BEng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering

From day one you’ll learn by doing: labs, maker spaces and research centres turn lecture theory into real circuits, embedded systems and wireless experiments. Projects start small (breadboards, microcontrollers) and build toward large, employer-facing work — including the option to spend a full year working inside industry. That hands-on pathway is supported by specialist buildings, RF/anechoic test facilities, placement support and industry-linked scholarships, so you graduate with demonstrable skills employers recognise.

Experiential learning Highlights:

• Team and individual project work from Year 1: practical lab modules and group design challenges teach circuit build-and-test, embedded programming and systems integration early on.
• Optional year-long industrial placement (professional experience): you can take a paid placement (normally between Stage 2 and Stage 3) to apply project work in a real company — Queen’s runs a dedicated Placement Student Programme with strong local employer links and high return-hire rates.
• World-class RF, microwave and anechoic testing facilities: the ECIT / Centre for Wireless Innovation hosts millimetre-wave labs, RF fabrication, far-field and near-field anechoic chambers and specialist measurement benches — ideal for wireless, antenna and communications projects.
• Innovation & maker spaces for prototyping: dedicated makerspace and innovation labs (VR lab, smart-city / sensor testbeds, Q-Lab style facilities) support hands-on prototyping, sensors, embedded systems and multidisciplinary projects.
• Software & digital tools used in teaching and projects: course and school materials emphasise industry-standard tooling for electronics, simulation and signal work (supported via the research and teaching labs at ECIT/CWI). Exact tools are provided through lab access for coursework and project use.
• Final-year capstone / individual project: Stage-3 includes an individual design project where you plan, build and demonstrate a functioning system (electronics, sensing, communications or control) that you can show employers.
• Scholarships tied to industrial experience: scholarships such as the Sensata Electronics Scholarship and IET Power Academy involvement provide funding, mentoring, paid summer work and supported industrial placements for qualifying students.
• Career & placement support on campus: the School’s Careers & Placement team actively advertises roles, supports CVs/applications, and coordinates placements with local, national and international employers.

Graduates of Queen's University Belfast's BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering are highly employable, moving into roles such as power systems engineer, electronics design specialist, control systems engineer, telecommunications consultant, and embedded systems developer. Many alumni also pursue further study in engineering disciplines or work in sectors including energy, manufacturing, robotics, and emerging technologies.

Here's how Queen's specifically supports your future:

Career Services & Experiential Learning:
The three-year BEng programme offers opportunities for an industrial placement year with leading engineering firms in Northern Ireland and beyond. Students gain hands-on experience through laboratory sessions in Queen's £14m Computer Science Building and Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EEECS) facilities. The curriculum includes a major third-year individual project where students tackle real engineering challenges. The university's Careers, Employability and Skills service provides dedicated engineering career support, including industry networking events with local and international employers.

Industry Partnerships & Research:
The programme benefits from Queen's strong industry connections with companies like Seagate, Thales, and NIE Networks, as well as research collaborations with the Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology (ECIT). Students access excellent facilities including the High Voltage Laboratory, Smart Grid Laboratory, and Embedded Systems Laboratory. The curriculum incorporates current research in areas like renewable energy integration, smart grid technologies, industrial automation, and wireless communications, with particular strengths in cybersecurity for power systems.

Graduate Outcomes:
Students develop strong technical skills in power systems analysis, electronic circuit design, control engineering, and digital signal processing - competencies that are valued across multiple engineering sectors. Recent graduates have secured positions with companies like Airbus, Caterpillar, and Andor Technology.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the BEng at Queen's, graduates can progress to the MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering or pursue master's study in specialised fields like renewable energy or robotics. Alternatively, they can enter professional roles in power engineering, electronics design, or technical consultancy - supported by the programme's strong industry links within Northern Ireland's growing tech sector.