Environmental Science

Bachelor of Science in Energy Technology

The Bachelor of Science in Energy Technology is a undergraduate programme offered by Kenyan universities, designed to provide advanced training and research opportunities in energy studies and sustainable energy. The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and delivered through coursework, seminars, and independent research.

Students engage with renewable energy, energy policy, energy economics, and sustainable technologies through a structured curriculum that combines theoretical foundations with practical applications. The programme emphasises clean energy transition, energy access, and sustainability and prepares scholars to contribute original research to the discipline.

Kenya's Kenya is expanding renewable energy including geothermal, solar, and wind power. The programme addresses national development priorities and aligns with Kenya's Vision 2030, which emphasises the need for highly trained professionals in energy and sustainability. Graduates are equipped to tackle complex challenges facing the country and the East African region.

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, laboratory sessions where applicable, fieldwork, and supervised research. Students work closely with faculty supervisors to develop their research proposals, conduct original research, and produce a thesis or dissertation that contributes new knowledge to the field.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, energy researchers, policy advisors, and renewable energy consultants in universities, research institutions, government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and private sector firms. The programme provides a strong foundation for academic careers and leadership roles in energy and sustainability.

This programme is ideal for individuals with a strong academic background in energy studies, engineering, or a related physical science who are passionate about research and advancing knowledge in energy studies and sustainable energy. It suits those who wish to contribute to policy development, innovation, and evidence-based decision-making in Kenya and beyond.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 324,000
Private, up to: Ksh 221,400
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Energy Systems
Renewable Energy
Research Methods
Energy Policy
Thermodynamics
Energy Economics
Sustainability
Climate Change
Energy Storage
Thesis Research

Modules

10 in the programme

Energy Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of energy systems, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Renewable Energy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced study of renewable energy, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Research Methods
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced study of research methods, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Energy Policy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of energy policy, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Thermodynamics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced study of thermodynamics, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Energy Economics
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced study of energy economics, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Sustainability
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of sustainability, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Climate Change
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced study of climate change, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Energy Storage
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced study of energy storage, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Thesis Research
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Advanced study of thesis research, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.

Specialisations

Thermodynamics
Specialization in Thermodynamics, preparing graduates for careers such as sustainability-manager. 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.
Energy Systems
Specialization in Energy Systems, preparing graduates for careers such as renewable-energy-engineer.
Specialisation Methods
Specialization in Specialisation Methods, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Energy Economics
Specialization in Energy Economics, preparing graduates for careers such as electrical-engineer-kenya.
Renewable Energy
Specialization in Renewable Energy, preparing graduates for careers such as energy-policy-analyst. 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.
Energy Policy
Specialization in Energy Policy, preparing graduates for careers such as research-scientist. 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 and seminars with afternoon research activities, laboratory sessions, or fieldwork. Students engage with faculty supervisors, attend research seminars, review literature, and work on their thesis research projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

Advanced research skills open doors to academic and research careers in Kenya and internationally
Addresses real-world challenges relevant to Kenya's development priorities
Strong professional network through university and research collaborations
Graduates are well-positioned for leadership roles in their respective sectors

Against it

Requires significant time commitment, typically 3-4 years for PhD and 2 years for Masters
Research funding can be limited, requiring students to seek external grants
Limited number of supervisors in specialised fields may restrict research topics
Job market for highly specialised roles may be concentrated in a few institutions

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 181 environmental science courses

Public245k to 324k

245k at Kenyatta University324k at University of Nairobi

Private109k to 221k

109k at Mount Kenya University221k at Daystar 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

KU Env Sci 245K (ku.ac.ke). UoN 324K (Schedule II). MKU 109K, Daystar 221K/yr.

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships for African scholars, and university-specific research grants. Some programmes offer teaching assistantships that provide fee waivers and stipends.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Scholarships
Scholarship
African Union Research Grants
Grant

Scholarships

4 recorded

DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for postgraduate study in relevant fields
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities demonstrating financial need
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties pursuing undergraduate studies

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

KCSE mean grade
C+ (Plus)
Relevant subject passes
C+ (Plus) in relevant subjects
Diploma option
Relevant diploma from recognised institution

How you are assessed

4 components

Final Examination
Coursework50% of the mark
Thesis
Coursework100% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Assignments and Presentations
Coursework20% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Professional body registration may be required depending on the field of specialisation.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya
Relevant Professional Body
Professional certification
Professional registration may be required depending on the field of specialisation

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

University Lecturer
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 120,000
Teaches and conducts research in a university department, contributing to knowledge generation and student mentorship.
Program Manager
Moderate demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 60,000
Manages research and development programmes in NGOs, government agencies, or private sector organisations.
Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 110,000
Offers specialised expertise to organisations, drawing on advanced training and research experience.
Research Scientist
High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 90,000
Conducts independent and collaborative research in research institutions, contributing to publications and innovation.
Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 70,000
Provides research-based policy advice to government, NGOs, and international organisations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, research scientists, policy analysts, and consultants in universities, research institutions, government agencies, and private sector organisations across Kenya and the East African region.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

HOMER
EngineeringPrimary
MATLAB
Code
HelioScope
Engineering
QGIS
Design
PVsyst
Engineering
AutoCAD
DesignPrimary
RETScreen
Analytics

Certifications

Commission for University Education (CUE) Accreditation

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This undergraduate programme is only for those who want to become university lecturers
Graduates pursue diverse careers including research, policy analysis, consulting, and leadership roles in government, NGOs, and private sector organisations across Kenya and internationally.
The programme is purely theoretical with no practical application
The curriculum combines theoretical foundations with practical research, fieldwork, and industry engagement, ensuring graduates can apply their knowledge to real-world challenges.
Research in this field has limited relevance to Kenya's development
The programme directly addresses national development priorities under Vision 2030, with research topics often focused on local challenges and solutions relevant to the Kenyan context.
There are no funding opportunities for postgraduate students in this field
Multiple funding sources exist including HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, bilateral cooperation programmes, and university-specific research grants for qualifying students.