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Bachelor of Science in Instrumental and Control

The Bachelor of Science in Instrumental and Control is a degree programme that equips students with knowledge and skills in in instrumental and control. The programme falls under the Engineering & Technology category and typically spans 4 years of full-time study at accredited Kenyan universities.

Duration
4 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 396,000
Ksh 1,584,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 119,000
Ksh 476,000 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 396,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,584,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 119,000 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of C+ (plus) mean grade at KCSE or above, plus 4 subject grades. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 4 years, full-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 3 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Overhead Transmission Technician, at 10 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

The curriculum covers Electrical Circuits and Electronics, Sensors, Transducers and Signal Conditioning, Control Systems and Feedback Control, PLC, SCADA and DCS, Process Control and Industrial Automation, Data Acquisition and Virtual Instrumentation. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical applications, developing competencies in technical and analytical competencies. The coursework is designed to build progressive understanding from foundational concepts to advanced topics.

Throughout the programme, students study Engineering Mathematics and Electrical Circuits, PLC, SCADA and DCS, Engineering Economics, CAD and Research Methods, Industrial Attachment, Calibration, Metrology and Measurement Standards. The teaching approach combines lectures, laboratory practicals, tutorials, assignments and independent research projects. This blend ensures graduates can apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems in their field.

The programme offers specialisations in Industrial Automation and PLC, Robotics and Mechatronics, Calibration and Metrology. Students can focus their studies on areas of particular interest, allowing them to tailor their degree to specific career goals. The flexibility enables graduates to pursue diverse professional paths within the sector.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Instrumental and Control pursue careers as Consulting Engineer / Systems Integrator, Instrumentation Engineer / Control Engineer, Calibration Engineer / Maintenance Engineer, Process Control Engineer / SCADA Engineer. They find employment in various sectors including government agencies, private companies, research institutions, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions. The degree opens doors to both local and international opportunities.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and offered at recognised universities across Kenya. Students benefit from industry attachments, fieldwork and practical training that complement classroom learning and enhance employability upon graduation.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Electrical Circuits and Electronics
  • Sensors, Transducers and Signal Conditioning
  • Control Systems and Feedback Control
  • PLC, SCADA and DCS
  • Process Control and Industrial Automation
  • Data Acquisition and Virtual Instrumentation
  • Microprocessors and Embedded Systems
  • Calibration, Metrology and Measurement Standards
  • Robotics, Mechatronics and Pneumatic Systems
  • Instrumentation and Control Engineering Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Engineering Mathematics and Electrical Circuits

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Engineering mathematics, electrical circuits, circuit theory, analogue electronics, digital electronics, power electronics, understanding circuits, and supporting electrical fundamentals.

  • Sensors, Transducers and Signal Conditioning

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Sensors, transducers, temperature measurement, pressure measurement, flow measurement, level measurement, force measurement, displacement measurement, signal conditioning, amplifiers, filters, A/D ...

  • Control Systems and Feedback Control

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Control systems, classical control, modern control, feedback control, PID controllers, root locus, frequency response, state-space analysis, stability analysis, understanding control, and supportin...

  • PLC, SCADA and DCS

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Programmable logic controllers, PLC, ladder logic, SCADA, supervisory control and data acquisition, DCS, distributed control systems, HMI, human-machine interface, understanding PLC and SCADA, and ...

  • Process Control and Industrial Automation

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Process control, industrial process control, control loops, industrial automation, robotics, CNC, mechatronics, hydraulics, pneumatic systems, understanding process control, and supporting process ...

  • Data Acquisition and Virtual Instrumentation

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Data acquisition, DAQ, virtual instrumentation, LabVIEW, MATLAB, Simulink, understanding DAQ, and supporting data acquisition and virtual instrumentation.

  • Microprocessors and Embedded Systems

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Microprocessors, microcontrollers, embedded systems, computer networks, industrial networks, fieldbus, Profibus, Modbus, understanding microprocessors, and supporting embedded and network engineering.

  • Calibration, Metrology and Measurement Standards

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    Calibration, metrology, measurement standards, instrumentation safety, hazardous area instrumentation, intrinsically safe systems, understanding calibration, and supporting calibration and metrology.

  • Robotics, Mechatronics and Pneumatic Systems

    Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore

    Robotics, mechatronics, CNC, hydraulics, pneumatic systems, understanding robotics, and supporting robotics and mechatronics engineering.

  • Engineering Economics, CAD and Research Methods

    Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore

    Engineering economics, entrepreneurship, engineering drawing, CAD, safety, occupational health, research methods, understanding economics, and supporting engineering practice.

  • Industrial Attachment

    Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore

    Supervised industrial attachment at a manufacturing plant, power station, process facility, or automation company, applying instrumentation and control engineering skills.

  • Final Instrumentation and Control Engineering Research Project or Dissertation

    Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore

    Final year instrumentation and control engineering research project or dissertation, assessed through written report and oral defence.

Specialisations

  • Industrial Automation and PLC

    Focuses on PLC programming, SCADA, DCS, HMI, industrial automation, and supporting industrial control systems.

  • Robotics and Mechatronics

    Concentrates on robotics, mechatronics, CNC, hydraulics, pneumatic systems, and supporting robotics and mechatronics engineering.

  • Calibration and Metrology

    Focuses on calibration, metrology, measurement standards, hazardous area instrumentation, and supporting calibration and metrology.

  • Process Control and Instrumentation

    Specialises in process control, instrumentation, sensors, transducers, signal conditioning, and supporting process control and instrumentation engineering.

  • Control Systems Design

    Concentrates on control systems, classical control, modern control, feedback control, PID, stability analysis, and supporting control engineering.

A day as a student

A typical day starts with a morning lecture on control systems, instrumentation, or PLC programming, followed by laboratory work, PLC and SCADA exercises, MATLAB simulations, or calibration practicals. Students work on control system designs, PID tuning, PLC programmes, SCADA configurations, sensor calibrations, data acquisition setups, Simulink models, and instrumentation and control engineering research. Laboratory work for instrumentation and control, PLC and SCADA exercises, calibration practicals, and industrial attachment at a manufacturing plant, power station, or process facility provide practical experience.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
High demand — industrial automation, Industry 4.0, and process optimisation create strong demand for instrumentation and control engineers.Demanding programme — requires strong mathematics and physics with heavy theoretical and practical coursework.
Versatile career — graduates work in manufacturing, power, oil and gas, food processing, pharmaceuticals, and consulting.Technology evolution — rapid changes in automation, PLC, SCADA, and Industry 4.0 require continuous learning.
Excellent salary potential — automation and control engineers earn competitive salaries.Long registration process — EBK registration requires years of supervised practice after graduation.

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
Private119k to 119k
119k at Mount Kenya University119k at Mount Kenya 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 BEng 199K/yr, UoN Engineering 396K/yr (official). MKU BTech 119K/yr (MKU website)

Students can access HELB undergraduate loans, Universities Fund government scholarships, and county government bursaries. Some manufacturing companies, energy companies, and automation firms offer scholarships for instrumentation and control engineering students.

Funding options

  • HELB Undergraduate Loan

  • Universities Fund Government Scholarship

  • County Government Bursaries

Scholarships

4 recorded

  • 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.

  • Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

    SponsorshipKsh 500,000

    Academically talented but economically disadvantaged African students at partner universities.

Scholarships you could apply for

12 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
C+ (plus) mean grade at KCSEminimum entry
Alternative entry

Diploma holders with credit pass in Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Instrumentation, or related fields from recognised institutions may join.

Subject requirements
MathematicsC+ (plus)
PhysicsC+ (plus)
ChemistryC (plain)
English or KiswahiliC (plain)

When it next starts

Taught at 3 institutions
January 20273 institutions

Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Technical University of Kenya, Egerton University.

May 20273 institutions

Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Technical University of Kenya, Egerton University.

September 20273 institutions

Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Technical University of Kenya, Egerton University.

How you are assessed

5 components

  • Project / Practical Assessment

    Practicum20% of the mark

    Assessment of control system designs, PLC programmes, SCADA configurations, sensor calibrations, and MATLAB simulations.

  • Continuous Assessment Tests

    Cat30% of the mark

    Regular tests, assignments, problem sets, and laboratory exercises throughout the semester.

  • End of Semester Examinations

    Exam40% of the mark

    Comprehensive written examinations covering control systems, instrumentation, PLC, SCADA, process control, and calibration.

  • Final Instrumentation and Control Engineering Research Project or Dissertation

    Research5% of the mark

    Final year instrumentation and control engineering research project or dissertation, assessed through written report and oral defence.

  • Industrial Attachment Report

    Practicum5% of the mark

    Assessment of industrial attachment at a manufacturing plant, power station, or process facility. Includes logbook, supervisor evaluation, and written report.

Accreditation

  • Commission for University Education

    NationalRequired

    CUE accredits all university programmes in Kenya. EBK registration is mandatory for professional engineering practice.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). EBK registration is mandatory for professional engineering practice.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

  • Consulting Engineer / Systems Integrator

    Low demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 300,000

    Provides consulting, integrates systems, advises on automation, and supporting consulting and systems integration.

  • Instrumentation Engineer / Control Engineer

    High demandKsh 65,000 to Ksh 280,000

    Designs instrumentation systems, manages control systems, supports process control, and supports instrumentation and control engineering.

  • Calibration Engineer / Maintenance Engineer

    Medium demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 230,000

    Calibrates instruments, maintains systems, supports metrology, and supporting calibration and maintenance engineering.

  • Process Control Engineer / SCADA Engineer

    Medium demandKsh 65,000 to Ksh 250,000

    Designs process control systems, manages SCADA, supports control loops, and supporting process control engineering.

  • Automation Engineer / PLC Programmer

    High demandKsh 65,000 to Ksh 250,000

    Programmes PLCs, configures SCADA, manages automation, supports DCS, and supporting automation engineering.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as instrumentation engineers, control engineers, and automation engineers. Instrumentation and control engineering is in high demand driven by industrial automation. Starting salaries range from KES 65,000 to 110,000 per month, with experienced engineers earning KES 130,000 to 300,000. Manufacturing companies, power companies, oil and gas companies, KenGen, KPC, food processing companies, cement companies, and consulting firms offer the main opportunities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • Calibration Instruments

    EquipmentPrimary

    Pressure calibrators, temperature calibrators, and signal generators for instrument calibration

  • Oscilloscope and Multimeter

    EquipmentPrimary

    Electronic test instruments for circuit analysis, signal measurement, and fault diagnosis

  • SCADA and HMI Software

    Software

    Supervisory control and data acquisition software for process monitoring and control

  • Megger Insulation Tester

    TestingPrimary

    For testing insulation resistance in electrical installations

  • Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)

    EquipmentPrimary

    Industrial computers for automating manufacturing processes, including Siemens, Allen-Bradley, and Mitsubishi PLCs

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Instrumentation and control is just about fixing sensors.

    This programme covers control theory, system design, PLC programming, SCADA, DCS, robotics, mechatronics, calibration, and process control. It's a comprehensive engineering discipline.

  • Instrumentation engineers only work in factories.

    Graduates work in manufacturing, power, oil and gas, food processing, pharmaceuticals, consulting, and as independent consultants.

  • This field has limited career growth.

    Industrial automation, Industry 4.0, and process optimisation create strong demand and career growth for qualified instrumentation and control engineers.

  • This programme has limited career opportunities.

    Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.

Further reading

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