Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering

The Bachelor of Science in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering is a degree programme that equips students with knowledge and skills in in materials and metallurgical engineering. The programme falls under the Engineering & Construction category and typically spans 4 years of full-time study at accredited Kenyan universities.

The curriculum covers Materials Science and Crystallography, Extractive Metallurgy and Process Metallurgy, Physical Metallurgy and Heat Treatment, Ceramic, Polymer and Composite Materials, Materials Characterisation and Testing, Corrosion Engineering and Failure Analysis. 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 Materials Science and Crystallography, Welding Metallurgy and NDT, Foundry Technology and Metal Forming, Industrial Attachment, Final Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Research Project or Dissertation. 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 Foundry Technology and Metal Forming, Corrosion Engineering and NDT, Physical Metallurgy and Heat Treatment. 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 Materials and Metallurgical Engineering pursue careers as Quality Engineer / Materials Testing Engineer, Materials Engineer / Metallurgical Engineer, Extractive Metallurgy Engineer / Process Engineer, Corrosion Engineer / NDT 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.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 396,000
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

Materials Science and Crystallography
Extractive Metallurgy and Process Metallurgy
Physical Metallurgy and Heat Treatment
Ceramic, Polymer and Composite Materials
Materials Characterisation and Testing
Corrosion Engineering and Failure Analysis
Foundry Technology and Metal Forming
Welding Metallurgy and NDT
Materials Selection and Quality Control
Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Materials Science and Crystallography
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Materials science, crystallography, crystal structures, phase diagrams, thermodynamics of materials, and supporting materials fundamentals.
Extractive Metallurgy and Process Metallurgy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Extractive metallurgy, pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, electrometallurgy, iron making, steel making, non-ferrous metallurgy, and supporting extractive metallurgy.
Physical Metallurgy and Heat Treatment
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Physical metallurgy, heat treatment, phase transformations, microstructure, understanding metallurgy, and supporting physical metallurgy.
Ceramic, Polymer and Composite Materials
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Ceramic engineering, polymer engineering, composite materials, nanomaterials, biomaterials, understanding ceramics, and supporting advanced materials engineering.
Materials Characterisation and Testing
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Materials characterisation, optical microscopy, electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, mechanical testing, understanding characterisation, and supporting materials testing.
Corrosion Engineering and Failure Analysis
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Corrosion engineering, corrosion control, failure analysis, fracture mechanics, understanding corrosion, and supporting corrosion and failure engineering.
Foundry Technology and Metal Forming
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundry technology, casting, forging, rolling, metal forming, understanding foundry, and supporting metal forming and foundry engineering.
Welding Metallurgy and NDT
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Welding metallurgy, weldability, NDT, non-destructive testing, understanding welding metallurgy, and supporting welding and inspection engineering.
Materials Selection and Quality Control
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Materials selection, quality control, specifications, standards, understanding selection, and supporting materials quality engineering.
Environmental Metallurgy and Recycling
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Environmental metallurgy, recycling, waste management, sustainability, understanding environmental impact, and supporting sustainable metallurgy.
Industrial Attachment
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Supervised industrial attachment at a steel company, cement plant, mining company, or manufacturing firm, applying materials and metallurgical engineering skills.
Final Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Research Project or Dissertation
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Final year materials and metallurgical engineering research project or dissertation, assessed through written report and oral defence.

Specialisations

Foundry Technology and Metal Forming
Concentrates on foundry technology, casting, forging, rolling, metal forming, and supporting foundry and metal forming engineering.
Corrosion Engineering and NDT
Concentrates on corrosion engineering, corrosion control, NDT, failure analysis, and supporting corrosion and integrity engineering.
Physical Metallurgy and Heat Treatment
Specialises in physical metallurgy, heat treatment, phase transformations, microstructure, and supporting physical metallurgy engineering.
Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology
Focuses on ceramic engineering, polymer engineering, composites, nanomaterials, biomaterials, and supporting advanced materials engineering.
Extractive Metallurgy
Focuses on extractive metallurgy, pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, iron making, steel making, and supporting extractive metallurgy engineering.

A day as a student

A typical day starts with a morning lecture on materials science, metallurgy, or corrosion, followed by laboratory work, foundry practicals, or testing exercises. Students work on materials characterisation, metallography, heat treatment experiments, mechanical testing, corrosion tests, NDT exercises, casting projects, and materials research. Laboratory work for materials characterisation and testing, foundry practicals for casting and metal forming, and industrial attachment at a steel company, cement plant, or manufacturing firm provide practical experience.

The trade offs

In its favour

Growing demand — manufacturing growth, mining expansion, and construction quality demands create opportunities for materials and metallurgical engineers.
Versatile career — graduates work in steel, cement, mining, manufacturing, KEBS, NCA, consulting, and research.
Critical role — materials engineering underpins manufacturing, construction, and infrastructure quality.

Against it

Niche field — fewer direct job openings compared to mainstream engineering disciplines.
Laboratory intensive — requires extensive laboratory work with potentially hazardous materials and high temperatures.
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

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 396,000/yr sch.II; TUK ~199,500/yr. No private confirmed. Src: uonbi.ac.ke, tukenya.ac.ke

Students can access HELB undergraduate loans, Universities Fund government scholarships, and county government bursaries. Some mining companies, steel companies, and manufacturing firms offer scholarships for materials and metallurgical engineering students.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
Universities Fund Government Scholarship
County Government Bursaries

Scholarships

5 recorded

Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) Student Scholarships
ScholarshipKenyan
Student members of IEK pursuing accredited engineering programmes
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
GrantKsh 200,000Kenyan
Government-sponsored (KUCCPS) students in public universities. Awarded through the Higher Education Funding Model.
County Government Bursaries
GrantKsh 50,000Kenyan
Students from specific counties. Criteria vary by county.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
SponsorshipKsh 500,000
Academically talented but economically disadvantaged African students at partner universities.
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to accredited universities. Means-tested based on family income.

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 with credit pass in Materials Engineering, Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, or related fields from recognised institutions may join.

Mathematics
C+ (plus)
Chemistry
C+ (plus)
Physics
C (plain)
English or Kiswahili
C (plain)

How you are assessed

5 components

Project / Practical Assessment
Practicum20% of the mark
Assessment of materials characterisation, metallography, heat treatment experiments, mechanical testing, corrosion tests, and casting projects.
Industrial Attachment Report
Practicum5% of the mark
Assessment of industrial attachment at a steel company, cement plant, or manufacturing firm. Includes logbook, supervisor evaluation, and written report.
Final Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Research Project or Dissertation
Research5% of the mark
Final year materials and metallurgical engineering research project or dissertation, assessed through written report and oral defence.
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 materials science, extractive metallurgy, physical metallurgy, ceramics, polymers, and corrosion.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). EBK registration is mandatory for professional engineering practice. KEBS certification is relevant for materials testing and quality assurance.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
NationalRequired
CUE accredits all university programmes in Kenya. EBK registration is mandatory for professional engineering practice. KEBS certification is relevant for materials testing.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Quality Engineer / Materials Testing Engineer
Medium demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages quality systems, conducts materials testing, performs failure analysis, and supports materials quality assurance.
Materials Engineer / Metallurgical Engineer
Medium demandKsh 65,000 to Ksh 280,000
Develops materials, manages metallurgical processes, ensures materials quality, and supports manufacturing and construction.
Extractive Metallurgy Engineer / Process Engineer
Medium demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 300,000
Manages extractive processes, optimises metallurgical operations, develops extraction methods, and supporting mining and processing.
Corrosion Engineer / NDT Engineer
Low demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 280,000
Manages corrosion control, conducts NDT inspections, designs corrosion protection, and supporting integrity engineering.
Engineering Researcher / Consultant
Low demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 350,000
Conducts materials research, provides consulting, advises on materials selection, and supporting materials innovation.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as materials engineers, metallurgical engineers, and quality engineers. Materials and metallurgical engineering is in medium demand driven by manufacturing and mining. Starting salaries range from KES 65,000 to 100,000 per month, with experienced engineers earning KES 120,000 to 350,000. Steel companies, cement companies, mining companies, manufacturing companies, KEBS, NCA, and consulting firms offer the main opportunities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

AutoCAD
SoftwarePrimary
Industry-standard 2D and 3D CAD software for architectural drawing, drafting, and technical documentation.
Autodesk Revit
SoftwarePrimary
Building Information Modelling (BIM) software for architectural design, structural engineering, and construction documentation.
SketchUp
Software
3D modelling software widely used for conceptual design, massing studies, and architectural visualisation.
Adobe Photoshop
Software
Image editing software used for architectural presentation boards, rendering post-production, and portfolio production.
V-Ray
Software
Photorealistic rendering plugin for 3D modelling software, used to produce high-quality architectural visualisations.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Materials and metallurgical engineering is just about steel.
This programme covers metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, nanomaterials, biomaterials, extractive metallurgy, corrosion, and materials characterisation. It's a comprehensive materials engineering discipline.
Metallurgical engineers only work in steel mills.
Graduates work in steel, cement, mining, manufacturing, KEBS, NCA, consulting, and research. Many work in quality control, failure analysis, and materials selection.
There are limited career opportunities in materials engineering in Kenya.
Manufacturing growth, mining expansion, construction quality demands, and KEBS standards create demand for qualified materials and metallurgical engineers.
This programme has limited career opportunities.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.