UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING

Virtual Open Day

FEBRUARY 2021
1. An Overview of the Courses offered
1.1 Background
The global demand for Civil Engineers has a direct relation with population. The BSc. Degree
program presented at the University of Nairobi is a 5-year program that addresses society’s
needs by combining the fundamentals of Civil Engineering with innovative ideas.
Consequently, the program is structured to emphasize both the engineering theory and technical
skills. These skills enable the learners who have gone through this programme to solve practical
problems and analyse different situations by converting concepts into reliable and cost-
effective engineering designs.

The curriculum is tailored to give the students a solid scientific foundation from the start, where
in the first year of study, courses of mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer programming,
and engineering drawing are taught as well as other courses in the humanities. From the second
year to the fifth year, students get well-grounded in the core Civil Engineering disciplines,
which include; Mathematics, Structural analysis, Civil Engineering Materials, Fluid
Mechanics, Transportation and Highway Engineering, Engineering Drawing and Design,
Environmental Engineering, Engineering Management, Water Resources Engineering and
Mathematics. In the final year of study, students work on an engineering project that could be
experimental or design-based, and this exposes them to the design process from concept to the
final product, emphasizing effective communication and presentation skills.

1.2 Philosophy of the programme

The philosophy of the programme is to produce highly motivated and innovative graduates of
Civil Engineering who have values of honesty, hard work, and with an eye on sustainability
to solve the problems of a demanding engineering market and to provide leadership and
stewardship and to give hope and faith in the infrastructure sector.

1.3 Rationale of the Programme

All economies have opportunities for civil engineering contractors and consultants engaged in
geotechnical, structural, environmental, water, and transportation infrastructure development
and maintenance. Local authority positions also exist in planning and the administration of
major networks. Our graduates can play a significant role in sustainable development of
infrastructure and engineering for resilience.

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1.4 Goal of the Programme
The goal of this programme/course is to provide learners with the opportunity to develop
skills and confidence to apply basic and applied science principles for the design,
construction, and management of civil works.
1.5 Expected Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course the learner should be able to:
1. Apply the knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering in solving
contemporary issues.
2. Conduct own-designed experiments in civil engineering.
3. Interpret data from experiments in civil engineering.
4. Formulate and solve identified Civil Engineering problems
5. Communicate effectively when functioning within a multidisciplinary team.
6. Design a system/process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints.
7. Demonstrate professional/ethical responsibility in Civil Engineering.

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2. Structure of the Course
This is a five-year course broken down as indicated
2.1 First Year
COURSE COURSE SEMESTER I SEMESTER II Credit
CODE TITLE HOURS HOURS Hours
CCS 001 Communication Skills 45 3
CCS 010 HIV / AIDS 45 3
FCE 131 Physics IA 45 3
FCE 161 Pure Mathematics IA 45 3
FCE 163 Engineering Mechanics (Statics) 45 3
FCE 165 Computer Science I 45 3
FCE 181 Chemistry IA 45 3

CCS 008 Elements of Philosophy 45 3

FCE 112 Engineering Geology 45 3
FCE 132 Physics IB 45 3
FCE 142 Introduction to Engineering Drawing 45 3

FCE 162 Pure Mathematics IB 45 3

FCE 164 Engineering Mechanics (Dynamics) 45 3

FCE 182 Chemistry IB 45 3

TOTAL 315 315 42

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2.2 Second Year
COURSE COURSE SEMESTER I SEMESTER II Credit
CODE TITLE HOURS HOURS Hours

FCE 201 Theory of Structures IA 45 3

FCE 211 Geotechnical Engineering I 45 3
FCE 231 Strength of Materials IA 45 3
FCE 245 Material Science 45 3
FCE 251 Engineering Surveying I 45 3
FCE 261 Engineering Mathematics IA 45 3
FCE 265 Computer Science II 45 3
FCE 271 Engineering Economics 45 3

FCE 202 Theory of Structures IB 45 3

FCE 222 Fluid Mechanics IA 45 3

FCE 232 Strength of Materials IB 45 3
FCE 242 Engineering Drawing I 45 3
FCE 246 Concrete Materials 45 3
FCE 262 Engineering Mathematics IB 45 3
FCE 266 Computer Science III 45 3
FCE 299 Practical Assignment I 7
TOTAL 360 315 45

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2.3 Third Year
COURSE COURSE SEMESTER I SEMESTER II Credit
CODE TITLE HOURS HOURS Hours
FCE 301 Theory of Structures IIA 45 3

FCE 311 Geotechnical Engineering IIA. 45 3

FCE 331 Strength of Materials IIA 45 3
FCE 345 Transportation Engineering IA 45 3
FCE 351 Engineering Surveying II 45 3
FCE 361 Engineering Mathematics II A. 45 3
FCE 391 Environmental Chemistry and 45 3
Microbiology.

FCE 302 Theory of Structures IIB. 45 3

FCE 312 Geotechnical Engineering IIB
FCE 322 Fluid Mechanics II 45 3
FCE 332 Strength of Materials IIB 45 3
FCE 342 Engineering Drawing and Design II. 45 3
FCE 346 Transportation Engineering IB. 45 3
FCE 362 Engineering Mathematics IIB. 45 3
FCE372 Construction Engineering Management 45 3
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FCE 399 Practical Assignment II 7
TOTAL 315 315 49

FCE 399 – Civil Engineering Field Assignment - 8 weeks = 320 Hours (Equivalent to 110 hours of
Instruction or 7 credit hours)

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2.4 Fourth Year
COURSE COURSE SEMESTER I SEMESTER II Credit
CODE TITLE HOURS HOURS Hours
FCE 401 Structural Dynamics 45 3
FCE 411 Geotechnical Engineering IIIA 45 3

FCE 421 Open Channel Hydraulics. 45 3

FCE 425 Hydrology 45 3
FCE 431 Structural Design IA 45 3
FCE 451 Engineering Surveying III 45 3
FCE 461 Statistics. 45 3
FCE 481 Water Treatment. 45 3

FCE 402 Theory of Structures IIIB. 45 3

FCE 412 Geotechnical Engineering IIIB. 45 3
FCE 422 Fluid Mechanics III 45 3
FCE 432 Design of Structures IB 45 3
FCE 446 Transportation Engineering II 45 3

FCE472 Construction Engineering 45 3

Management II
FCE 482 Wastewater Treatment. 45 3
FCE 499 Practical Assessment III 110 7
TOTAL 360 315 45

Industrial Attachment
FCE 499 – Industrial Attachment - 8 weeks = 320 Hours (Equivalent to 110 hours of Instruction or 7
credit hours)

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2.5 Fifth Year
2.5.1 COMPULSORY COURSES

COURSE COURSE SEMESTER I SEMESTER II Credit

CODE TITLE HOURS HOURS Hours
FCE 511 Geotechnical Engineering IV. 45 3
FCE 525 Water Resources Engineering 45 3
FCE 531 Structural Design IIA 45 3
FCE 545 Transportation Engineering (III) 45 3
FCE 571 Engineering Management III 45 3
FCE 581 Water and Wastewater 45 3
Engineering Design.

FCE 592 Professional Practice and Ethics 45 3

FCE 590 Civil Engineering Project 45 3

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2.5.2 ELECTIVE COURSES
To offer a level of specialisation, during the 5th year of study, students, with the guidance of the Class
Tutor, can select any two courses from the list below provided the selected course is on offer.
COURSE COURSE SEMESTER I SEMESTER II Credit
CODE TITLE HOURS HOURS Hours
FCE 593 Sociology for Engineers 45 3

FCE 502 Advanced Theory of Structures I. 45 3

FCE 508 Introduction to Finite Element 45 3
Method.
FCE 524 Advanced Hydraulics.
FCE 526 Water Resources Engineering II 45 3
FCE 532 Structural Design IIB. 45 3
FCE 536 Building Structural Design. 45 3
FCE 546 Transportation Planning and 45 3
Pavement Analysis.
FCE 552 Engineering Surveying IV. 45 3
FCE 562 Numerical Analysis II. 45 3
FCE 564 Operations Research. 45 3
FCE 566 Computer Applications II. 45 3
FCE 572 Construction Engineering 45 3
Management IV
FCE 581 Industrial Waste Treatment. 45 3
FCE 583 Environmental Impact Assessment 45 3
and Audit
FCE 572 Construction Engineering 45 3
Management IV
FCE 588 Construction Technology and 45 3
Engineering.

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3. Admission requirements
3.1 Minimum Admission Requirements
Candidates shall be eligible for admission into the Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in
the following categories.

3.1.1 KCSE Candidates

The basic admission requirement shall be the minimum requirement set for entry into Public
Universities which is a mean grade of at least C+ in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education
(KCSE).
In addition to the minimum university requirements the candidates, must have any of the following:
Kenya certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) shall have obtained at least a C+ in the following
subjects:
a. Mathematics,
b. Physics,
c. Chemistry
d. Biology/Geography
3.1.2 A Level Candidates
A level candidate with 2 principals in mathematics and physics and subsidiary levels pass in chemistry
with a credit pass in English at O level.
3.1.3 Diploma Candidates
i. Higher National Diploma (HND) or equivalent in Civil Engineering or any approved
subject area.
ii. Ordinary Diploma.
3.1.4 BSc/BEd (Science) degrees
Candidates with a Bachelor of Science or Education degree in Physics and Mathematics from
recognized institutions or any other relevant degree from a recognized institution.

3.1.5 Regulations for Credit Transfers

i. The point of entry into the programme for candidates with a KNEC higher national
diploma or its equivalent in accordance with 3.1.3 (i) shall be in the second year of
study.
ii. The point of entry into the programme for candidates with an ordinary KNEC
diploma or its equivalent in accordance with 3.1b (ii) shall be in the first year of
study.
iii. The point of entry into the programme for candidates with qualification other than
those outlined in 3.1.1 – 3.1.4 shall be approved by Senate on the recommendations of
the School of Engineering Board and the College Academic Board and shall be based
on the qualifications of the applicant.
iv. Where a candidate wishes to be exempted from any course or courses, he/she shall
send a formal application to the Academic Registrar justifying his/her request and
attaching evidence of the credentials which support such request. Such a candidate
may be required to sit and pass an exemption examination set and administered by the
School of Engineering Board and approved under the authority of the Senate after
payment of a prescribed fee.
v. Based on the assessment of the exemption examination, the School of Engineering
Board shall make its recommendations to the Senate. The Academic Registrar shall
communicate to the candidate, the Senate’s decision.

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3.2 Credit Transfer & Exemptions
A candidate may be exempted from some course units and credit transferred from approved
institutions subject to the following conditions:

i. Request for exemption should be made in writing on admission to the Academic

Registrar and must be accompanied by officially endorsed supporting documents
including the institutions’ syllabuses for the relevant courses and the candidate’s
official transcript.
ii. No candidate shall be exempted from more than one third of the total number of units
required for the course.
iii. Where there is doubt as to the equivalence of courses, a candidate may be required to
sit and pass applicable University of Nairobi examination in relevant course units.
iv. Payment of appropriate exemption fees and examination fees where applicable.

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 4. Career options
4.1 Geotechnical Engineering

Figure 4-1. Core cutting from a filed investigation. Figure 4-2. Foundation pile driving.
Courtesy: Dulo, 2020 Courtesy: Dulo, 2020

Figure 4-4. Foundation excavation.

Figure 4-3. Core cutting in the field.
Courtesy: Dulo, 2020
Courtesy: Dulo, 2020

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4.2 Highway and Transportation Engineering

Figure 4-5. Southern Bypass Ngong

Figure 4-6. Southern Bypass Langatta
Interchange.
Road Interchange.
Courtesy: Dulo, 2020
Courtesy: Dulo, 2020

Figure 4-7. Jomo Kenyatta International Figure 4-8. JKIA Terminal 1.

Airport, Nairobi.
Courtesy: Dulo, 2020
Courtesy: Dulo, 2020

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4.3 Structural Engineering

Figure 4-10. The Two-Rivers Mall.

Courtesy: Dulo, 2020
Figure 4-9. The SGR Structural Elements.
Courtesy: Dulo, 2020

Figure 4-11. The ACK Taita-Taveta

Diocese Cathedral, Voi.
Figure 4-12. The Majestic Steelworks roofing,
Courtesy: Maimba, 2020 Voi.

Courtesy: Maimba, 2020

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4.4 Environmental Health Engineering

Figure 4-13. Kajulu Water Treatment Figure 4-14. Boundary Waste Water
Works, Kisumu. Treatment Works, Eldoret.
Courtesy: Dulo, 2020 Courtesy: Dulo, 2020

Figure 4-15. Community Water Supply. Figure 4-16. Kajulu River Water Quality
Sampling and Testing.
Courtesy: Kandie, 2020
Courtesy: Dulo, 2020

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4.5 Water Resources Engineering

Figure 4-18. Masinga Dam Spillway.

Figure 4-17. Turkwell Dam Spillway. Courtesy: Dulo, 2020
Courtesy: Dulo, 2020

Figure 4-20. Borehole drilling in Kudho

Figure 4-19. Final year student measuring School, Kisumu.
solar pump performance in Lodwar
Municipality. Courtesy: Dulo, 2020

Courtesy: Dulo, 2020

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5. Fees and funding
5.1 Fees structure
Year 1 Semester I Semester II Total
Registration 3,000 3,000
Tuition Fees 80,000 80,000 160,000
Examinations 5,000 5,000 ¤
ID Card 1,000 1,000
Student organisation 1,000 - 1,000
Medical Fee 5,000 - 5,000
Activity Fee 2,000 - 2,000
Library Fee 4,000 - 4,000
Computer Laboratory 5,000 - 5,000
Caution Money (one off) 5,000 - 5,000
Laboratory 5,000 5,000
Total (KES) 116,000 80,000 196,000

Year 2 Semester I Semester II Total

Registration 3,000 6,000
Tuition Fees 80,000 80,000 160,000
Examinations 5,000 5,000
ID Card 1,000 1,000 ¤
Student organisation 1,000 - 1,000
Medical Fee 5,000 - 5,000
Activity Fee 2,000 - 2,000
Library Fee 4,000 - 4,000
Computer Laboratory 5,000 - 5,000
Laboratory 5000, 5,000
Total (KES) 111,000 80,000 191,000

Year 3 Semester I Semester II Total

Registration 3,000 3,000
Tuition Fees 80,000 80,000 160,000
Examinations 5,000 5,000
ID Card 1,000 1,000
Student organisation 1,000 - 1,000
Medical Fee 5,000 - 5,000
Activity Fee 2,000 - 2,000

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 Year 3 Semester I Semester II Total
Library Fee 4,000 - 4,000
Laboratory 5,000 5,000
Total (KES) 106,000 80,000 186,000

Year 4 Semester I Semester II Total

Registration 3,000 6,000
Tuition Fees 80,000 80,000 160,000
Examinations 5,000 5,000
ID Card 1,000 1,000
Student organisation 1,000 - 1,000
Medical Fee 5,000 - 5,000
Activity Fee 2,000 - 2,000
Library Fee 4,000 - 4,000
Laboratory 5000, 5,000
Total (KES) 106,000 80,000 186,000

Year 5 Semester I Semester II Total

Registration 3,000 6,000
Tuition Fees 80,000 80,000 160,000
Examinations 5,000 5,000
ID Card 1,000 1,000
Student organisation 1,000 - 1,000
Medical Fee 5,000 - 5,000
Activity Fee 2,000 - 2,000
Library Fee 4,000 - 4,000
Laboratory 5,000 5,000
Total (KES) 106,000 80,000 186,000

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 Summary of Fees for the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering program

ITEM COST
Tuition fees KES 800,000/-
Field Attachment Supervision KES 20,000/-
Final year project KES 20,000/-
Administration fees KES 190,000/-
Total (over five years) KES 1,030,000/-

6. Examination regulations
Common regulations of the University of Nairobi including examination malpractices, disciplinary
action and mode of appeal of the University of Nairobi shall apply.

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