Engineering

Master of Science in Chemical Engineering

The Master of Science in Chemical Engineering is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in chemical process design, reaction engineering, and process optimisation. The programme combines chemical engineering theory with practical process and industrial application.

Core areas include reaction engineering, process design, transport phenomena, thermodynamics, separation processes, process control, biochemical engineering, environmental engineering, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both engineering theory and practical process design through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by Moi University and the University of Nairobi as public institutions. Programmes are offered over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in reaction engineering, process design, transport phenomena, thermodynamics, separation processes, process control, biochemical engineering, environmental engineering, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, examinations, laboratory work, and a research thesis.

JKUAT charges approximately KES 181,000/year (KES 362,000 total) for related engineering master's programmes. UoN charges approximately KES 530,500/year (KES 1,061,000 total) for engineering master's programmes. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in chemical engineering, chemistry, or related engineering fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as chemical engineers, process engineers, plant managers, biochemical engineers, environmental engineers, and lecturers in chemical engineering across chemical industry, petroleum and gas, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and universities.

Skills Required

Chemical Reaction Engineering and Reactor Design
Process Design and Plant Operations
Transport Phenomena and Unit Operations
Thermodynamics and Energy Systems
Separation Processes and Mass Transfer
Process Control and Instrumentation
Biochemical Engineering and Bioprocessing
Environmental Engineering and Waste Management
Research Methods in Chemical Engineering
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Chemical Reaction Engineering and Reactor Design
Process Design and Plant Operations
Transport Phenomena and Unit Operations
Thermodynamics and Energy Systems
Separation Processes and Mass Transfer
Process Control and Instrumentation
Biochemical Engineering and Bioprocessing
Environmental Engineering and Waste Management
Research Methods in Chemical Engineering
Thesis Research

Certifications

EBK Professional Registration
IChemE Chartered Chemical Engineer

Specializations

Process Engineering

Focuses on process engineering, covering process design, plant operations, process optimisation, safety, and managing process engineering.

Biochemical Engineering

Examines biochemical engineering, covering bioreactor design, bioprocessing, enzyme technology, fermentation, and managing biochemical engineering.

Environmental Engineering

Covers environmental engineering, covering waste treatment, pollution control, environmental impact, sustainability, and managing environmental engineering.

Petroleum and Petrochemical Engineering

Focuses on petroleum and petrochemical engineering, covering refining, petrochemicals, oil and gas processing, and managing petroleum engineering.

Materials Engineering

Examines materials engineering, covering polymer engineering, corrosion, materials processing, and managing materials engineering.

Energy Engineering

Covers energy engineering, covering renewable energy, energy efficiency, fuel cells, bioenergy, and managing energy engineering.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 291,000
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

Chemical Reaction Engineering and Reactor Design
Process Design and Plant Operations
Transport Phenomena and Unit Operations
Thermodynamics and Energy Systems
Separation Processes and Mass Transfer
Process Control and Instrumentation
Biochemical Engineering and Bioprocessing
Environmental Engineering and Waste Management
Research Methods in Chemical Engineering
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Chemical Reaction Engineering and Reactor Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines reactor design, kinetics, catalysis, reactor stability, multiphase reactors, and managing reaction engineering.
Process Design and Plant Operations
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers process flowsheets, equipment design, process economics, safety, HAZOP, and managing process design.
Research Methods in Chemical Engineering
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, experimental techniques, and conducting engineering research, preparing students for their thesis.
Transport Phenomena and Unit Operations
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines momentum transfer, heat transfer, mass transfer, dimensionless analysis, and managing transport phenomena.
Advanced Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers phase equilibria, chemical equilibrium, equations of state, solution thermodynamics, and managing thermodynamics.
Separation Processes and Mass Transfer
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines distillation, absorption, extraction, membrane separation, adsorption, and managing separation processes.
Process Control and Instrumentation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers feedback control, PID controllers, process dynamics, advanced control, automation, and managing process control.
Biochemical Engineering and Bioprocessing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines bioreactor design, enzyme kinetics, fermentation, downstream processing, biopharmaceuticals, and managing biochemical engineering.
Environmental Engineering and Waste Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers waste treatment, air pollution control, water treatment, environmental impact, sustainability, and managing environmental engineering.
Petroleum and Petrochemical Processing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines refining, petrochemicals, oil and gas processing, catalysts, and managing petroleum engineering.
Process Safety and Risk Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers process safety, HAZOP, risk assessment, safety management systems, emergency response, and managing process safety.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a chemical engineering topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and engineering knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Process Engineering
Focuses on process engineering, covering process design, plant operations, process optimisation, safety, and managing process engineering.
Biochemical Engineering
Examines biochemical engineering, covering bioreactor design, bioprocessing, enzyme technology, fermentation, and managing biochemical engineering.
Environmental Engineering
Covers environmental engineering, covering waste treatment, pollution control, environmental impact, sustainability, and managing environmental engineering.
Petroleum and Petrochemical Engineering
Focuses on petroleum and petrochemical engineering, covering refining, petrochemicals, oil and gas processing, and managing petroleum engineering.
Materials Engineering
Examines materials engineering, covering polymer engineering, corrosion, materials processing, and managing materials engineering.
Energy Engineering
Covers energy engineering, covering renewable energy, energy efficiency, fuel cells, bioenergy, and managing energy engineering.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Chemical Engineering programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, design workshops, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover reaction engineering, process design, transport phenomena, thermodynamics, and separation processes. Reaction engineering sessions examine reactor design, kinetics, catalysis, reactor stability, multiphase reactors, and managing reaction engineering. Process design sessions cover process flowsheets, equipment design, process economics, safety, HAZOP, and managing process design. Transport phenomena sessions cover momentum transfer, heat transfer, mass transfer, dimensionless analysis, and managing transport phenomena. Thermodynamics sessions cover phase equilibria, chemical equilibrium, equations of state, solution thermodynamics, and managing thermodynamics. Separation processes sessions cover distillation, absorption, extraction, membrane separation, adsorption, and managing separation processes. Process control sessions cover feedback control, PID controllers, process dynamics, advanced control, and managing process control. Biochemical engineering sessions cover bioreactor design, enzyme kinetics, fermentation, downstream processing, and managing biochemical engineering. Environmental engineering sessions cover waste treatment, air pollution control, water treatment, environmental impact, and managing environmental engineering. Petroleum engineering sessions cover refining, petrochemicals, oil and gas processing, and managing petroleum engineering. Materials engineering sessions cover polymer engineering, corrosion, materials processing, and managing materials engineering. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with reactor operations, separation units, process control, and materials testing. Design workshops provide hands-on experience with process simulation, equipment design, and plant design. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in chemical engineering. Guest lectures from experienced chemical engineers, process engineers, and industry professionals provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on a chemical engineering topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Steady demand for chemical engineering professionals with growing petroleum industry, pharmaceuticals, food processing, environmental regulation, and energy sectors in Kenya.
Programme covers versatile skills applicable to chemical, petroleum, pharmaceutical, food, energy, and environmental industries.
JKUAT offers competitive fees at approximately KES 181,000/year for related engineering master's programmes.
Graduates are eligible for EBK professional registration and IChemE chartered status, enhancing career prospects.

Against it

UoN engineering fees are significantly higher at approximately KES 530,500/year (KES 1,061,000 total).
Only two public universities (Moi, UoN) confirmed offering this programme, limiting institutional choice.
No private university confirmed offering this programme, limiting options.
Programme requires chemical engineering or chemistry background, which limits access for non-related graduates.

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

Public187k to 291k

187k at Moi University291k at Technical University of Kenya

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

TUK ~291K/yr (eafinder). Moi ~187K/yr (worldscholarshipforum). Private: unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. UoN may offer postgraduate bursaries for eligible students. KIRDI and industrial research organisations may provide research support for chemical engineering professionals. Some petroleum and chemical companies may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
UoN Postgraduate Bursary
KIRDI Research Support

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
UoN Postgraduate Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
University of Nairobi offers postgraduate bursaries for eligible students.
KIRDI Research Support
GrantKsh 200,000Kenyan
KIRDI and partner organisations may provide research support for chemical engineering and industrial research professionals.

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 chemical engineering, chemistry, or related engineering fields. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience 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
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering reaction engineering, process design, transport phenomena, thermodynamics, and separation processes.
Laboratory and Design Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory exercises, process design projects, simulation, equipment design, and demonstrating engineering skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a chemical 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). Moi University and University of Nairobi (both public) offer MSc in Chemical Engineering or related engineering programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in chemical engineering. Graduates are eligible for EBK professional registration and IChemE chartered chemical engineer certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Moi University and University of Nairobi (both public) offer MSc in Chemical Engineering or related engineering programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in chemical engineering. Graduates are eligible for EBK professional registration and IChemE chartered chemical engineer certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Chemical Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Designs and optimises chemical processes, overseeing process design, operations, safety, and managing chemical engineering.
Process Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages process operations, overseeing process optimisation, troubleshooting, quality control, and managing process engineering.
Plant Manager
Moderate demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 800,000
Manages plant operations, overseeing production, maintenance, safety, staff management, and managing plant operations.
Biochemical Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Develops biochemical processes, overseeing bioreactor design, bioprocessing, fermentation, and managing biochemical engineering.
Environmental Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages environmental engineering, overseeing waste treatment, pollution control, environmental compliance, and managing environmental engineering.
Chemical Engineering Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches chemical 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

Aspen Plus
SoftwarePrimary
Aspen Plus for process simulation, covering chemical process modelling, flowsheet simulation, equipment sizing, and managing process design.
MATLAB
Software
MATLAB for numerical computing, covering data analysis, process modelling, simulation, control design, and managing engineering computing.
HYSYS
Software
HYSYS for process simulation, covering steady-state and dynamic simulation, process optimisation, and managing process simulation.
Python
Software
Python for data analysis and modelling, covering numpy, scipy, pandas, process data analysis, and managing engineering data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Chemical engineering is just about chemistry.
Chemical engineering covers comprehensive process design, transport phenomena, thermodynamics, reaction engineering, and process control beyond just chemistry.
This programme is only for those who want to work in chemical plants.
Chemical engineering skills are valuable for pharmaceuticals, food processing, energy, environmental management, biotechnology, and consulting beyond just chemical plants.
Chemical engineering has limited career prospects in Kenya.
With growing petroleum industry, pharmaceuticals, food processing, environmental regulation, and energy sectors, demand for chemical engineering professionals is steady in Kenya.
Process control is just about operating machines.
Process control covers comprehensive feedback control, process dynamics, advanced control strategies, automation, and process optimisation.
Biochemical engineering is just about brewing.
Biochemical engineering covers comprehensive bioreactor design, enzyme technology, biopharmaceuticals, fermentation, and bioprocessing.
Environmental engineering is just about waste management.
Environmental engineering covers comprehensive waste treatment, air pollution control, water treatment, environmental impact assessment, and sustainability.