BEng Computer Systems Engineering with an Industrial Placement Year

At Sheffield, the Computer Systems Engineering degree is built around getting your hands immersed in real, technical work from the outset. You’ll design, build, and test sophisticated electro-mechanical systems, control robotics, hone programming in C++, Python, and Java, and explore systems design, security, and intelligent systems—using industry-standard equipment in cutting-edge facilities. Your learning isn’t just about lectures—it’s deeply practical, collaborative, and professionally focused.

Here’s how that rich hands-on learning shapes up in practice:

• Industry-standard facilities: You’ll work with advanced tools like 3D CAD software, 3D printers, and other manufacturing and prototyping technologies housed in the iForge Makerspace—perfect for bringing your designs to life.
• iForge Makerspace projects: In your second year, you're not just drawing systems—you’ll design them digitally and then build physical prototypes using the iForge environment.
• The Diamond building: Your engineering home base is The Diamond, a modern, £81 million facility filled with specialist teaching labs, workrooms, and lecture theatres, plus seminar pods, IT suites, and study spaces—all under one spectacular roof.
• Year in Industry (Inclusive): Take your third year as a placement year—working with real companies like ARM, Siemens, Boeing, and others. This isn’t just resume filler; it’s where your academic learning meets real-world impact.
• Hands-on capstone project: In your final year, choose a specialist topic—like intelligent systems or cybersecurity—and tackle it through an advanced individual project under direct academic supervision.
• Embedded systems & robotics foundations: From year one, you’ll dive into programming, control systems, embedded hardware, and robotics—often working in teams to design and test real electro-mechanical systems.
• Strong industry-informed curriculum: Modules are shaped in collaboration with engineering partners, ensuring your education reflects real industry needs across embedded systems, AI, industrial control, and manufacturing.
• Career-ready graduate outcomes: Around 90% of graduates go into work or further study within 15 months of finishing, with employers like Rolls-Royce, Siemens, and Airbus actively seeking out Sheffield-trained engineers.
• Research-informed teaching: Your learning draws on Sheffield’s world-leading research in robotics, intelligent systems, and cybersecurity—ensuring what you study is cutting-edge and industry-relevant.
• Libraries & study spaces: When it’s time to catch up on research or study, head to the Information Commons—a 24/7 facility with over 500 computers, 1,300 study spaces, and extensive digital and print collections.
• Academic environment & campus access: Classes and labs are held in state-of-the-art engineering environments like the Sir Frederick Mappin Building, Diamond, and Engineering Heartspace, providing a meaningful, tech-rich campus experience.

Graduates of the University of Sheffield's BEng Computer Systems Engineering are highly employable, moving into roles such as systems architect, embedded systems engineer, network designer, automation specialist and IoT developer. Many alumni also pursue further study in artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity or related fields, or work in sectors including manufacturing, telecommunications, energy and smart technologies.

Here’s how Sheffield specifically supports your future:

Career Services & Experiential Learning:
The program offers opportunities for a year in industry, allowing students to gain valuable professional experience with leading engineering firms. Teaching combines lectures, laboratory practicals, design projects and individual research, with emphasis on both hardware and software systems integration. The University's Careers Service provides specialist engineering career guidance, industry placement support and networking opportunities with major employers from your first year.

Industry Partnerships & Research:
The Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering maintains strong industry connections and world-class facilities including the Diamond Engineering Building with its cleanrooms, robotics labs and IoT test environments. Students benefit from research-led teaching in areas like real-time systems, machine learning applications, secure hardware design and distributed computing. The program's industrial advisory board ensures curriculum relevance, with graduates particularly valued for their systems thinking and cross-disciplinary engineering skills.

Graduate Outcomes:
Students develop expertise in digital systems design, embedded programming, network architectures and project management, complemented by substantial practical experience through individual and group projects. These skills are in high demand across sectors implementing Industry 4.0 technologies and smart infrastructure solutions.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates can progress to Sheffield's integrated MEng program, pursue specialist MSc degrees in areas like autonomous systems or advanced computer science, or enter professional roles in systems design, technical consultancy or R&D, supported by the department's excellent industry relationships and research reputation.