Engineering

Master of Science in Agricultural and Bio-Systems Engineering

The Master of Science in Agricultural and Bio-Systems Engineering is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in agricultural engineering, biosystems engineering, and environmental engineering. The programme combines engineering principles with biological and agricultural applications.

Core areas include agricultural engineering, biosystems engineering, irrigation and water resources, power and machinery, process and food engineering, structures engineering, environmental engineering, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both engineering theory and practical biosystems application through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi and Egerton University. Both are public universities offering the programme over two academic years through full-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in agricultural engineering, biosystems design, irrigation engineering, power systems, food processing engineering, structural engineering, environmental engineering, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, examinations, and a research thesis.

UoN charges approximately KES 530,500/year (KES 1,061,000 total). Egerton charges approximately KES 188,650/year (KES 377,300 total) through the Faculty of Engineering and Technology. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in agricultural engineering, biosystems engineering, mechanical engineering, or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as agricultural engineers, biosystems engineers, irrigation engineers, food processing engineers, environmental engineers, and lecturers in agricultural and biosystems engineering across agricultural companies, engineering firms, government, and research institutions.

Skills Required

Agricultural Engineering and Machine Design
Biosystems Engineering and Bio-process Design
Irrigation and Water Resources Engineering
Power and Machinery Systems
Process and Food Engineering
Structural Engineering for Agriculture
Environmental Engineering and Waste Management
CAD and Engineering Design
Research Methods in Biosystems Engineering
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Agricultural Engineering and Machine Design
Biosystems Engineering and Bio-process Design
Irrigation and Water Resources Engineering
Power and Machinery Systems
Process and Food Engineering
Structural Engineering for Agriculture
Environmental Engineering and Waste Management
Research Methods in Biosystems Engineering
CAD and Engineering Design
Thesis Research

Certifications

EBK Professional Engineer Registration
CIGR Agricultural Engineering Certification

Specializations

Irrigation and Water Resources Engineering

Focuses on irrigation and water resources engineering, covering irrigation design, water management, drainage, hydraulic structures, and managing irrigation systems.

Power and Machinery Engineering

Examines power and machinery engineering, covering machine design, farm power, agricultural machinery, mechanisation, and managing power and machinery systems.

Process and Food Engineering

Covers process and food engineering, covering food processing, post-harvest technology, process design, food preservation, and managing food processing systems.

Structures Engineering

Focuses on structures engineering for agriculture, covering farm structures, storage design, building design, environmental control, and managing agricultural structures.

Environmental Engineering

Examines environmental engineering, covering waste management, pollution control, environmental systems, environmental modelling, and managing environmental engineering.

Bioprocess Engineering

Covers bioprocess engineering, covering bioprocessing, bioenergy, bioreactor design, fermentation, and managing bioprocess systems.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 530,500
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

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

What you study

10 subjects

Agricultural Engineering and Machine Design
Biosystems Engineering and Bio-process Design
Irrigation and Water Resources Engineering
Power and Machinery Systems
Process and Food Engineering
Structural Engineering for Agriculture
Environmental Engineering and Waste Management
Research Methods in Biosystems Engineering
CAD and Engineering Design
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Agricultural Engineering and Machine Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines machine design, farm power, agricultural machinery, mechanisation, equipment design, and managing agricultural engineering.
Biosystems Engineering and Bio-process Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers bio-process design, bioreactor design, bioenergy, bioprocessing, fermentation, and managing biosystems engineering.
Research Methods in Biosystems Engineering
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, ethical issues, and conducting biosystems engineering research, preparing students for their thesis.
Irrigation and Water Resources Engineering
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines irrigation design, water management, drainage, hydraulic structures, water resources, and managing irrigation systems.
Power and Machinery Systems
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers machine design, farm power, agricultural machinery, mechanisation, power systems, and managing power and machinery systems.
Process and Food Engineering
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines food processing, post-harvest technology, process design, food preservation, packaging, and managing food processing systems.
Structural Engineering for Agriculture
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers farm structures, storage design, building design, environmental control, construction materials, and managing agricultural structures.
Environmental Engineering and Waste Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines waste management, pollution control, environmental systems, environmental modelling, waste treatment, and managing environmental engineering.
CAD and Engineering Design
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers computer-aided design, engineering drawing, 3D modelling, simulation, design optimisation, and managing engineering design.
Bioprocess Engineering and Bioenergy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines bioprocessing, bioenergy, bioreactor design, fermentation, biomass conversion, and managing bioprocess systems.
Instrumentation and Control Systems
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers instrumentation, control systems, sensors, automation, data acquisition, and managing control systems for biosystems.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on an agricultural and biosystems engineering topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and engineering knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Irrigation and Water Resources Engineering
Focuses on irrigation and water resources engineering, covering irrigation design, water management, drainage, hydraulic structures, and managing irrigation systems.
Power and Machinery Engineering
Examines power and machinery engineering, covering machine design, farm power, agricultural machinery, mechanisation, and managing power and machinery systems.
Process and Food Engineering
Covers process and food engineering, covering food processing, post-harvest technology, process design, food preservation, and managing food processing systems.
Structures Engineering
Focuses on structures engineering for agriculture, covering farm structures, storage design, building design, environmental control, and managing agricultural structures.
Environmental Engineering
Examines environmental engineering, covering waste management, pollution control, environmental systems, environmental modelling, and managing environmental engineering.
Bioprocess Engineering
Covers bioprocess engineering, covering bioprocessing, bioenergy, bioreactor design, fermentation, and managing bioprocess systems.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Agricultural and Bio-Systems Engineering programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, design projects, field visits, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover agricultural engineering, biosystems engineering, irrigation, power and machinery, process and food engineering, and structures engineering. Agricultural engineering sessions examine machine design, farm power, mechanisation, agricultural equipment, and managing agricultural engineering. Biosystems engineering sessions cover bio-process design, bioreactor design, bioenergy, bioprocessing, and managing biosystems engineering. Irrigation sessions cover irrigation design, water management, drainage, hydraulic structures, and managing irrigation systems. Power and machinery sessions cover machine design, farm power, agricultural machinery, mechanisation, and managing power systems. Process and food engineering sessions cover food processing, post-harvest technology, process design, food preservation, and managing food processing. Structures engineering sessions cover farm structures, storage design, building design, environmental control, and managing agricultural structures. Environmental engineering sessions cover waste management, pollution control, environmental systems, environmental modelling, and managing environmental engineering. CAD sessions cover computer-aided design, engineering drawing, 3D modelling, simulation, and managing engineering design. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with engineering equipment, machine testing, process analysis, and material testing. Design projects provide practical experience with engineering design, system design, prototype development, and design evaluation. Field visits provide practical exposure to agricultural engineering sites, irrigation schemes, food processing plants, and biosystems facilities. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in agricultural and biosystems engineering. Guest lectures from experienced engineers, researchers, and industry professionals provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on an agricultural and biosystems engineering topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Growing demand for biosystems engineers with increasing agricultural mechanisation, food processing, irrigation expansion, and environmental management needs in Kenya.
Programme is offered by two public universities (UoN, Egerton), providing institutional choice.
Egerton offers competitive fees at approximately KES 188,650/year (KES 377,300 total).
Programme combines engineering with biological and agricultural applications, providing versatile skills for engineering and agricultural sectors.

Against it

UoN fees are very high at approximately KES 530,500/year (KES 1,061,000 total).
No private university confirmed offering this programme, limiting options.
Programme requires engineering background, which limits access for non-engineering graduates.
Large fee gap between Egerton (KES 188,650/year) and UoN (KES 530,500/year) may influence institutional choice.

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

Public189k to 531k

189k at Egerton University531k at University of Nairobi

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 ~530K/yr, Egerton ~189K/yr (uonbi.ac.ke, egerton.ac.ke). Private: unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Egerton may offer postgraduate bursaries for eligible students. EBK may provide training support for engineering professionals. Some engineering companies and agricultural firms may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
Egerton Postgraduate Bursary
EBK Training Support

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
Egerton Postgraduate Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
Egerton University offers postgraduate bursaries for eligible students.
EBK Training Support
GrantKsh 300,000Kenyan
Engineers Board of Kenya may provide training support for engineering professionals pursuing postgraduate studies.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Most universities require Upper Second Class Honours in agricultural engineering, biosystems engineering, or related engineering field. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience or a Postgraduate Diploma are considered. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, design projects, laboratory reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering agricultural engineering, biosystems engineering, irrigation, power and machinery, and process and food engineering.
Laboratory and Design Project Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory exercises, design projects, engineering analysis, prototype development, and demonstrating engineering skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on an agricultural and biosystems engineering topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and engineering knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi and Egerton University (both public) offer MSc in Agricultural and Bio-Systems Engineering. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in agricultural and biosystems engineering. Graduates are eligible for EBK professional engineer registration and CIGR agricultural engineering certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi and Egerton University (both public) offer MSc in Agricultural and Bio-Systems Engineering. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in agricultural and biosystems engineering. Graduates are eligible for EBK professional engineer registration and CIGR agricultural engineering certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Agricultural Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Designs and manages agricultural engineering systems, overseeing machine design, mechanisation, equipment development, and managing agricultural engineering.
Biosystems Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Designs and manages biosystems, overseeing bio-process design, bioreactor design, bioenergy, and managing biosystems engineering.
Irrigation Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Designs and manages irrigation systems, overseeing irrigation design, water management, drainage, and managing irrigation engineering.
Food Processing Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Designs and manages food processing systems, overseeing process design, food preservation, packaging, and managing food processing engineering.
Environmental Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Designs and manages environmental systems, overseeing waste management, pollution control, environmental systems, and managing environmental engineering.
Biosystems Engineering Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches agricultural and biosystems engineering at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, laboratory supervision, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

AutoCAD
SoftwarePrimary
AutoCAD for engineering design, covering 2D drafting, 3D modelling, engineering drawing, design documentation, and managing engineering design.
SolidWorks
Software
SolidWorks for 3D design, covering 3D modelling, simulation, assembly design, engineering analysis, and managing engineering design.
MATLAB
Software
MATLAB for engineering analysis, covering numerical computing, data analysis, simulation, modelling, and managing engineering analysis.
EPANET
Software
EPANET for water distribution modelling, covering hydraulic analysis, water quality, network modelling, and managing water systems.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Agricultural and bio-systems engineering is just about tractors.
Agricultural and bio-systems engineering covers comprehensive engineering including irrigation, food processing, structures, environmental systems, and bioprocessing beyond just tractors.
This programme is only for those from farming backgrounds.
Biosystems engineering skills are valuable for anyone with an engineering background interested in agricultural, food, environmental, and bio-process applications.
Biosystems engineering has limited career prospects in Kenya.
With growing agricultural mechanisation, food processing, irrigation expansion, and environmental management needs, demand for biosystems engineers is increasing in Kenya.
Biosystems engineering is the same as general engineering.
Biosystems engineering requires specialised knowledge of biological systems, agricultural processes, food technology, and environmental management specific to bio-systems.
Irrigation engineering is just about watering crops.
Irrigation engineering covers comprehensive design, water management, drainage, hydraulic structures, and water resource management.
Food engineering is just about cooking.
Food engineering covers comprehensive processing, preservation, packaging, quality control, and process design for food production.