Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Meteorology programme is a four year programme, developed to embrace new developments in the science of meteorology and the expanding areas of meteorological application.
The course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills in weather and climate system analysis, weather forecasting, early warning, environmental pollution and Environmental Impacts Assessment, Biometeorology, Agrometeorology, Hydrometeorology, Renewable Energy Resources, Marine Meteorology, Aviation Meteorology and Environmental Meteorology.
Registration for B.Sc. Meteorology programme requires that students be qualified to satisfactorily register for courses in the School of Mathematics as well in the Department of Physics.
Career opportunities for graduates of B.Sc. Meteorology exists in the Kenya Government Ministries of Transport and Communication, Defence, Environment, Tourism and Wildlife, Agriculture, Water and Irrigation, Energy, Science and Technology, Health; Universities; International Organizations such as WMO, UNEP, ICPAC, ACMAD, NASA and NOAA.
Structure
The course structure for B.Sc. Meteorology follows the 4:3:1:1 unit system as follows:
- First year: Meteorology (3), Mathematics (3), Physics (3), BCUC (3)
- Second year: Meteorology (4), Mathematics (4), Physics (4)
- Third year: Meteorology (10)
- Fourth year: Meteorology (10)
Admission Requirements
- The Common Regulations for the Bachelor of Science Degree in the University of Nairobi shall apply.
- Subject to Regulation 2.1, candidates with the following qualifications shall be admitted to the Bachelor of Science in Meteorology degree programme:
- KCSE Certificate, or its equivalent from an institution recognized by the University of Nairobi Senate, with minimum aggregate of C+ (C plus) and at least a grade of C+ in both mathematics and physics or chemistry.
- Advanced Level (A-level) (EAACE or KACE) Certificate, or its equivalent from an institution recognized by the University of Nairobi Senate, with principal passes in Mathematics and Physics or Chemistry.
- KCSE Certificate or its equivalent from an institution recognized by the University of Nairobi Senate, plus a post O-level Diploma with at least credit pass in Mathematics and Physics or Chemistry.
- EACE or KCE Certificate, or its equivalent from an institution recognized by the University of Nairobi Senate, plus a post O-level Diploma with at least credit in Mathematics and Physics.
- Advanced Meteorological Technician Course (WMO-Class II Certificate) with at least a pass
- Middle-level Meteorological Technician Course (WMO-Class III Certificate) with at least a distinction from an Institute for Meteorological Training and Research (IMTR)
Fees and Funding
Exam Regulations
The examinations shall be governed by the general regulations for the Bachelor of Science degree in the Faculty of Science and on approval by Senate.
7.1 Written Examinations
7.1.1 A candidate shall not be allowed to sit for any examination unless he or she has attended at least two thirds of the total lecture hours.
7.1.2 Each unit shall be examined by a two-hour written examination at the end of the semester during which the course is offered.
7.1.3 All courses shall be examined by Ordinary Examinations during the academic year in which they are taken. Such Ordinary Examinations shall consist of continuous assessments and a two-hour end of semester examination for each course unit.
7.1.4 End of semester examinations shall comprise 70% of the total course marks whereas continuous assessment shall account for 30% of the total mark, except for SMR 204 (Weather Analysis), SMR 304 (Synoptic and Mesoscale Systems), SMR 312 (Aviation Meteorology) and SMR 408 (Operational Techniques) for which the end of semester examination and continuous assessment shall each constitute 50%. Continuous assessment shall include assignments, class tests, term papers, reports, tutorials and practical sessions where applicable.
7.1.5 A candidate may, on the recommendation of the School Board of Examiners and approval by Senate, be admitted to Special Examinations, at the prescribed time, in the courses for which the candidate failed to sit Ordinary Examinations at the prescribed time. Special Examinations shall be graded as Ordinary Examinations.
7.1.6 A candidate who, whether by Ordinary or Special examinations or after repeating the year of study
(i) Passes in at least ELEVEN units in the 1st, 2nd year or at least TEN in 3rd year of study, shall, on the recommendation of the School Board of Examiners and approval by Senate, be allowed to proceed to the subsequent year of study;
(ii) Passes in at least TEN (10) units in the 4th year of study and obtains an average score of at least 40% in the 24 units taken in the 3rd and 4th years of study, shall, on the recommendation of the School Board of Examiners and approval by Senate, be considered for award of a degree.
(iii) A candidate who fails to attain average score of at least 40% shall be recommended to sit for supplementary examinations in the failed course units in the 3rd and 4th years of study.
7.1.7 A candidate who whether by Ordinary or Special examinations, passes in EIGHT to TEN units in the 1st and 2nd year or SEVEN to NINE units in 3rd or 4th year of study shall, on the recommendation of the School Board of Examiners and approval by Senate, be admitted to supplementary examinations in the courses failed.
(i) For units which a candidate sits supplementary examinations the marking shall be out of 100% but the continuous assessment marks shall not be considered. Any score exceeding 40% shall be indicated as 40%, whereas any score less than 40% shall be left as such.
(ii) A candidate who after sitting a supplementary examination in the first and second years and passes in less than ELEVEN units shall be required to repeat the year.
(iii) A candidate who after sitting a supplementary examination in the third and fourth years and passes in less than TEN units shall be required to repeat the year.
(iv) A candidate shall be allowed to repeat a year of study ONLY ONCE.
7.1.8 A Candidate shall on the recommendation of the School Board of Examiners and approval by Senate, be allowed to repeat the year of study if:
(i) The candidate passes in FIVE to SEVEN units in the First and Second years and FOUR to SIX units in the Third and Fourth years of study.
(ii) For any other reasons,
Subject to the following conditions:
1. Normally a candidate shall be allowed to repeat a year of study ONLY ONCE.
2.A candidate repeating a year of study shall be required to take only the units previously failed or not completed and shall not be allowed to register for additional units.
3. Any repeated unit shall be marked like an ordinary examination.
7.1.9 A candidate shall normally be required to discontinue from University if:
(i) The candidate passes in less than FIVE course units in the First and Second years of study or less than FOUR in the Third and Fourth years of study.
(ii) The candidate failing to acquire the minimum number of units required to proceed after repeating.
(iii) The candidate fails to follow the prescribed units.
(iv) The candidate fails to attain at least an average score of 40% after sitting supplementary examinations in 7.1.6 (iii).
7.2 Research Project
7.2.1 During their fourth level, candidates shall undertake an approved research project (SMR 403) under the supervision of members of staff. Candidates shall present, before the end of the semester of examination, a report of their research project in any one of the areas of specialization in meteorology for examination. The report shall be expected to demonstrate acquisition of the relevant research skills and their effective application to an investigation of substance and significance in meteorology. The report shall constitute 50% of the total marks.
7.2.2 A candidate shall, in addition to 7.2.1 above, present the project report orally in form of a seminar before a panel of examiners. The oral presentation shall constitute 50% of the total marks.
7.2.3 The pass mark for the project shall be 40%.
7.2.4 A candidate who fails to satisfy the examiners in the project shall be allowed to re-submit the project report.
7.2.5 A candidate who fails in the second attempt shall be discontinued.
7.3 Moderation of Examinations
The general University of Nairobi examination policy shall apply. All university exams shall be moderated at two levels: internally and externally.
7.4 Grading System
Each course shall be graded out of a maximum of 100 marks and the pass mark for each course shall be 40%. Marks shall be translated into letter grades as follows:
70 – 100% A
60 – 69% B
50 – 59% C
40 – 49% D
Below 40% E
7.5 Graduation Requirements
7.5.1 To qualify for the award of a degree, candidates shall be required to have passed in at least FORTY-TWO units, with a minimum of ELEVEN units passed in each of the 1st and 2nd years of study and a minimum of TEN units passed in each of the 3rd and 4th years of study, inclusive of CORE courses, AND shall have obtained an average score of at least 40%.
7.5.2 The degree award and classification shall be based on the average score of ALL the units taken in the 3rd and 4th years of study.
7.5.3 A candidate who repeats the third or fourth year of study on account of inadequate academic performance, or does supplementary examination after completing the 4th year, shall be eligible for a Pass degree only.
7.6 Award and Classification of Degree
7.6.1 The final award of the degree shall be classified into First Class, Second Class (Upper Division), Second Class (Lower Division) and Pass, based on the average marks obtained in all courses taken at the third and fourth levels.
7.6.2 Honours shall be awarded to candidates passing in the First Class, Second Class (Upper Division) or Second Class (Lower Division).
7.6.3 All degrees awarded from the School of Physical Sciences shall conform to the classification table below that applies to Pure Science programs, Natural Science programs and Applied Science programs.
Classification Systems Conversion Table
