MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering

From the very first term, you’ll be fully immersed in hands-on learning: building and programming microcontroller systems, working in Manchester’s new Home of Engineering & Materials building (formerly MECD/Nancy Rothwell Building), and exploring live power systems and embedded electronics in one of the UK’s most advanced departments. You’ll use the same teaching and research-grade labs as postgraduate engineers, gaining direct experience with advanced tools, systems, and design methodologies—not just theory.

What you’ll experience, year by year:

Year 1 – Microcontroller System Build:
In your first term, you’ll take Microcontroller Engineering, designing and programming a live USB-driven control board and testing analogue/digital I/O hardware in the National Instruments undergraduate lab, including LabVIEW-driven DAQ tools.

Dedicated Labs & Computer Suites:
Facilities include a National Instruments-sponsored lab, a power‑conversion lab, a microcontroller lab, and specialist CAD/PCB design suites for circuit design, signal integrity modelling, and Python/Matlab application.

Year 2 – Team Embedded Systems Project:
Teams design and build an autonomous embedded system over two semesters (e.g. a robotics or sensor network system), enhancing leadership and collaboration through the Year 2 Embedded Systems Project module and the department’s popular Robot Race Day, co-hosted with the EEE and Robotics societies.

Year 3 – Individual Honours Project:
Under faculty supervision, you’ll undertake an original engineering project in devices, power, sensors, or communications. This project counts for approximately 30% of your final-year grade and may lead to publication or patent opportunities.

Year 4 Industry‑Related Team Project
Engage with real-world briefs (e.g. haptic gloves, smart wheelchair controls or cyber‑secure energy systems), supported by faculty and industry sponsors — delivering system prototypes that echo commercial practice.

Flagship Facilities:
Day-to-day access includes the UK’s largest High-Voltage Laboratory, the Photon Science Institute cleanroom and III-V fabrication labs for wafer and chip prototyping, the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre systems lab, and a real-time digital simulator (RTDS) for power network emulation.

Expert Software Tools & Simulation Suites:
You’ll work with SILVACO for VLSI modelling and layout, electromagnetic simulation platforms, dSPACE for real-time control, NI LabVIEW and DAQ suites, Matlab/Simulink, and industry-standard PCB and firmware tools.

Industrial Experience Option (4-Year Track):
The BEng with Industrial Experience variant includes a full-year placement in an engineering firm such as Siemens, Rolls-Royce, or Google. You’ll be supported by an academic mentor and assessed through a professional report and presentation. This route enhances employability and contributes toward IET chartership requirements.

Peer Support & Learning Community:
Students benefit from PASS mentoring in Years 1 and 2, plus participation in student-led societies such as the EEE Club and Robotics Society. Activities include hackathons, Spectrum coding challenges, design showcases, and technical competitions that run alongside your academic studies.

Graduates of the University of Manchester’s MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering are highly employable, moving into roles such as power‑systems engineer, embedded‑systems designer, communications and signal‑processing engineer, robotics and automation specialist, control‑systems developer, and algorithm or AI engineer. Many alumni also pursue further study in electrical engineering, power systems, robotics, signal processing, or related research areas, and work across sectors including energy and utilities, automotive, aerospace, renewable power, telecoms, high‑tech electronics, and software/AI industries. 

Here’s how Manchester specifically supports your future:

Career Services & Experiential Learning:
You can choose a 5‑year MEng with Industrial Experience, which includes a paid year‑long placement in industry—ideal for enhancing CVs, project experience, and career readiness. The School hosts an annual engineering fair with companies such as BP, Siemens, National Grid, Rolls‑Royce, Google, Jaguar Land Rover, ABB, ARM, and CERN. Manchester’s award‑winning Careers Service supports students from Year 1 onwards and continues to offer tailored advice for two years after graduation.

Industry Partnerships & World‑Class Facilities:
Teaching and research take place in the new Home of Engineering and Materials, alongside flagship sites such as the High Voltage Laboratory, Photon Science Institute, Rolls‑Royce University Technology Centre, National Graphene Institute, and Dalton Nuclear Institute. Students benefit from authentic, industry-informed projects—especially the final-year team project, many of which are funded by or aligned with real industrial challenges.

Accreditation & Chartered Engineer Pathway:
This MEng degree is fully accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the Institute of Measurement and Control under licence from the UK Engineering Council. That means it meets the educational base for Incorporated (IEng) and Chartered (CEng) Engineer registration under the UK‑SPEC standard—without needing further study.

Graduate Outcomes & Employability:
Over 90% of MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering graduates are in employment or further study within 15 months of finishing. Manchester is the most-targeted UK university by graduate employers, according to the Graduate Market in 2024, and graduates have secured roles at major organisations including BP, Siemens, Intel, National Grid, Rolls‑Royce and Google.

Further Academic & Professional Progression:
The final-year industry-aligned team project is excellent preparation for a research MSc or entry to roles in R&D and technical leadership. The MEng syllabus—spanning power systems, embedded hardware/software, wireless communications, control, robotics, AI, cyber‑security, and renewable energy—is strongly aligned with postgraduate pathways such as MSc/PhD in Power Systems, Robotics, Signal Processing, Secure Systems, or AI. Combined with chartered-engineer eligibility, this positions you well for a technical or leadership career in engineering or further study at Master’s or PhD level.