Engineering

Master of Science in Mechatronic Engineering

The Master of Science in Mechatronic Engineering is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in mechatronic systems, robotics, automation, and intelligent control. The programme integrates mechanical engineering, electronics, control engineering, and computing into a unified discipline.

Core areas include robotics, control systems, embedded systems, sensors and actuators, programmable logic controllers, industrial automation, artificial intelligence in engineering, digital manufacturing, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, laboratory work, design projects, and research.

The programme is offered by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology through the Department of Mechatronic Engineering in the School of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Materials Engineering. JKUAT is a public university offering the programme over two academic years through full-time mode only.

Students develop competencies in mechatronic system design, robotics, control systems, embedded systems, industrial automation, and engineering research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, design projects, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for advanced engineering roles in automation, robotics, and smart manufacturing.

JKUAT charges KES 362,000 total for the programme (~KES 181,000/year). Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Second Class Honours (Upper Division) in Mechatronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as mechatronics engineers, robotics engineers, automation engineers, control systems engineers, embedded systems engineers, and lecturers in mechatronic engineering across manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, robotics, and technology sectors.

Skills Required

Mechatronic System Design and Integration
Robotics and Autonomous Systems
Control Systems Engineering
Embedded Systems and Microcontrollers
Industrial Automation and PLC Programming
Sensors and Actuators
Digital Manufacturing and Industry 4.0
Artificial Intelligence in Engineering
Research Methods in Engineering
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Robotics and Autonomous Systems
Control Systems Engineering
Embedded Systems and Microcontrollers
Sensors and Actuators
Industrial Automation and PLCs
Digital Manufacturing and Industry 4.0
Artificial Intelligence in Engineering
Mechatronic System Design
Research Methods in Engineering
Thesis Research

Certifications

EBK Professional Registration
IEEE Professional Membership

Specializations

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Focuses on robotics, covering kinematics, dynamics, control, navigation, and managing robotic systems.

Industrial Automation

Examines industrial automation, covering PLCs, SCADA, control, processes, and managing automation systems.

Control Systems Engineering

Covers control systems, covering modelling, analysis, design, stability, and managing control systems.

Embedded Systems

Focuses on embedded systems, covering microcontrollers, programming, interfacing, real-time, and managing embedded systems.

Digital Manufacturing and Industry 4.0

Examines digital manufacturing, covering IoT, smart factories, data, automation, and managing Industry 4.0.

Intelligent Systems and AI

Covers intelligent systems, covering AI, machine learning, perception, decision, and managing intelligent engineering 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
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Robotics and Autonomous Systems
Control Systems Engineering
Embedded Systems and Microcontrollers
Sensors and Actuators
Industrial Automation and PLCs
Digital Manufacturing and Industry 4.0
Artificial Intelligence in Engineering
Mechatronic System Design
Research Methods in Engineering
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Robotics and Autonomous Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines kinematics, dynamics, control, navigation, and managing robotic systems.
Control Systems Engineering
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers modelling, analysis, design, stability, and managing control systems.
Embedded Systems and Microcontrollers
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines microcontrollers, programming, interfacing, real-time systems, and managing embedded systems.
Research Methods in Engineering
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, methods, and conducting research, preparing students for their thesis.
Sensors and Actuators
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines types, interfacing, signal conditioning, calibration, and managing sensor and actuator systems.
Industrial Automation and PLC Programming
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers PLCs, SCADA, control, processes, and managing automation systems.
Digital Manufacturing and Industry 4.0
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines IoT, smart factories, data, automation, and managing Industry 4.0 technologies.
Artificial Intelligence in Engineering
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers machine learning, perception, decision-making, and managing intelligent engineering systems.
Mechatronic System Design and Integration
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines design, integration, modelling, simulation, and managing mechatronic systems.
Digital Signal Processing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers signals, filters, transforms, processing, and managing digital signal processing.
Computer Vision and Image Processing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines vision, images, processing, recognition, and managing computer vision systems.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a mechatronic engineering topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and engineering knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Robotics and Autonomous Systems
Focuses on robotics, covering kinematics, dynamics, control, navigation, and managing robotic systems.
Industrial Automation
Examines industrial automation, covering PLCs, SCADA, control, processes, and managing automation systems.
Control Systems Engineering
Covers control systems, covering modelling, analysis, design, stability, and managing control systems.
Embedded Systems
Focuses on embedded systems, covering microcontrollers, programming, interfacing, real-time, and managing embedded systems.
Digital Manufacturing and Industry 4.0
Examines digital manufacturing, covering IoT, smart factories, data, automation, and managing Industry 4.0.
Intelligent Systems and AI
Covers intelligent systems, covering AI, machine learning, perception, decision, and managing intelligent engineering systems.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Mechatronic Engineering programme combines lectures, laboratory work, design projects, computational labs, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover robotics, control systems, embedded systems, sensors and actuators, and industrial automation. Robotics sessions examine kinematics, dynamics, control, navigation, and managing robotic systems. Control systems sessions cover modelling, analysis, design, stability, and managing control systems. Embedded systems sessions cover microcontrollers, programming, interfacing, real-time systems, and managing embedded systems. Sensors and actuators sessions cover types, interfacing, signal conditioning, calibration, and managing sensor systems. Industrial automation sessions cover PLCs, SCADA, control, processes, and managing automation systems. Digital manufacturing sessions cover IoT, smart factories, data, automation, and managing Industry 4.0. AI in engineering sessions cover machine learning, perception, decision-making, and managing intelligent systems. Computational labs provide hands-on experience with MATLAB, Simulink, ROS, and Python for mechatronic system simulation and control. Design projects provide hands-on experience with mechatronic system design, prototyping, and testing. Laboratory work provides practical experience with robotics, PLCs, microcontrollers, and automation equipment. Seminars provide opportunities for presenting research findings and debating current issues in mechatronic engineering. Guest lectures from experienced engineers and industry professionals provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a mechatronic engineering topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme integrates mechanical, electronic, control, and computing into a cutting-edge discipline.
JKUAT offers competitive fees at KES 362,000 total (~KES 181,000/year).
High demand for mechatronics and automation professionals with Kenya's Industry 4.0 transition.
Graduates are eligible for EBK professional registration and IEEE professional membership.

Against it

Only one university (JKUAT, public) confirmed offering this specific programme.
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Programme is full-time only, limiting options for working professionals.
Programme requires a Bachelor's degree in engineering, limiting access for non-engineering graduates.

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 291k

181k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology291k 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 Grp I Eng ~291K/yr(eafinder). JKUAT ~181K/yr(kenyaeducationguide). Private unverified.

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

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
JKUAT Scholarship
IEEE Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
JKUAT Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 181,000Kenyan
JKUAT offers scholarships for eligible postgraduate students.
IEEE Grant
ScholarshipKsh 100,000
IEEE may offer grants for engineering education and research.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: JKUAT requires at least an Upper Second Class degree in a relevant engineering field. Lower Second Class may be considered with two years of relevant experience, professional development, or a Postgraduate Diploma. Contact JKUAT 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 robotics, control systems, embedded systems, and industrial automation.
Design Project Assessment
Project40% of the mark
Practical assessment through design projects, system integration, laboratory work, and demonstrating mechatronic engineering skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a mechatronic 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). Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (public) offers MSc in Mechatronic Engineering through the Department of Mechatronic Engineering. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in mechatronic engineering. Graduates are eligible for EBK professional registration and IEEE professional membership.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE and regulated by the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK). Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (public) offers MSc in Mechatronic Engineering through the Department of Mechatronic Engineering. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in mechatronic engineering. Graduates are eligible for EBK professional registration and IEEE professional membership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Mechatronics Engineer
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Designs mechatronic systems, overseeing integration, modelling, testing, and managing mechatronic systems.
Robotics Engineer
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Designs robotic systems, overseeing kinematics, control, programming, and managing robotic systems.
Automation Engineer
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages automation systems, overseeing PLCs, SCADA, control, and managing industrial automation.
Control Systems Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Designs control systems, overseeing modelling, analysis, design, and managing control systems.
Embedded Systems Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Designs embedded systems, overseeing microcontrollers, programming, interfacing, and managing embedded systems.
Mechatronic Engineering Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaches mechatronic engineering at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

MATLAB and Simulink
SoftwarePrimary
MATLAB and Simulink for modelling, simulation, and control of mechatronic systems, covering modelling, simulation, analysis, and managing mechatronic systems.
ROS (Robot Operating System)
Software
ROS for robotics development and programming, covering robots, control, navigation, and managing robotic systems.
Python
Software
Python for data analysis, machine learning, and automation, covering data, AI, automation, and managing intelligent systems.
LabVIEW
Software
LabVIEW for data acquisition, instrument control, and automation, covering DAQ, control, testing, and managing measurement systems.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Mechatronic engineering is just about robots.
Mechatronic engineering covers comprehensive mechanical, electronic, control, and computing systems beyond just robots.
This programme is only for electrical engineers.
Mechatronic engineering integrates mechanical, electrical, and computing disciplines, welcoming graduates from all these fields.
Automation is just about programming machines.
Automation covers comprehensive control, sensors, actuators, systems, and integration beyond just programming machines.
Robotics has limited applications in Kenya.
Kenya's growing manufacturing sector, agriculture, and technology industry increasingly adopt robotics and automation.
Embedded systems are just about small computers.
Embedded systems cover comprehensive microcontrollers, real-time systems, interfacing, and applications beyond just small computers.
Industry 4.0 is just a buzzword.
Industry 4.0 covers comprehensive IoT, data, smart factories, automation, and digital transformation beyond just a buzzword.