Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Water and Environmental Engineering

The Bachelor of Science in Water and Environmental Engineering is a degree programme that equips students with knowledge and skills in in water and environmental engineering. The programme falls under the Engineering & Technology category and typically spans 5 years of full-time study at accredited Kenyan universities.

The curriculum covers Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics, Hydrology and Water Resources, Water Supply and Treatment, Sanitation and Wastewater Treatment, Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Environmental Impact Assessment and Management. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical applications, developing competencies in Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Mechanics, Agricultural Structures, Cloud Computing, Crop Management. The coursework is designed to build progressive understanding from foundational concepts to advanced topics.

Throughout the programme, students study Engineering Mathematics and Fluid Mechanics, Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Environmental Impact Assessment and Management, Flood and Drought Management, Final Water and Environmental 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 Sanitation and Wastewater Engineering, Water Supply and Treatment, Environmental Management and EIA. 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 Water and Environmental Engineering pursue careers as Water Quality Officer / Research Engineer, Irrigation Engineer / Water Resources Engineer, Sanitation Engineer / Wastewater Engineer, Water Engineer / Water Supply 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: 5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 396,000
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: 30 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics
Hydrology and Water Resources
Water Supply and Treatment
Sanitation and Wastewater Treatment
Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Environmental Impact Assessment and Management
Solid Waste and Pollution Control
Water Quality and Monitoring
Water Governance, Policy and Law
Water and Environmental Engineering Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics: Fluid properties, flow mechanics, hydraulic systems and open channel flow. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Engineering Mathematics and Fluid Mechanics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Engineering mathematics, engineering mechanics, strength of materials, fluid mechanics, hydraulics, open channel flow, pipe flow, pumps, pumping systems, understanding fluids, and supporting fluid ...
Water Treatment Engineering
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Water treatment processes, coagulation, filtration, disinfection and treatment plant design.
Environmental Engineering and Impact Assessment
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Environmental engineering principles, EIA methodologies and environmental compliance.
Wastewater Engineering
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Wastewater Engineering: Wastewater treatment processes, sewerage systems and effluent management. Covers theoretical foundations, design principles, and practical engineering applications.
Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Irrigation engineering, surface irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation, irrigation design, drainage, understanding irrigation, and supporting irrigation and drainage engineering.
Environmental Impact Assessment and Management
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Environmental engineering, environmental impact assessment, EIA, environmental audit, environmental management, NEMA, EMCA, catchment management, watershed management, catchment protection, soil co...
Water Resource Systems and GIS
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Water Resource Systems and GIS: Water resource systems analysis, GIS applications and infrastructure planning. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Irrigation and Water Quality Management
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Irrigation system design, water quality monitoring and agricultural water management.
Research Methods and Engineering Project
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Research design and an engineering project applying water and environmental engineering principles.
Flood and Drought Management
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Flood control, flood management, drought management, climate change adaptation, water harvesting, dam design, understanding floods and droughts, and supporting flood and drought management.
Final Water and Environmental Engineering Research Project or Dissertation
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Final year water and environmental engineering research project or dissertation, assessed through written report and oral defence.

Specialisations

Sanitation and Wastewater Engineering
Specialises in sanitation, sewerage, wastewater treatment, biological treatment, oxidation ponds, constructed wetlands, sludge management, and supporting sanitation engineering.
Irrigation and Water Resources
Concentrates on irrigation engineering, surface, sprinkler, drip irrigation, drainage, water resources management, hydrology, and supporting irrigation and water resources.
Water Supply and Treatment
Focuses on water supply, water treatment, coagulation, filtration, disinfection, water distribution, networks, and supporting water supply engineering.
Environmental Management and EIA
Focuses on environmental impact assessment, environmental audit, NEMA compliance, catchment management, pollution control, and supporting environmental management.
Water Quality and Governance
Concentrates on water quality, monitoring, standards, water governance, Water Act 2016, water policy, and supporting water quality and governance.
Water Treatment Engineering
Focus on water treatment processes, plant design and water quality 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.
Wastewater and Sanitation Engineering
Specialisation in wastewater treatment, sanitation systems and environmental protection. 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.
Water Resources Engineering
Focus on hydrology, water resource systems, dams and water infrastructure planning. 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.
Irrigation Engineering
Specialisation in irrigation system design, water efficiency and agricultural water 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.

A day as a student

A typical day starts with a morning lecture on fluid mechanics, water treatment, or environmental management, followed by laboratory work, field visits, water and wastewater treatment practicals, or GIS and modelling exercises. Students work on water supply designs, wastewater treatment plant designs, irrigation designs, EIA reports, water quality analyses, hydrological models, hydraulic models, and water and environmental engineering research. Laboratory work for water quality and treatment, field visits to water and wastewater plants, GIS and modelling exercises, and industrial attachment at WRA, NEMA, a water company, or a consulting firm provide practical experience.

The trade offs

In its favour

National priority — water supply and sanitation are government priorities with significant investment.
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).
WASH programmes — active WASH programmes by NGOs and international organisations create opportunities.
Graduates are eligible for HELB loans and government funding.
Climate change relevance — climate change adaptation and water resources management create growing demand.

Against it

Limited programme specialisation options may be available.
Competitive job market requiring practical experience and networking.
Field-intensive — water and environmental engineering involves significant field work in various conditions.

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

TUK 200K/yr (tukenya.ac.ke), UoN 396K/yr (uonbi.ac.ke Sch.II). Private: unverified.

Students can access HELB undergraduate loans, Universities Fund government scholarships, and county government bursaries. Some water companies, NGOs, and international organisations offer scholarships for water and environmental engineering students.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
Universities Fund Government Scholarship
County Government Bursaries

Scholarships

5 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 recognised universities demonstrating financial need.
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
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
SponsorshipKsh 500,000
Academically talented but economically disadvantaged African students at partner universities.

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 Civil Engineering, Water Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or related fields from recognised institutions may join.

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

How you are assessed

5 components

Continuous Assessment Tests and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Written tests, assignments, and practical exercises throughout the semester.
Industrial Attachment Report
Practicum5% of the mark
Assessment of industrial attachment at a water company, NEMA, WRA, or consulting firm. Includes logbook, supervisor evaluation, and written report.
Project / Practical Assessment
Practicum20% of the mark
Assessment of water supply designs, wastewater treatment plant designs, irrigation designs, EIA reports, and water quality analyses.
End of Semester Examinations
Exam40% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations covering fluid mechanics, hydrology, water treatment, wastewater treatment, irrigation, and environmental management.
Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat30% of the mark
Regular tests, assignments, problem sets, and laboratory exercises throughout the semester.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). EBK registration is mandatory for professional engineering practice. NEMA EIA Lead Expert registration is required for environmental impact assessment work. The Water Act 2016 and EMCA govern the sector.

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. EBK registration is mandatory for professional engineering practice. NEMA EIA Lead Expert registration is required for environmental impact assessment work. The Water Act 2016 and EMCA govern the sector.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

8 roles

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.
Analyst
High demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 90,000
Analysing data, trends, and patterns to support decision-making.
Water Quality Officer / Research Engineer
Low demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages water quality, conducts research, supports monitoring, and supporting water quality and research.
Irrigation Engineer / Water Resources Engineer
Medium demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 230,000
Designs irrigation systems, manages water resources, supports catchment management, and supporting irrigation and water resources engineering.
Sanitation Engineer / Wastewater Engineer
Medium demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 230,000
Designs sanitation systems, manages wastewater treatment, supports sewerage, and supporting sanitation engineering.
Water Engineer / Water Supply Engineer
High demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 250,000
Designs water supply systems, manages water treatment, supports distribution, and supports water engineering.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as water engineers, environmental engineers, and sanitation engineers. Water and environmental engineering is in high demand driven by water infrastructure investment and WASH programmes. Starting salaries range from KES 60,000 to 100,000 per month, with experienced engineers earning KES 120,000 to 280,000. WRA, WASREB, NEMA, NCWSC, county water companies, the Ministry of Water, consulting firms, and NGOs offer the main opportunities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

AutoCAD
DesignPrimary
MATLAB
CodePrimary
Microsoft Excel
Spreadsheet
Microsoft Project
Project management
Python
Code
SolidWorks
Design
EPANET
SoftwarePrimary
Water distribution system modelling software for analysing hydraulic and water quality behaviour.
SWMM
Software
Storm Water Management Model for urban drainage and wastewater system modelling.
QGIS
Software
GIS software for watershed mapping, water resource analysis and infrastructure planning.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Water engineering is just about fixing pipes.
This programme covers fluid mechanics, hydrology, water treatment, wastewater treatment, irrigation, environmental management, EIA, water quality, and water governance. It's a comprehensive engineering discipline.
Environmental engineers only work on pollution.
Graduates work on water supply, sanitation, irrigation, environmental impact assessment, catchment management, climate change adaptation, and sustainability.
This field has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Water infrastructure investment, WASH programmes, irrigation expansion, environmental enforcement, and climate change adaptation create strong demand for qualified water and environmental engineers.
This programme has limited career opportunities.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.