Doctor of Philosophy in Horticulture

    Applications of biotechnology in agriculture: bioremediation, crop stress tolerance to biotic and abiotic factors, crop quality and nutrition; gene revolution and crop production; industrial and pharmaceutical products. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) structure and function, gene expression, translation, transcription. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) structure, synthesis and processing; Recombinant DNA technology; Molecular techniques for gene cloning, enzymes used in gene cloning and characterization; cell and tissue culture; genetic engineering, transformation overview; Social and ethical issues in biotechnology, biotechnology policies. Mating systems and breeding methods of field and horticultural crops; male sterility; incompatibility, clones; marker assisted breeding and genetic modification; breeding for disease and pest resistance; tissue culture and polyploidization; breeding major field and horticultural crops; multi-location testing and variety release; breeding rights and their regulations in breeding major field and horticultural crops.

    SCHEDULE OF INTAKE

    Students are admitted once every year usually in September with exception of variation that may be caused by unforeseen circumstances. Applications are, however, received all year round and are processed for yearly admission.

    The common regulations for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in the University of Nairobi shall apply.

    1. Holders of a Master’s degree in Horticulture, Agronomy Crop Protection, Plant Pathology, Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, and related plant sciences from the University of Nairobi or any other institution recognized by Senate
    1.  The applicant must be able to produce evidence of adequate academic background in the discipline and capacity to carry out original research by submitting a research concept note on the proposed topic of study.
    2. The concept note shall include a title, name of the candidate, introduction, and brief statement of the problem, research objectives, and research hypothesis, brief literature review, summary of proposed methodology, expected outputs, work plan, budget and key references.

    Horticultural flower and vegetable production chains,
    exports companies/limited
    Researcher
    Quality control manager
    Quality standards control agencies
    Ministry of Agriculture
    Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization
    Landscaping services
    Ornamentals and arboreta
    Fruit production
    Garden and lawns management
    Greenhouse and Lathe house management
    Teacher/Lecturer
    National and international research organizations

     

    Item

    Year 1

    Year 2

    Year 3

    TOTAL

    1

    Registration

    4,500

    4,500

    4,500

    9,000

    2

    Tuition (KES 25,000/ unit)

    200,000

    225,000

    175,000

    600,000

    3

    Examination

    6,000

    -

     

    6,000

    4

    Thesis Supervision

    100,000

    100,000

    100,000

    300,000

    5

    Thesis Examination

    -

    -

    50,000

    50,000

    6

    Laboratory and field fee

    132,000

    132,000

    132,000

    396,000

    7

    ICT services

    7,000

    7,000

    7,000

    21,000

    8

    Library

    5,000

    5,000

    5,000

    15,000

    9

    ID Card

    1,000

    1,000

    1,000

    3,000

    10

    Caution money (Refundable)

    5,000

    -

    -

    5,000

    11

    Medical fee

    6,500

    6,500

    6,500

    19,500

    12

    Activity Fee

    2,000

    2,000

    2,000

    6,000

    13

    Student organization

    1,000

    1,000

    1,000

    3,000

     

    Total

    470,000

    484,000

    484,000

    1,438,000

     

    Application Information
    Mode of Delivery

    The PhD degree programme in Horticulture is delivered through face-to-face, blended learning and Open, Distance and Electronic Learning (ODeL) modes of delivery. The ODeL mode of delivery shall only apply for the taught course units, except the Graduate seminars. The main modes of instruction will be via face-to-face and electronic interactions as lectures, seminars and guided research. The blended learning mode of delivery combines face-to-face and online learning approaches.

    Contacts of Support Persons

    Prof. Jane Ambuko

    Contacts: +254 20 4916020, e-mail: dept-pscp@uonbi.ac.ke

    James Muthomi

    Contacts: +254 20 4916020, e-mail: dept-pscp@uonbi.ac.ke