Engineering

Bachelor of Engineering in Civil and Structural Engineering

The Bachelor of Engineering in Civil and Structural Engineering is a five-year programme that prepares students for professional practice in civil infrastructure and structural design. Students study structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, construction materials, transportation and water resources. The programme emphasises structural analysis and design alongside general civil engineering fundamentals.

Students develop competencies in structural design, geotechnical analysis, construction management, transportation engineering, water resources and engineering drawing. They learn to design buildings, bridges, towers and other structures. The programme covers engineering mathematics, structural analysis, reinforced concrete, steel structures, foundation engineering and construction management.

In Kenya, structural engineering is critical for the construction boom in housing, commercial buildings and infrastructure. Kenya's Vision 2030 infrastructure projects create strong demand. The Engineers Board of Kenya regulates the profession. Graduates find roles in consulting engineering firms, construction companies, government ministries and infrastructure agencies.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, laboratory sessions, design projects, fieldwork, industrial attachment and research projects. Students undertake practical work in industry. The programme includes a final-year design or research project.

Graduates pursue careers as structural engineers, civil engineers, geotechnical engineers, construction managers and design engineers. Some work for consulting engineering firms or construction companies. Others join government ministries or infrastructure agencies.

This programme is ideal for individuals with strong mathematical and analytical skills, creativity and interest in structural design and infrastructure development.

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: 40 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Engineering Mathematics
Structural Analysis and Design
Reinforced Concrete and Steel Structures
Geotechnical Engineering and Foundation Design
Transportation and Highway Engineering
Water Resources and Environmental Engineering
Construction Materials and Testing
Engineering Drawing and CAD
Construction Project Management
Engineering Economics

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.
Engineering Drawing and Materials
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Engineering Drawing and Materials: Technical drawing, construction materials and engineering graphics Covers theoretical foundations, design principles, and practical engineering applications.
Structural Mechanics
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Structural Mechanics: Forces, equilibrium, stress analysis and structural fundamentals Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Structural Analysis I
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Structural Analysis I: Analysis of statically determinate and indeterminate structures Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Geotechnical Engineering
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Soil mechanics, foundation design and earthworks. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, cours...
Reinforced Concrete Design
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Reinforced Concrete Design: Design of RC elements including beams, columns, slabs and foundations Covers design principles, creative processes, and practical project development.
Steel Structures Design
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Steel Structures Design: Design of steel elements, connections and structural steel systems Covers design principles, creative processes, and practical project development.
Transportation and Highway Engineering
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Transportation and Highway Engineering: Highway design, traffic engineering and transportation planning Covers theoretical foundations, design principles, and practical engineering applications.
Water Resources Engineering
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Water Resources Engineering: Water supply, hydrology, drainage and environmental engineering Covers theoretical foundations, design principles, and practical engineering applications.
Construction Project Management
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Project planning, cost estimation, contract management and construction technology
Foundation Engineering
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Foundation Engineering: Shallow and deep foundations, retaining walls and ground improvement Covers theoretical foundations, design principles, and practical engineering applications.
Final Year Design/Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Independent structural design or research project. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, cour...

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.
Transportation Engineering
Specialization in Transportation Engineering, preparing graduates for careers such as civil-engineer.
Water Resources
Specialization in Water Resources, 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.
Foundation Engineering
Specialization in Foundation 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 Design
Specialization in Structural Design, 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.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on structural analysis with afternoon laboratory sessions, design projects or site visits. Students may design structures, test materials, use CAD software or visit construction sites.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand from Kenya's construction and infrastructure boom
Specialised structural design skills are highly valued
Diverse career paths in consulting, construction and government
Competitive salaries and career growth

Against it

Five-year programme requires significant commitment
Requires strong mathematics and physics aptitude
Site work can be physically demanding
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; Moi 336,600/yr; UoN 396K/yr (eafinder, UoN PDF). Private unverified.

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. Some construction firms 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
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
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties

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
Final Examination
Coursework40% of the mark
Laboratory Practicals and Assignments
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

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

Design Engineer
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 280,000
Designs structural and civil engineering components
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
Geotechnical Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 300,000
Analyses soil and rock mechanics for foundation design
Structural Engineer
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 350,000
Designs and analyses structural systems for buildings and infrastructure

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as structural engineers, civil engineers, geotechnical engineers, construction managers and design engineers in consulting firms, construction companies, government ministries and infrastructure agencies.

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

Structural engineering is just about drawing plans
Structural engineering involves mathematical analysis, material science and safety assessment.
There are no jobs for structural engineers in Kenya
Kenya's construction boom creates strong demand for qualified structural engineers.
Civil and structural engineering are identical
Structural engineering is a specialised focus within civil engineering.
Structural engineers only work on buildings
Structural engineers design bridges, towers, dams and all types of infrastructure.