Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Telecommunication and Information Engineering

The Bachelor of Science in Telecommunication and Information Engineering is a programme that provides comprehensive training in telecommunications, networking and information systems. Offered at JKUAT, Technical University of Kenya, University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University and other institutions, the programme prepares graduates for careers in telecommunications, networking and ICT infrastructure.

The curriculum covers telecommunications, signal processing, communication systems, computer networks, wireless communications, optical communications, satellite communications, mobile communications, network security, data communications, information theory, antenna theory, microwave engineering, network design, programming, research methods and a final year project. Students develop engineering skills for telecommunications and information systems.

Kenya's telecommunications sector, mobile money infrastructure, internet expansion and digital transformation create strong demand for telecommunication engineering graduates. The programme is offered through lectures, engineering laboratories, industrial attachment and design projects.

Graduates are prepared for careers as telecommunications engineers, network engineers, RF engineers, network architects, systems engineers, ICT consultants, network security engineers, mobile communications engineers and project managers. They work in telecommunications companies (Safaricom, Airtel), ISPs, broadcasting, consulting firms, government, banks and tech companies.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK). Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with B- in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. KUCCPS Cluster 3.

Prospective students should have strong analytical skills, a commitment to continuous learning, and an interest in contributing to Kenya's socio-economic development. The programme provides a solid foundation for further postgraduate study and professional advancement in related fields.

Duration: 5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 396,000
Private, up to: Ksh 500,000
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: 35 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Telecommunications
Signal Processing
Communication Systems
Computer Networks
Wireless Communications
Optical Communications
Mobile Communications
Network Security
Information Theory
Microwave Engineering

Modules

10 in the programme

Telecommunications
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Telecom fundamentals. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester ex...
Signal Processing
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Digital signal processing. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semest...
Communication Systems
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Communication theory. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester ex...
Computer Networks
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Network design and protocols. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-sem...
Wireless Communications
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Wireless systems. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester examin...
Optical Communications
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Fibre optics. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester examinations.
Mobile Communications
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Mobile network technology. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semest...
Network Security
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Network security. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester examin...
Microwave Engineering
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Microwave systems. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester exami...
Final Year Project
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Capstone design project. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester...

Specialisations

Network Security
Network security. 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.
Wireless Communications
Mobile and wireless. 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.
Optical Communications
Fibre optics. 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.
Network Architecture
Network design. 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 involves attending telecom engineering lectures, working in communications laboratories, studying signal processing, designing computer networks, researching wireless communications, using network simulation tools, studying antenna theory, programming telecom applications, and working on telecom engineering design projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand in Kenya's advanced telecom sector
Excellent earning potential
EBK registration enables professional practice

Against it

Demanding 5-year programme with heavy mathematics
Rapidly evolving technology requiring continuous learning
High tuition fees especially for self-sponsored

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 500k

119k at Mount Kenya University500k at Strathmore 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 Eng 199.5K/yr, UoN Eng 396K/yr. Strathmore ~500K/yr (samtash). MKU 119K/yr (mku.ac.ke).

HELB loans and government scholarships under the new funding model are available. Telecom companies may offer sponsorships.

Funding options

HELB Loan
County Bursaries
Government Scholarship (New Funding Model)

Scholarships

5 recorded

Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) Student Scholarships
ScholarshipKenyan
Student members of IEK pursuing accredited engineering programmes
KCDF More Girls for Engineering Opportunities
ScholarshipKenyan
Young women from disadvantaged backgrounds pursuing engineering
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students in engineering
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 50,000Kenyan
Kenyan students from participating counties
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
KUCCPS-placed students

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: KCSE mean grade C+ with B- in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Diploma in telecommunications, electrical engineering, electronics or related field from a recognised institution. KUCCPS Cluster 3.

Mathematics
B-
Physics
B-
Chemistry
B-

How you are assessed

4 components

End of Semester Examinations
Written examination50% of the mark
End of semester written exams
Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat20% of the mark
Regular tests and assignments
Final Year Project
Project10% of the mark
Capstone design project
Laboratory Practicals
Practicum20% of the mark
Lab and network simulation sessions

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK). Offered at JKUAT, TUK, UoN, KU and other institutions. Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with B- in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. KUCCPS Cluster 3. EBK registration required after graduation and practical training.

Accredited by

Engineers Board of Kenya
ProfessionalRequired
Statutory body responsible for registration and regulation of engineers in Kenya
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

ICT Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 480,000
ICT consulting
Network Architect
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 550,000
Network architecture
Network Engineer
High demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 420,000
Network design
Telecommunications Engineer
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 450,000
Telecom engineering
RF Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 430,000
Radio frequency engineering

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as telecommunications engineers, network engineers and RF engineers in telecommunications companies, ISPs and consulting firms.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

MATLAB
SimulationPrimary
Signal processing and telecommunications simulation
Python
ProgrammingPrimary
Network programming and automation
Cisco Packet Tracer
Network simulation
Network simulation and design tool
Wireshark
Network analysis
Network protocol analyzer
NS-3
Network simulation
Discrete-event network simulator for research
Git/GitHub
Version control
Version control for collaborative projects

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Telecommunication engineering is just about phone networks.
The programme covers signal processing, optical communications, satellite, network security and information systems.
There are no telecom jobs in Kenya.
Kenya's telecom sector is one of the most advanced in Africa, creating strong demand.
Telecom engineering is the same as IT.
Telecom engineering focuses on communication systems and networks, while IT is broader.
This is less rigorous than other engineering fields.
The programme requires strong mathematics, physics and electronics with specialised telecom training.