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Doctor of Philosophy in Mechatronic Engineering

The Doctor of Philosophy in Mechatronic Engineering is a doctoral programme offered at JKUAT through the School of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Material Engineering (SOMMME). It is designed to produce scholars capable of advancing research in mechatronics, robotics and intelligent systems. The programme addresses Kenya's mechatronics research and automation technology development needs.

Duration
3-5 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 290,000
Ksh 870,000 to Ksh 1,450,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 288,000
Ksh 864,000 to Ksh 1,440,000 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 290,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 870,000 to Ksh 1,450,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 288,000 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of Masters Degree or above, plus 1 subject grade. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 3-5 years, full-time, part-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 3 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Overhead Transmission Technician, at 10 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

Students engage with advanced topics in mechatronics systems, robotics and automation, control systems, embedded systems, artificial intelligence, sensor and actuator technology, machine vision, industrial automation, autonomous systems and research methods. The curriculum emphasises original research that develops mechatronics innovations for Kenya's industrial automation and manufacturing challenges.

Kenya's manufacturing automation, Industry 4.0 adoption, robotics for agriculture, autonomous systems, smart manufacturing, automotive assembly and the need for mechatronics research create demand for doctoral-level mechatronic engineering expertise. The programme supports Kenya's industrialisation and technology development goals.

Teaching is delivered through coursework, laboratory sessions and supervised research at JKUAT. SOMMME offers PhD in Mechatronics Engineering.

JKUAT collaborates with Pentecost University (Ghana), Federal University Lokoja (Nigeria) and Federal University of Technology Minna (Nigeria) for doctoral and master's scholarships in Mechatronic Engineering. JKUAT PhD total cost is approximately KSh 510,500 over 3 years.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, mechatronics researchers, robotics engineers, automation consultants and control systems specialists. They work in universities, manufacturing firms, automation companies, Kenya Association of Manufacturers and technology firms.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Advanced Mechatronics Systems Design
  • Robotics and Automation
  • Control Systems Engineering
  • Embedded Systems and Microcontrollers
  • Artificial Intelligence in Mechatronics
  • Sensor and Actuator Technology
  • Machine Vision and Image Processing
  • Industrial Automation and PLC
  • Autonomous Systems and Vehicles
  • Research Methods in Mechatronic Engineering

Modules

8 in the programme

  • Advanced Mechatronics Systems Design

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Mechatronics design, exploring cutting-edge developments, theoretical frameworks, and research methodologies at the forefront of the discipline.

  • Robotics and Automation

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Robotics, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.

  • Control Systems Engineering

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Control systems, covering engineering principles, design methodologies, and their application in solving complex technical problems.

  • Embedded Systems and Microcontrollers

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Embedded systems, covering quality assurance principles, control methodologies, and their application in professional standards.

  • Machine Vision and Image Processing

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Machine vision, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.

  • Research Methods in Mechatronic Engineering

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Research design and methodology, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in the field.

  • Departmental Seminars

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Research presentations and peer review of doctoral work, providing a platform for doctoral candidates to present research findings, engage with peer feedback, and explore contemporary debates in.

  • Thesis Research

    Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore

    Doctoral thesis research and dissertation writing, involving original research, literature review, data analysis, and the production of a doctoral dissertation contributing new knowledge to the.

Specialisations

  • Autonomous Systems

    Research on autonomous systems

  • Industrial Automation

    Research on industrial automation

  • Robotics

    Research on robotics

  • Control Systems

    Research on control systems

A day as a student

A typical day involves conducting mechatronics research, designing control systems, programming robots and embedded systems, reviewing engineering literature, attending seminars on robotics and automation, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with manufacturers and automation companies for research collaboration.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Manufacturing automation and Industry 4.0 create demandRequires expensive robotics and automation equipment
Pan-African doctoral scholarships availableRequires multidisciplinary engineering knowledge
Research contributes to industrialisationIndustry access for testing can be challenging

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
Public170k to 290k
170k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology290k at Technical University of Kenya
Private150k to 288k
150k at Mount Kenya University288k at Kabarak University

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 ~290K/yr (tukenya portal). JKUAT 170K/yr (jkuat.ac.ke). Kabarak 288K/yr, MKU 150K/yr.

HELB provides postgraduate loans. DAAD offers scholarships for postgraduate study. NACOSTI provides research grants. JKUAT offers Pan-African doctoral scholarships in Mechatronic Engineering through partnerships with universities in Ghana and Nigeria.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

  • NACOSTI Research Grant

  • Pan-African Doctoral Scholarship

Scholarships

4 recorded

  • DAAD Kenya Scholarship

    ScholarshipKenyan

    Postgraduate students in Kenya

  • HELB Postgraduate Scholarship

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan postgraduate students

  • NACOSTI Research Grant

    GrantKenyan

    Science and technology researchers in Kenya

  • Pan-African Doctoral Scholarship

    Scholarship

    African engineering students

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
Masters Degreeminimum entry
Alternative entry

At JKUAT: MSc from JKUAT or recognised institution. SOMMME. PhD in Mechatronics Engineering. Total approximately KSh 510,500 over 3 years. Application fee KSh 1,500. Pan-African doctoral scholarships available through partnerships with Ghana and Nigeria universities.

Subject requirements
MSc in Mechatronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related fieldRelevant Masters from recognised university

When it next starts

Taught at 3 institutions
January 20273 institutions

Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenyatta University, Africa Nazarene University.

May 20273 institutions

Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenyatta University, Africa Nazarene University.

September 20273 institutions

Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenyatta University, Africa Nazarene University.

How you are assessed

3 components

  • Thesis Proposal Defence

    Oral defence20% of the mark

    Defence of research proposal before faculty panel

  • Coursework

    Continuous assessment30% of the mark

    Assignments, laboratory projects and seminar presentations

  • Thesis

    Thesis50% of the mark

    Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence

Accreditation

  • Engineers Board of Kenya

    Professional

    Professional body for engineers in Kenya

  • Commission for University Education

    AcademicRequired

    Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at JKUAT (SOMMME, PhD in Mechatronics Engineering, total approximately KSh 510,500). JKUAT collaborates with Pentecost University Ghana, Federal University Lokoja Nigeria and Federal University of Technology Minna Nigeria for doctoral scholarships.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Mechatronics Researcher

    High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Research on mechatronics and robotics

  • Automation Consultant

    High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000

    Consulting on industrial automation

  • Robotics Engineer

    High demandKsh 220,000 to Ksh 550,000

    Robotics at tech companies

  • University Professor

    High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Teaching and research in engineering departments

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, mechatronics researchers, robotics engineers and automation consultants. They work at manufacturing firms, automation companies and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Mechatronics is just about robotics.

    The field covers control systems, embedded systems, AI, sensors, actuators, machine vision and industrial automation.

  • There is no demand for mechatronics PhDs in Kenya.

    Kenya's manufacturing automation and Industry 4.0 create demand.

  • Mechatronics research is purely practical.

    The programme uses mathematical modelling, control theory, computational methods and simulation.

  • Only mechanical engineers study this PhD.

    The programme attracts electrical, computer and software engineers.

Further reading

Read next