Engineering

Master of Science in Process Engineering

The Master of Science in Process Engineering is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates in process engineering, chemical process design, process optimisation, and industrial process management. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers in process industries, chemical manufacturing, oil and gas, food processing, and engineering consultancy.

Core areas include process engineering, process design, process control, process optimisation, heat transfer, mass transfer, fluid mechanics, reaction engineering, process safety, process modelling, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical process engineering applications.

The programme is offered by Turkana University College, Kabarak University, and Technical University of Kenya, with Taita Taveta University as a college. TUK offers Chemical and Process Engineering through its School of Chemical and Biological Systems Engineering. Taita Taveta University offers MSc Process Engineering with entry requiring Bachelor's degree in engineering with Upper Second or Lower with 2 years industrial experience. Moi University offers related MSc Chemical Engineering.

Students develop competencies in process design, process simulation, equipment design, process control, safety analysis, optimisation, and research. The programme includes coursework, laboratory practicals, design projects, examinations, supervised research, and thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years. Taita Taveta University offers MSc Process Engineering with full-time and part-time modes. TUK offers postgraduate degrees in Chemical Engineering. Entry requires Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, process engineering, or related engineering fields with Upper Second or Lower with 2 years industrial experience.

Graduates pursue careers as process engineers, design engineers, production managers, safety engineers, and lecturers in process industries, oil and gas, manufacturing, consultancy, and universities.

Skills Required

Process Design and Flowsheet Development
Process Simulation and Modelling
Heat and Mass Transfer Operations
Chemical Reaction Engineering
Process Control and Instrumentation
Process Safety and Risk Assessment
Process Optimisation and Energy Integration
Equipment Design and Sizing
Process Economics and Project Evaluation
Process Engineering Research Methods

Key Subjects

Process Engineering
Process Design
Heat and Mass Transfer
Chemical Reaction Engineering
Process Control and Instrumentation
Process Safety
Process Optimisation
Process Modelling and Simulation
Equipment Design
Process Engineering Research Methods

Certifications

EBK Professional Engineer Registration
IChemE Chartered Chemical Engineer

Specializations

Process Design

Focuses on process design, flowsheet development, equipment sizing, PFD and P and ID development, design specifications, and designing chemical and industrial processes.

Process Control

Examines process control, instrumentation, control systems, PID controllers, process dynamics, feedback control, and controlling and monitoring industrial processes.

Reaction Engineering

Covers chemical reaction engineering, reactor design, reaction kinetics, catalysis, reactor types, and designing and optimising chemical reactors.

Process Safety

Focuses on process safety, hazard analysis, HAZOP, risk assessment, safety systems, process safety management, and ensuring safety in process industries.

Process Optimisation

Examines process optimisation, energy integration, pinch analysis, heat exchanger networks, process intensification, and optimising process efficiency and energy use.

Process Modelling and Simulation

Covers process modelling, process simulation, computational methods, numerical methods, CFD, and using computational tools for process engineering.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 260,000
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

Process Engineering
Process Design
Heat and Mass Transfer
Chemical Reaction Engineering
Process Control and Instrumentation
Process Safety
Process Optimisation
Process Modelling and Simulation
Equipment Design
Process Engineering Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Process Design and Flowsheet Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines process design, flowsheet development, equipment sizing, PFD and P and ID development, design specifications, material selection, and designing chemical and industrial processes.
Advanced Heat and Mass Transfer
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers conduction, convection, radiation, heat exchangers, distillation, absorption, extraction, adsorption, drying, membrane separation, and designing heat and mass transfer equipment.
Chemical Reaction Engineering and Reactor Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines reaction kinetics, reactor design, batch reactors, CSTR, PFR, catalysis, heterogeneous reactions, reactor stability, and designing and optimising chemical reactors.
Advanced Fluid Mechanics and Transport Phenomena
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers fluid properties, fluid flow, momentum transfer, pumps, compressors, piping systems, pressure drop, non-Newtonian fluids, and understanding fluid flow in processes.
Process Control and Instrumentation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines process dynamics, feedback control, PID controllers, control loops, instrumentation, sensors, actuators, SCADA, DCS, and controlling and monitoring industrial processes.
Process Safety and Risk Assessment
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers hazard analysis, HAZOP, HAZAN, risk assessment, safety systems, relief systems, safety instrumented systems, process safety management, and ensuring safety in process industries.
Process Optimisation and Energy Integration
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines energy integration, pinch analysis, heat exchanger networks, process intensification, optimisation methods, linear programming, and optimising process efficiency and energy use.
Process Modelling and Simulation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers process simulation, Aspen Plus, HYSYS, computational methods, numerical methods, CFD, process modelling, and using computational tools for process engineering.
Equipment Design and Selection
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines pressure vessel design, distillation column design, heat exchanger design, reactor design, pump selection, compressor selection, and designing and selecting process equipment.
Process Engineering Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods for process engineering, experimental design, pilot plant methods, data analysis, statistical methods, and conducting process engineering research, preparing students for their thesis.
Process Economics and Project Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines cost estimation, project evaluation, NPV, IRR, payback period, economic analysis, project management, procurement, and evaluating and managing process engineering projects.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a process engineering topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and process engineering knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Process Design
Focuses on process design, flowsheet development, equipment sizing, PFD and P and ID development, design specifications, and designing chemical and industrial processes.
Process Control
Examines process control, instrumentation, control systems, PID controllers, process dynamics, feedback control, and controlling and monitoring industrial processes.
Reaction Engineering
Covers chemical reaction engineering, reactor design, reaction kinetics, catalysis, reactor types, and designing and optimising chemical reactors.
Process Safety
Focuses on process safety, hazard analysis, HAZOP, risk assessment, safety systems, process safety management, and ensuring safety in process industries.
Process Optimisation
Examines process optimisation, energy integration, pinch analysis, heat exchanger networks, process intensification, and optimising process efficiency and energy use.
Process Modelling and Simulation
Covers process modelling, process simulation, computational methods, numerical methods, CFD, and using computational tools for process engineering.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc Process Engineering programme begins with morning lectures on process design, heat transfer, or reaction engineering. Students engage in theoretical discussions on process principles, equipment design, and process optimisation. Process design sessions cover flowsheet development, equipment sizing, PFD and P and ID development, design specifications, material selection, and designing chemical and industrial processes. Heat transfer sessions examine conduction, convection, radiation, heat exchangers, heat exchanger networks, furnaces, boilers, and understanding and designing heat transfer equipment. Mass transfer sessions cover distillation, absorption, extraction, adsorption, drying, membrane separation, and designing mass transfer equipment. Fluid mechanics sessions examine fluid properties, fluid flow, pumps, compressors, piping systems, pressure drop, and understanding fluid flow in processes. Reaction engineering sessions cover reaction kinetics, reactor design, batch reactors, CSTR, PFR, catalysis, heterogeneous reactions, and designing and optimising chemical reactors. Process control sessions examine process dynamics, feedback control, PID controllers, control loops, instrumentation, sensors, actuators, and controlling and monitoring industrial processes. Process safety sessions cover hazard analysis, HAZOP, HAZAN, risk assessment, safety systems, relief systems, process safety management, and ensuring safety in process industries. Process optimisation sessions examine energy integration, pinch analysis, heat exchanger networks, process intensification, optimisation methods, and optimising process efficiency. Process modelling sessions cover process simulation, Aspen Plus, HYSYS, computational methods, numerical methods, CFD, and using computational tools for process engineering. Equipment design sessions examine pressure vessel design, distillation column design, heat exchanger design, reactor design, pump selection, and designing process equipment. Process economics sessions cover cost estimation, project evaluation, NPV, IRR, payback period, economic analysis, and evaluating process engineering projects. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with process equipment, pilot plants, process control experiments, and measurement techniques. Design projects provide hands-on experience with process design, flowsheet development, equipment sizing, and process simulation. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering process engineering research methods, experimental design, and data analysis. Guest lectures from TUK faculty, EBK officials, industry engineers, and international process engineering experts provide real-world insights. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's growing manufacturing sector, oil and gas industry, food processing, pharmaceuticals, and energy sector create high demand for qualified process engineering professionals.
TUK offers Chemical and Process Engineering through its School of Chemical and Biological Systems Engineering, and Taita Taveta University offers MSc Process Engineering, providing established training.
Career opportunities with process industries, oil and gas companies, food processing, pharmaceuticals, cement, sugar, brewing, consultancy, and international organisations like IChemE and AIChE.
Programme addresses Kenya's industrialisation, manufacturing, energy, and process safety needs.

Against it

Programme requires engineering background, which excludes non-engineering graduates.
Laboratory and design work requires access to process engineering laboratories, pilot plants, and simulation software, which may be limited.
Kabarak University (private) fees at KES 250,000/year are relatively expensive compared to public universities.
Programme involves advanced mathematics, thermodynamics, and computational methods, which may be challenging for some students.

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

Public260k to 260k

260k at Technical University of Kenya260k 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 Group I Eng 260K/yr (eafinder.com). Turkana doesn't offer eng. Private unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. EBK supports engineering training and professional development. IChemE and AIChE support chemical engineering professional development. The programme's process engineering focus attracts industrial, energy, and international funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
EBK Engineering Training Fund
IChemE Professional Development Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate process engineering studies at recognised universities.
EBK Engineering Training Fund
GrantKsh 200,000Kenyan
EBK supports engineering training and professional development in Kenya, providing funding for postgraduate engineering studies.
IChemE Professional Development Funding
GrantKsh 200,000
IChemE supports chemical engineering professional development globally, providing funding for postgraduate study and professional development in process engineering.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme accepts graduates from chemical engineering, process engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, biosystems engineering, and related engineering fields. Taita Taveta University requires Bachelor's degree in relevant engineering field with Upper Second or Lower with 2 years industrial experience. TUK offers postgraduate degrees in Chemical Engineering. Two-year programme with full-time and part-time modes.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, design exercises, simulation projects, problem sets, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering process design, heat and mass transfer, reaction engineering, process control, and process safety, conducted at end of each semester.
Design Project and Laboratory Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Assessment of design projects, process simulation, laboratory work, pilot plant experiments, and practical reports.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a process engineering topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and process engineering knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). TUK offers Chemical and Process Engineering through its School of Chemical and Biological Systems Engineering. Taita Taveta University offers MSc Process Engineering. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate process engineering training. EBK regulates engineering practice in Kenya, and IChemE and AIChE support chemical engineering professional development internationally.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. TUK offers Chemical and Process Engineering through its School of Chemical and Biological Systems Engineering. Taita Taveta University offers MSc Process Engineering. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate process engineering training.
Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK)
Professional accreditationRequired
EBK regulates engineering practice in Kenya. Graduates seeking professional engineer registration must meet EBK requirements. The programme supports EBK professional engineering standards.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Process Engineer
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Designs and optimises industrial processes, overseeing process design, equipment selection, process improvement, and supporting process operations in manufacturing.
Design Engineer
High demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 550,000
Designs process equipment and systems, overseeing equipment design, flowsheet development, specifications, and supporting process design and engineering.
Production Manager
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages production operations, overseeing process operations, quality control, production planning, and supporting manufacturing and production.
Safety Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages process safety, overseeing hazard analysis, risk assessment, safety systems, compliance, and supporting process safety in industrial operations.
Process Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 650,000
Provides process engineering consultancy, overseeing process audits, optimisation studies, feasibility studies, and supporting process improvement projects.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches process engineering in universities, conducting research and training future process engineering professionals.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as process engineers, design engineers, and production managers in process industries, oil and gas, and manufacturing.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Aspen Plus
SoftwarePrimary
Process simulation software for chemical process design, flowsheet simulation, equipment sizing, thermodynamic modelling, and process engineering simulation.
Aspen HYSYS
SoftwarePrimary
Process simulation software for process design, oil and gas processing, refinery simulation, and process engineering modelling and simulation.
MATLAB
Software
Numerical computing software for process engineering calculations, data processing, control system design, mathematical modelling, and scientific computing.
COMSOL Multiphysics
Software
Multiphysics simulation software for CFD, heat transfer, mass transfer, reaction engineering, and computational modelling in process engineering.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Process engineering is just about pipes and valves.
The programme involves process design, reaction engineering, process control, safety, optimisation, modelling, and research, covering comprehensive process engineering.
This programme is only for chemical engineering graduates.
The programme accepts graduates from chemical engineering, process engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, and related engineering fields.
There is limited demand for process engineers in Kenya.
Kenya's growing manufacturing sector, oil and gas industry, food processing, pharmaceuticals, and energy sector create high demand for qualified process engineering professionals.
Process engineering is only relevant for oil and gas.
Process engineering is relevant for food processing, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, cement, sugar, brewing, textiles, water treatment, and many other process industries.
Process safety is just common sense.
Process safety involves systematic hazard analysis, HAZOP, risk assessment, safety instrumented systems, and regulatory compliance, requiring specialised knowledge and training.
A master's in process engineering is redundant after a bachelor's in chemical engineering.
The master's provides specialised process engineering skills, design expertise, research capability, and career progression to senior engineering and management positions.