, Surgery or related field
Relevant Masters from recognised university
How you are assessed
3 componentsThesis 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, clinical case studies and seminar presentations
Accreditation
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at University of Nairobi (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, PhD in Veterinary Clinical Studies J87/JCL8, approximately KSh 600,000 entire programme, application fee KSh 4,000). KVB regulates veterinary practice.
Accredited by
Kenya Veterinary Board
ProfessionalRequired
Registers and regulates veterinary professionals in Kenya
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 rolesVeterinary Surgeon
High demandKsh 300,000 to Ksh 700,000
Surgical practice at veterinary hospitals
Theriogenologist
Moderate demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 600,000
Animal reproduction specialist
Veterinary Clinical Researcher
High demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 600,000
Research on clinical veterinary medicine
University Professor
High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000
Teaching and research in veterinary departments
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers as university professors, veterinary clinical researchers, veterinary surgeons and theriogenologists. They work at veterinary hospitals, KWS, DVS and universities.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Dental CeramistHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- Occupational Therapist Assistant (Junior)Health Sciences3Low exposure
- PsychologyHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- Dental ProsthetistHealth Sciences4Low exposure
- Dental Laboratory TechnicianHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- General DentistHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- Veterinary PathologistHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- Community Health NurseHealth Sciences6Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Veterinary clinical studies PhD is just about treating sick animals.
The field covers surgery, theriogenology, clinical diagnostics, critical care, evidence-based medicine and clinical pharmacology.
There is no demand for veterinary clinical PhDs in Kenya.
Kenya's livestock industry and wildlife sector create demand.
Clinical veterinary research is purely practical.
The programme uses clinical trials, epidemiological studies, diagnostic validation and evidence-based methods.
Only practicing veterinarians study this PhD.
The programme attracts researchers, wildlife veterinarians and public health professionals.
Related courses
Further reading
Fees and entry marks for Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Clinical Studies are restated every intake. Save it and the app keeps this version, so you can see what changed when it does.