4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program
Computer Systems Engineering, BEng (Hons) with Professional Placement at the University of Bath is a four-year, full-time degree (with a 'thick sandwich' professional placement in Year 3) offered by the Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering. It marries electronic engineering principles with advanced computer hardware and software education—including modern computer systems, embedded programming, artificial intelligence, and sustainability—supported by hands-on project work and industry-ready skills.
Curriculum Structure
Year 1
You'll start with a solid toolkit: Design Skills (20 credits) equips you with CAD, embedded systems, software engineering, instrumentation, and hands-on product prototyping. Meanwhile, Fundamentals of Electronic & Electrical Engineering (20 credits) dives into microprocessor architecture, logic devices, and digital systems, and Fundamentals of Engineering & Analysis (20 credits) covers circuit theory, digital electronics, signal processing, and materials—building a sturdy foundation in both hardware and theory.
Year 2
In Year 2, Core Engineering Concepts (20 credits) develops your understanding of semiconductor devices, control theory, power electronics, and machine systems—enhancing your design and analytical skills. Engineering Practice & Design (30 credits) brings teamwork, commercial awareness, object-oriented programming, machine learning, and PCB manufacturing together through project work—plus, you can join competition teams or multi-year projects. Topics in Electronic & Electrical Engineering (10 credits) introduces you to modern communication systems and the behavior of electromagnetic fields.
Professional Placement Year
Instead of academic study, your third year is dedicated to a full-time professional placement (worth 60 credits), allowing you to apply theoretical knowledge in a real-world engineering environment—enhancing practical experience, industry awareness, and employability.
Year 3
Your final year is where you shine: the BEng Individual Project (30 credits) lets you work on advanced, research-style or industry-based design investigations—boosting project planning and communication skills. The Computer Engineering Major (10 credits) drills into AI, neural networks, GPU architecture, real-time OS, and software engineering principles, while the Electronic & Electrical Engineering Major (10 credits) deepens your understanding of control systems, power electronics, and communication electronics. You also pick Final Year Options (10 credits)—two 5-credit modules—such as audio/image processing, biomedical instrumentation, microelectronics, or a vertically integrated project.
Focus Areas
Electronic engineering + computing, embedded systems, AI and machine learning, system architecture, software-hardware integration, practical design projects.
Learning Outcomes
You’ll gain coding and system design skills, build and analyze electronic and embedded systems, explore AI and real-time architectures, collaborate on engineering projects, and complete a major individual project demonstrating your technical and professional growth.
Professional Alignment (Accreditation)
This course is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and licensed by the Engineering Council, helping you partially meet the educational requirements for becoming a Chartered Engineer (CEng).
Reputation (Employability Rankings)
The university has a Gold rating in the UK’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), ranking it among the most outstanding institutions for teaching quality, learning environment, and graduate outcomes. The University consistently ranks among the top 10 UK universities for engineering (e.g. Guardian, The Times). It holds a strong professional reputation, with active campus engineering societies, excellent lab and teaching facilities, and recognised industry placement performance. Employers in sectors such as aerospace, satellite systems, and electronics recruiting from Bath often include major technology and space organisations.
At Bath, this degree is about more than just theory—it’s about bringing your engineering ideas to life using cutting-edge tools and real-world challenges. From embedded systems and microprocessor design to AI and software engineering, you'll be learning through doing, using industry-standard programming languages, hardware design tools, and proving your creativity by building real systems. The Department’s facilities are ready to support you every step of the way, from fabrication to design to collaboration.
Here’s how that hands-on experience plays out in practice:
Advanced teaching & fabrication facilities: The Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering offers power labs, robotics labs, workshops, PCB (printed circuit board) production facilities, dedicated project workspaces, and computer laboratories—making sure you have everything you need to design, prototype, and test your systems.
Design and digital prototyping: You'll design systems such as embedded microprocessors and programmable integrated circuits, using industry-standard programming and hardware design languages, operating systems, and applications—bridging hardware and software in creative, meaningful ways.
Team-focused project work: Projects are integral—putting your technical knowledge to use in team-based projects, helping you grow your skills in project management, self-management, and collaborative problem-solving.
Professional Placement Option: You can choose the four-year programme with a professional placement year, giving you real industry experience, all integrated into your degree.
Teaching informed by research & industry: The labs and teaching reflect Bath’s strong research expertise and its ties with industry—it means you’re learning with tools, approaches, and projects shaped by current engineering challenges.
Campus facilities & innovation support: Your learning happens on Claverton Down campus, home to facilities like the 24-hour Library—equipped with computing support, journals, and study resources—and the Innovation Centre, which supports student-led tech and entrepreneurial projects.
Creativity and fabrication through Makerspace: The Students’ Union hosts a Makerspace Society that gives you access to 3D printers, laser cutters, and other fabrication tools—a perfect environment for turning your engineering ideas into prototypes.
Strong post-graduate outcomes: Graduates from Bath’s Electrical and Electronic Engineering programmes typically earn around £33,500 gross per year within 15 months of graduating, and 95% are either employed or in further study, with many in highly skilled roles in engineering and IT.
Graduates of the University of Bath’s BEng (Hons) Computer Systems Engineering are highly employable, moving into roles such as systems design engineer, embedded software engineer, hardware engineer, network systems developer, and automation specialist. Many alumni also pursue further study in computer science, robotics, electronic engineering, or related fields, or work in sectors including automotive, aerospace, telecommunications, consumer electronics, and energy.
Here’s how Bath specifically supports your future:
Career Services & Experiential Learning:
The program features a dedicated professional placement year, providing essential industrial experience with leading national and international companies. You’ll learn through a balanced mix of lectures, practical laboratory sessions, team-based design projects, and individual research, with a strong emphasis on integrating hardware and software. The University’s award-winning Careers Service offers specialised support for engineering students, including placement application assistance, career mentoring, and connections to a vast network of employer partners.
Industry Partnerships & Research:
The Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering boasts extensive industry collaborations and state-of-the-art facilities, including the Institute of Coding, embedded systems labs, and electrical energy management labs. Students benefit from research-informed teaching in areas such as machine learning, digital systems design, robotics, and secure cyber-physical systems. The curriculum is shaped by industry needs, and graduates are highly valued for their robust skills in systems thinking, software development, and electronic design.
Graduate Outcomes:
Students graduate with a powerful combination of advanced technical knowledge in programming, digital electronics, and systems architecture, alongside proven professional experience gained during their placement year. These skills are in high demand across technology-driven industries.
Further Academic Progression:
After your BEng (Hons) at Bath, you can progress to an integrated MEng program, pursue a master’s in a specialised field like artificial intelligence or robotics, or enter professional engineering roles in design, consultancy, or research and development, supported by the program’s strong industrial links and professional accreditation.
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