NACOSTI Raises Research Licence Fees in Kenya From October 2026

NAIROBI, KENYA — Students, researchers and institutions conducting studies in Kenya will pay significantly higher fees for research licences from October 1, 2026, following a new fee schedule announced by the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI).

The revised charges will see some researchers pay up to six times the fees that have been in place for more than a decade.

NACOSTI announced the new rates in a Gazette Notice dated August 21, 2026, setting out different charges based on the researcher’s academic level and nationality.

New Research Licence Fees for EAC Researchers

Under the new schedule, students who are citizens of an East African Community (EAC) Partner State will face higher charges across all academic levels.

Diploma-level students will pay KSh1,000, up from KSh100, while those seeking expedited review will pay KSh1,500.

At degree level, the licence fee will increase from KSh100 to KSh2,000, with an expedited review costing KSh3,000.

Researchers undertaking postgraduate diploma studies will pay KSh3,000, or KSh5,000 for an expedited review.

The fee for master's-level research will rise from KSh1,000 to KSh6,000, while an expedited review will cost KSh8,000.

PhD researchers will pay KSh10,000, up from KSh2,000, or KSh15,000 for an expedited review.

For post-doctoral researchers, individuals and non-academic researchers, the new charge will be KSh15,000, compared with the previous KSh5,000. An expedited review will cost KSh20,000.

Higher Charges for Institutions and Companies

Research institutions will also face increased licensing costs.

Under the new schedule, research institutions will pay KSh30,000 for a research licence or KSh50,000 for an expedited review.

Companies will pay KSh50,000, while an expedited review will cost KSh70,000.

Previously, both research institutions and companies were charged KSh20,000.

Non-EAC Researchers to Pay in US Dollars

NACOSTI has also revised fees for citizens of countries that are not EAC Partner States, with the charges denominated in US dollars.

Diploma students will pay USD200, or USD300 for expedited review, while undergraduate students will pay USD300 or USD400 for expedited processing.

Postgraduate diploma researchers will pay USD350, with expedited review costing USD450.

For master's-level research, the fee will be USD400, or USD500 for expedited review.

PhD researchers will pay USD500, rising to USD600 for expedited review.

Post-doctoral, individual and non-academic researchers will pay USD750, or USD850 for expedited review.

Clinical trials will attract a fee of USD1,000.

New Fees Take Effect October 1

The revised fees are scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2026, meaning students and researchers planning to conduct studies in Kenya will need to factor the increased licensing costs into their research budgets.

The changes represent a substantial increase in the cost of obtaining research approval, particularly for postgraduate and doctoral students, who traditionally rely on limited academic funding and personal resources to finance their studies.

Researchers intending to conduct studies in Kenya are therefore expected to familiarize themselves with the new fee structure before submitting their licence applications.

The revised schedule applies from the effective date specified in NACOSTI's Gazette Notice.