BEng Hons Electronic and Electrical Engineering with a Foundation Year

Here’s how the BEng (Hons) Electronic and Electrical Engineering with a Foundation Year at Swansea University delivers immersive, hands-on learning. From day one, you’ll be immersed in practical engineering: working with microcontrollers, oscilloscopes, soldering rigs, PCB fabrication tools, and power systems labs. Your education happens not just through lectures, but through real systems, prototyping, and cutting-edge research environments.

Here’s how the experiential learning journey unfolds for you:

Hands-on labs with professional tools:
You’ll get practical experience using digital oscilloscopes, signal generators, soldering stations, microcontroller boards, and essential software—all in the Electronic/Electrical Teaching Laboratory.

Prototyping spaces & PCB workshop:
Build and test your own printed circuits using the dedicated PCB fabrication facility—complete with UV exposure unit, etch tank, and drill—and use the Electronics Workshop for laser cutting, drilling, and rapid prototyping.

Advanced power and electronics labs:
Learn through real energy systems and electronics—access the Wolfson Power Electronics & Power Systems (PEPS) Lab with renewable energy test beds, motor control rigs, and power device reliability tools.

Smart antenna & communications research:
Work in the Smart Antenna & Communications Lab, where you’ll engage with antenna design, RF systems (Ku/Ka/Q bands), AI-enhanced adaptive systems, GNSS anti-jamming, and wireless communication prototypes.

High-tech semiconductor and nanotech facility:
Use the brand-new £50M Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM) facility for clean-room fabrication, nanoscale characterization, and device testing—leveraging industry-grade semiconductor research capabilities.

Industry-aligned, accredited curriculum:
The programme is accredited by the IET and shaped around research strengths in energy and power, semiconductors and nanotechnology, and communications, systems & software—ensuring real-world relevance and employability.

Project-based final year:
In your final year, you’ll undertake a substantial 30-credit individual research project, allowing you to design, build, and showcase a self-driven solution.

Employer links and career outcomes:
Swansea EEE graduates go into roles like power systems engineer, RF systems engineer, semiconductor processing engineer, and more—with employers including Siemens, Dyson, GE Power, Airbus, MOD, and Jaguar Land Rover.

Support for placements and careers:
Swansea’s Employability Academy (SEA) offers workshops, employer talks, career fairs, internship resources, and personalized support—helping you build real-world experience and graduate job readiness.

Graduates of Swansea University's BEng (Hons) Electronic and Electrical Engineering with a Foundation Year 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 Swansea specifically supports your future:

Career Services & Experiential Learning:
The three-year BEng programme offers a year-long industrial placement opportunity with leading engineering firms. Students gain hands-on experience in Swansea's £32.5m Bay Campus facilities, including the Electronics Laboratory and Power Systems Research Centre. The curriculum includes a major individual project in the final year where students tackle real-world engineering challenges. The university's Employability Academy provides dedicated engineering career support, including industry networking events and one-to-one guidance throughout the degree.

Industry Partnerships & Research:
The programme benefits from Swansea's strong industry connections with companies like Siemens, Tata Steel, and GE Aviation, as well as research collaborations with the SPECIFIC Innovation & Knowledge Centre and the Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials. Students access cutting-edge facilities including high-voltage labs, power electronics testbeds, and embedded systems workstations. The curriculum incorporates current research in areas like renewable energy systems, smart grids, industrial automation, and wireless communications.

Graduate Outcomes:
Students develop strong technical skills in power systems, electronic circuit design, control engineering, and digital systems - competencies that are valued across multiple engineering sectors. Recent graduates have secured positions with companies like National Grid, Rolls-Royce, and Renishaw.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the BEng at Swansea, graduates can progress to the MEng Electronic and Electrical Engineering or pursue master's study in specialized fields. Alternatively, they can enter professional roles in power engineering, electronics design, or technical consultancy - supported by the programme's industry-relevant training and strong employer connections in Wales' growing technology sector.