Agriculture

Master of Science in Leather Technology

The Master of Science in Leather Technology is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in leather science, leather processing, tannery management, and leather product development. The programme combines leather science with technology application, quality management, and research.

Core areas include advanced leather technology, leather science, structural protein chemistry, clean technology, materials science, pigment and dyestuff application, biostatistics, scientific communication, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, laboratory sessions, industrial attachments, and research.

The programme is offered by Dedan Kimathi University of Technology as MSc in Leather Technology through the School of Science. DeKUT is a public university offering the programme over a maximum of two academic years through full-time and part-time modes of study. The University of Nairobi also offers MSc in Leather Science through the Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology.

Students develop competencies in leather processing, quality control, tannery management, clean technology, and leather product development. The programme includes coursework, examinations, laboratory sessions, industrial attachment, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates to address challenges in Kenya's growing leather industry.

DeKUT charges fees that could not be verified from publicly available online sources at the time of research. Prospective students should contact the university directly for current fee information. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree in leather science, chemistry, biology, biochemistry, animal science, or related fields from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as leather technologists, quality control managers, tannery managers, leather product developers, leather industry consultants, and lecturers in leather technology across tanneries, leather product companies, research institutions, government agencies, and universities.

Skills Required

Advanced Leather Processing and Tanning
Leather Science and Structural Protein Chemistry
Clean Technology in Leather Production
Materials Science for Leather Products
Pigment and Dyestuff Application
Quality Control and Assurance in Leather
Tannery Management and Operations
Leather Product Development and Design
Research Methods and Biostatistics
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Advanced Leather Technology
Advanced Leather Science
Structural Protein Chemistry
Biostatistics
Advanced Clean Technology
Materials Science
Pigment and Dyestuff Application
Principles of Scientific Communication
Research Methods in Leather Science
Thesis Research

Certifications

KLDC Leather Professional Certification
IULTCS Professional Certification

Specializations

Leather Processing

Focuses on leather processing, covering tanning, finishing, quality, technology, and managing leather processing.

Clean Technology

Examines clean technology, covering effluent, waste, sustainability, environmental, and managing clean technology in leather.

Leather Product Development

Covers leather product development, covering design, manufacturing, quality, innovation, and managing leather products.

Tannery Management

Focuses on tannery management, covering operations, quality, safety, efficiency, and managing tannery operations.

Quality Control

Examines quality control, covering testing, standards, assurance, inspection, and managing leather quality.

Materials Science

Covers materials science, covering properties, testing, applications, innovation, and managing leather materials.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 433,500
Private, up to: Ksh 195,000
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: 10 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Advanced Leather Technology
Advanced Leather Science
Structural Protein Chemistry
Biostatistics
Advanced Clean Technology
Materials Science
Pigment and Dyestuff Application
Principles of Scientific Communication
Research Methods in Leather Science
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Leather Technology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines tanning, processing, finishing, quality, technology, and managing leather processing.
Advanced Leather Science
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers chemistry, biology, structure, properties, analysis, and managing leather science.
Structural Protein Chemistry
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines structure, chemistry, properties, analysis, collagen, and managing protein chemistry.
Biostatistics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers statistics, data, analysis, software, research, and managing research data.
Advanced Clean Technology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines effluent, waste, sustainability, environmental, treatment, and managing clean technology in leather.
Materials Science
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers properties, testing, applications, innovation, performance, and managing leather materials.
Pigment and Dyestuff Application
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines application, colour, testing, quality, finishing, and managing dyeing and pigmentation.
Principles of Scientific Communication
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers writing, presentation, publication, communication, research, and managing scientific communication.
Tannery Management and Operations
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines operations, quality, safety, efficiency, management, and managing tannery operations.
Leather Product Development
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers design, manufacturing, quality, innovation, marketing, and managing leather product development.
Quality Assurance in Leather Industry
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines testing, standards, assurance, inspection, certification, and managing leather quality.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a leather technology topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and leather science knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Leather Processing
Focuses on leather processing, covering tanning, finishing, quality, technology, and managing leather processing.
Clean Technology
Examines clean technology, covering effluent, waste, sustainability, environmental, and managing clean technology in leather.
Leather Product Development
Covers leather product development, covering design, manufacturing, quality, innovation, and managing leather products.
Tannery Management
Focuses on tannery management, covering operations, quality, safety, efficiency, and managing tannery operations.
Quality Control
Examines quality control, covering testing, standards, assurance, inspection, and managing leather quality.
Materials Science
Covers materials science, covering properties, testing, applications, innovation, and managing leather materials.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Leather Technology programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, industrial visits, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover advanced leather technology, leather science, protein chemistry, clean technology, and materials science. Advanced leather technology sessions examine tanning, processing, finishing, quality, and managing leather processing. Leather science sessions cover chemistry, biology, structure, properties, and managing leather science. Protein chemistry sessions cover structure, chemistry, properties, analysis, and managing protein chemistry. Clean technology sessions cover effluent, waste, sustainability, environmental, and managing clean technology. Materials science sessions cover properties, testing, applications, innovation, and managing leather materials. Pigment and dyestuff sessions cover application, colour, testing, quality, and managing dyeing. Biostatistics sessions cover statistics, data, analysis, software, and managing research data. Scientific communication sessions cover writing, presentation, publication, communication, and managing scientific communication. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with leather processing, tanning, quality testing, and materials analysis. Industrial visits provide exposure to tannery operations, leather product manufacturing, and quality control systems. Seminars provide opportunities for presenting research findings and debating current issues in leather technology. Guest lectures from experienced leather technologists, tannery managers, and industry experts provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a leather technology topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya has a growing leather industry with significant potential for value addition and export.
DeKUT offers specialised leather technology facilities and laboratory infrastructure.
DeKUT-Kyambogo partnership offers scholarships for postgraduate training in leather technology.
Graduates are eligible for KLDC and IULTCS certifications, enhancing professional recognition.

Against it

Tuition fees could not be verified from publicly available online sources.
Only one university (DeKUT, public) confirmed offering this specific programme with the exact name.
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Programme requires chemistry, biology, or leather science background, limiting 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 303 agriculture courses

Public84k to 434k

84k at Rongo University434k at University of Nairobi

Private119k to 195k

119k at Mount Kenya University195k at Kabarak 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

UoN ~433.5K/yr (Vet Med MSc). MKU ~119K/yr. Rongo, Kabarak unverified

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. DeKUT may offer scholarships for eligible students. ALLPI may offer research grants for leather research. The DeKUT-Kyambogo University partnership offers scholarships for postgraduate training in leather technology. Some tanneries and leather product companies may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
DeKUT Scholarship
ALLPI Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
DeKUT-Kyambogo Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 300,000Kenyan
DeKUT-Kyambogo University partnership offers scholarships for postgraduate training in leather technology.
ALLPI Research Grant
ScholarshipKsh 250,000
ALLPI provides research grants for leather industry research and training in Africa.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: DeKUT requires a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field with at least Second Class Honours (Upper Division), or Lower Second with at least two years of work experience. UoN also accepts Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine degree holders. 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, industrial visit reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering leather technology, leather science, protein chemistry, and clean technology.
Practical and Laboratory Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory work, leather processing, quality testing, and demonstrating leather technology skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a leather technology topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and leather science knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). DeKUT (public) offers MSc in Leather Technology through the School of Science. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in leather technology. UoN also offers MSc in Leather Science through the Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology. Graduates are eligible for KLDC leather professional certification and IULTCS professional certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. DeKUT (public) offers MSc in Leather Technology through the School of Science. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in leather technology. UoN also offers MSc in Leather Science through the Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology. Graduates are eligible for KLDC leather professional certification and IULTCS professional certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Leather Technologist
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 350,000
Manages leather processing, overseeing tanning, finishing, quality, and managing leather technology operations.
Quality Control Manager
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages quality control, overseeing testing, standards, assurance, and managing leather quality systems.
Tannery Manager
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages tannery operations, overseeing production, quality, safety, and managing tannery operations.
Leather Product Developer
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 350,000
Develops leather products, overseeing design, manufacturing, quality, and managing product development.
Leather Industry Consultant
Low demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Provides leather industry consulting, overseeing advisory, assessment, strategy, and managing consulting.
Leather Technology Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaches leather technology at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Leather Processing Equipment
EquipmentPrimary
Tannery equipment for leather processing, covering tanning, finishing, quality, and managing leather processing.
SPSS
Software
SPSS for statistical analysis, covering data, statistics, analysis, and managing research data.
Spectrophotometer
Equipment
Spectrophotometer for materials analysis, covering testing, colour, properties, and managing quality testing.
CAD for Leather Design
Software
CAD software for leather product design, covering design, pattern, modelling, and managing product design.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Leather technology is just about making shoes.
Leather technology covers comprehensive science, processing, clean technology, materials, and quality beyond just making shoes.
This programme is only for artisans.
Leather technology at MSc level is advanced science requiring chemistry, biology, and research skills beyond artisan work.
Tannery work is just dirty labour.
Modern tannery management involves clean technology, environmental management, quality systems, and automation beyond dirty labour.
Leather science is just about animal skins.
Leather science covers comprehensive protein chemistry, materials science, biotechnology, and innovation beyond just animal skins.
Clean technology is just about waste disposal.
Clean technology covers comprehensive effluent treatment, sustainability, environmental management, and innovation beyond just waste disposal.
This programme has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Kenya has a growing leather industry with opportunities in tanneries, product manufacturing, research, and education.