Engineering

The BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering embraces a broad spectrum of electrical and electronic engineering activities ranging from digital electronics and communications to electrical machines and power distribution. This broad base enables graduates to gain employment in a wide range of industrial sectors but is particularly useful for employment in traditional electrical, electronic or communications industries.

The programme is built around a set of discipline based threads. These threads include analogue and digital electronics (including microprocessors), control systems, communications systems, and electrical machines and power systems. These threads form the basis of a number of modules that run through all three years of the programme. Other modules, such as the mathematics, ‘skills’ and ‘project’ modules, are designed to support these threads and provide a more rounded (industrially relevant) educational experience.

This BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering programme has been designed to produce ‘industry ready graduates’ and meet the requirements of the Institution of Engineering Technology.

According to information provided by www.prospects.ac.uk (2011) the range of typical starting graduate salaries for electronics/electrical graduates are £18,000-£29,000, with chartered electronics/electrical engineers earning typically between £35,000 and £50,000, with highly experienced engineers earning £65,000 plus. Salaries vary considerably according to location, the size of the employing organisation and the nature of its business.

What you study

All modules run through the academic year providing the opportunity for in-depth learning and experience of the subject material.

Year 1 modules are designed to provide the required underpinning science and mathematics and a fundamental knowledge of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering disciplines.

Year 2 aims to broaden Electrical and Electronic engineering knowledge and to expose students to the width of the discipline (i.e. electronics, networks, signals, control, power, machines, communications, digital electronics and embedded systems). The technical modules are supported by mathematics, group-design and management.

The Final Year aims to deepen students’ knowledge of subject areas introduced earlier (i.e. electronics, power systems, digital communications, control, etc). A significant part of the final year (50 credits) is dedicated to projects. The individual project requires students to integrate (and hone) the technical, research and employability skills gained in the earlier levels of the programme, whilst the group-project requires students to work in small multidisciplinary groups, on an industrially focused problem.

How you learn

The objective of the course is to produce graduates who possess a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the skills and experience which allow them to analyse complex problems appropriate to Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

The course has been designed to provide a number of contact teaching and assessment hours (lectures, tutorials, laboratories, projects, examinations etc), but students are also expected to spend time on their own, called 'self-study' time, to review lecture notes, prepare course work assignments, work on projects and revise for assessments. For example, each 20 credit module typically has around 200 hours of “learning time”. In most cases, around 60 hours will be spent in lectures, tutorials and practicals. The remaining learning time is for you to use to gain a deeper understanding of the subject. Each year of full-time study consists of modules totalling 120 credits, hence, during one year of full-time study a student can expect to have 1200 hours of learning and assessment.

How you are assessed

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to encourage a progressive acquisition of subject knowledge and skills by moving from study methods that have a greater degree of support and assistance gradually towards more independence and self-direction.

The programme assessment strategy has been designed to test subject knowledge, independent thought and skills acquisition and to provide the sort of information about graduates that will be useful to employers. The strategy has also been designed to be robust, equitable and manageable and incorporate both formative and summative assessment opportunities.

Your course will involve a range of types of assessment including coursework, group-work, laboratory-work and examinations.

Professional placements

If you decide to spend your third year on an industrial placement you will have the opportunity to gain relevant professional experience to enhance your technical knowledge which can improve employment prospects. In some cases graduates have gained employment with their placement company.

Professional accreditation

This degree has been accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council. Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC).

This accredited degree will provide you with the BEng-level underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for eventual registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng). Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.

Career opportunities

Electrical and electronic engineers find employment in almost every area of modern manufacturing, service and financial industries. These sectors include aerospace, banking and financial, communications, generation, manufacturing and process, research and development and many others. In addition, because Electrical and Electronic Engineering graduates are numerate and have excellent reasoning skills, they can also find employment in a wide range of alternative career paths, such as insurance, management and 'The City'.

Students successfully completing the BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering with at least 2.2 honours will be able to apply for a relevant MSc programme.

Entry requirements

To enter Year 1, you're expected to have GCSE English (grade C or above) and good grades in maths, and physics, or a related subject, at Level 3 (for example A level, BTEC ND, ACCESS, IB). We consider advanced entry directly into Year 2 if you have good grades in a Level 4 or 5 qualification (for example HNC, HND) in a related subject.

You're normally invited for an interview, when you can also see our excellent facilities and meet staff and students. You then receive an individual offer. If you can't come for an interview, a typical offer might be 280 tariff points including at least grade C or merit in Level 3 mathematics and a physics-related subject.

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