Diploma in Petroleum and Gas Technology
The Diploma in Petroleum and Gas Technology is a programme that equips students with knowledge and practical skills in petroleum exploration, drilling, gas processing, refinery operations and petroleum technology. Offered at Turkana University College, the programme prepares students for technical roles in Kenya's emerging oil and gas industry.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 67,189 a year at a public institution, Ksh 201,567 for the whole course.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, day, evening, weekend, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 4 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Overhead Transmission Technician, at 10 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
The curriculum covers petroleum geology, drilling technology, well logging, reservoir engineering, petroleum production, gas processing and transmission, refinery operations, petroleum chemistry, health and safety in oil and gas, environmental management, petroleum economics, instrumentation and control, industrial attachment and a technology project. Students develop both theoretical knowledge and practical technical skills.
Kenya's petroleum sector is developing with oil discoveries in Turkana County and ongoing exploration across the country. The programme responds to the need for trained technical personnel who can support petroleum exploration, production and processing operations in Kenya's emerging oil and gas industry.
The programme is delivered through lectures, laboratory practicals, field visits to drilling sites and processing facilities, workshop sessions, research projects, group discussions and industrial attachment. Students gain hands-on experience in petroleum technology through practical sessions and attachment at oil and gas companies.
Graduates pursue careers as petroleum engineering technicians, drilling assistants, refinery operators, gas processing technicians and safety officers in oil and gas companies, refineries and petrochemical plants. They can also progress to a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering or related degree programmes.
Prospective students should have interest in geology, engineering and the energy sector. The programme is suitable for students seeking technical careers in Kenya's petroleum and gas industry.
What you study
8 subjects- Petroleum Geology and Drilling Technology
- Well Logging and Reservoir Engineering
- Petroleum Production and Refinery Operations
- Gas Processing, Transmission and Petroleum Chemistry
- Health, Safety and Environmental Management in Oil and Gas
- Petroleum Economics and Instrumentation
- Research Methods and Petroleum Technology Project
- Industrial Attachment and Field Practice
Modules
8 in the programmePetroleum Geology and Drilling Technology
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Covers petroleum geology, sedimentary basins, petroleum formation, drilling technology, drilling rigs, drilling fluids, well construction and drilling safety.
Well Logging and Reservoir Engineering
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers well logging techniques, log interpretation, reservoir rock properties, reservoir fluids, reservoir drive mechanisms and reservoir management.
Petroleum Chemistry and Instrumentation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers petroleum chemistry, hydrocarbon chemistry, crude oil analysis, process instrumentation, control systems, sensors and measurement devices in petroleum operations.
Petroleum Production and Refinery Operations
Year 1Semester 24 creditsCore
Covers petroleum production methods, artificial lift, well stimulation, surface production facilities, refinery processes, distillation, cracking and product blending.
Gas Processing, Transmission and Environmental Management
Year 2Semester 14 creditsCore
Covers natural gas processing, gas sweetening, gas dehydration, gas transmission pipelines, compressor stations, environmental impact of petroleum operations and waste management.
Health, Safety and Petroleum Economics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers health and safety in oil and gas, HSE management systems, hazard identification, petroleum economics, project economics and cost analysis in petroleum projects.
Research Methods and Petroleum Technology Project
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research methods, technical report writing, data analysis and a petroleum technology project assessed through a report and presentation.
Industrial Attachment and Field Practice
Year 3Semester 112 creditsCore
A three-month industrial attachment at an oil and gas company, refinery or petroleum service company, assessed through an attachment report and supervisor evaluation.
Specialisations
Drilling Technology
Focuses on drilling operations and well construction for careers as drilling assistants in oil companies.
Refinery Operations
Specialises in refinery processes and operations for careers as refinery operators.
Gas Processing
Focuses on natural gas processing and transmission for careers in gas processing facilities.
Health, Safety and Environment
Specialises in HSE management for careers as safety officers in the petroleum industry.
A day as a student
A typical day begins with a morning lecture on petroleum geology or drilling technology, followed by a laboratory practical on petroleum chemistry or instrumentation. Afternoon sessions may include a field visit to a drilling site, a workshop on refinery operations, or a safety training session. Students also work on petroleum technology projects and prepare for industrial attachment.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| The programme is located in Turkana County, at the centre of Kenya's oil exploration activities. | The programme is offered at only one institution, limiting study options. |
| Graduates can progress to a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering or related degrees. | Kenya's petroleum industry is still developing, so job opportunities may be limited in the short term. |
| Kenya's emerging petroleum industry creates potential demand for trained technical personnel. | — |
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 67,189/yr public (Kabete NP). Private: unverified.
Students can access HELB loans. Oil companies operating in Turkana may offer sponsorships for local students. TUC may offer internal bursaries.
Funding options
HELB Loan
Scholarships
1 recordedHELB Loan
LoanKsh 40,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in accredited programmes at recognised institutions
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
Relevant certificate course in a related field from a recognised institution, or equivalent qualification.
When it next starts
Taught at 4 institutionsIncluding Turkana University College, Kitale National Polytechnic Trans Nzoia County, Kabete National Polytechnic.
Including Turkana University College, Kitale National Polytechnic Trans Nzoia County, Kabete National Polytechnic.
Including Turkana University College, Kitale National Polytechnic Trans Nzoia County, Kabete National Polytechnic.
How you are assessed
4 componentsContinuous Assessment Tests
Written examination30% of the mark
Mid-semester and end-of-semester written tests covering petroleum geology, drilling technology and petroleum chemistry.
Laboratory and Workshop Practical Assessment
Practicum40% of the mark
Assessment of practical skills in petroleum chemistry, instrumentation and process operations through practical examinations.
Petroleum Technology Project
Project30% of the mark
A technology project on a petroleum engineering topic, assessed through a written report and oral presentation.
Industrial Attachment Report
Practicum100% of the mark
Assessment of performance during industrial attachment at an oil and gas company, refinery or petroleum service company.
Accreditation
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at Turkana University College, School of Science.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesPetroleum Engineering Technician
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 250,000
Supports petroleum exploration and production operations, assists with drilling, monitors well performance and ensures operational compliance in oil companies.
Drilling Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 220,000
Assists with drilling operations, monitors drilling parameters, supports rig maintenance and ensures drilling safety in oil and gas companies.
Refinery Operator
Low demandKsh 42,000 to Ksh 230,000
Operates refinery equipment, monitors processing units, conducts quality control and supports refinery operations in petroleum refineries.
Gas Processing Technician
Low demandKsh 38,000 to Ksh 210,000
Supports gas processing operations, monitors gas treatment units, conducts gas quality testing and supports pipeline operations in gas processing facilities.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as petroleum engineering technicians, drilling assistants, refinery operators and gas processing technicians in oil and gas companies.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Overhead Transmission TechnicianEngineering10Low exposure
- Desalination Systems EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
- District Cooling EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
- HighVoltage Substation EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
- Hydrogen Systems EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
- Microgrid Control EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
- Subsea Cable EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
- Traction Power EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Petroleum and gas technology is the same as petroleum management.
Petroleum and gas technology focuses on technical operations including drilling, production and processing, while petroleum management focuses on business and economic aspects of the industry.
There are no petroleum jobs in Kenya.
Kenya has active oil exploration in Turkana County and potential gas reserves, with growing demand for technical personnel in the petroleum sector.
Petroleum technology is only about extracting oil.
Petroleum technology encompasses exploration, drilling, production, refining, gas processing, environmental management and safety, alongside extraction.
You need to work in oil fields to use this qualification.
Graduates can work in refineries, processing plants, regulatory bodies, consulting firms and research institutions, not only in oil fields.