ADMISSION PROCEDURES INTO THE PROGRAMME LEADING TO THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

1. A letter to the Director, IDS, stating a desire to apply to the programme
2. A pre-proposal outlining the proposed doctoral research.

1. Introduction/Background
2. Problem Statement
3. Research Question and /or Hypotheses
4. Objectives of the Study
5. Justification of the Study
6. Methodology
7. References

1. Certified copies of transcripts of bachelor’s and master’s degree study
2. Copies of degree certificates
3. Current Curriculum Vitae(d) Letters from two referees, at least one of which must be from an academic referee able to assess the applicant’s potential for doctoral study.

1. The suitability of the topic to IDS research concerns, and
2. Its academic quality

IDS will communicate with the applicant within two months of receiving the pre-proposal and accompanying documents. Prospective applicants may be advised to revise the pre-proposal.

IDS will also review the academic transcripts and other documentation submitted. Prospective applicants with inadequate preparation in social sciences may be required to attend pre-doctoral classes and meet eligibility criteria before further processing of their application. These classes are purely remedial and must not be construed as promise of admission. The classes may be taken at IDS.

Once IDS has accepted the pre-proposal, clearance will be issued to the applicant to proceed with proposal writing. At this stage, anIDS staff member will be named to provide academic guidance to the prospective applicant.

Within three months of the acceptance of the pre-proposal, the prospective applicant will be required to present a complete proposal to an IDS graduate seminar where review comments will be communicated.

The prospective applicant will be expected to respond to comments received from the seminar both orally and in writing. He/she should consult the IDS staff members in revising the proposal.

After acting on the review comments, the prospective applicant will be cleared by IDS to make a formal application to the Board of Postgraduate Studies (BPS) of the University of Nairobi for admission to the doctoral programme.

PROCESSING OF ADMISSIONS

1. The pre-proposal is given to a senior academic staff at IDS for review. The Reviewer prepares a written report focusing on
   
   1. Suitability/feasibility of the topic to IDS
   2. Quality of proposal
2. IDS academic staff meet to discussreview reports and shortlist applicants.
3. IDS assigns an academic advisor to each successful applicant.
4. Each applicant works with the academic advisor to prepare PhD proposal for presentation in an IDS seminar.
5. Each applicant presents her/his proposal, receives comments and refines the proposal. (Only when the Academic Advisor is satisfied with the proposal quality are the applicant’s formal documents forwarded to BPS).
6. The Board of Postgraduate Studies notifies each applicant in writing of its action on the application.
7. IDS assigns two thesis supervisors, at least one of whom will be an IDS staff member. Successful applicants with no deficiencies may, in consultation with the supervisors, begin their research. Those with deficiencies will sit for pre-doctoral classes.