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Engineering

Master of Science in Telecommunication Engineering

<p>The Master of Science in Telecommunication Engineering is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in telecommunications, networking, and communication systems engineering. The programme provides specialised training in telecommunication systems, wireless communications, network design, signal processing, and mobile communications.

Duration
2 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 181,000
Ksh 362,000 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 181,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 362,000 for the whole course.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of N/A (Postgraduate) or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 2 years, full-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 2 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Early Childhood Strategist, at 10 out of 100.The detail

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Overview

Core areas include telecommunication systems, wireless and mobile communications, network design and optimisation, signal processing, optical communications, satellite communications, antenna design, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, laboratory sessions, and research.

The programme is offered by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology as a public institution through the Department of Telecommunication and Information Engineering. Multimedia University of Kenya offers a closely related MSc in Communication and Multimedia Engineering. The programme is available in full-time mode over two years, combining coursework with research.

Students develop competencies in telecommunication systems, wireless communications, network design, signal processing, and research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, laboratory sessions, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for telecommunication engineering and networking roles.

JKUAT charges approximately KES 181,000 per year while MMU charges approximately KES 150,000 per year. No private university confirmed offering this exact programme. Entry requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Telecommunication Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as telecommunication engineers, network engineers, RF engineers, signal processing engineers, telecommunication consultants, and lecturers across telecommunication companies, ISPs, government agencies, and universities.

Skills Required

  • Telecommunication Systems Design
  • Wireless and Mobile Communications
  • Network Design and Optimisation
  • Digital Signal Processing
  • Optical Communications and Fibre Networks
  • Satellite Communications
  • Antenna Design and Propagation
  • Telecommunication Project Management
  • Research Methods in Telecommunication Engineering
  • Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

  • Telecommunication Systems Design
  • Wireless and Mobile Communications
  • Network Design and Optimisation
  • Digital Signal Processing
  • Optical Communications and Fibre Networks
  • Satellite Communications
  • Antenna Design and Propagation
  • Telecommunication Project Management
  • Research Methods in Telecommunication Engineering
  • Thesis Research

Certifications

  • IEEE Communications Society Membership
  • ITU Professional Membership

Specializations

Wireless and Mobile Communications

Focuses on wireless communications, covering wireless, mobile, communications, networks, and managing wireless and mobile communication systems.

Network Design and Optimisation

Examines network design, covering networks, design, optimisation, telecommunications, and managing network design and optimisation.

Signal Processing

Covers signal processing, covering signals, processing, digital, analysis, and managing signal processing and analysis.

Optical Communications

Focuses on optical communications, covering optical, communications, fibre, networks, and managing optical communications and fibre networks.

Satellite Communications

Examines satellite communications, covering satellite, communications, systems, space, and managing satellite communication systems.

Antenna Design and Propagation

Covers antenna design, covering antennas, design, propagation, electromagnetics, and managing antenna design and propagation.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Telecommunication Systems Design
  • Wireless and Mobile Communications
  • Network Design and Optimisation
  • Digital Signal Processing
  • Optical Communications and Fibre Networks
  • Satellite Communications
  • Antenna Design and Propagation
  • Telecommunication Project Management
  • Research Methods in Telecommunication Engineering
  • Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Telecommunication Systems Design

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines telecommunication systems, covering systems, telecommunications, design, engineering, and managing telecommunication systems design.

  • Wireless and Mobile Communications

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers wireless communications, covering wireless, mobile, communications, networks, and managing wireless and mobile communication systems.

  • Network Design and Optimisation

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines network design, covering networks, design, optimisation, telecommunications, and managing network design and optimisation.

  • Digital Signal Processing

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers signal processing, covering signals, processing, digital, analysis, and managing signal processing and analysis.

  • Optical Communications and Fibre Networks

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines optical communications, covering optical, communications, fibre, networks, and managing optical communications and fibre networks.

  • Satellite Communications

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers satellite communications, covering satellite, communications, systems, space, and managing satellite communication systems.

  • Antenna Design and Propagation

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Examines antenna design, covering antennas, design, propagation, electromagnetics, and managing antenna design and propagation.

  • Research Methods in Telecommunication Engineering

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers research, methods, telecommunications, engineering, and conducting research in telecommunication engineering, preparing students for their thesis.

  • Telecommunication Project Management

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Examines project management, covering projects, telecommunications, management, planning, and managing telecommunication projects and implementation.

  • Mobile Network Planning and Optimisation

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers mobile network planning, covering mobile, networks, planning, optimisation, and managing mobile network planning and optimisation.

  • Telecommunication Security and Cryptography

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines telecom security, covering security, telecommunications, cryptography, networks, and managing telecommunication security and cryptography.

  • Research Thesis

    Year 2Semester 212 creditsCore

    Original supervised research thesis on a telecommunication engineering topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and telecom knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

  • Wireless and Mobile Communications

    Focuses on wireless communications, covering wireless, mobile, communications, networks, and managing wireless and mobile communication systems.

  • Network Design and Optimisation

    Examines network design, covering networks, design, optimisation, telecommunications, and managing network design and optimisation.

  • Signal Processing

    Covers signal processing, covering signals, processing, digital, analysis, and managing signal processing and analysis.

  • Optical Communications

    Focuses on optical communications, covering optical, communications, fibre, networks, and managing optical communications and fibre networks.

  • Satellite Communications

    Examines satellite communications, covering satellite, communications, systems, space, and managing satellite communication systems.

  • Antenna Design and Propagation

    Covers antenna design, covering antennas, design, propagation, electromagnetics, and managing antenna design and propagation.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Telecommunication Engineering programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover telecommunication systems, wireless communications, network design, signal processing, and optical communications. Telecommunication systems sessions examine systems, telecommunications, design, engineering, and managing telecommunication systems. Wireless communications sessions cover wireless, mobile, communications, networks, and managing wireless and mobile communications. Network design sessions cover networks, design, optimisation, telecommunications, and managing network design. Signal processing sessions cover signals, processing, digital, analysis, and managing signal processing. Optical communications sessions cover optical, communications, fibre, networks, and managing optical communications. Satellite communications sessions cover satellite, communications, systems, space, and managing satellite communications. Antenna design sessions cover antennas, design, propagation, electromagnetics, and managing antenna design. Laboratory sessions provide practical experience in telecommunication system design, network configuration, and signal processing. Seminars provide opportunities for presenting research findings and discussing current developments. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a telecommunication engineering topic.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Programme addresses critical telecommunications infrastructure needs in Kenya's growing digital economy.MMU fee data is estimated from general postgraduate fee range, not confirmed for this specific programme.
JKUAT fee data verified from multiple authoritative sources.No private university confirmed offering this exact programme.
Graduates are eligible for IEEE Communications Society and ITU international professional membership.Programme is offered only in full-time mode, which may not suit working professionals.
Programme combines theoretical knowledge with practical laboratory sessions in telecom system design.Rapidly evolving technology may require continuous professional development beyond the 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
Public150k to 181k
150k at Multimedia University of Kenya181k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and 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

MMU 75K/sem=150K/yr (eafinder). JKUAT 181K/yr (kenyaeducationguide). Private unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Universities may offer scholarships for eligible students. IEEE and ITU may offer fellowships for telecommunication research and education.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

  • University Scholarship

  • IEEE Fellowship

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.

  • University Scholarship

    ScholarshipKsh 181,000Kenyan

    Universities may offer scholarships for eligible postgraduate telecommunication engineering students.

  • IEEE Fellowship

    ScholarshipKsh 300,000

    IEEE and ITU may offer fellowships for telecommunication research and education.

Scholarships you could apply for

2 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
N/A (Postgraduate)minimum entry
Alternative entry

JKUAT requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in a relevant discipline. Lower Second Class may be considered with two years of relevant experience or a postgraduate diploma. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

When it next starts

Taught at 2 institutions
January 20272 institutions

Including Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

May 20272 institutions

Including Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

September 20272 institutions

Including Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

How you are assessed

4 components

  • Coursework and Continuous Assessment

    Coursework30% of the mark

    Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, laboratory reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.

  • Written Examinations

    Examination70% of the mark

    Written examinations covering telecommunication systems, wireless communications, network design, signal processing, and optical communications.

  • Laboratory Project

    Project40% of the mark

    Practical assessment through laboratory projects, demonstrating telecommunication system design, network configuration, and signal processing skills.

  • Research Thesis

    Research100% of the mark

    Original supervised research thesis on a telecommunication engineering topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and telecom knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)

    Academic accreditationRequired

    Programme accredited by CUE. JKUAT (public) offers MSc in Telecommunication Engineering through the Department of Telecommunication and Information Engineering. Multimedia University of Kenya (public) offers MSc in Communication and Multimedia Engineering. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in telecommunication engineering. Graduates may interact with CA for telecommunication regulation and licensing and ITU and IEEE Communications Society for international telecommunication standards. The programme aligns with ITU and IEEE global telecommunication frameworks.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). JKUAT (public) offers MSc in Telecommunication Engineering through the Department of Telecommunication and Information Engineering. Multimedia University of Kenya (public) offers MSc in Communication and Multimedia Engineering. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in telecommunication engineering. Graduates may interact with CA for telecommunication regulation and licensing and ITU and IEEE Communications Society for international telecommunication standards. The programme aligns with ITU and IEEE global telecommunication frameworks.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

  • Telecommunication Engineer

    High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Designs and manages telecommunication systems, covering telecommunications, engineering, systems, design, and managing telecommunication systems and engineering.

  • Network Engineer

    High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000

    Designs and manages networks, covering networks, engineering, design, telecommunications, and managing network engineering and design.

  • RF Engineer

    High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Designs RF systems, covering RF, engineering, radio, frequency, and managing RF engineering and radio frequency systems.

  • Signal Processing Engineer

    Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000

    Processes signals, covering signals, processing, engineering, analysis, and managing signal processing and engineering.

  • Telecommunication Consultant

    Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Provides telecom consulting, covering consulting, telecommunications, advisory, analysis, and managing telecommunication consulting and advisory.

  • Telecommunication Lecturer

    Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000

    Teaches telecommunication engineering at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as telecommunication engineers, network engineers, RF engineers, signal processing engineers, telecommunication consultants, and lecturers across telecommunication companies, ISPs, government agencies, and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • MATLAB

    SoftwarePrimary

    MATLAB for signal processing and telecommunication system simulation, covering signals, processing, simulation, telecommunications, and managing telecommunication system modelling.

  • NS-3 Network Simulator

    Software

    NS-3 for network simulation and analysis, covering networks, simulation, analysis, telecommunications, and managing network simulation and analysis.

  • Python

    Software

    Python for data analysis and signal processing, covering data, analysis, signals, processing, and managing signal processing and data analysis.

  • LabVIEW

    Software

    LabVIEW for laboratory automation and measurement, covering laboratory, automation, measurement, telecommunications, and managing laboratory automation and measurement.

Common misconceptions

  • Telecommunication engineering is just about mobile phones.

    Telecommunication engineering covers networks, optical systems, satellites, signal processing, and antenna design beyond just mobile phones.

  • This programme is only for electrical engineering graduates.

    Telecommunication engineering is for professionals from computer science, physics, and related fields, not just electrical engineering graduates.

  • Telecommunication engineering has limited career prospects in Kenya.

    Telecommunication graduates are in high demand in telecom companies, ISPs, government, and consulting as Kenya's digital infrastructure expands.

  • This programme is the same as IT.

    Telecommunication engineering focuses on communication systems, networks, and signal processing, distinct from IT which focuses on information systems.

  • Telecommunication is only about hardware.

    The programme covers both hardware and software aspects including network protocols, signal processing algorithms, and system design.

  • You need telecom industry experience to study this programme.

    While experience is beneficial, the programme is accessible to graduates from various engineering and science fields seeking telecom specialisation.

Further reading

Read next