BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering

As a student on the BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering programme at Southampton, you’ll develop practical skills alongside theory from day one. You’ll do weekly hands‑on labs in purpose-built teaching suites, build the custom Micro Arcana processing boards that become yours to keep, and explore real-world electronics in Southampton’s Hardware and Software Projects laboratories.

All of your labs, group briefs and final‑year work take place in facilities shared with postgraduate researchers—yet designed to empower undergraduate engineers to prototype, test, debug and iterate complex systems using industry‑standard tools.

Here’s how your hands‑on learning works in practice:

• Year 1 weekly labs and “Electronic Design” module: From Term 1, you’ll build, program and debug your own analogue/digital circuits using the in‑house Micro Arcana boards (Atmel microcontrollers, FPGA or ARM SoCs)—then move into the Electronic Design module in Year 2, where teams apply their skills in a three‑week build-and-test project and pitch working systems to industry judges.
• Electrical & Electronic Engineering Teaching Laboratory: Level 2 is fitted with 112 individual student benches, each with dual‑screen PCs, 200 MHz mixed‑signal scopes, logic analysers, TTi linear PSUs, waveform generators and QHD monitors—mirroring the layout of a modern hardware‑test lab.
• Hardware Projects Laboratory (Prototyping, PCB suite & Maker Space): This is home to dedicated smart benches, high‑voltage testing, a pick-and-place PCB fabrication line, reflow ovens, laser cutters and 3D‑printing tools. It’s where prototype boards and mechanical parts are made for projects spanning from power systems to embedded robotics.
• Group Design Projects (GDP): In multi-disciplinary teams you build real-world solutions for business or academic clients—past examples include an autonomous racing car (Soton GT), a CubeSat power and comms payload (UoS3), robotic fish prototypes and urban greenhouse automation systems.
• Final‑Year Independent Projects: Year 3 (for BEng) gives you the opportunity to run your own honours project—often aligned with High Voltage, Wireless, Power Electronics or Device Design labs—supported by ECS researchers and lending real technical ownership.
• Software & Simulation Tools: You’ll use licensing for tools such as Cadence Virtuoso / S‑Edit / L‑Edit (IC design), LabVIEW (instrument control), MATLAB/PSpice, Python, and SOC‑based embedded toolchains, accessed via both physical PC clusters and a remote lab system.
• Internships, placements & employer links: Most students take paid summer internships after Years 2 or 3 (lasting 6–14 weeks). This programme complements Southampton’s MEng with Industrial Studies 12‑month placement pathway and connects you to over 300 industry partners—all supported by ECS’s dedicated Careers & Employability Hub and annual Engineering & Technology Careers Fair.
• Student Showcase & employer feedback events: Each year, ECS hosts a high-profile Student Showcase, where faculty-chosen student projects (from GDP or final-year teams) are displayed in London for employers and alumni—often generating job offers and mentoring opportunities.
• Start-Up & Entrepreneurship Resources (Future Worlds): If you're interested in turning a project into a business, Future Worlds accelerator offers labs, mentorship, and early-stage funding for hardware and software ventures.
• Engineering & Computing Libraries and Study Space: You’ll have access to the E. J. Richards Engineering Library, the David Barron Computing Lab, and dedicated group/quiet-study areas built into the ECS building—and all coursework and assessment is managed through the LEARN virtual learning environment.

Graduates of the University of Southampton’s BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering are highly employable, moving into roles such as power systems engineer, embedded systems designer, telecommunications specialist, and renewable energy consultant. Many alumni also pursue further study in robotics, AI, or related fields, or work in sectors including energy, aerospace, IT, and smart manufacturing.

Here’s how Southampton specifically supports your future:

Career Services & Experiential Learning:
The program emphasizes hands-on learning through design projects, such as building robots or testing microprocessors, alongside theoretical training in programming (e.g., MATLAB, C++) and circuit analysis. Students can engage with the Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) facilities, noted for their industry-standard equipment, including advanced electronics labs and simulation tools. The university’s Careers Service offers tailored support, including CV workshops and employer networking events, with strong ties to companies like Rolls-Royce and Siemens.

Industry Partnerships & Research:
Southampton’s program is research-led, with expertise in high-voltage engineering, sustainable energy, and quantum technology. Students access cutting-edge labs like the Smart Materials and Surfaces Lab and work alongside academics recognized by the Royal Academy of Engineering. Industry collaborations focus on real-world challenges in energy distribution, robotics, and photonics.

Graduate Outcomes:
Graduates develop skills in analogue/digital electronics, power systems, and control engineering, with 95% employed or in further study within 15 months. Alumni work at firms like National Grid, BAE Systems, and Intel, with others progressing to master’s programs in AI or renewable energy.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the BEng at Southampton, you can progress to the MEng Electrical Engineering or pursue a master’s in a specialised field such as renewable energy or robotics. Alternatively, you can enter professional roles in power generation, systems engineering, or technical consultancy—supported by the program’s industry connections and research-driven curriculum.