Engineering

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.

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.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 67,189
Private, up to: Ksh 60,000
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: 30 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

6 subjects

Building Construction Technology
Structural Design Basics
Highway and Drainage Engineering
Surveying
Building Materials
Construction Management

Modules

10 in the programme

Information 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

Broader technical base spanning both building and basic civil works widens employment options.
Clear progression into Bachelor of Civil Engineering or Construction Management degrees.

Against it

Breadth across two areas means less depth than a specialised Civil Engineering diploma.
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 courses

Public67k to 67k

67k at Eldoret National Polytechnic67k at Kenya Coast National Polytechnic

Private50k to 60k

50k at KCITI60k at Vitech Training Institute

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

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 recorded

County 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.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C-
Alternative entry: A craft certificate in a building or civil engineering-related field from a recognised institution.

How you are assessed

3 components

Continuous 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

KUCCPS-listed diploma (Engineering, Technology & Related cluster); examined by KNEC at most public TVET colleges.

Accredited by

Kenya National Qualifications Authority
Qualification recognitionRequired
Recognised under Kenya's TVET qualifications framework.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Site 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

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.