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Technical University of Kenya (TUK)

Kenya's premier technical university in Nairobi CBD, specialising in engineering, computing, and applied sciences.

County
Nairobi
Established
1961
Students
25,000
Employment rate
85%

The institution

Who they are, how big, and how they rank.

About

Tracing its roots to 1961 as the Kenya Technical College, the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) was chartered in 2013 as Kenya's first technical university. Located in Nairobi's central business district along Haile Selassie Avenue, TUK serves over 15,000 students across its Main, South B, and Tumaini campuses.

The university operates schools of Engineering and Technology, Computing and Information Technology, Applied Sciences, Architecture and the Built Environment, Business and Management Studies, and Social Sciences and Technology. Its curriculum emphasises practical, industry-aligned training with strong links to Kenya's manufacturing and technology sectors.

Accredited by CUE and the Engineering Board of Kenya (EBK), TUK ranks 9th nationally. Its central Nairobi location and technical focus make it the preferred university for students seeking hands-on engineering and technology education in Kenya's capital.

The numbers

Annual fees
Ksh 120,000 to Ksh 350,000
Student to staff
1:20
Mode of study
Full-time, Part-time, Distance Learning
Charter status
Chartered
Chartered
2013
Scholarships
None recorded

Research

Tu k has demonstrated gradual growth in research productivity, with 270 authors producing over 581 publications and an h index of 36, focusing on renewable energy, ict, materials science, and sustainable construction. the directorate of research and knowledge exchange drives research strategy, with top researchers publishing on green building technologies, sustainable construction materials, knowledge management, and indigenous medical knowledge. partnerships with coventry university (uk) and hochschule munchen (germany) support faculty exchange and joint research in engineering and applied sciences, while collaboration with the kenya industrial research and development institute (kirdi) connects academic research to industrial application. tu k's engineering workshops and computer labs serve as incubation spaces for patents and industry collaborations, particularly in prefabricated construction technologies and lean construction practices that address kenya's housing deficit and infrastructure needs.

Accredited by

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)
  • Engineering Board of Kenya (EBK)
  • Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK)

What they teach

Faculties, departments and the programmes on offer.

Admission requirements

A C+ mean grade is the minimum for a Bachelor's degree; competitive programmes (medicine, engineering, law, nursing, architecture) require higher grades and specific KCSE subject clusters. Master's programmes require a relevant Bachelor's degree; PhD programmes a relevant Master's degree.

Intakes

  • January
  • May
  • September

Schools and faculties

3 in total
  • Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment

    Main Campus

  • Faculty of Applied Science and Technology

    Main Campus

  • Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology

    Main Campus

Campus and beyond

Where you would be, and who they are connected to.

Campuses

Main campus
Main Campus, Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi
  • Main Campus

    Nairobi

    Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi CBD, opposite Times Tower

On campus

  • Library
  • Engineering Workshops
  • Computer Labs
  • Science Labs
  • Sports Ground
  • Student Hostels

Notable alumni

  • Dr. John Mbugua (Engineer, former CEO of Kenya Power)
  • Prof. Mary Wanjiku (Vice Chancellor, Dedan Kimathi University)
  • Peter Mwangi (ICT Specialist, Safaricom)

International partnerships

4 institutions
  • Coventry University (UK)
  • Hochschule Munchen (Germany)
  • Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
  • Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI)

Further reading

Keep this

Entry marks, intakes and fees at Technical University of Kenya are restated each year. Save it and the app keeps this version, so you can see what changed when it does.