Engineering

Bachelor of Engineering in Building and Civil Engineering

The Bachelor of Engineering in Building and Civil Engineering is a five-year programme that prepares students for professional practice in building construction and civil infrastructure. Students study structural engineering, building technology, construction management, geotechnics and highway engineering. The programme combines building construction with civil engineering, preparing graduates who can manage both building projects and civil infrastructure works.

Students develop competencies in building design, structural analysis, construction management, quantity surveying, geotechnical engineering and transportation. They learn to design buildings, manage construction sites, supervise civil works and ensure quality standards. The programme covers engineering mathematics, structural mechanics, building materials, construction technology and project management.

In Kenya, the construction sector is rapidly growing with demand for housing, commercial buildings and infrastructure. Kenya's Vision 2030 and affordable housing agenda create strong demand. The Engineers Board of Kenya regulates the profession. Graduates find roles in construction firms, consulting engineers, government ministries and real estate developers.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, laboratory sessions, site visits, design projects, industrial attachment and research projects. Students work with construction materials, CAD software, surveying equipment and project management tools. The programme includes a final-year design or research project.

Graduates pursue careers as building engineers, civil engineers, construction managers, site engineers and project coordinators. Some work for construction companies or consulting firms. Others join government agencies, real estate developers or start their own contracting businesses.

This programme is ideal for individuals with analytical skills, interest in construction and infrastructure, and project management aptitude.

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

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 6 months
Average class: 45 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Engineering Mathematics
Structural Mechanics and Analysis
Building Materials and Construction Technology
Geotechnical Engineering
Highway and Transportation Engineering
Construction Project Management
Quantity Surveying and Cost Estimation
Engineering Drawing and CAD
Water and Environmental Engineering
Building Services and Maintenance

Modules

12 in the programme

Engineering Mathematics I
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Engineering Mathematics I: Calculus, linear algebra and differential equations for engineering Covers theoretical foundations, problem-solving techniques, and practical applications.
Building Materials and Construction Technology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Properties and testing of construction materials including concrete, steel, timber and masonry
Engineering Drawing and Surveying
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Technical drawing, land surveying and engineering graphics. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment te...
Structural Mechanics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Structural Mechanics: Forces, equilibrium, stress, strain and structural analysis fundamentals Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Geotechnical Engineering
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Soil mechanics, site investigation and foundation design. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment test...
Structural Design
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Design of RC and steel structural elements for buildings. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment test...
Highway and Transportation Engineering
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Road design, pavement materials and transportation systems. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment te...
Construction Project Management
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Construction Project Management: Project planning, scheduling, cost control and construction management Covers project lifecycle, resource allocation, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
Quantity Surveying and Cost Estimation
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Quantity Surveying and Cost Estimation: Cost estimation, bill of quantities, tendering and cost management Covers measurement techniques, data analysis, and land information systems.
Water and Environmental Engineering
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Water and Environmental Engineering: Water supply, drainage, sanitation and environmental management Covers ecosystem dynamics, conservation principles, and environmental management practices.
Building Services and Maintenance
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Building Services and Maintenance: Building services including electrical, plumbing, HVAC and maintenance Covers construction technology, materials science, and project execution.
Final Year Design/Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Independent building or civil engineering design project from concept to presentation

Specialisations

Geotechnical Engineering
Specialization in Geotechnical Engineering, preparing graduates for careers such as civil-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.
Structural Engineering
Specialization in Structural Engineering, preparing graduates for careers such as civil-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.
Building Services
Specialization in Building Services, preparing graduates for careers such as civil-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.
Construction Management
Specialization in Construction Management, preparing graduates for careers such as construction-project-manager.
Highway Engineering
Specialization in Highway Engineering, preparing graduates for careers such as civil-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.
Quantity Surveying
Specialization in Quantity Surveying, preparing graduates for careers such as quantity-surveyor. 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 structural mechanics or construction technology with afternoon laboratory sessions, site visits or design projects. Students may test materials, use CAD software, survey sites or work on construction management projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand from Kenya's construction and housing sectors
Combines building and civil engineering skills
Diverse career paths in construction and consulting
Opportunity to work on visible infrastructure projects

Against it

Five-year programme requires significant commitment
Site work can be physically demanding
Requires strong mathematics and physics aptitude
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

Public200k to 396k

200k at Technical University of Kenya396k 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

TUK ~199,500/yr; UoN 396K/yr civil eng (eafinder, UoN PDF). Private unverified.

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. Some construction companies 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
Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) Student Scholarships
ScholarshipKenyan
Student members of IEK pursuing accredited engineering programmes
KCDF More Girls for Engineering Opportunities
ScholarshipKenyan
Young women from disadvantaged backgrounds pursuing engineering

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 Assignments
Coursework20% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework20% of the mark
Industrial Attachment Report
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

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

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Civil Engineer
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 300,000
Designs and supervises civil infrastructure projects
Construction Manager
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages construction projects from planning to completion
Project Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 300,000
Coordinates construction projects including scheduling and resource management
Building Engineer
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 280,000
Designs and manages building construction projects
Site Engineer
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Supervises construction site operations and quality control

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as building engineers, civil engineers, construction managers, site engineers and project coordinators in construction firms, consulting engineers, government ministries and real estate developers.

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

Building engineering is just about site work
Building engineering covers structural design, project management, materials science and services engineering.
Building and civil engineering are the same
Building engineering focuses on buildings while civil engineering covers broader infrastructure including roads and water systems.
There are too many engineers in Kenya
Kenya's construction boom creates continuous demand for qualified building and civil engineers.
Construction is a low-tech industry
Modern construction uses BIM, CAD, advanced materials and sophisticated project management technology.