Engineering

Master of Science in Machine Tool Design and Manufacturing

The Master of Science in Machine Tool Design and Manufacturing is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in machine tool design, manufacturing engineering, production systems, and automation. The programme combines mechanical engineering with manufacturing technology, CAD/CAM, and industrial automation.

Core areas include machine tool design, manufacturing processes, CAD/CAM, CNC machining, automation, materials engineering, quality control, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, laboratory sessions, workshop practice, and research.

The programme is offered by Dedan Kimathi University of Technology as MSc in Machine Tools Designs and Manufacturing through the School of Engineering. DeKUT is a public university offering the programme over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in machine tool design, manufacturing process optimisation, CNC programming, automation systems, and quality management. The programme includes coursework, examinations, laboratory sessions, workshop practice, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates to address advanced manufacturing and tooling challenges.

DeKUT fees for this programme could not be verified from publicly available online sources at the time of research. The estimated fee of KES 200,000/year is based on comparable DeKUT and JKUAT engineering masters programmes. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Second Class Honours (Upper Division) in Mechanical Engineering or Mechatronics Engineering from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as machine tool designers, manufacturing engineers, CNC specialists, automation engineers, production managers, and lecturers in manufacturing engineering across manufacturing companies, tooling firms, government agencies, and universities.

Skills Required

Machine Tool Design and Engineering
Manufacturing Processes and Systems
CAD/CAM and Digital Manufacturing
CNC Machining and Programming
Industrial Automation and Robotics
Materials Engineering and Selection
Quality Control and Assurance
Production Planning and Management
Research Methods in Manufacturing
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Machine Tool Design
Manufacturing Processes and Systems
CAD/CAM and Digital Manufacturing
CNC Machining and Programming
Industrial Automation and Robotics
Materials Engineering and Selection
Quality Control and Assurance
Production Planning and Management
Research Methods in Manufacturing
Thesis Research

Certifications

EBK Engineering Registration
SME Professional Certification

Specializations

Machine Tool Design

Focuses on machine tool design, covering structures, mechanisms, dynamics, precision, and designing machine tools.

Manufacturing Processes

Examines manufacturing processes, covering machining, forming, casting, joining, and managing manufacturing processes.

CNC and Automation

Covers CNC and automation, covering programming, control, robotics, integration, and managing CNC and automation systems.

CAD/CAM

Focuses on CAD/CAM, covering design, modelling, simulation, manufacturing, and managing CAD/CAM systems.

Quality Engineering

Examines quality engineering, covering inspection, control, assurance, standards, and managing quality systems.

Production Management

Covers production management, covering planning, scheduling, control, optimisation, and managing production operations.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 200,000
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

Machine Tool Design
Manufacturing Processes and Systems
CAD/CAM and Digital Manufacturing
CNC Machining and Programming
Industrial Automation and Robotics
Materials Engineering and Selection
Quality Control and Assurance
Production Planning and Management
Research Methods in Manufacturing
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Machine Tool Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines structures, mechanisms, dynamics, precision, design, and designing machine tools.
Advanced Manufacturing Processes
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers machining, forming, casting, joining, additive, and managing manufacturing processes.
Research Methods in Manufacturing
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, methods, and conducting research, preparing students for their thesis.
CAD/CAM and Digital Manufacturing
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines design, modelling, simulation, manufacturing, software, and managing CAD/CAM systems.
CNC Machining and Programming
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers programming, control, machining, operations, systems, and managing CNC systems.
Industrial Automation and Robotics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines robotics, control, integration, PLC, systems, and managing automation systems.
Materials Engineering and Selection
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers properties, selection, testing, treatment, performance, and managing materials for manufacturing.
Quality Control and Assurance
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines inspection, control, assurance, standards, systems, and managing quality in manufacturing.
Production Planning and Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers planning, scheduling, control, optimisation, lean, and managing production operations.
Precision Engineering and Metrology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines precision, measurement, metrology, tolerances, calibration, and managing precision in manufacturing.
Advanced Tooling and Fixture Design
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers tooling, fixtures, jigs, dies, moulds, and designing tooling systems for manufacturing.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a machine tool design and manufacturing topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and manufacturing engineering knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Machine Tool Design
Focuses on machine tool design, covering structures, mechanisms, dynamics, precision, and designing machine tools.
Manufacturing Processes
Examines manufacturing processes, covering machining, forming, casting, joining, and managing manufacturing processes.
CNC and Automation
Covers CNC and automation, covering programming, control, robotics, integration, and managing CNC and automation systems.
CAD/CAM
Focuses on CAD/CAM, covering design, modelling, simulation, manufacturing, and managing CAD/CAM systems.
Quality Engineering
Examines quality engineering, covering inspection, control, assurance, standards, and managing quality systems.
Production Management
Covers production management, covering planning, scheduling, control, optimisation, and managing production operations.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Machine Tool Design and Manufacturing programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, workshop practice, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover machine tool design, manufacturing processes, CAD/CAM, CNC machining, and automation. Machine tool design sessions examine structures, mechanisms, dynamics, precision, and designing machine tools. Manufacturing processes sessions cover machining, forming, casting, joining, additive, and managing manufacturing processes. CAD/CAM sessions cover design, modelling, simulation, manufacturing, and managing CAD/CAM systems. CNC sessions cover programming, control, machining, operations, and managing CNC systems. Automation sessions cover robotics, control, integration, PLC, and managing automation systems. Materials engineering sessions cover properties, selection, testing, treatment, and managing materials. Quality control sessions cover inspection, control, assurance, standards, and managing quality. Production management sessions cover planning, scheduling, control, optimisation, and managing production. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with CNC machines, CAD/CAM software, and materials testing. Workshop practice provides hands-on experience with machining, fabrication, and assembly. Seminars provide opportunities for presenting research findings and debating current issues in manufacturing. Guest lectures from experienced manufacturing engineers, tool designers, and production managers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a machine tool design and manufacturing topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Highly specialised programme unique to DeKUT, filling a niche in Kenya's manufacturing sector.
Programme addresses Kenya's industrialisation goals and manufacturing capacity building.
DeKUT has engineering laboratories and workshop facilities for hands-on training.
Graduates are eligible for EBK registration and SME professional certification.

Against it

Tuition fees could not be verified from publicly available online sources.
Only one university (DeKUT, public) confirmed offering this specific programme.
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Programme requires mechanical or mechatronics engineering background, limiting access.

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 200k

181k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology200k at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology

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

JKUAT ~181K/yr(kenyaeducationguide). DeKUT & private unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. DeKUT may offer scholarships for eligible students. KAM may offer industry grants for manufacturing research. Some manufacturing companies may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
DeKUT Scholarship
KAM Industry Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
DeKUT Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
DeKUT offers scholarships for eligible postgraduate students.
KAM Industry Grant
ScholarshipKsh 250,000Kenyan
KAM may offer industry grants for manufacturing research and training.

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 with at least Second Class Honours (Upper Division) in Mechanical Engineering or Mechatronics Engineering. Lower Second Class may be considered with additional relevant training, evidence of research capability, and at least two years of relevant working experience. Any other Bachelor's degree in engineering deemed equivalent by DeKUT Senate may also be considered. Contact DeKUT 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, workshop reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering machine tool design, manufacturing processes, CAD/CAM, and automation.
Practical and Laboratory Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory work, workshop practice, CNC programming, CAD/CAM projects, and demonstrating manufacturing engineering skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a machine tool design and manufacturing topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and manufacturing engineering 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 Machine Tools Designs and Manufacturing through the School of Engineering. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in manufacturing engineering. Graduates are eligible for EBK engineering registration and SME professional certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. DeKUT (public) offers MSc in Machine Tools Designs and Manufacturing through the School of Engineering. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in manufacturing engineering. Graduates are eligible for EBK engineering registration and SME professional certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Machine Tool Designer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Designs machine tools, overseeing structures, mechanisms, dynamics, precision, and designing machine tools.
Manufacturing Engineer
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages manufacturing processes, overseeing machining, forming, casting, and managing manufacturing operations.
CNC Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages CNC systems, overseeing programming, control, machining, and managing CNC operations.
Automation Engineer
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages automation systems, overseeing robotics, control, integration, and managing automation.
Production Manager
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages production operations, overseeing planning, scheduling, control, and managing production.
Manufacturing Engineering Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaches manufacturing engineering at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SolidWorks
SoftwarePrimary
SolidWorks for CAD design and modelling, covering design, modelling, assembly, simulation, and managing CAD.
Mastercam
Software
Mastercam for CAM and CNC programming, covering programming, toolpaths, simulation, and managing CNC.
MATLAB
Software
MATLAB for engineering analysis and modelling, covering computation, modelling, simulation, and managing engineering data.
ANSYS
Software
ANSYS for finite element analysis, covering simulation, analysis, optimisation, and managing engineering simulations.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Machine tool design is just about making tools.
Machine tool design covers comprehensive engineering, structures, mechanisms, dynamics, and precision beyond just making tools.
Manufacturing engineering is just about running machines.
Manufacturing engineering covers comprehensive processes, systems, optimisation, and management beyond just running machines.
CNC is just about programming.
CNC covers comprehensive programming, control, machining, operations, and systems management beyond just programming.
Automation is just about robots.
Automation covers comprehensive robotics, control, integration, PLC, and systems beyond just robots.
This programme is only for mechanical engineers.
Machine tool design skills are valuable for mechatronics, industrial, and production engineers beyond just mechanical engineers.
Manufacturing careers are declining in Kenya.
Kenya's manufacturing sector is growing with government focus on industrialisation, creating demand for advanced manufacturing professionals.