Engineering

Masters of Agricultural Engineering

The Masters of Agricultural Engineering at Egerton University is a postgraduate programme that provides advanced training in agricultural engineering principles, farm machinery, soil and water engineering, agricultural processing, and energy systems. The programme prepares graduates for careers in agricultural engineering practice, research, consultancy, and academia.

The curriculum covers farm power and machinery, soil and water engineering, agricultural processing engineering, agricultural structures and environmental control, renewable energy systems, irrigation engineering, research methods, and engineering management. Students develop technical skills for designing, operating, and managing agricultural engineering systems.

Admission requires a bachelor's degree with at least a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) in agricultural engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related discipline from a recognised university. Applicants with a Lower Second Class Honours and at least two years of relevant work experience may also be considered. The programme is offered full-time over two years.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and delivered through the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at Egerton University, a public university with a strong agricultural focus. Egerton University is one of Kenya's premier agricultural institutions, located in Njoro.

Career prospects include roles in agricultural engineering design, farm machinery management, irrigation engineering, food processing engineering, renewable energy, research, consultancy, and academia. Graduates work in agricultural engineering firms, government ministries, research institutions, universities, NGOs, and international agricultural development organisations.

The programme addresses Kenya's need for agricultural engineering expertise to mechanise agriculture, improve food processing, manage water resources, and develop renewable energy systems for rural areas. With growing emphasis on agricultural modernisation, food security, and climate-smart agriculture, demand for qualified agricultural engineers continues to increase across both public and private sectors.

Skills Required

Farm power and machinery design
Soil and water engineering
Irrigation and drainage system design
Agricultural processing engineering
Renewable energy systems for agriculture
Agricultural structures design
Engineering design and analysis
Research methodology in engineering
Project management in agricultural engineering
Agricultural systems optimisation

Key Subjects

Farm Power and Machinery
Soil and Water Engineering
Agricultural Processing Engineering
Irrigation Engineering
Renewable Energy Systems
Agricultural Structures and Environmental Control
Research Methods in Engineering
Engineering Management
Agricultural Systems Analysis
Post-Harvest Technology

Certifications

Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) Registration
International Commission of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (CIGR) Membership
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Membership
Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) Membership

Specializations

Farm Power and Machinery

Focuses on design, operation, and maintenance of farm machinery and equipment, including tractors, harvesters, and processing equipment.

Soil and Water Engineering

Covers soil conservation, water management, irrigation and drainage system design, and erosion control engineering.

Agricultural Processing Engineering

Examines post-harvest processing, food engineering, storage systems, and value addition technologies for agricultural products.

Renewable Energy in Agriculture

Focuses on renewable energy systems for agricultural applications, including biogas, solar energy, and bioenergy systems.

Agricultural Structures and Environment

Covers design of agricultural structures, environmental control systems, and farm infrastructure planning.

Irrigation Engineering

Focuses on irrigation system design, water resource management, and efficient water use in agricultural production.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 191,900
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Farm Power and Machinery
Soil and Water Engineering
Agricultural Processing Engineering
Irrigation Engineering
Renewable Energy Systems
Agricultural Structures and Environmental Control
Research Methods in Engineering
Engineering Management
Agricultural Systems Analysis
Post-Harvest Technology

Modules

11 in the programme

Advanced Farm Power and Machinery
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of farm power systems, machinery design, tractor performance, and agricultural equipment selection and management.
Soil and Water Engineering
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Engineering principles for soil conservation, water management, erosion control, and land drainage systems.
Research Methods in Engineering
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methodology for engineering research, including experimental design, statistical analysis, and technical report writing.
Irrigation Engineering
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Design and management of irrigation systems, including surface, sprinkler, and drip irrigation, water conveyance, and efficiency optimisation.
Agricultural Processing Engineering
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Engineering principles of post-harvest processing, food engineering, drying, storage, and value addition technologies for agricultural products.
Renewable Energy Systems
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Renewable energy technologies for agricultural applications, including biogas, solar energy, wind energy, and bioenergy systems.
Agricultural Structures and Environmental Control
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Design of agricultural structures including greenhouses, animal housing, and storage facilities, with environmental control systems.
Engineering Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Management principles for engineering projects, including project planning, cost analysis, quality control, and engineering economics.
Precision Agriculture
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Application of GPS, GIS, remote sensing, and variable rate technology for precision farm management and resource optimisation.
Post-Harvest Technology
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Post-harvest handling, storage, preservation, and processing technologies to reduce losses and maintain quality of agricultural products.
Thesis / Research Project
Year 2Semester 412 creditsCore
Independent research thesis on an agricultural engineering topic, conducted under faculty supervision and assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Farm Power and Machinery
Focuses on design, operation, and maintenance of farm machinery and equipment, including tractors, harvesters, and processing equipment.
Soil and Water Engineering
Covers soil conservation, water management, irrigation and drainage system design, and erosion control engineering.
Agricultural Processing Engineering
Examines post-harvest processing, food engineering, storage systems, and value addition technologies for agricultural products.
Renewable Energy in Agriculture
Focuses on renewable energy systems for agricultural applications, including biogas, solar energy, and bioenergy systems.
Agricultural Structures and Environment
Covers design of agricultural structures, environmental control systems, and farm infrastructure planning.
Irrigation Engineering
Focuses on irrigation system design, water resource management, and efficient water use in agricultural production.

A day as a student

A typical day combines theoretical study with practical engineering work. Mornings involve lectures on farm power and machinery, soil and water engineering, or agricultural processing at the Faculty of Engineering and Technology. Afternoons include laboratory sessions for machinery testing, soil analysis, irrigation system design, or food processing practicals. Students work with agricultural machinery, irrigation equipment, and engineering design software. Field visits to farms, irrigation schemes, and agricultural processing facilities provide practical exposure. Independent reading, engineering design projects, and thesis research occupy significant time, with access to the faculty's engineering workshops and laboratories at Egerton's Njoro campus.

The trade offs

In its favour

Offered at Egerton University, Kenya's premier agricultural institution with strong agricultural engineering facilities.
Diverse career paths in machinery, irrigation, processing, energy, and research sectors.
Affordable tuition at KES 191,900/year at a public university.
Addresses critical national needs in agricultural mechanisation, food security, and water management.

Against it

Only offered at one institution, limiting choice for prospective students.
Career opportunities may be concentrated in specific agricultural regions and sectors.
Requires engineering background, limiting eligibility to relevant degree holders.
Laboratory and workshop facilities may be limited compared to larger engineering institutions.

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

Public179k to 192k

179k at JKUAT192k at Egerton 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

JKUAT 178,500, Egerton 191,900/yr verified. Private fees unverified.

HELB offers postgraduate loans for Kenyan students. KALRO may provide research grants for agricultural engineering research. Egerton University may offer institutional graduate scholarships based on merit. International organisations including FAO and IWMI may provide research opportunities.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KALRO Research Grants
Egerton University Graduate Scholarships

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizens pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities. Applicants must meet HELB eligibility criteria.
KALRO Research Grant
ScholarshipKsh 300,000Kenyan
KALRO may provide research grants for agricultural engineering research in collaboration with the institution.
Egerton University Graduate Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 191,900Kenyan
Egerton University may offer institutional graduate scholarships based on academic merit. Contact the Faculty of Engineering and Technology for details.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme is open to graduates from agricultural engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and related engineering disciplines. The programme is offered full-time and part-time over two years at Egerton University, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Njoro.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
Ongoing assessment through engineering design assignments, laboratory reports, technical calculations, seminar presentations, and project work throughout each semester.
End-of-Semester Examination
Examination60% of the mark
Written examination conducted at the end of each semester for each course unit.
Laboratory Practical
Practical30% of the mark
Assessment of practical engineering skills through laboratory exercises, machinery testing, and engineering design practicals.
Thesis / Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Independent research thesis on an agricultural engineering topic, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), Kenya's statutory body for university quality assurance. Egerton University is a CUE-accredited public university. Graduates may pursue professional registration with the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation required for all university programmes in Kenya. Egerton University is a CUE-accredited public university.
Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK)
Professional registration
Statutory body for registration of engineers in Kenya. Graduates may pursue professional engineer registration with EBK after meeting requisite experience requirements.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Agricultural Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 300,000
Designs and manages agricultural engineering systems, including machinery, irrigation, processing, and energy systems for engineering firms and agricultural companies.
Irrigation Engineer
High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 280,000
Designs and manages irrigation systems, water resource projects, and drainage systems for government agencies, NGOs, and private sector.
Research Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 260,000
Conducts agricultural engineering research for research institutions, universities, and international organisations, developing new technologies and solutions.
Agricultural Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 320,000
Provides advisory services on agricultural engineering, mechanisation, and technology adoption for consulting firms and development organisations.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 250,000
Teaches agricultural engineering courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, conducts research, and supervises student projects.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers in agricultural engineering design, farm machinery management, irrigation engineering, food processing, renewable energy, research, consultancy, and academia across engineering firms, government, research institutions, and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

AutoCAD
Design softwarePrimary
Computer-aided design software for engineering drawing, structural design, and mechanical component design in agricultural engineering projects.
MATLAB
Simulation softwarePrimary
Numerical computing environment for engineering analysis, system modelling, and simulation of agricultural engineering processes.
ArcGIS
Gis software
GIS software for spatial analysis in irrigation design, land use planning, and precision agriculture applications.
SolidWorks
Design software
3D CAD design software for mechanical design of agricultural machinery and equipment components.
EPANET
Hydraulic modelling software
Water distribution system modelling software for irrigation network design and hydraulic analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Agricultural engineering is just about farming.
Agricultural engineering encompasses machinery design, water management, food processing, renewable energy, and environmental control, applying engineering principles to agricultural systems.
There is no career demand for agricultural engineers in Kenya.
Kenya's agricultural modernisation, mechanisation, and food security initiatives create demand for qualified agricultural engineers across multiple sectors.
Agricultural engineering is low-tech compared to other engineering fields.
Modern agricultural engineering involves advanced technologies including precision agriculture, automation, GIS, and renewable energy systems.
Agricultural engineers only work on farms.
Graduates work in research institutions, government ministries, manufacturing companies, consultancy firms, universities, and international development organisations.
The programme is only for those from farming backgrounds.
The programme is open to graduates from agricultural engineering, mechanical engineering, and related engineering disciplines, regardless of background.
Irrigation engineering is simple plumbing.
Irrigation engineering involves complex hydraulic design, water resource modelling, efficiency optimisation, and environmental impact assessment.