Engineering

Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronic

The Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronic is a five-year programme that prepares students for professional practice in electrical power, electronics and communication systems. Students study electrical circuits, power systems, electronics, control systems and telecommunications. The programme is offered by Technical University of Kenya, University of Nairobi, JKUAT and Moi University.

Students develop competencies in electrical system design, electronic circuit design, power generation and distribution, control systems and telecommunications. They learn to design electrical installations, electronic devices, power networks and communication systems. The programme covers engineering mathematics, circuit theory, digital electronics, power systems and signal processing.

In Kenya, electrical and electronic engineering supports power, telecommunications, manufacturing and technology sectors. Kenya's energy expansion including geothermal and renewable energy creates demand. The Engineers Board of Kenya regulates the profession. Graduates find roles in power companies, telecommunications, manufacturing, technology firms and consulting.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, laboratory sessions, design projects, industrial attachment and research projects. Students work with circuits, microcontrollers, power systems and communication equipment. The programme includes a final-year design or research project.

Graduates pursue careers as electrical engineers, electronic engineers, power engineers, control engineers and telecommunications engineers. Some work for Kenya Power or telecommunications companies. Others join manufacturing, technology firms or consulting.

This programme is ideal for individuals with strong mathematics and physics aptitude, interest in technology and problem-solving skills.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 396,000
Private, up to: Ksh 500,000
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: 50 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Engineering Mathematics
Electrical Circuit Theory and Analysis
Digital and Analogue Electronics
Power Systems and Electrical Machines
Control Systems Engineering
Telecommunications and Signal Processing
Embedded Systems and Microprocessors
Electromagnetic Theory and Applications
Power Electronics and Drives
Engineering Management

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.
Electrical Circuit Theory I
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Electrical Circuit Theory I: DC circuit analysis, network theorems and basic electrical principles Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Engineering Drawing and Programming
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Engineering Drawing and Programming: Technical drawing, computer programming and engineering graphics Includes practical programming exercises, algorithm design, and system implementation.
Analogue Electronics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Diodes, transistors, amplifiers and analogue circuit design. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment t...
Digital Electronics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Digital Electronics: Logic gates, flip-flops, counters and digital circuit design Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Electromagnetic Theory
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Electrostatics, magnetostatics and electromagnetic waves. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment test...
Power Systems and Machines
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Power Systems and Machines: Power generation, transmission, distribution and rotating machines Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Control Systems Engineering
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Control theory, feedback systems and controller design. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests,...
Telecommunications and Signal Processing
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Telecommunications and Signal Processing: Communication systems, modulation and digital communications Develops practical skills for academic and professional contexts.
Embedded Systems and Microprocessors
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Embedded Systems and Microprocessors: Microprocessor architecture, interfacing and embedded system design Covers production techniques, soil management, pest control, and yield optimisation.
Power Electronics and Drives
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Power electronic converters, motor drives and power quality. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment t...
Final Year Design/Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Independent engineering design or research project. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, cou...

Specialisations

Electronic Systems
Specialization in Electronic Systems, preparing graduates for careers such as electrical-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.
Embedded Systems
Specialization in Embedded Systems, preparing graduates for careers such as electrical-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.
Telecommunications
Specialization in Telecommunications, preparing graduates for careers such as telecommunications-engineer.
Control Systems
Specialization in Control Systems, preparing graduates for careers such as electrical-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.
Power Systems
Specialization in Power Systems, preparing graduates for careers such as electrical-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.
Renewable Energy
Specialization in Renewable Energy, preparing graduates for careers such as electrical-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 circuit theory or power systems with afternoon laboratory sessions or design projects. Students may build circuits, programme microcontrollers, test power systems or work on communication projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand in power, telecommunications and technology
Diverse career paths across multiple industries
Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology
Competitive salaries and entrepreneurship opportunities

Against it

Five-year programme requires significant commitment
Requires strong mathematics and physics aptitude
Laboratory equipment can be expensive
EBK registration requires additional years of 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

Private109k to 500k

109k at Mount Kenya University500k at Strathmore University

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. MKU 109,100/yr; Strathmore ~500K/yr (eafinder, victormatara).

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. Some power and telecommunications 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

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

Electrical Engineer
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 300,000
Designs and maintains electrical power systems and installations
Telecommunications Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 300,000
Designs and maintains telecommunications networks
Control Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 320,000
Designs control systems for industrial automation
Power Engineer
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 350,000
Designs and manages power generation and distribution systems
Electronic Engineer
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 300,000
Designs and develops electronic systems and circuits

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as electrical engineers, electronic engineers, power engineers, control engineers and telecommunications engineers in power companies, telecommunications, manufacturing, technology firms and consulting.

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

Electrical engineering is just about wiring
Electrical engineering covers power systems, electronics, telecommunications, control and embedded systems.
Electrical engineers only work for Kenya Power
Electrical engineers work in telecommunications, manufacturing, technology, consulting and entrepreneurship.
Electrical engineering is too difficult
The programme builds knowledge progressively from fundamentals to advanced topics.
There are limited jobs for electrical engineers
Kenya's power expansion and digital transformation create strong demand.