BEng and MEng Electronics and Computer Engineering

When you choose Electronics & Computer Engineering (BEng or MEng) at the University of Leeds, you won’t just read about circuits and code—you’ll design, build, and test real systems from day one. Working in the state-of-the-art Electronic & Electrical Engineering Building, you’ll use modern electronics labs, embedded-system benches, FPGA suites, and 24/7 computing clusters, all under the guidance of research-active staff who design solutions across sector-leading areas like IoT, AI, communications and systems integration.

The learning is structured around genuine hands-on experience—from lab-built prototypes to industry-style briefing and programming challenges. You'll go beyond simulations immediately, using tools and processes directly aligned with what employers expect.

Here’s where experiential learning comes into play:

Facilities and Start-of-Year Kits for Key Modules:
In Year 1, the Electronic Design Project module delivers weekly lab work where you build functional circuits (think op-amps, timers, IR sensors and even buggy robots) using kneaded desk benches, logic trainers, oscilloscopes and USB-connected microcontroller modules provided to you as loan kits. This sets you up for experiences controlled by MA3 tuition staff, not simulations alone.

Purpose‑Built Labs & Innovation Spaces:
As you progress, you’ll access modern electronics labs loaded with waveform generators, digital scopes and EMI chambers, plus embedded systems labs under the ARM University Programme, ultrasound and instrumentation labs, and cleanrooms tailored for microwave or communications work—with laser cutting and 3D printing facilities available for prototypes and honours projects.

Team Engineering Project (≈45 credits, Years 3–4):
This flagship module has student teams apply what they’ve learned to real challenges—defining, budgeting, building and presenting a working product with embedded hardware and software integration, much like a small engineering consultancy would.

Year‑long Embedded Systems & FPGA Design:
From Year 2 onward, modules like Embedded Systems Project, Microprocessors & Programmable Logic, IoT & Edge Computing and FPGA/DSP labs teach you to write and troubleshoot firmware (C/C++, ARM), develop machine learning or audio-processing routines, and map digital logic into hardware platforms like Xilinx or Altera devices.

Software & Digital Toolchain Training:
Across the programme you’ll use MATLAB/Simulink, Git, VHDL/Verilog for FPGA, PSpice, Python (for machine learning and data analytics), wireless emulation suites, and ARM development environments—accessed through lab PCs and high-performance remote clusters via Leeds’ VLE.

Paid Summer Internships (8 weeks on average):
Each summer, Level 1–3 undergraduates can apply for paid on-campus research or support internships run through EPS. Recent interns worked on robotics, AI, quantum sensor experiments—and culminated their experience by presenting posters & demos in a formal show‑and‑tell event hosted by world-class researchers.

Optional Year‑Long Industrial Placement:
MEng students (and some BEng variants) can take a full paid placement year at one of 100+ industry partner organisations worldwide—from Amazon or Rolls‑Royce to Sony and network infrastructure firms—with career support, visits and company-supervised assessment.

Professional Network & Student Activity through ShockSoc:
Leeds’ engineering student society runs real-world events including Robot Fighting League, technical visits to employers, hack weeks and social networking—helping solidify your engineering community on campus and beyond.

Study Spaces, Computing Clusters & Library Support:
You’ll have access to 24/7 EEE computer clusters, quiet and group-work study rooms on every floor of the Department, lecture theatres with flexible problem-based layout, and libraries stocked with circuits, software, and network-licensed toolsets for additional project work.

Graduates of the University of Leeds' Electronics and Computer Engineering MEng/BEng program are highly employable, moving into roles such as embedded systems engineer, robotics developer, IoT specialist, and AI hardware designer. Many alumni also pursue further study in computer engineering, machine learning, or related fields, or work in sectors including autonomous vehicles, smart energy systems, and consumer electronics.

Here's how Leeds specifically supports your future:

Career Services & Experiential Learning:
The program offers optional industrial placements with leading tech companies like Arm, IBM, and Dyson, along with study abroad opportunities. Students learn through a project-based curriculum that combines electronics labs with software development, gaining expertise in areas like FPGA programming, real-time systems, and machine learning applications. Leeds' dedicated Engineering Careers Team provides industry mentoring, hackathons, and recruitment fairs specifically for tech roles.

Industry Partnerships & Research:
The School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering collaborates with global partners including Intel, National Instruments, and Texas Instruments. Students access cutting-edge facilities like the Robotics Lab and Embedded Systems Studio, working on research in computer vision, edge computing, and neuromorphic engineering. The program's unique integration of hardware and software skills is particularly valued in emerging fields like autonomous systems and smart manufacturing.

Graduate Outcomes:
Recent graduates report an average starting salary of £36,200, with 96% in graduate-level roles within six months. Alumni work at companies ranging from semiconductor firms (NVIDIA, Qualcomm) to tech giants (Google, Amazon), with particular strengths in robotics and IoT applications.

Further Academic Progression:
The MEng's fourth year offers specializations in AI hardware, secure systems, or advanced robotics. Many graduates progress to PhD research in areas like quantum computing or enter leadership roles in tech startups through Leeds' innovation ecosystem.