Diploma in Building and Civil Engineering
The Diploma in Building and Civil Engineering is a KUCCPS-listed programme (Engineering, Technology & Related cluster) that combines building construction with foundational civil engineering, covering roads, drainage, and infrastructure alongside standard building work.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 67,189 a year at a public institution, Ksh 201,567 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 60,000 a year at a private one.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of C- or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 3 years, full-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 163 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Auto Diagnostics Technician, at 3 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
Students study structural design basics, building construction technology, highway and drainage engineering fundamentals, surveying, building materials, and construction management, giving a broader technical base than a pure building diploma. Skills RequiredBuilding ConstructionBasic Civil/Highway EngineeringSurveyingStructural Design BasicsConstruction ManagementDrainage Engineering BasicsKey SubjectsBuilding Construction TechnologyStructural Design BasicsHighway and Drainage EngineeringSurveyingBuilding MaterialsConstruction ManagementCertificationsNational Construction Authority (NCA) Practitioner RegistrationInstitution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) Technician AffiliateSpecializationsBuilding ConstructionFocus on residential and commercial building construction supervision. Highway and Drainage WorksFocus on basic road and drainage infrastructure construction and maintenance. Skills RequiredBasic Civil/Highway EngineeringBuilding ConstructionConstruction ManagementDrainage Engineering BasicsStructural Design BasicsSurveyingKey SubjectsBuilding Construction TechnologyStructural Design BasicsHighway and Drainage EngineeringSurveyingBuilding MaterialsConstruction ManagementSpecializationsBuilding ConstructionFocus on residential and commercial building construction supervision. Highway and Drainage WorksFocus on basic road and drainage infrastructure construction and maintenance.
Kenya's continued investment in roads, housing, and public infrastructure sustains demand for technicians who understand both building and basic civil works, useful for contractors handling mixed projects.
Training combines classroom engineering theory with surveying and construction practicals, site visits to both building and civil works projects, and a supervised industrial attachment.
Graduates work as civil/building technicians, site engineers' assistants, and construction supervisors for contractors handling roads, drainage, and building projects, with progression into Bachelor of Civil Engineering or Construction Management degrees.
The programme suits students who want broader technical grounding across both building and civil infrastructure works rather than specialising in one from the outset.
What you study
6 subjects- Building Construction Technology
- Structural Design Basics
- Highway and Drainage Engineering
- Surveying
- Building Materials
- Construction Management
Modules
10 in the programmeInformation Communication Technology
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Computer applications and digital literacy for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Communication Skills
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Written and oral communication skills for professional workplace communication and effective correspondence.
Building Construction Technology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Standard building construction methods and sequencing for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Surveying
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Basic land and construction surveying techniques, including levelling for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Water Supply
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Water supply and drainage systems including system design, installation, maintenance, and water quality management for infrastructure.
Civil Construction
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Civil engineering construction methods covering materials, techniques, safety procedures, and quality standards for construction projects.
Structural Design Basics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Introductory structural principles for buildings and small civil structures for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Highway and Drainage Engineering
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Basics of road construction, pavement design, and drainage systems for for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Construction Management
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Planning, scheduling, and resource management for construction projects for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Industrial Attachment / Project
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised placement on a building or civil works project for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Specialisations
Building Construction
Focus on residential and commercial building construction supervision, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Highway and Drainage Works
Focus on basic road and drainage infrastructure construction and maintenance, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Structural Engineering
Focus on structural design principles, reinforced concrete, steel structures, and structural analysis for buildings and civil engineering works in Kenya.
Construction Project Management
Managing construction projects including scheduling, resource planning, quality control, and contract administration within the Kenyan construction sector.
A day as a student
Days combine building construction and civil engineering theory with surveying fieldwork, drawing practicals, and periodic site visits to road, drainage, and building construction projects.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Broader technical base spanning both building and basic civil works widens employment options. | Breadth across two areas means less depth than a specialised Civil Engineering diploma. |
| Clear progression into Bachelor of Civil Engineering or Construction Management degrees. | Outdoor, site-based work with exposure to weather and physical hazards. |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 332 engineering coursesAnnual 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
TVET 67K/yr pub. KCITI 49.5K, Vitech/ICS 60K/yr pvt (kciti.edu, vti.ac.ke, ics.ac.ke).
Students can access HELB loans and county bursaries; road and infrastructure contractors occasionally sponsor students for attachment placements.
Funding options
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
Loan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.
County Government Bursaries
Bursary
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.
Scholarships
2 recordedCounty Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.
Scholarships you could apply for
6 usable where it is taught- Equity Group Foundation Wings to Fly
Closes 28 February 2027FullEquity Bank
Full secondary + university
- Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship
Closes 31 March 2027FullAga Khan Foundation
Full university study
- Family Bank Foundation Education Support
Closes 30 June 2027PartialFamily Bank
KES 80,000 per year
- HELB Undergraduate Scholarship
Closes 31 July 2027PartialHigher Education Loans Board
KES 40,000 to 60,000 per year
- County Government Scholarships
Varies by countyPartialCounty Governments
KES 50,000 to 200,000 per year
- Moringa School Craftbyte Scholarship
QuarterlyFullMoringa School
Full software development course
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
A craft certificate in a building or civil engineering-related field from a recognised institution.
When it next starts
Taught at 163 institutionsIncluding Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Kisii National Polytechnic, David M Wambuli Technical Vocational College.
Including Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Kisii National Polytechnic, David M Wambuli Technical Vocational College.
Including Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Kisii National Polytechnic, David M Wambuli Technical Vocational College.
How you are assessed
3 componentsContinuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Tests across building and civil engineering units.
Surveying and Site Practicals
Coursework20% of the mark
Assessed practical surveying and site exercises.
Final Examinations
Examination50% of the mark
End-of-semester written examinations.
Accreditation
Kenya National Qualifications Authority
Qualification recognitionRequired
Recognised under Kenya's TVET qualifications framework.
KUCCPS-listed diploma (Engineering, Technology & Related cluster); examined by KNEC at most public TVET colleges.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesSite Engineer
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 85,000
Manages construction site operations for building and civil engineering projects including quality control, progress monitoring, and technical supervision.
Civil/Building Technician
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 45,000
Supports technical work across building and civil infrastructure projects.
Site Engineer's Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 48,000
Assists a site engineer with surveying, quality checks, and documentation.
Construction Supervisor (Junior)
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 46,000
Supervises trades and progress on mixed building/civil works sites.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as civil/building technicians, site engineers' assistants, and construction supervisors on mixed building and civil works projects.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Auto Diagnostics TechnicianTrades & Vocational3Low exposure
- Automotive Service AdvisorTrades & Vocational3Low exposure
- BlacksmithTrades & Vocational3Low exposure
- Boda Motorcycle MechanicTrades & Vocational3Low exposure
- CNC MachinistTrades & Vocational3Low exposure
- Construction Safety OfficerTrades & Vocational3Low exposure
- Crane OperatorTrades & Vocational3Low exposure
- Custom Apparel TailorTrades & Vocational3Low exposure
Tools you will learn
AutoCAD
Design softwarePrimary
Computer-aided design software for building drawing, civil engineering plans, and construction detailing as taught in Building Drawing and CAD modules.
Surveying Equipment
Surveying instrumentsPrimary
Dumpy levels, theodolites, and total stations for site surveying, setting out, and level measurement in building and civil engineering works.
Concrete Testing Equipment
Testing equipment
Slump cone, cube moulds, and compression testing machine for concrete quality control in construction projects.
Microsoft Excel
Estimation software
Spreadsheet tool for estimating and costing, measurement of building and civil engineering works, and project budgeting.
ArchiCAD
Design software
Building Information Modelling software for architectural design and construction documentation in building projects.
Industry links
Common misconceptions
This is the same as a pure Civil Engineering diploma.
It blends building construction with foundational civil works content, giving broader but less specialised civil engineering depth than a dedicated Civil Engineering diploma.
Graduates can design bridges or major infrastructure independently.
Complex civil design work requires a Bachelor's degree and professional engineer registration; diploma holders typically support such work under supervision.