Engineering

Master of Science in Environmental & Bio systems Engineering

The Master of Science in Environmental and Biosystems Engineering is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in environmental engineering, water resources, agricultural engineering, and biosystems engineering. The programme combines engineering theory with practical system design, laboratory work, and research application.

Core areas include environmental engineering, irrigation and water resources engineering, power and machinery engineering, process and food engineering, structures engineering, waste management, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both engineering theory and practical laboratory and design work through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi through the Department of Environmental and Biosystems Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering, also available through the Centre for Open and Distance Learning (CODL). JKUAT offers related programmes through the School of Biosystems and Environmental Engineering (SOBEE) with the Soil, Water and Environmental Engineering Department and the Agricultural and Biosystems Department. Both are public universities offering programmes over two academic years through full-time and distance learning modes.

Students develop competencies in environmental engineering, water resources, irrigation, power and machinery, process and food engineering, and structures engineering. The programme includes coursework, examinations, laboratory work, design projects, and a supervised research thesis with five distinct specialisation areas.

University of Nairobi charges approximately KES 530,500/year (KES 1,061,000 total) for MSc in Environmental and Biosystems Engineering. JKUAT charges similar fees for biosystems engineering masters programmes. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in engineering or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as environmental engineers, water resources engineers, irrigation engineers, agricultural engineers, process engineers, and lecturers in biosystems engineering across environmental agencies, agricultural companies, water utilities, consulting firms, government agencies, and universities.

Skills Required

Environmental Engineering and Pollution Control
Irrigation and Water Resources Engineering
Power and Machinery Engineering
Process and Food Engineering
Structures Engineering and Design
Waste Management and Treatment
Soil and Water Conservation
Agricultural Engineering and Mechanisation
Research Methods in Biosystems Engineering
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Environmental Engineering and Pollution Control
Irrigation and Water Resources Engineering
Power and Machinery Engineering
Process and Food Engineering
Structures Engineering and Design
Waste Management and Treatment
Soil and Water Conservation
Agricultural Engineering and Mechanisation
Research Methods in Biosystems Engineering
Thesis Research

Certifications

EBK Professional Engineer Registration
ICID Irrigation Engineering Certification

Specializations

Environmental Engineering

Focuses on environmental engineering, covering pollution control, waste management, water treatment, air quality, and managing environmental engineering.

Irrigation and Water Resources Engineering

Examines irrigation and water resources, covering irrigation design, water management, hydrology, drainage, and managing water resources.

Power and Machinery Engineering

Covers power and machinery engineering, covering agricultural machinery, power systems, mechanisation, and managing power and machinery.

Process and Food Engineering

Focuses on process and food engineering, covering food processing, preservation, unit operations, and managing process engineering.

Structures Engineering

Examines structures engineering, covering agricultural structures, greenhouses, storage, buildings, and managing structural engineering.

Soil and Water Engineering

Covers soil and water engineering, covering conservation, erosion control, drainage, irrigation, and managing soil and water 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, Online
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Environmental Engineering and Pollution Control
Irrigation and Water Resources Engineering
Power and Machinery Engineering
Process and Food Engineering
Structures Engineering and Design
Waste Management and Treatment
Soil and Water Conservation
Agricultural Engineering and Mechanisation
Research Methods in Biosystems Engineering
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Environmental Engineering and Pollution Control
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines pollution control, waste management, water treatment, air quality, and managing environmental engineering.
Irrigation and Water Resources Engineering
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers irrigation design, water management, hydrology, drainage, and managing water resources.
Research Methods in Biosystems Engineering
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, engineering research methods, and conducting biosystems engineering research, preparing students for their thesis.
Power and Machinery Engineering
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines agricultural machinery, power systems, mechanisation, and managing power and machinery.
Process and Food Engineering
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers food processing, preservation, unit operations, and managing process engineering.
Structures Engineering and Design
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines agricultural structures, greenhouses, storage, buildings, and managing structural engineering.
Waste Management and Treatment
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers solid waste, wastewater, hazardous waste, treatment, and managing waste.
Soil and Water Conservation Engineering
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines erosion control, conservation, drainage, irrigation, and managing soil and water systems.
Agricultural Engineering and Mechanisation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers mechanisation, automation, precision agriculture, farm power, and managing agricultural mechanisation.
Water Supply and Sanitation Engineering
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines water supply, sanitation, treatment, distribution, and managing water supply systems.
Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers EIA, audit, environmental law, compliance, and managing environmental assessment.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on an environmental and biosystems engineering topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and engineering knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Environmental Engineering
Focuses on environmental engineering, covering pollution control, waste management, water treatment, air quality, and managing environmental engineering.
Irrigation and Water Resources Engineering
Examines irrigation and water resources, covering irrigation design, water management, hydrology, drainage, and managing water resources.
Power and Machinery Engineering
Covers power and machinery engineering, covering agricultural machinery, power systems, mechanisation, and managing power and machinery.
Process and Food Engineering
Focuses on process and food engineering, covering food processing, preservation, unit operations, and managing process engineering.
Structures Engineering
Examines structures engineering, covering agricultural structures, greenhouses, storage, buildings, and managing structural engineering.
Soil and Water Engineering
Covers soil and water engineering, covering conservation, erosion control, drainage, irrigation, and managing soil and water systems.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Environmental and Biosystems Engineering programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, design projects, practical workshops, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover environmental engineering, water resources, irrigation, power and machinery, process and food engineering, and structures engineering. Environmental engineering sessions examine pollution control, waste management, water treatment, air quality, and managing environmental engineering. Irrigation and water resources sessions cover irrigation design, water management, hydrology, drainage, and managing water resources. Power and machinery sessions cover agricultural machinery, power systems, mechanisation, and managing power and machinery. Process and food engineering sessions cover food processing, preservation, unit operations, and managing process engineering. Structures engineering sessions cover agricultural structures, greenhouses, storage, buildings, and managing structural engineering. Waste management sessions cover solid waste, wastewater, hazardous waste, treatment, and managing waste. Soil and water conservation sessions cover erosion control, conservation, drainage, and managing soil and water systems. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with water quality analysis, soil testing, machinery testing, food processing, and measurement instruments. Design projects provide hands-on experience with system design, simulation, prototyping, and testing. Practical workshops provide hands-on experience with AutoCAD, MATLAB, EPANET, and engineering tools. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in environmental and biosystems engineering and presenting research findings. Guest lectures from experienced engineers and industry professionals provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on an environmental and biosystems engineering topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme offers five distinct specialisation areas, providing versatile career options in environmental, irrigation, machinery, food, and structures engineering.
UoN offers the programme through full-time and distance learning (CODL) modes, providing flexible study options.
Graduates are eligible for EBK professional registration and ICID certification, enhancing career prospects.
Programme addresses critical needs in water resources, food security, and environmental management in Kenya.

Against it

UoN charges high fees at approximately KES 530,500/year (KES 1,061,000 total).
JKUAT and Egerton specific biosystems engineering fees not independently verified.
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Career opportunities may be concentrated in government agencies and agricultural sector, with limited private sector demand.

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

Public181k to 531k

181k at JKUAT531k 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 (uonbi.ac.ke). JKUAT ~181K/yr (kenyaeducationguide). Private: unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. UoN and JKUAT may offer postgraduate bursaries. Some environmental agencies and agricultural organisations may sponsor staff for postgraduate study. ICID may offer fellowships for irrigation and drainage research.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
UoN Postgraduate Bursary
JKUAT Postgraduate Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
UoN Postgraduate Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
UoN offers postgraduate bursaries for eligible students.
JKUAT Postgraduate Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
JKUAT offers postgraduate bursaries for eligible students.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: UoN requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division in Engineering or related fields, following common Masters Degree regulations of the Faculty of Engineering. JKUAT requires Upper Second in relevant field from JKUAT or recognised institution. Egerton University requires similar qualifications. 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, laboratory reports, design project reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering environmental engineering, water resources, irrigation, machinery, and process engineering.
Practical and Laboratory Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory exercises, design projects, system simulation, and demonstrating biosystems engineering skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on an environmental 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) and regulated by the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK). University of Nairobi and JKUAT (both public) offer MSc programmes in environmental and biosystems engineering. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in environmental and biosystems engineering. Graduates are eligible for EBK professional engineer registration and ICID irrigation engineering certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE and regulated by the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK). University of Nairobi and JKUAT (both public) offer MSc programmes in environmental and biosystems engineering. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in environmental and biosystems engineering. Graduates are eligible for EBK professional engineer registration and ICID irrigation engineering certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Environmental Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 600,000
Designs and manages environmental systems, overseeing pollution control, waste management, and managing environmental engineering.
Water Resources Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages water resources, overseeing irrigation, hydrology, drainage, and managing water resources.
Irrigation Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 550,000
Designs and manages irrigation systems, overseeing design, water management, and managing irrigation.
Agricultural Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages agricultural engineering, overseeing machinery, mechanisation, and managing agricultural engineering.
Process Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages process engineering, overseeing food processing, preservation, and managing process engineering.
Biosystems Engineering Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches biosystems engineering at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

AutoCAD
SoftwarePrimary
AutoCAD for engineering design, covering drawings, structures, irrigation, and managing engineering design.
MATLAB
Software
MATLAB for engineering simulation, covering modelling, analysis, data processing, and managing engineering simulation.
EPANET
Software
EPANET for water distribution modelling, covering hydraulic, water quality, and managing water distribution systems.
HEC-RAS
Software
HEC-RAS for hydraulic analysis, covering river, flood, channel, and managing hydraulic systems.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Environmental and biosystems engineering is just about farming.
The programme covers comprehensive environmental engineering, water resources, irrigation, machinery, food processing, and structures beyond just farming.
This programme is only for agricultural engineers.
Biosystems engineering skills are valuable for environmental, civil, mechanical, and chemical engineers beyond just agricultural engineers.
Environmental engineering is just about waste management.
Environmental engineering covers comprehensive pollution control, water treatment, air quality, and environmental systems.
Irrigation engineering is just about building canals.
Irrigation engineering covers comprehensive design, water management, hydrology, drainage, and modern irrigation systems.
Process and food engineering is just about cooking.
Process and food engineering covers comprehensive food processing, preservation, unit operations, and industrial food systems.
Biosystems engineering is a low-tech field.
Biosystems engineering involves advanced technologies including precision agriculture, IoT, automation, and computational modelling.