Diploma in Medical Engineering
The Diploma in Medical Engineering is a KMTC diploma that trains technicians to install, maintain, and repair the wide range of medical equipment used in Kenyan hospitals and health facilities.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 122,200 a year at a public institution, Ksh 366,600 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 96,000 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 4 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 113 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Dental Ceramist, at 3 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
Students study medical equipment technology, biomedical electronics, equipment calibration and maintenance, health facility engineering systems, and safety standards, closely related in scope to Biomedical Engineering Technology diplomas offered elsewhere. Skills RequiredMedical Equipment TechnologyBiomedical ElectronicsEquipment Calibration and MaintenanceHealth Facility Engineering SystemsEquipment Safety StandardsKey SubjectsMedical Equipment TechnologyBiomedical ElectronicsEquipment Calibration and MaintenanceHealth Facility Engineering SystemsSafety StandardsCertificationsAssociation of Medical Engineering of Kenya (AMEK) Membership/RegistrationSpecializationsDiagnostic and Imaging EquipmentFocus on maintaining imaging and diagnostic medical equipment. Therapeutic and Life-Support EquipmentFocus on maintaining patient monitors, ventilators, and similar devices. Skills RequiredBiomedical ElectronicsEquipment Calibration and MaintenanceEquipment Safety StandardsHealth Facility Engineering SystemsMedical Equipment TechnologyKey SubjectsMedical Equipment TechnologyBiomedical ElectronicsEquipment Calibration and MaintenanceHealth Facility Engineering SystemsSafety StandardsResearch MethodsCertificationsKenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) CertificationSpecializationsDiagnostic and Imaging EquipmentFocus on maintaining imaging and diagnostic medical equipment. Therapeutic and Life-Support EquipmentFocus on maintaining patient monitors, ventilators, and similar devices.
As Kenyan healthcare facilities expand and rely on increasingly sophisticated equipment, demand remains steady for KMTC-trained medical engineering technicians across public and private hospitals.
Training combines classroom electronics and engineering theory with hands-on equipment maintenance practicals, plus supervised clinical/technical attachment at a health facility.
Graduates work as medical engineering technicians in hospitals, county health departments, and medical equipment companies, maintaining and repairing critical healthcare equipment.
The programme suits students with strong interest in electronics and healthcare who want a KMTC-credentialed technical career supporting hospital equipment operations.
What you study
6 subjects- Medical Equipment Technology
- Biomedical Electronics
- Equipment Calibration and Maintenance
- Health Facility Engineering Systems
- Safety Standards
- Research Methods
Modules
10 in the programmeMedical Equipment Technology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to common hospital equipment and operating principles for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Biomedical Electronics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Electronics theory applied to medical device function for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Medical Equipment Maintenance
Year 2Semester 14 creditsCore
Maintenance of medical equipment including patient care procedures, clinical protocols, and professional standards for health practice.
Hospital Plant Operations
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Hospital engineering systems including selection criteria, operation procedures, maintenance schedules, and safety protocols.
Equipment Calibration and Maintenance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Calibration and preventive maintenance techniques for medical equipment for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Health Facility Engineering Systems
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Broader engineering systems supporting health facility operations for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Medical Instrumentation
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Medical instrument calibration and repair for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Trade Project
Year 3Semester 14 creditsCore
Practical medical engineering project demonstrating competency and integrating skills across all course modules and units.
Safety Standards
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Regulatory safety standards for medical equipment use and repair for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Clinical/Technical Attachment
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised placement at a health facility for practical medical engineering for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Specialisations
Diagnostic and Imaging Equipment
Focus on maintaining imaging and diagnostic medical equipment, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Therapeutic and Life-Support Equipment
Focus on maintaining patient monitors, ventilators, and similar devices, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Medical Equipment Maintenance
Focus on preventive maintenance, calibration, repair, and lifecycle management of medical equipment within Kenyan hospitals and healthcare facilities.
Healthcare Technology Management
Focus on medical technology planning, equipment procurement, technology assessment, and healthcare technology management within Kenyan health systems.
A day as a student
Days combine electronics and engineering theory with hands-on labs calibrating and repairing real medical equipment, building toward a supervised clinical/technical attachment.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| KMTC credential is nationally recognised and widely trusted by health facility employers. | Overlapping scope with Biomedical Engineering Technology diplomas can create some employer confusion between the two credentials. |
| Above-average technical diploma pay, reflecting the specialised healthcare-equipment skill set. | Requires ongoing familiarity with rapidly changing medical device technology. |
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
KMTC self-spons 122.2K Y1/118K Y2+ (tvet.co.ke). Imperial 96K/yr (victormatara)
Students can access HELB loans and county bursaries; some hospitals and county health departments sponsor students for guaranteed placement.
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
7 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
- Mombasa Cement Scholarship
Closes 31 May 2027PartialMombasa Cement Ltd
KES 100,000 per year
- 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
Equivalent qualifications recognised by KMTC.
When it next starts
Taught at 113 institutionsIncluding Mount Kenya University, Technical University of Mombasa, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.
Including Mount Kenya University, Technical University of Mombasa, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.
Including Mount Kenya University, Technical University of Mombasa, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.
How you are assessed
3 componentsContinuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Tests across electronics and equipment-technology units.
Equipment Lab Practicals
Coursework20% of the mark
Hands-on calibration and repair assessments.
Final Examinations
Examination50% of the mark
End-of-semester written and practical examinations.
Accreditation
Kenya National Qualifications Authority
Qualification recognitionRequired
Offered at KMTC under Kenya's health training framework.
Offered at KMTC; closely related to and often grouped alongside Biomedical Engineering Technology diplomas.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesMedical Equipment Maintenance Technician
High demandKsh 42,000 to Ksh 80,000
Maintains and repairs medical equipment, conducts calibration and safety testing, and manages equipment lifecycle in hospitals and health facilities.
Medical Engineering Technician (Public Hospital)
High demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 50,000
Maintains and repairs medical equipment at a public hospital or health facility.
Medical Engineering Technician (Private Hospital)
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 75,000
Services medical equipment at a private hospital, often with higher pay than public roles.
Medical Equipment Company Field Technician
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 70,000
Installs and services equipment on behalf of a medical device supplier.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as medical engineering technicians in hospitals, county health departments, and medical equipment companies.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Dental CeramistHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- Occupational Therapist AssistantHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- PsychologyHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- Dental ProsthetistHealth Sciences4Low exposure
- Dental Laboratory TechnicianHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- General DentistHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- Veterinary PathologistHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- Community Health NurseHealth Sciences6Low exposure
Tools you will learn
Multimeter
Test equipmentPrimary
Digital multimeter for measuring voltage, current, and resistance in medical equipment troubleshooting and maintenance.
Oscilloscope
Test equipmentPrimary
Electronic test instrument for diagnosing and repairing medical electronic equipment and circuits.
Patient Simulator
Biomedical test equipment
Device for testing and calibrating patient monitoring equipment including ECG, SpO2, and NIBP simulators.
Electrical Safety Tester
Safety equipment
Instrument for testing electrical safety of medical devices to ensure compliance with hospital standards.
Microsoft Office
Productivity
Maintenance logs, equipment inventory, service reports, and spare parts management.
Industry links
Common misconceptions
This is a different job from Biomedical Engineering Technology.
The two qualifications are closely related in scope, both training technicians to maintain hospital medical equipment, though offered by different institutions with slightly different curricula.
Medical engineers provide direct patient care.
They maintain and repair the equipment clinical staff use for patient care, rather than treating patients themselves.