Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

The Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering is a degree programme that equips students with knowledge and skills in doctor of philosophy in agricultural and biosystems engineering. The programme falls under the Engineering & Technology category and typically spans 3 years of full-time study at accredited Kenyan universities.

The curriculum covers Engineering Mathematics, Engineering Drawing, Mechanics of Materials, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Electrical Principles. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical applications, developing competencies in Agricultural Mechanics, Electrical Installation, Electrical Systems, Electronics, Farm Machinery. The coursework is designed to build progressive understanding from foundational concepts to advanced topics.

Throughout the programme, students study Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Design Project, Industrial Attachment, Control Systems & Instrumentation, Final Year Engineering Project. 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 Mechanical & Manufacturing, Electrical & Power, Civil & Structural. 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 Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering pursue careers as Agricultural Engineering Researcher (University / KALRO), Biosystems Engineering Professor, Agritech Innovation Researcher (Startup / DFI). 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: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 572,000
Private, up to: Ksh 314,000
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: 35 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Engineering Mathematics
Engineering Drawing
Mechanics of Materials
Thermodynamics
Fluid Mechanics
Electrical Principles
Materials Science
Structural Analysis
Construction Technology
Surveying

Modules

10 in the programme

Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Circuit analysis, electronics, power systems and electrical machines, covering engineering principles, design methodologies, and their application in solving complex technical problems.
Design Project
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Engineering design process: problem definition, concept generation, analysis and prototyping.
Industrial Attachment
Year 1Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised industry placement in engineering or manufacturing environment, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral.
Control Systems & Instrumentation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsElective
Feedback control, sensors, actuators, PLCs and industrial automation, covering quality assurance principles, control methodologies, and their application in professional standards.
Engineering Economics & Management
Year 2Semester 22 creditsCore
Project costing, feasibility analysis, engineering management and professional practice.
Final Year Engineering Project
Year 2Semester 28 creditsCore
Capstone engineering project: design, build, test and present a working solution.
Advanced Biosystems Modelling
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Computational modelling of biosystems processes including heat and mass transfer in biological materials, bioprocess simulation, and systems optimisation techniques.
Advanced Soil and Water Engineering
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced topics in soil-water dynamics, irrigation system design, drainage engineering, and soil conservation structures for sustainable agricultural production.
Bioprocess Engineering Research
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Independent doctoral research in bioprocessing, post-harvest technology, or agricultural machinery design, culminating in a doctoral thesis.
Seminar in Agricultural Engineering
Year 4Semester 22 creditsCore
Presentation and critical discussion of current research literature in agricultural and biosystems engineering, including peer review of research findings.

Specialisations

Mechanical & Manufacturing
Design, analysis and manufacturing of mechanical systems and machines. Students learn CAD/CAM, thermodynamics, materials science and production engineering.
Electrical & Power
Electrical circuits, power systems, electronics and control systems. Students gain skills in power generation, distribution and electrical machine design.
Civil & Structural
Structural design, construction materials, geotechnics and surveying. Students learn to design and supervise construction of buildings, roads and infrastructure.
Mechatronics & Robotics
Integration of mechanical, electronic and software systems. Students build automated systems, robots and smart devices for manufacturing and industry.
Water & Environmental Engineering
Water supply, sanitation, waste management and environmental monitoring. Students design systems for clean water, wastewater treatment and pollution control.

A day as a student

Students design and test low-cost irrigation prototypes at agricultural research stations, conduct field trials of precision agriculture technology in smallholder farms, develop food processing efficiency models, write research papers for international agricultural engineering journals, and collaborate with international partners on food systems research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's agriculture sector size and productivity challenges create significant research relevance and development funding
Agritech is a growing investment area in Kenya attracting innovation funding and startup investment
Agricultural biosystems research connects to food security, a top global development funding priority

Against it

Agricultural engineering field research requires extended presence at farms and rural research stations
Academic agricultural engineering positions are concentrated at a small number of universities
Research funding for agricultural engineering, while present, is competitive and project-dependent

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

Public252k to 572k

252k at Egerton University572k at University of Nairobi

Private168k to 314k

168k at Kenya Methodist University314k at Kabarak University

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

UoN Eng 572K (engineering.uonbi.ac.ke). Egerton 252K (egerton.ac.ke). KeMU 168K, Kabarak ~314K.

Scholarships available through HELB, corporate sponsorships from Kenya Power, KenGen, and engineering firms. The Engineers Board of Kenya also offers limited support for professional development.

Funding options

HELB loan
County bursary
University scholarship
Corporate sponsorship (e.g., Kenya Power, Kengen)

Scholarships

5 recorded

HELB Engineering Loan
PartialKsh 100,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizen; Engineering programme; Financial need
Safaricom Foundation Engineering Scholarship
FullKsh 1,500,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizen; B+ in KCSE with strong maths/physics; Engineering/tech programme
Kenya Engineers Board Bursary
PartialKsh 100,000Kenyan
Engineering student; EBK-registered institution; Academic merit
KCB Foundation Engineering Scholarship
FullKsh 1,500,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizen; B+ in KCSE; Engineering programme; Financial need
County Government STEM Bursary
PartialKsh 100,000Kenyan
Resident of county; STEM student; Financial need

Getting in

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

What you need

Alternative entry: A relevant Master's degree and a defensible research proposal; some programmes interview candidates.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat20% of the mark
Theory tests and quizzes.
Laboratory / Practical
Practical20% of the mark
Lab work and practical assignments.
Design Project
Project20% of the mark
Engineering design or build project.
End-of-Semester Examination
Exam40% of the mark
Theory examinations.

Accreditation

Engineering degrees are accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK). TVET engineering diplomas are accredited by KNEC and TVETA.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
NationalRequired
Accredits all university-level programmes (Bachelor, Master, PhD) in Kenya.
Engineers Board of Kenya
Professional
Registration as Graduate/Professional Engineer required to practise.
Agricultural Society of Kenya
Professional
Professional body for agricultural practitioners.
National Construction Authority
Professional
Registration recommended for construction trades & technicians.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Agricultural Engineering Researcher (University / KALRO)
Medium demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 420,000
Leads research on irrigation, mechanisation, and post-harvest technology for smallholder agricultural systems.
Biosystems Engineering Professor
Medium demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches biosystems and agricultural engineering and conducts funded research at a university engineering faculty.
Agritech Innovation Researcher (Startup / DFI)
Medium demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 500,000
Develops and validates precision agriculture and food systems technology innovations for Kenya's agritech sector.
Agricultural Machinery Design Consultant
Medium demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 480,000
Designing and consulting on agricultural machinery and biosystems equipment for manufacturers and agricultural enterprises in Kenya.

Graduate outcomes

PhD graduates work as agricultural engineering researchers at universities and KALRO, as biosystems engineering professors, as international agricultural development technical specialists, and as precision agriculture innovation researchers.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Google Workspace
Cloud
AutoCAD
Engineering
Zotero
Database
SPSS
AnalyticsPrimary
Irrigation Design Software (e.g., HydroCalc)
Engineering
Google Scholar
Research
Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
ArcGIS
Analytics

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Engineering is only for men.
Engineering increasingly welcomes women, with initiatives like Women in Engineering (WIE) chapters and institutional support promoting gender diversity.
Engineers only work on construction sites.
Engineers work in design offices, research labs, manufacturing plants, energy companies, and tech firms, with many specialising in software, electronics, or biomedical engineering.
Agricultural engineering is just about tractors
It covers irrigation systems, soil conservation, renewable energy for farms, and food processing.
Jobs are only in government or big farms
Agritech startups, NGOs, and consulting firms hire agricultural engineers for innovative projects.