Engineering

Bachelor of Engineering in Agricultural and Bio-systems Engineering

The Bachelor of Engineering in Agricultural and Bio-systems Engineering is a five-year programme that prepares students for professional practice in agricultural machinery, irrigation, food processing and bio-systems technology. Students study agricultural engineering, bio-systems design, irrigation, farm machinery, post-harvest technology and renewable energy. The programme is offered by JKUAT, University of Nairobi and Egerton University.

Students develop competencies in agricultural machinery design, irrigation system design, farm power, post-harvest processing, soil and water conservation, greenhouse technology and renewable energy systems. They learn to design agricultural equipment, irrigation systems, processing plants and bio-systems. The programme covers engineering mathematics, soil mechanics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, machine design and agricultural processing.

In Kenya, agricultural engineering supports the agricultural sector which is the backbone of the economy. Kenya's food security agenda, irrigation expansion and agricultural mechanisation create demand. The Engineers Board of Kenya regulates the profession. Kenya's focus on agricultural transformation, value addition and agro-processing creates opportunities. Graduates find roles in agricultural firms, food processing companies, irrigation agencies, government ministries and NGOs.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, laboratory sessions, fieldwork, design projects, industrial attachment and research projects. Students work with agricultural machinery, irrigation systems, processing equipment and renewable energy systems. The programme includes a final-year design or research project.

Graduates pursue careers as agricultural engineers, irrigation engineers, machinery engineers, food processing engineers, bio-systems engineers and project managers. Some work for agricultural companies or food processing firms. Others join government ministries, irrigation agencies or NGOs.

This programme is ideal for individuals with engineering aptitude, interest in agriculture and passion for food security. Students who enjoy mechanics, agriculture and problem-solving will find this programme particularly engaging.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 396,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 6 months
Average class: 35 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Engineering Mathematics
Farm Power and Machinery
Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Soil and Water Conservation Engineering
Post-Harvest Technology and Food Processing
Greenhouse and Controlled Environment Engineering
Renewable Energy Systems
Agricultural Structures and Environmental Control
Bio-systems Modelling and Simulation
Engineering Management and Economics

Modules

12 in the programme

Engineering Mathematics I
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Calculus, linear algebra and differential equations for engineering applications
Introduction to Agricultural Engineering
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Introduction to Agricultural Engineering: Fundamentals of agricultural engineering and bio-systems technology Covers theoretical foundations, design principles, and practical engineering applications.
Engineering Drawing and Workshop Practice
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Engineering Drawing and Workshop Practice: Technical drawing, workshop skills and basic engineering practices Covers theoretical foundations, design principles, and practical engineering applications.
Farm Power and Machinery
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Farm Power and Machinery: Tractors, farm equipment, machinery design and farm power systems Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Soil and Water Conservation Engineering
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Soil and Water Conservation Engineering: Soil mechanics, erosion control, conservation structures and water management Covers theoretical foundations, design principles, and practical engineering a...
Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Irrigation and Drainage Engineering: Irrigation system design, drainage, water conveyance and irrigation scheduling Covers theoretical foundations, design principles, and practical engineering appl...
Post-Harvest Technology and Food Processing
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Post-Harvest Technology and Food Processing: Post-harvest handling, food processing equipment and storage systems Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Greenhouse and Controlled Environment Engineering
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Greenhouse and Controlled Environment Engineering: Greenhouse design, climate control and controlled environment agriculture Covers theoretical foundations, design principles, and practical enginee...
Renewable Energy Systems
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Renewable Energy Systems: Biogas, solar, wind and bioenergy systems for agricultural applications Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Agricultural Structures and Environmental Control
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Agricultural Structures and Environmental Control: Farm buildings, storage structures and environmental control systems Covers ecosystem dynamics, conservation principles, and environmental managem...
Bio-systems Modelling and Simulation
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Bio-systems Modelling and Simulation: Mathematical modelling and simulation of bio-systems and agricultural processes Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant s...
Final Year Design/Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Independent engineering design or research project from concept to final presentation

Specialisations

Food Processing Engineering
Specialization in Food Processing Engineering, preparing graduates for careers such as agricultural-engineer.
Irrigation Engineering
Specialization in Irrigation Engineering, preparing graduates for careers such as agricultural-engineer.
Greenhouse Technology
Specialization in Greenhouse Technology, preparing graduates for careers such as agricultural-engineer.
Soil and Water Conservation
Specialization in Soil and Water Conservation, preparing graduates for careers such as agricultural-engineer.
Renewable Energy in Agriculture
Specialization in Renewable Energy in Agriculture, preparing graduates for careers such as agricultural-engineer.
Farm Machinery
Specialization in Farm Machinery, preparing graduates for careers such as agricultural-engineer. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on farm machinery or irrigation with afternoon laboratory sessions, fieldwork or design projects. Students may test agricultural equipment, design irrigation systems, work with processing machinery or visit farms during fieldwork.

The trade offs

In its favour

Relevant to Kenya's agricultural sector and food security
Diverse career paths in agriculture, food and energy
Growing demand for agricultural mechanisation
Opportunity to contribute to food security

Against it

May require working in rural areas
Some may view agricultural engineering as less prestigious
Limited specialised positions compared to other engineering fields
EBK registration requires additional years of supervised practice

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 332 engineering courses

Public337k to 396k

337k at Moi University396k at University of Nairobi

Annual 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 396K/yr; Moi/KU 336,600/yr (eafinder, UoN fee PDF). Private unverified.

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. Some agricultural companies and irrigation agencies offer industrial attachment stipends.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
LoanKsh 60,000
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
Bursary
County Government Bursaries
Bursary

Scholarships

5 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
KCDF More Girls for Engineering Opportunities
ScholarshipKenyan
Young women from disadvantaged backgrounds pursuing engineering
TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship at Egerton University
ScholarshipKenyan
Students admitted to agriculture, natural resources and food science programmes at Egerton University

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

Mathematics A
C+
Physics
C+
Chemistry
C+
English or Kiswahili
C+

How you are assessed

4 components

Final Examination
Coursework40% of the mark
Laboratory Practicals and Fieldwork
Coursework20% of the mark
Industrial Attachment Report
Coursework20% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework20% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). EBK registration is required for professional engineering practice in Kenya.

Accredited by

Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK)
InstitutionalRequired
Commission for University Education (CUE)
InstitutionalRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Bio-systems Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Applies engineering principles to biological and agricultural systems
Food Processing Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Designs and operates food processing systems and equipment
Machinery Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 230,000
Designs and maintains farm machinery and equipment
Agricultural Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Designs and maintains agricultural machinery, irrigation systems and processing equipment
Irrigation Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Designs and manages irrigation and drainage systems

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as agricultural engineers, irrigation engineers, machinery engineers, food processing engineers, bio-systems engineers and project managers in agricultural firms, food processing companies, irrigation agencies, government ministries and NGOs.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

MATLAB
Engineering softwarePrimary
Signal processing and communication simulation.
Atoll
Network planning
Radio network planning and optimisation.
Wireshark
Network analysis
Network protocol analysis.
Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
AutoCAD
DesignPrimary

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Agricultural engineering is just about tractors
Agricultural engineering covers irrigation, food processing, renewable energy, greenhouse technology and bio-systems.
Agricultural engineers only work on farms
Agricultural engineers work in food processing, irrigation agencies, manufacturing, research and consulting.
There are limited jobs in agricultural engineering
Kenya's food security agenda and agricultural mechanisation create demand for agricultural engineers.
Agricultural engineering is less technical than other engineering fields
Agricultural engineering requires the same engineering fundamentals plus specialised agricultural knowledge.