Engineering

Bachelor of Philosophy in Technology in Surveying Technology

The Bachelor of Philosophy in Technology in Surveying Technology is a two-year integrated postgraduate technical programme at the Technical University of Kenya that prepares diploma holders for advanced surveying and geomatics practice. Students study advanced surveying, geodesy, photogrammetry, remote sensing, GIS, cadastral surveying, engineering surveys and land administration. The programme builds on prior diploma training to develop specialist surveying technology competencies.

Students develop advanced competencies in control surveying, topographic mapping, cadastral surveys, engineering surveys, GPS/GNSS, GIS, photogrammetry and remote sensing. They learn to conduct precise surveys, prepare maps, manage cadastral data, support land registration and provide geospatial information for engineering and development projects. The programme covers surveying, geodesy, mapping, land administration and geomatics.

In Kenya, surveying is critical for land administration, infrastructure, urban planning, mining, construction and environmental management. The Technical University of Kenya offers this programme through its School of Engineering and Technology. Graduates find roles in surveying firms, government land departments, construction companies, mining firms, consulting engineers and land administration agencies.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, field practicals, laboratory work, project work and research. Students use total stations, GPS, levels, GIS software and photogrammetry tools, and undertake a final research project.

Graduates pursue careers as surveying technologists, land surveyors, geomatics technicians, cadastral surveyors, engineering surveyors and GIS specialists. Some work for private surveying firms. Others join government survey departments, construction companies or land registries.

This programme is ideal for diploma holders in surveying, geomatics, land surveying or related fields seeking advanced surveying technical skills.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 199,500
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: 30 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Advanced Surveying and Geodesy
Topographic and Engineering Surveying
Cadastral Surveying and Land Law
GPS/GNSS and Control Surveying
Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Map Projections and Coordinate Systems
Land Administration and Registration
Surveying Adjustment and Data Analysis
Research Methods

Modules

10 in the programme

Advanced Surveying and Geodesy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced Surveying and Geodesy: Geodetic surveying, control networks, coordinate systems and adjustments Covers measurement techniques, data analysis, and land information systems.
Topographic and Engineering Surveying
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Topographic and Engineering Surveying: Topographic mapping, route surveys, construction surveys and earthworks Covers theoretical foundations, design principles, and practical engineering applicati...
Cadastral Surveying and Land Law
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Cadastral Surveying and Land Law: Cadastral surveys, land law, boundaries and land registration Examines statutory frameworks, case law, and regulatory compliance in the Kenyan context.
GPS/GNSS and Control Surveying
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
GPS/GNSS and Control Surveying: Global navigation satellite systems, control surveys and network adjustments Covers measurement techniques, data analysis, and land information systems.
Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing: Aerial photogrammetry, remote sensing, image interpretation and mapping Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Geographic Information Systems (GIS): GIS principles, spatial analysis, database management and mapping Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Map Projections and Coordinate Systems
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Map Projections and Coordinate Systems: Map projections, datum transformations and coordinate computations Involves independent research, data analysis, and scholarly writing under supervision.
Land Administration and Registration
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Land Administration and Registration: Land administration systems, cadastre, tenure and registration Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Surveying Adjustment and Data Analysis
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Surveying Adjustment and Data Analysis: Least squares adjustment, error analysis and data processing Covers data modelling, query optimisation, storage structures, and information retrieval.
Final Research Project
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Independent surveying technology research project. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, cour...

Specialisations

Photogrammetry
Specialization in Photogrammetry, preparing graduates for careers such as land-surveying. 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.
Engineering Surveying
Specialization in Engineering Surveying, preparing graduates for careers such as land-surveying. 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.
Land Surveying
Specialization in Land Surveying, preparing graduates for careers such as land-surveying. 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.
Cadastral Surveying
Specialization in Cadastral Surveying, preparing graduates for careers such as land-surveying. 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.
GIS and Mapping
Specialization in GIS and Mapping, preparing graduates for careers such as geographic-information-systems-specialist.
Geomatics
Specialization in Geomatics, preparing graduates for careers such as land-surveying. 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 surveying theory lectures with field practicals or laboratory work. Students may use total stations, GPS, levels, GIS software, process survey data or work on mapping projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for land and engineering surveyors
Builds on diploma for professional surveyor roles
Diverse applications in land, infrastructure and environment
Practical and field-based training

Against it

Field work can be physically demanding and in remote areas
Two-year programme is intensive
Technology changes require continuous learning
Some roles require professional registration and licensing

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 200k

200k at Technical University of Kenya200k 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 Land Surveying 90K/sem+19.5K=199.5K/yr. Private: unverified. Src: university.co.ke

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

4 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
Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) Training Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Students in geospatial sciences, GIS and remote sensing

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 Surveying, Geomatics, Land Surveying or related field
Credit
Mathematics
C
Physics
C
English or Kiswahili
C

How you are assessed

4 components

Field and Laboratory Practicals
Coursework40% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework20% 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

Land Surveyors Board of Kenya (LSBK)
InstitutionalRequired
Commission for University Education (CUE)
InstitutionalRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Land Surveyor
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Surveys and maps land boundaries
Cadastral Surveyor
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Prepares land boundary surveys for registration
Surveying Technologist
High demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 220,000
Conducts advanced surveys and geomatics work
Engineering Surveyor
High demandKsh 65,000 to Ksh 230,000
Provides surveying services for construction and engineering projects
Geomatics Technician
High demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 220,000
Manages geospatial data and mapping

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as surveying technologists, land surveyors, geomatics technicians, cadastral surveyors, engineering surveyors and GIS specialists in surveying firms, government land departments, construction companies, mining firms, consulting engineers and land administration 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

Surveying is only about measuring land
Surveying includes geodesy, mapping, engineering surveys, cadastral surveys, remote sensing and GIS.
Surveyors only work outdoors
Surveyors also work in offices processing data, preparing maps, managing land records and using GIS.
A diploma is enough for all surveying jobs
Advanced surveying and land administration roles require degree-level training.
Surveying has limited career growth
Surveyors can become licensed land surveyors, geomatics specialists, consultants and managers.