Engineering

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in mechanical engineering, design, manufacturing, and energy systems. The programme combines engineering theory with computational methods, design optimisation, and industrial applications.

Core areas include advanced thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, design and production engineering, industrial engineering, materials science, heat transfer, solid mechanics, computational fluid dynamics, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, design projects, laboratory work, and research.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, and Multimedia University of Kenya. All are public universities offering the programme over a minimum of two years through full-time and part-time modes.

Students develop competencies in mechanical design, thermal systems, manufacturing, industrial engineering, computational methods, and engineering research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, design projects, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for advanced engineering roles across multiple sectors.

UoN charges KES 1,061,000 total (~KES 530,500/year), while JKUAT charges KES 362,000 total (~KES 181,000/year). Entry requires a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering with at least Second Class Honours (Upper Division) from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as mechanical design engineers, thermal systems engineers, manufacturing engineers, industrial engineers, project managers, and lecturers in mechanical engineering across manufacturing, energy, automotive, construction, consulting, and academic sectors.

Skills Required

Advanced Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics
Design and Production Engineering
Industrial Engineering and Optimisation
Materials Science and Engineering
Heat Transfer and Thermal Systems
Solid Mechanics and Structural Analysis
Computational Fluid Dynamics and FEA
Manufacturing Processes and Automation
Research Methods in Engineering
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Advanced Thermodynamics
Fluid Mechanics
Design and Production Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering
Heat Transfer
Solid Mechanics
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Manufacturing Processes
Research Methods and Thesis

Certifications

EBK Professional Registration
ASME Professional Certification

Specializations

Design and Production Engineering

Focuses on design and production engineering, covering design, manufacturing, production, optimisation, and managing design and production.

Advanced Thermodynamics and Fluids Engineering

Examines thermodynamics and fluids, covering heat, energy, transfer, systems, and managing thermal and fluid systems.

Industrial Engineering

Covers industrial engineering, covering optimisation, operations, production, systems, and managing industrial engineering.

Materials Science and Engineering

Focuses on materials science, covering properties, characterisation, selection, design, and managing materials engineering.

Manufacturing Engineering

Examines manufacturing engineering, covering processes, automation, quality, production, and managing manufacturing.

Energy Systems Engineering

Covers energy systems, covering thermal, renewable, power, efficiency, and managing energy systems.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 530,500
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

Advanced Thermodynamics
Fluid Mechanics
Design and Production Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering
Heat Transfer
Solid Mechanics
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Manufacturing Processes
Research Methods and Thesis

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Thermodynamics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines heat, energy, entropy, cycles, systems, and managing thermal systems.
Fluid Mechanics and Computational Fluid Dynamics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers flow, dynamics, CFD, turbulence, modelling, and managing fluid systems.
Design and Production Engineering
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines design, manufacturing, production, optimisation, and managing design and production.
Research Methods in Engineering
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, methods, and conducting research, preparing students for their thesis.
Industrial Engineering and Operations Research
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines optimisation, operations, production, systems, and managing industrial engineering.
Materials Science and Engineering
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers properties, characterisation, selection, design, and managing materials engineering.
Heat Transfer and Thermal Systems
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines conduction, convection, radiation, exchangers, and managing heat transfer systems.
Solid Mechanics and Structural Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers stress, strain, elasticity, plasticity, FEA, and managing solid mechanics.
Manufacturing Processes and Automation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines processes, automation, quality, production, and managing manufacturing.
Energy Systems and Renewable Energy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers thermal, renewable, power, efficiency, and managing energy systems.
Engineering Management and Project Planning
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines management, planning, leadership, projects, and managing engineering projects.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a mechanical engineering topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and engineering knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Design and Production Engineering
Focuses on design and production engineering, covering design, manufacturing, production, optimisation, and managing design and production.
Advanced Thermodynamics and Fluids Engineering
Examines thermodynamics and fluids, covering heat, energy, transfer, systems, and managing thermal and fluid systems.
Industrial Engineering
Covers industrial engineering, covering optimisation, operations, production, systems, and managing industrial engineering.
Materials Science and Engineering
Focuses on materials science, covering properties, characterisation, selection, design, and managing materials engineering.
Manufacturing Engineering
Examines manufacturing engineering, covering processes, automation, quality, production, and managing manufacturing.
Energy Systems Engineering
Covers energy systems, covering thermal, renewable, power, efficiency, and managing energy systems.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Mechanical Engineering programme combines lectures, laboratory work, design projects, computational labs, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover advanced thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, design and production, industrial engineering, and materials science. Thermodynamics sessions examine heat, energy, transfer, systems, and managing thermal systems. Fluid mechanics sessions cover flow, dynamics, CFD, turbulence, and managing fluid systems. Design and production sessions cover design, manufacturing, production, optimisation, and managing design and production. Industrial engineering sessions cover optimisation, operations, production, systems, and managing industrial engineering. Materials science sessions cover properties, characterisation, selection, design, and managing materials engineering. Heat transfer sessions cover conduction, convection, radiation, exchangers, and managing heat transfer. Solid mechanics sessions cover stress, strain, elasticity, plasticity, and managing solid mechanics. Computational labs provide hands-on experience with ANSYS, SolidWorks, and MATLAB for engineering simulation and analysis. Design projects provide hands-on experience with mechanical design, prototyping, and testing. Laboratory work provides practical experience with materials testing, thermal systems, and fluid mechanics experiments. Seminars provide opportunities for presenting research findings and debating current issues in mechanical engineering. Guest lectures from experienced engineers and industry professionals provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a mechanical engineering topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme offered at three public universities (UoN, JKUAT, MMU) providing options for students.
JKUAT offers competitive fees at KES 362,000 total (~KES 181,000/year).
High demand for mechanical engineers with Kenya's growing manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.
Graduates are eligible for EBK professional registration and ASME certification.

Against it

UoN fees are high at KES 1,061,000 total (~KES 530,500/year).
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Programme requires a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, limiting access for non-engineering graduates.
Significant fee disparity between JKUAT (KES 362,000) and UoN (KES 1,061,000) for the same programme.

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 Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology531k 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 F540 ~530K/yr(uonbi.ac.ke). JKUAT ~181K/yr(kenyaeducationguide). Private unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. UoN and JKUAT may offer scholarships for eligible students. ASME may offer grants for engineering education. Some manufacturing companies, energy firms, and industry bodies may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
UoN Scholarship
JKUAT Scholarship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
UoN Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 530,500Kenyan
University of Nairobi offers scholarships for eligible postgraduate students.
JKUAT Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 181,000Kenyan
JKUAT offers scholarships for eligible postgraduate 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 an Upper Second Class degree in Mechanical Engineering. JKUAT and MMU accept Lower Second Class with relevant work experience. Contact the 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 thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, design, materials science, and industrial engineering.
Design Project Assessment
Project40% of the mark
Practical assessment through design projects, computational analysis, laboratory work, and demonstrating engineering skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a mechanical 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, JKUAT, and Multimedia University of Kenya (all public) offer MSc in Mechanical Engineering. The programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in mechanical engineering. Graduates are eligible for EBK professional registration and ASME professional 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, JKUAT, and Multimedia University of Kenya (all public) offer MSc in Mechanical Engineering. The programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in mechanical engineering. Graduates are eligible for EBK professional registration and ASME professional certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Mechanical Design Engineer
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Designs mechanical systems and components, overseeing design, analysis, prototyping, and managing mechanical design.
Thermal Systems Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages thermal systems, overseeing heat transfer, energy, efficiency, and managing thermal systems.
Manufacturing Engineer
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages manufacturing operations, overseeing processes, automation, quality, and managing manufacturing.
Industrial Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Optimises industrial operations, overseeing optimisation, operations, systems, and managing industrial engineering.
Engineering Project Manager
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages engineering projects, overseeing planning, execution, leadership, and managing engineering projects.
Mechanical Engineering Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaches mechanical engineering at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

ANSYS
SoftwarePrimary
ANSYS for engineering simulation and analysis, covering FEA, CFD, thermal, and managing engineering simulation.
SolidWorks
Software
SolidWorks for 3D CAD design and modelling, covering design, modelling, assembly, and managing mechanical design.
MATLAB
Software
MATLAB for mathematical computing and engineering analysis, covering modelling, simulation, analysis, and managing computational engineering.
AutoCAD
Software
AutoCAD for 2D and 3D drafting and design, covering drawing, drafting, design, and managing engineering drawings.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Mechanical engineering is just about fixing cars.
Mechanical engineering covers comprehensive design, manufacturing, energy, materials, and industrial systems beyond just fixing cars.
This programme is only for practising engineers.
Mechanical engineering skills are valuable for researchers, consultants, managers, and educators beyond just practising engineers.
Thermodynamics is just about heat.
Thermodynamics covers comprehensive energy, entropy, cycles, systems, and applications beyond just heat.
Industrial engineering is just about factory management.
Industrial engineering covers comprehensive optimisation, operations, systems, quality, and productivity beyond just factory management.
Mechanical engineering careers are declining in Kenya.
Kenya's growing manufacturing sector, infrastructure development, and energy projects create demand for mechanical engineering professionals.
Computational methods are just about using software.
Computational methods cover comprehensive modelling, simulation, analysis, and validation beyond just using software.