Engineering

Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronics Engineering

The Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronics Engineering is a programme that provides comprehensive training in electrical systems, electronics, power engineering and telecommunications. Offered at the University of Nairobi, JKUAT, Moi University, Technical University of Kenya and other institutions, the programme prepares graduates for careers in electrical and electronics engineering.

The curriculum covers engineering mathematics, circuit theory, electronics, digital systems, electrical machines, power systems, control systems, telecommunications, signal processing, microprocessors, electromagnetic theory, power electronics, renewable energy, instrumentation, research methods and a final year project. Students develop analytical and practical engineering skills.

Kenya's electrification programmes, the growth of renewable energy, the expansion of telecommunications and the demand for electronics professionals create strong demand for electrical engineering graduates. The programme is offered through lectures, laboratory sessions, industrial attachment and design projects.

Graduates are prepared for careers as electrical engineers, electronics engineers, power systems engineers, telecommunications engineers, control engineers, renewable energy engineers, instrumentation engineers and project engineers. They work in power companies, telecommunications firms, manufacturing, consulting firms, government and as entrepreneurs.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK). Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with B- in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. KUCCPS Cluster 3.

Prospective students should have strong analytical skills, a commitment to continuous learning, and an interest in contributing to Kenya's socio-economic development. The programme provides a solid foundation for further postgraduate study and professional advancement in related fields.

Duration: 5 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: 3 months
Average class: 50 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Engineering Mathematics
Circuit Theory
Electronics
Digital Systems
Electrical Machines
Power Systems
Control Systems
Telecommunications
Signal Processing
Microprocessors

Modules

12 in the programme

Engineering Mathematics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Mathematical methods. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester ex...
Circuit Theory
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Electrical circuit analysis. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-seme...
Electronics
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Analog and digital electronics. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-s...
Digital Systems
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Digital logic and systems. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semest...
Electrical Machines
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Motors and generators. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester e...
Power Systems
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Power generation and distribution. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-o...
Control Systems
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Automatic control. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester exami...
Power Systems and Machines
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Power Systems and Machines: Power generation, transmission, distribution, transformers and machines Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Telecommunications
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Communication systems. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester e...
Microprocessors
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Microprocessor systems. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester ...
Microprocessors and Embedded Systems
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Microprocessors and Embedded Systems: Microprocessor architecture, interfacing, programming and embedded design Covers production techniques, soil management, pest control, and yield optimisation.
Final Year Project
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Capstone design project. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester...

Specialisations

Power Engineering
Power generation and distribution. 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.
Control and Instrumentation
Automatic control systems. 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
Solar and wind energy. 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
Communication systems. 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.
Control and Automation
Specialization in Control and Automation, preparing graduates for careers such as electrical-engineer.
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.
Digital Electronics
Specialization in Digital Electronics, 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 Engineering
Specialization in Power Systems Engineering, preparing graduates for careers such as electrical-engineer.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending engineering lectures, working in electronics laboratories, solving circuit problems, designing digital systems, studying power systems, using simulation software, programming microcontrollers, and working on engineering design projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand in power, technology and manufacturing
Diverse career paths across multiple industries
Evolving field with renewable energy and IoT
Competitive salaries and innovation 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).

HELB loans and government scholarships under the new funding model are available for eligible students. County bursaries provide additional support.

Funding options

HELB Loan
County Bursaries
Government Scholarship (New Funding Model)

Scholarships

5 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 50,000Kenyan
Kenyan students from participating counties
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
KUCCPS-placed students
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: KCSE mean grade C+ with B- in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Diploma in electrical engineering or related field from a recognised institution. KUCCPS Cluster 3.

Mathematics
B-
Physics
B-
Chemistry
B-
English or Kiswahili
C+

How you are assessed

5 components

Final Examination
Coursework40% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework20% of the mark
Laboratory Practicals and Assignments
Coursework20% of the mark
Industrial Attachment Report
Coursework20% of the mark
Final Year Project
Project10% of the mark
Capstone design project

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK). Offered at UoN, JKUAT, Moi University, TUK and other institutions. Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with B- in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. KUCCPS Cluster 3.

Accredited by

Engineers Board of Kenya
ProfessionalRequired
Statutory body responsible for registration and regulation of engineers in Kenya
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya
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

7 roles

Control Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 320,000
Designs control and automation systems for industry
Embedded Systems Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 320,000
Designs embedded systems and IoT devices
Power Systems Engineer
High demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 420,000
Power generation and distribution
Electrical Engineer
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 400,000
Electrical engineering practice
Electronics Engineer
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 380,000
Electronics design
Telecommunications Engineer
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 400,000
Telecom systems
Renewable Energy Engineer
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 380,000
Solar and wind energy systems

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as electrical engineers, electronics engineers and power systems engineers in power companies, telecommunications firms and manufacturing.

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.
The programme covers electronics, power systems, telecommunications, control and signal processing.
Electrical engineers only work for Kenya Power.
Graduates work in telecoms, manufacturing, renewable energy, consulting and entrepreneurship.
There are no jobs for electrical engineers.
Kenya's electrification and renewable energy programmes create strong demand.
Electrical engineering is the same as IT.
Electrical engineering focuses on hardware and power systems, not software.