Amref International University (AMIU) has officially launched its Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Health, marking a significant milestone in the University’s commitment to advancing public health scholarship, research, innovation and leadership in Africa and beyond.
The new doctoral programme responds to the growing complexity of public health challenges and the need for highly skilled researchers and practitioners capable of generating evidence, influencing policy and developing context-specific solutions to emerging health challenges.
Speaking during the launch, AMIU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joachim Osur, said the complexity of today’s global health challenges requires a departure from conventional approaches.
“Global public health challenges demand solutions beyond status quo thinking. They require deep empirical analysis, robust epidemiological frameworks and advanced policy interventions.”
Prof. Osur added that AMIU is well positioned to support doctoral scholars through its digital resources, research opportunities and dedicated mentorship.
The journey towards establishing the PhD programme began in 2022, led by the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs, under Prof. Tammary in collaboration with Dr. Faith Muhonja, who played a key role in curriculum development.
The curriculum was completed in 2023 and subsequently approved by the University Senate in August 2023 before being submitted to the Commission for University Education (CUE) for regulatory approval. Following extensive review, the programme received approval in July 2026, bringing to completion a four-year process of development and regulatory engagement.
According to DVC Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. Tammary Rotich, the programme was shaped through extensive consultations with the Ministry of Health, universities offering doctoral programmes, research institutions and industry partners.
“This PhD is the result of a rigorous, collaborative journey designed to meet the highest academic and regulatory standards while responding to Africa’s evolving public health challenges.”
Prof. Tammary noted that the programme is anchored on three key pillars: advanced research and innovation; multidisciplinary scholarship integrating health and behavioural sciences; and translation of research into policy and practice.
She emphasized that the programme seeks to position AMIU as a producer of evidence that can inform national policies and contribute to global health guidelines.
“We want doctoral research to move beyond the thesis, to generate evidence that influences policy, practice and health outcomes.”
The Executive Dean, School of Public Health, Prof. Josephat Nyagero, said the programme has been designed to build advanced leadership and research capacity to address public health challenges at local, national and global levels.
“The programme will equip scholars with the research, epidemiological and leadership competencies needed to generate evidence and influence public health policy and practice.”
The programme has four core learning outcomes: developing policy leadership competencies; professional excellence through research, publication and service; mastery of epidemiological methods for policy-influencing research; and multidisciplinary collaboration.
The PhD is anchored in the Department of Community Health and will run for three years under a rolling admissions model. It combines coursework and thesis research and will be delivered through a blended learning model, including interactive virtual evening classes from Monday to Friday at 5:30 p.m. EAT.
The first year will comprise six units delivered across two semesters, while the second and third years will focus primarily on thesis development, beginning with the development of a research proposal. Assessment will comprise continuous assessment, end-of-semester examinations and thesis examination in accordance with AMIU regulations.
The programme places strong emphasis on translating doctoral research into practical solutions for communities and health systems.
Scholars will be exposed to research opportunities and attachments with local and international partners, while opportunities for collaboration will extend to joint research, grants and data-sharing initiatives.
Prof. Tammary called on corporate, government and international partners to collaborate with AMIU in strengthening the link between academia and frontline health service delivery.
“We invite partners to work with us through joint research, grants and data sharing that connect scholarship to the realities of health service delivery.”
The programme is also designed to prepare graduates for diverse careers across the public, private and academic sectors, including research leadership and mentorship, strategic advisory roles, policy engagement and scholarly publishing.
With the official launch, AMIU has opened its application portal for the inaugural cohort of the PhD in Public Health.
Prof. Tammary challenged prospective scholars to approach doctoral study with intellectual discipline, curiosity and a commitment to research integrity.
“The PhD journey demands intellectual humility, consistency and curiosity. We challenge our scholars to question existing dogmas, uphold research ethics and produce research that matters.”
The launch reinforces AMIU’s growing role in strengthening health sciences education and research, while advancing its commitment to Primary Health Care (PHC) and to developing health professionals and researchers capable of responding to Africa’s most pressing health challenges.
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Amref International University (AMIU) Communications & Marketing Office
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Website: www.amref.ac.ke
