Arts & Humanities

Bachelor of Philosophy in Technology in Printing Technology

The Bachelor of Philosophy in Technology in Printing Technology is a two-year integrated postgraduate technical programme at the Technical University of Kenya that prepares diploma holders for advanced printing technology practice. Students study printing processes, pre-press, press, post-press, print media management, colour management, packaging and digital printing. The programme builds on prior diploma training to develop specialist printing technology competencies.

Students develop advanced competencies in offset printing, digital printing, screen printing, flexography, pre-press, finishing, colour management, print quality control and print production management. They learn to operate printing equipment, manage print workflows, control print quality and run print businesses. The programme covers printing processes, pre-press, press, post-press, packaging and print management.

In Kenya, the printing industry supports publishing, packaging, advertising, security printing and label production. The Technical University of Kenya has a long history of training printers in East Africa. Graduates find roles in printing companies, packaging firms, publishing houses, advertising agencies, security printers and print management consultancies.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, practical workshop sessions, printing press demonstrations, industrial visits and research projects. Students operate printing machines, prepare pre-press files, manage colour and undertake a final research project.

Graduates pursue careers as printing technologists, print production managers, pre-press technicians, colour specialists, packaging technologists and print quality managers. Some work in printing companies. Others join packaging, publishing, advertising or establish print businesses.

This programme is ideal for diploma holders in printing technology, graphic design, packaging or related fields seeking advanced printing technical skills.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 159,500
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Printing Processes and Technology
Pre-Press and Digital Imaging
Offset, Digital and Screen Printing
Post-Press and Finishing
Colour Management and Quality Control
Packaging Technology
Print Materials and Inks
Print Production Management
Print Entrepreneurship and Marketing
Research Methods

Modules

10 in the programme

Printing Processes and Technology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Printing Processes and Technology: Overview of printing processes, history and modern applications Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Pre-Press and Digital Imaging
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Pre-Press and Digital Imaging: File preparation, imposition, plate making and digital workflows Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Offset, Digital and Screen Printing
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Offset, Digital and Screen Printing: Offset lithography, digital printing, screen printing and flexography Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Post-Press and Finishing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Post-Press and Finishing: Cutting, folding, binding, lamination and finishing operations Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Colour Management and Quality Control
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Colour Management and Quality Control: Colour theory, ICC profiles, densitometry, quality control and standards Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Packaging Technology
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Packaging Technology: Packaging materials, design, printing and packaging production Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Print Materials and Inks
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Print Materials and Inks: Paper, substrates, inks, coatings and printing materials science Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Print Production Management
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Print Production Management: Production planning, scheduling, workflow management and cost control Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Print Entrepreneurship and Marketing
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Print Entrepreneurship and Marketing: Print business management, marketing, sales and entrepreneurship Equips students with practical skills for venture creation and business management.
Final Research Project
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Independent printing technology research project. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, cours...

Specialisations

Digital Printing
Specialization in Digital Printing, preparing graduates for careers such as packaging-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.
Offset Printing
Specialization in Offset Printing, preparing graduates for careers such as packaging-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.
Post-Press and Finishing
Specialization in Post-Press and Finishing, preparing graduates for careers such as packaging-engineer.
Print Management
Specialization in Print Management, preparing graduates for careers such as packaging-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.
Pre-Press Technology
Specialization in Pre-Press Technology, preparing graduates for careers such as packaging-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.
Packaging
Specialization in Packaging, preparing graduates for careers such as packaging-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 printing technology lectures with workshop practicals. Students may prepare pre-press files, operate offset or digital presses, check colour quality, perform finishing operations or work on print production projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

Relevant to Kenya's printing and packaging industry
Builds on diploma for production management
Diverse applications in packaging and labels
Practical workshop training

Against it

Some traditional print roles are declining
Two-year programme is intensive
Industry requires keeping up with digital technology
May require hands-on experience with expensive equipment

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 188 arts & humanities courses

Public160k to 160k

160k at Technical University of Kenya160k at Technical University of Kenya

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 70K/sem+19.5K=159.5K/yr. Private: unverified. Src: university.co.ke TUK fees

Students may access HELB loans and employer sponsorships. Some county bursaries are available for technical students.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
LoanKsh 60,000
Employer Sponsorship
Bursary
County Government Bursaries
Bursary

Scholarships

3 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

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

Higher Diploma or Diploma in Printing Technology, Graphic Design, Packaging or related field
Credit
Mathematics or any Group II
C
Art and Design or any Group III/IV/V
C
English or Kiswahili
C

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework20% of the mark
Workshop Practicals and Production Work
Coursework40% of the mark
Final Examination and Research Project
Coursework30% of the mark
Industrial Attachment Report
Coursework10% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
InstitutionalRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Pre-Press Technician
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 180,000
Prepares files and plates for printing
Printing Technologist
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages printing processes and production
Packaging Technologist
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 220,000
Develops and manages packaging materials and printing
Print Production Manager
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Oversees print production and workflow
Colour Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 220,000
Manages colour quality and standards

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as printing technologists, print production managers, pre-press technicians, colour specialists, packaging technologists and print quality managers in printing companies, packaging firms, publishing houses, advertising agencies, security printers and print management consultancies.

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

Printing technology is obsolete in the digital age
Printing is essential for packaging, labels, books, security, marketing and large-format applications.
Printing is just about operating machines
Printing technology includes design, pre-press, colour management, quality control, workflow and management.
A diploma is enough for printing management
Advanced print management requires degree-level training in production, technology and business.
Printing has no career growth
Printing offers careers in production, quality, colour, packaging, sales, entrepreneurship and management.