Engineering

Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering

The Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering is a five-year programme that prepares students for professional practice in electrical power systems, machines and installations. Students study electrical circuits, power systems, electrical machines, control systems and power electronics. The programme focuses on power engineering and electrical systems design.

Students develop competencies in electrical system design, power generation and distribution, electrical machines, control systems, lighting design and electrical safety. They learn to design electrical installations, power networks, protection systems and renewable energy systems. The programme covers engineering mathematics, circuit theory, power systems, electrical machines and power electronics.

In Kenya, electrical engineering is critical for power generation, transmission and distribution. Kenya's geothermal, solar and wind energy expansion creates strong demand. The Engineers Board of Kenya regulates the profession. Graduates find roles in Kenya Power, energy companies, manufacturing, consulting firms and government agencies.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, laboratory sessions, design projects, industrial attachment and research projects. Students work with electrical machines, power systems, protection equipment and simulation software. The programme includes a final-year design or research project.

Graduates pursue careers as electrical engineers, power engineers, design engineers, maintenance engineers and energy consultants. Some work for Kenya Power or energy companies. Others join manufacturing firms, consulting companies or start electrical contracting businesses.

This programme is ideal for individuals with strong mathematics and physics aptitude, interest in power systems and electrical safety awareness.

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: 45 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Engineering Mathematics
Electrical Circuit Theory and Analysis
Power Systems and Generation
Electrical Machines and Drives
Power Electronics and Converters
Control Systems Engineering
Electrical Installation Design
Power System Protection
Renewable Energy Systems
Engineering Management and 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.
Electrical Circuit Theory I
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Electrical Circuit Theory I: DC circuit analysis, network theorems and electrical fundamentals Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Engineering Drawing and Programming
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Technical drawing, programming and engineering graphics. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests...
Electromagnetic Theory
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Electrostatics, magnetostatics and electromagnetic fields. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tes...
Electrical Machines
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Electrical Machines: Transformers, DC machines, induction machines and synchronous machines Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Power Systems I
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Power Systems I: Power generation, transmission, distribution and load flow analysis Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Power Electronics and Converters
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Power Electronics and Converters: Rectifiers, inverters, choppers and power electronic devices 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,...
Electrical Installation Design
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Electrical Installation Design: Building electrical installations, lighting design and wiring systems Covers design principles, creative processes, and practical project development.
Power System Protection
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Power System Protection: Protection relays, circuit breakers, fault analysis and protection schemes Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Renewable Energy Systems
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Solar, wind, geothermal and biomass energy systems design. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tes...
Final Year Design/Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Final Year Design/Research Project: Independent electrical engineering design or research project Covers design principles, creative processes, and practical project development.

Specialisations

Power System Protection
Specialization in Power System Protection, preparing graduates for careers such as electrical-engineer.
Electrical Installation Design
Specialization in Electrical Installation Design, preparing graduates for careers such as electrical-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.
Electrical Machines and Drives
Specialization in Electrical Machines and Drives, preparing graduates for careers such as electrical-engineer.
Power Systems Engineering
Specialization in Power Systems Engineering, preparing graduates for careers such as electrical-engineer.
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 power systems or machines with afternoon laboratory sessions or design projects. Students may test transformers, design electrical installations, simulate power networks or work on renewable energy projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand in Kenya's energy sector expansion
Diverse career paths in power, manufacturing and consulting
Opportunity to work on renewable energy projects
Competitive salaries and entrepreneurship opportunities

Against it

Five-year programme requires significant commitment
Requires strong mathematics and physics aptitude
Safety responsibilities require attention to detail
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

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, UoN PDF).

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. Kenya Power, KenGen and energy 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 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
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities

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
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

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

Design Engineer
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 280,000
Designs electrical systems for buildings and infrastructure
Power Engineer
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 350,000
Designs and manages power generation and distribution systems
Energy Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 300,000
Provides consulting on energy systems and renewable energy
Maintenance Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Maintains electrical equipment and power systems
Electrical Engineer
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 300,000
Designs and maintains electrical power systems and installations

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as electrical engineers, power engineers, design engineers, maintenance engineers and energy consultants in Kenya Power, energy companies, manufacturing, consulting firms and government 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

Electrical engineering is just about wiring
Electrical engineering covers power systems, machines, control, electronics and renewable energy.
Electrical engineers only work for Kenya Power
Electrical engineers work in energy, manufacturing, consulting, telecommunications and entrepreneurship.
There are too many electrical engineers
Kenya's energy expansion creates continuous demand for qualified electrical engineers.
Electrical engineering is dangerous
Safety is a core component of training, ensuring safe professional practice.