Agriculture

Bachelor of Science in Animal Products Technology

This Bachelor's programme prepares students for professional careers in animal products technology. It develops expertise in food processing, quality control, food safety, product development, and food engineering while building technical skills for the animal products industry.

Students analyse processing systems, design processing technologies, implement quality control measures, evaluate product safety, conduct food research, apply processing methods, manage production lines, and develop new products. They also strengthen analytical thinking, technical skills, communication, teamwork, and food safety abilities.

Kenya's food industry requires improved processing and quality control to ensure food safety and add value to animal products, creating demand for professionals who can develop processing technologies, ensure product quality, implement food safety standards, and support the food industry.

The programme combines coursework, laboratory sessions, processing plant visits, industrial attachment, and research projects. Students gain hands-on experience through processing operations, quality control testing, and product development.

Graduates pursue careers as food technologists, quality control officers, processing managers, product developers, and food safety officers across food processing companies, government agencies, research institutions, and the food industry.

The programme is ideal for students interested in food technology, processing, quality control, product development, and improving the animal products value chain.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 324,000
Private, up to: Ksh 178,800
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 8 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

6 subjects

Animal Products Technology
Food Processing
Quality Control
Food Safety
Product Development
Food Engineering

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Animal Products Technology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Overview of animal products technology, processing industry, and product categories.
Food Chemistry
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Chemical composition of animal products, food chemistry, and biochemical processes.
Food Microbiology
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Food Microbiology: Microorganisms in food, food spoilage, and food safety microbiology. Covers cellular processes, organismal biology, and ecological relationships.
Food Processing Technology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Food Processing Technology: Processing technologies for meat, milk, eggs, and other animal products. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Quality Control Systems
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Quality Control Systems: Quality control principles, testing methods, and quality management systems. Covers quality standards, inspection methods, and continuous improvement processes.
Food Safety and Hygiene
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Food Safety and Hygiene: Food safety principles, hygiene practices, and HACCP systems. Covers safety regulations, risk assessment, and workplace hazard management.
Dairy Technology
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Dairy processing, milk products, and dairy technology. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, ...
Meat Science and Technology
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Meat processing, meat products, and meat technology. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, co...
Food Engineering
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Food Engineering: Engineering principles applied to food processing and equipment design. Covers theoretical foundations, design principles, and practical engineering applications.
Product Development
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Product Development: New product development, formulation, and product innovation. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Food Packaging
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Food Packaging: Packaging materials, packaging technologies, and packaging design. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Animal Products Technology Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Independent project on animal products technology topic. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests...

Specialisations

Dairy Technology
Focus on dairy processing, milk products, and dairy technology. 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.
Meat Science
Specialization in meat processing, meat products, and meat technology. 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.
Quality Control
Focus on quality control systems, food safety, and product standards. 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.
General Practice
Broad foundational knowledge covering core principles and practices in the field. 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

Students attend lectures, conduct laboratory analysis, participate in processing operations, and engage in quality control testing.

The trade offs

In its favour

Critical role in ensuring food safety and quality in the food industry.
Hands-on experience with processing technologies and quality control systems.
Growing demand for food technologists due to increasing food safety standards.

Against it

Processing work can be physically demanding and requires strict hygiene standards.
Food processing requires adherence to strict regulations and quality standards.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 303 agriculture courses

Public275k to 324k

275k at Kenyatta University324k at University of Nairobi

Private109k to 179k

109k at Mount Kenya University179k at University of Eastern Africa, Baraton

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

UoN Sch II:324K/yr. KU:275.4K/yr. MKU:109.1K/yr. UEAB:178.8K/yr.

Students can access HELB undergraduate loans, Universities Fund government scholarships and county government bursaries.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
Universities Fund Government Scholarship
County Government Bursaries

Scholarships

4 recorded

TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship at Egerton University
ScholarshipKenyan
Students admitted to agriculture, natural resources and food science programmes at Egerton University
County Government Bursaries
GrantKsh 50,000Kenyan
Students from specific counties. Criteria vary by county.
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to accredited universities. Means-tested based on family income.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
GrantKsh 200,000Kenyan
Government-sponsored (KUCCPS) students in public universities. Awarded through the Higher Education Funding Model.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (plus) mean grade at KCSE
Alternative entry: Diploma holders in Food Technology, Animal Science, Biology, or related fields with Credit pass from recognized institutions may also apply.

How you are assessed

4 components

End of Semester Examinations
Exam70% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations at the end of each semester.
Laboratory Assessments
Practicum100% of the mark
Evaluation of laboratory skills in food analysis, processing, and quality control.
Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat30% of the mark
Regular tests, assignments, and laboratory reports throughout the semester.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Independent research project on animal products technology topic.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at Chuka University. Graduates working in food processing may pursue KEBS certification for food safety and quality management.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
NationalRequired
CUE accredits all university programmes in Kenya. This programme must be offered by a CUE-accredited university.
Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)
Professional
Graduates working in food processing may pursue KEBS certification for food safety and quality management.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Food Safety Officer
Medium demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 110,000
Ensure food safety compliance, conduct inspections, and implement safety standards.
Quality Control Officer
Medium demandKsh 52,000 to Ksh 115,000
Ensure quality control, conduct testing, and maintain food safety standards.
Product Developer
Medium demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 120,000
Develop new food products, formulate recipes, and innovate in product development.
Processing Manager
Medium demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 130,000
Manage processing operations, ensure efficiency, and maintain product quality.
Food Technologist
High demandKsh 58,000 to Ksh 125,000
Develop processing technologies, ensure product quality, and innovate in food processing.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work in animal products technology, food processing, and quality control across Kenya's food industry.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Google Earth
Gis
PlantVillage Nuru
Agriculture
QGIS
GisPrimary
ChatGPT / Claude
Ai
Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
R
Analytics

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Animal Products Technology is just about butchery.
The programme covers meat science, dairy technology, food processing, product development, quality assurance and food safety management.
Graduates only work in slaughterhouses.
Graduates work in dairy processing firms, meat processing companies, food safety agencies, research institutions and regulatory bodies.
The programme does not cover food safety.
Food safety, quality assurance, HACCP systems and regulatory compliance are core components of the curriculum.
The programme is available at multiple universities.
Only Chuka University offers this exact programme in Kenya, as confirmed by KUCCPS.
Career opportunities are limited to the meat industry.
Graduates work across dairy, meat, poultry and fish processing sectors, as well as in research and regulatory bodies.
The programme is the same as Food Science and Technology.
While related, this programme specifically focuses on animal products processing, whereas Food Science and Technology covers all food types.