Engineering

Master of Science in Communication and Multimedia Engineering

The Master of Science in Communication and Multimedia Engineering is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates in communication systems engineering, multimedia technologies, and signal processing. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers in telecommunications, multimedia systems, and communication engineering.

Core areas include communication systems, multimedia signal processing, telecommunications engineering, digital communications, network engineering, radio frequency engineering, image and video processing, wireless communications, antenna engineering, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical applications in communication and multimedia technologies.

The programme is offered by Turkana University College, Kabarak University, and Technical University of Kenya, with Multimedia University of Kenya as a college. MMU is recognised for ICT excellence and offers engineering and technology programmes through its Faculty of Engineering and Technology.

Students develop competencies in communication system design, multimedia processing, network engineering, RF engineering, signal processing, wireless communications, and research. The programme includes coursework, laboratory practicals, examinations, supervised research, and thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years with full-time and part-time study modes. The programme accepts engineering, computer science, physics, and related graduates with communications or electronics background.

Graduates pursue careers as communication engineers, multimedia engineers, network engineers, RF engineers, signal processing engineers, and lecturers in telecommunications companies, media organisations, technology firms, research institutions, and universities.

Skills Required

Communication System Design
Multimedia Signal Processing
Digital Communications
Network Engineering
Radio Frequency Engineering
Image and Video Processing
Wireless Communications
Antenna Engineering
Telecommunications Engineering
Communication Engineering Research Methods

Key Subjects

Communication Systems
Multimedia Signal Processing
Digital Communications
Network Engineering
Radio Frequency Engineering
Image and Video Processing
Wireless Communications
Antenna Engineering
Telecommunications Engineering
Communication Engineering Research Methods

Certifications

ECK Professional Registration
IEEE Communications Society Membership

Specializations

Telecommunications Engineering

Focuses on telecommunications engineering, communication networks, transmission systems, switching systems, and designing and managing telecommunications infrastructure.

Multimedia Signal Processing

Examines multimedia signal processing, image processing, video processing, audio processing, and processing and analysing multimedia signals and content.

Wireless Communications

Covers wireless communications, mobile communications, wireless networks, radio propagation, and designing and managing wireless communication systems.

Network Engineering

Focuses on network engineering, communication networks, network protocols, network design, and managing and optimising communication networks.

RF and Antenna Engineering

Examines radio frequency engineering, antenna design, RF circuits, electromagnetic propagation, and designing RF and antenna systems for communications.

Digital Communications

Covers digital communications, modulation techniques, coding theory, digital signal processing, and designing and analysing digital communication systems.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 291,000
Job market: High

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

Communication Systems
Multimedia Signal Processing
Digital Communications
Network Engineering
Radio Frequency Engineering
Image and Video Processing
Wireless Communications
Antenna Engineering
Telecommunications Engineering
Communication Engineering Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Communication Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines advanced communication systems, communication theory, modulation techniques, channel coding, and designing communication systems.
Multimedia Signal Processing
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers multimedia signal processing, image processing, video processing, audio processing, compression techniques, and processing multimedia content.
Digital Communications
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines digital communications, digital modulation, error correction coding, spread spectrum, and designing and analysing digital communication systems.
Network Engineering
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers network engineering, communication networks, network protocols, network architecture, traffic management, and designing and managing communication networks.
Radio Frequency Engineering
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines radio frequency engineering, RF circuits, RF design, electromagnetic propagation, and designing RF systems for communications.
Wireless Communications
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers wireless communications, mobile communications, cellular systems, WiFi, Bluetooth, and designing and managing wireless communication systems.
Image and Video Processing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines image and video processing, image enhancement, video compression, multimedia coding standards, and processing visual content.
Antenna Engineering
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers antenna engineering, antenna theory, antenna design, radiation patterns, and designing antennas for communication systems.
Telecommunications Systems
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines telecommunications systems, transmission systems, switching systems, telecom infrastructure, and designing and managing telecommunications systems.
Communication Engineering Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods for communication engineering, experimental design, data analysis, and conducting communication engineering research, preparing students for their thesis.
Emerging Communication Technologies
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines emerging communication technologies, 5G and beyond, IoT communications, satellite communications, and next-generation communication systems.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a communication and multimedia engineering topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and communication engineering knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Telecommunications Engineering
Focuses on telecommunications engineering, communication networks, transmission systems, switching systems, and designing and managing telecommunications infrastructure.
Multimedia Signal Processing
Examines multimedia signal processing, image processing, video processing, audio processing, and processing and analysing multimedia signals and content.
Wireless Communications
Covers wireless communications, mobile communications, wireless networks, radio propagation, and designing and managing wireless communication systems.
Network Engineering
Focuses on network engineering, communication networks, network protocols, network design, and managing and optimising communication networks.
RF and Antenna Engineering
Examines radio frequency engineering, antenna design, RF circuits, electromagnetic propagation, and designing RF and antenna systems for communications.
Digital Communications
Covers digital communications, modulation techniques, coding theory, digital signal processing, and designing and analysing digital communication systems.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc Communication and Multimedia Engineering programme begins with morning lectures on communication systems, signal processing, or network engineering. Students engage in theoretical discussions on communication theory, modulation techniques, and multimedia processing. Communication systems sessions cover communication theory, modulation, demodulation, channel coding, and designing communication systems. Multimedia signal processing sessions examine image processing, video processing, audio processing, compression techniques, and processing multimedia content. Digital communications sessions cover digital modulation, error correction coding, spread spectrum, and designing digital communication systems. Network engineering sessions involve network protocols, network architecture, traffic management, and designing and managing communication networks. RF engineering sessions cover radio frequency circuits, RF design, electromagnetic propagation, and designing RF systems for communications. Wireless communications sessions examine mobile communications, cellular systems, WiFi, Bluetooth, and designing wireless communication systems. Antenna engineering sessions involve antenna theory, antenna design, radiation patterns, and designing antennas for communication systems. Image and video processing sessions cover image enhancement, video compression, multimedia coding standards, and processing visual content. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with communication systems, signal processing tools, network simulators, and RF equipment. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering communication engineering research methods, experimental design, and data analysis. Guest lectures from telecommunications industry professionals, CA regulators, and IEEE members provide real-world insights. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's growing telecommunications sector, mobile technology expansion, digital migration, and ICT development create strong demand for qualified communication engineers.
MMU is recognised for ICT excellence and offers the programme through its Faculty of Engineering and Technology with strong technology focus.
Programme covers diverse areas including telecommunications, multimedia, wireless, RF, and network engineering, providing comprehensive communication engineering training.
Strong career opportunities with telecommunications companies, media organisations, technology firms, CA, and international ICT organisations.

Against it

Programme requires engineering or related technical background with communications or electronics knowledge, which may exclude some graduates.
Programme requires access to specialised communication engineering laboratories and equipment, which may vary across listed institutions.
Limited number of institutions offering the programme may restrict geographic access for prospective students.
Rapidly evolving technology may require frequent curriculum updates to remain current with industry needs.

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

Public151k to 291k

151k at Turkana University College291k 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). Turkana ~151K/yr (TUC 2019/20). Private: unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. IEEE Communications Society provides grants for research and professional development. ITU supports ICT development and capacity building in developing countries. The programme's technology focus attracts industry and international organisation funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
IEEE Communications Society Grants
ITU Development Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate communication engineering studies at recognised universities.
IEEE Communications Society Grants
GrantKsh 300,000
IEEE Communications Society provides grants for research, conference attendance, and professional development in communications engineering.
ITU Development Funding
GrantKsh 400,000
ITU provides development funding for ICT capacity building, supporting communication engineering training and research in developing countries.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme accepts engineering, computer science, physics, and related technical graduates with communications or electronics background. Two-year programme with full-time and part-time options. The programme covers communication systems, multimedia processing, wireless communications, RF engineering, and network engineering.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, laboratory reports, design projects, simulation exercises, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering communication systems, signal processing, network engineering, and RF engineering, conducted at end of each semester.
Laboratory and Practical Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Assessment of laboratory and practical skills including communication system design, signal processing, network simulation, and laboratory reports.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a communication and multimedia 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). MMU offers the programme through its Faculty of Engineering and Technology, recognised for ICT excellence. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate communication and multimedia engineering training. ECK regulates engineering practice in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Offered by Turkana University College, Kabarak University, Technical University of Kenya, and Multimedia University of Kenya. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate communication and multimedia engineering training.
Engineering Council of Kenya (ECK)
Professional accreditationRequired
ECK regulates engineering practice in Kenya. Graduates working as engineers require ECK registration. The programme meets ECK standards for communication engineering practice.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Communication Engineer
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Designs and manages communication systems, developing communication infrastructure, and ensuring reliable communication services in telecommunications companies.
Multimedia Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 550,000
Develops multimedia systems, processing audio, video, and image content, and designing multimedia applications and platforms.
Network Engineer
High demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 550,000
Designs and manages communication networks, configuring network infrastructure, and ensuring network performance and reliability.
RF Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Designs RF systems and antennas, managing radio frequency engineering for wireless communications and telecommunications infrastructure.
Signal Processing Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 550,000
Develops signal processing algorithms, processing multimedia and communication signals, and designing digital signal processing systems.
University Lecturer
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches communication and multimedia engineering in universities, conducting research and training future communication engineers.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as communication engineers, multimedia engineers, and network engineers in telecommunications companies, media organisations, and technology firms.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

MATLAB
SoftwarePrimary
MATLAB for signal processing, communication system simulation, algorithm development, and numerical computing in communication engineering.
NS-3 Network Simulator
SoftwarePrimary
Network simulator for designing, testing, and evaluating communication network protocols, wireless networks, and network performance.
Python
Software
Python programming language for signal processing, data analysis, machine learning in communications, and research prototyping.
ADS (Advanced Design System)
Software
Electronic design automation software for RF circuit design, antenna simulation, and communication system design.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Communication and multimedia engineering is just about radio and TV.
The field covers telecommunications, wireless networks, signal processing, multimedia systems, RF engineering, and digital communications, far beyond traditional radio and TV.
This programme is the same as computer science.
While related, communication and multimedia engineering focuses on communication systems, signal processing, and RF engineering, while computer science focuses on software, algorithms, and computing systems.
There is limited demand for communication engineers in Kenya.
Kenya's growing telecommunications sector, mobile technology expansion, digital migration, and ICT development create strong demand for qualified communication engineers.
This programme is only for electrical engineering graduates.
The programme accepts graduates from electrical engineering, telecommunications, computer science, physics, and related fields with communications or electronics background.
Communication engineering is becoming obsolete with wireless technology.
Wireless technology is a core area of communication engineering, and the field continues to evolve with 5G, IoT, satellite communications, and emerging technologies.
A master's in communication engineering is redundant after a bachelor's in electrical engineering.
The master's provides specialised communication and multimedia knowledge, research capability, and career progression to senior engineering and research positions.