Technology

Bachelor of Science in Telecommunication and Information Technology

The Bachelor of Science in Telecommunication and Information Technology is a degree programme that equips students with knowledge and skills in in telecommunication and information technology. The programme falls under the ICT & Computing category and typically spans 4 years of full-time study at accredited Kenyan universities.

The curriculum covers Telecommunications and Communication Systems, Information Technology and IT Infrastructure, Network Engineering and Network Management, Data Communications and Transmission, Wireless Communications and Mobile Networks, IT Systems and Information Systems. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical applications, developing competencies in Rust, Smart-contract security, Advanced Machine Learning, AI Ethics, AI Ethics and Governance. The coursework is designed to build progressive understanding from foundational concepts to advanced topics.

Throughout the programme, students study Telecommunication Management and IT Management, Information Technology and IT Infrastructure, IT Systems and Information Systems, Data Communications and Transmission, Wireless Communications and Mobile Networks. 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 Network Engineering and Network Architecture, Telecommunications Engineering and Communication Systems, Wireless Communications and Mobile Networks. 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 Telecommunication and Information Technology pursue careers as Telecommunications Engineer / Telecom Engineer, IT Manager / Information Technology Manager, Network Engineer / Network Architect, Wireless Network Engineer / Mobile Network 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 306,000
Private, up to: Ksh 441,500
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 6 months
Average class: 50 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Telecommunications and Communication Systems
Information Technology and IT Infrastructure
Network Engineering and Network Management
Data Communications and Transmission
Wireless Communications and Mobile Networks
IT Systems and Information Systems
Telecommunication Infrastructure and Network Infrastructure
Internet Technologies and Web Systems
Telecommunication Management and IT Management
Research Methods and Telecommunication and IT Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Telecommunications and Communication Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Telecommunications, communication systems, transmission systems, and supporting telecommunications.
Telecommunication Principles and Signal Processing
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Telecommunication Principles and Signal Processing: Fundamentals of telecommunications, signal analysis and processing techniques. Develops practical skills for academic and professional contexts.
Information Technology and IT Infrastructure
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Information technology, IT infrastructure, systems administration, and supporting information technology.
Data Communication and Networks
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Data Communication and Networks: Data communication principles, network protocols and network architecture. Develops practical skills for academic and professional contexts.
Network Engineering and Network Management
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Network engineering, network management, network operations, and supporting network engineering.
Data Communications and Transmission
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Data communications, data transmission, communication protocols, and supporting data communications.
Wireless Communications and Mobile Networks
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Wireless communications, mobile networks, wireless technology, and supporting wireless communications.
IT Systems and Information Systems
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
IT systems, information systems, system administration, and supporting IT systems.
Telecommunication Infrastructure and Network Infrastructure
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Telecommunication infrastructure, network infrastructure, infrastructure design, and supporting telecommunication infrastructure.
Internet Technologies and Web Systems
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Internet technologies, web systems, internet protocols, and supporting internet technologies.
Telecommunication Management and IT Management
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Telecommunication management, IT management, operations management, and supporting telecommunication and IT management.
Research Methods and Telecommunication and IT Research
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Research methods, telecommunication and IT research, data collection, and supporting research methods and project work.

Specialisations

Network Engineering and Network Architecture
Concentrates on network engineering, network architecture, network design, and network infrastructure.
Telecommunication Management and IT Management
Focuses on telecommunication management, IT management, operations management, and service management.
Telecommunications Engineering and Communication Systems
Focuses on telecommunications engineering, communication systems, transmission networks, and telecommunication infrastructure.
Wireless Communications and Mobile Networks
Focuses on wireless communications, mobile networks, wireless infrastructure, and mobile network engineering.
IT Infrastructure and Systems Administration
Specialises in IT infrastructure, systems administration, network administration, and IT operations.
Network Engineering
Focus on network design, configuration, optimisation and network infrastructure management. 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 and Mobile Communications
Specialisation in mobile networks, wireless technologies and radio frequency engineering. 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 Security
Focus on cybersecurity, network protection, threat analysis and security infrastructure. 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 Fibre Communications
Specialisation in optical fibre technology, fibre network design and optical communication systems. 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 starts with morning lectures on telecommunications, information technology, or network engineering, followed by telecommunication and IT laboratories, communication projects, or industry visits. Students design telecommunication systems, develop IT infrastructure, work with communication tools, manage networks, and work on their telecommunication and IT projects. Industrial attachments at telecommunications providers, technology companies, and government agencies provide hands-on experience.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand — digital transformation, telecommunications expansion, and IT infrastructure development create strong demand for telecommunication and information technology professionals.
Diverse applications — graduates work in telecommunications, government, finance, healthcare, education, and various industries.
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).
Technology — telecommunication and information technology involves cutting-edge technology including 5G, cloud computing, and network virtualization.
Graduates are eligible for HELB loans and government funding.

Against it

Continuous learning — telecommunication and information technology faces rapid technology changes, continuous learning requirements, and skills obsolescence.
Technical complexity — telecommunication and information technology requires strong technical skills in telecommunications, IT infrastructure, and network design.
On-call work — IT management and telecommunications work involves on-call duties, emergency support, and sometimes working outside normal hours.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 191 technology courses

Public259k to 306k

259k at University of Nairobi306k at Kenyatta University

Private119k to 442k

119k at Mount Kenya University442k at USIU-Africa

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 306K/yr (ku.ac.ke). UoN CS ~258.5K/yr (UoN booklet). USIU IST 441.5K/yr, MKU 119K/yr (mku.ac.ke).

Students can access HELB undergraduate loans and KUCCPS placement. County bursaries, telecommunications industry sponsorships, and international IT scholarships are available.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
KUCCPS Placement
County Government Bursaries

Scholarships

5 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities demonstrating financial need.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
Government fundingKenyan
Kenyan students in public universities under the new funding model based on financial need assessment.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan students from respective counties demonstrating financial need.
Media Council of Kenya Journalism Training Fund
BursaryKenyan
Journalism and communication students accredited by the Media Council of Kenya
Nation Media Group Journalism Graduate Trainee Programme
ScholarshipKenyan
Recent journalism, media and communication graduates with strong digital skills

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Diploma in Information Technology, Telecommunications, ICT, or related fields from recognised institutions may be considered for upgrading. Relevant telecommunications or IT experience is advantageous.

Mathematics
C+
Physics
C
English or Kiswahili
C
Chemistry or Biology
C

How you are assessed

5 components

Industry Attachment Assessment
Clinical10% of the mark
Assessment of industry attachments including telecommunication work, IT work, documentation, and supervision evaluation.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering all course content for the semester.
Research Project
Research10% of the mark
Independent telecommunication and information technology research project, assessed through written report and presentation.
Telecommunication and Information Technology Practical Examinations
Practicum30% of the mark
Assessment of telecommunication and information technology competencies including telecommunications, IT infrastructure, network engineering, and communication systems.
Continuous Assessment Tests and Assignments
Cat20% of the mark
Assignments, tests, presentations, case studies, and telecommunication and IT projects throughout each semester.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Certified by Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK) for ICT professionals. The Kenya Information and Communications Act governs ICT. The National ICT Policy guides digital development. The Cybercrime Act governs cybersecurity.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
CUE is the statutory body responsible for the accreditation and quality assurance of university programmes in Kenya.
Commission for University Education
NationalRequired
CUE accredits all university programmes in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

8 roles

Telecommunications Engineer / Telecom Engineer
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 170,000
Designs telecommunication systems, communication infrastructure, transmission networks, and supports telecommunications at telecommunications providers, technology companies, or government agencies.
IT Manager / Information Technology Manager
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 170,000
Manages IT infrastructure, IT operations, technology systems, and supports IT management at government agencies, financial institutions, or business organisations.
Network Engineer / Network Architect
High demandKsh 65,000 to Ksh 160,000
Designs networks, network infrastructure, communication networks, and supports network engineering at telecommunications providers, technology companies, or government agencies.
Wireless Network Engineer / Mobile Network Engineer
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 170,000
Designs wireless networks, mobile communications, wireless infrastructure, and supports wireless networking at telecommunications providers, technology companies, or government agencies.
Communication Specialist / IT Consultant
High demandKsh 65,000 to Ksh 160,000
Provides communication consulting, IT consulting, infrastructure consulting, and supports telecommunication and IT consulting at consulting firms, technology companies, or as independent consultants.
Graduate Trainee
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 60,000
Entry-level position applying academic knowledge in a professional environment.
Research Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 65,000
Supporting research projects through data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Project Officer
High demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 80,000
Coordinating and implementing projects in public, private, or NGO sectors.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as telecommunications engineers and IT managers. Telecommunication and information technology is in high demand driven by digital transformation. Salaries range from KES 70,000 to 170,000 per month. Ministry of ICT, CAK, telecommunications providers, and technology companies offer the main opportunities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Docker
Cloud
Git
CodePrimary
GitHub Copilot
Ai
PostgreSQL
Database
Python
CodePrimary
VS Code
Code
Cisco Packet Tracer
SoftwarePrimary
Network simulation tool for designing, configuring and troubleshooting network topologies.
Wireshark
SoftwarePrimary
Network protocol analyser for troubleshooting and analysing network traffic.
MATLAB
Software
Numerical computing for signal processing and telecommunication system modelling.
Linux
Software
Operating system for network server administration and telecommunication infrastructure management.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Telecommunication and information technology is just about installing phone lines.
Telecommunication and information technology includes telecommunications engineering, IT infrastructure, network design, communication systems, and IT management — installing phone lines is one component.
Telecommunication and information technology is only for telecommunications companies.
Telecommunication and information technology applies to government agencies, financial institutions, healthcare, education, and many other industries beyond telecommunications companies.
There are limited career opportunities for telecommunication and IT graduates in Kenya.
Kenya's digital transformation, telecommunications expansion, IT infrastructure development, and 5G rollout create demand for telecommunication and information technology professionals at telecommunications providers, technology companies, and government agencies.
This programme has limited career opportunities.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.