BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering

The BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Exeter focuses on developing practical engineering skills alongside academic knowledge. Students gain hands-on experience through laboratory sessions, design projects, and industry-focused challenges where they apply concepts such as electronics design, communication systems, embedded technologies, and power engineering. The course gives students access to specialist engineering facilities, professional software, and research environments, helping them build confidence in designing, testing, and improving real-world engineering solutions. Students can also choose a Year in Industry to gain valuable workplace experience and understand how engineering principles are applied in professional settings.

Students benefit from dedicated engineering spaces, advanced equipment, and collaborative project environments that support experimentation, innovation, and practical learning:

• Electronics Laboratory: Students use specialist electronics laboratories equipped for circuit design, testing, and experimentation, allowing them to develop practical skills in analogue and digital electronics.

• Engineering Software and Digital Tools: Students work with industry-relevant software and tools such as MATLAB for modelling and analysis, Multisim for circuit simulation, Ultiboard for PCB design, MPLAB IDE for microcontroller programming, FPGA development tools, and Arduino programming platforms for embedded systems projects.

• Electronics Testing Equipment: The programme provides access to professional laboratory equipment including oscilloscopes, function generators, power supplies, FPGA development boards, Arduino kits, and electronics training systems used for designing and testing circuits.

• Group Engineering Projects: Students participate in collaborative projects such as the Multi-Disciplinary Group Challenge Project and the Electronic Engineering Challenge Project, where they work as teams to design solutions, manage projects, and develop practical engineering skills.

• Individual Engineering Project: In the final year, students complete an individual project supported by academic supervisors, allowing them to explore a specialist area of electrical and electronic engineering and apply their technical knowledge to a real engineering challenge.

• Year in Industry Placement: Students can choose the Year in Industry option to gain professional experience with an engineering organisation, develop workplace skills, and apply their learning in a practical environment before graduation.

• Electrical Power Systems Facilities: Students interested in energy technologies can work with facilities that support learning in areas such as electrical machines, power systems, renewable energy integration, and power electronics.

• Fabrication and Prototyping Facilities: Students have access to prototyping spaces where they can develop and test engineering ideas using modern fabrication technologies, including 3D printing and design equipment.

• Research Facilities and Engineering Centres: Students benefit from Exeter’s research environment, which includes work in areas such as renewable energy, energy storage, autonomous systems, robotics, and sustainable engineering technologies.

• Engineering Workshops: Practical workshops and specialist engineering spaces allow students to develop hands-on skills and apply classroom knowledge through building, testing, and improving engineering designs.

The BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Exeter equips graduates with the technical knowledge, practical experience, and problem-solving skills needed to succeed in today’s technology-driven industries. With expertise in areas such as electronics, communication systems, power technologies, and embedded systems, graduates can pursue careers in sectors including engineering, energy, technology, aerospace, and manufacturing. Typical career roles include Electronics Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Embedded Systems Engineer, Project Engineer, and Software Developer.

Students benefit from Exeter’s strong industry connections, career support, and professional development opportunities that help them move confidently from university into employment:

• Career Support Services: The University of Exeter provides dedicated employability support to help students prepare for their future careers through career guidance, CV development, interview preparation, employer events, networking opportunities, and access to graduate job resources.

• Industry Placement Opportunities: Students can choose the Year in Industry option, allowing them to gain professional experience with an engineering organisation before completing their degree. This placement helps students apply classroom learning to real engineering projects, develop workplace skills, and build valuable professional connections.

• Employer Engagement: Students have opportunities to connect with industry professionals through employer talks, engineering events, professional networking activities, and career-focused sessions that provide insight into current engineering roles and industry expectations.

• Industry-Relevant Skills Development: The programme develops practical skills in electronics design, programming, communication technologies, control systems, power engineering, and project management, preparing graduates for roles across a variety of engineering sectors.

• Employment Prospects and Salary Potential: Electrical and electronic engineering graduates are highly valued by employers due to increasing demand for specialists in areas such as renewable energy, automation, telecommunications, electronics, and advanced technologies. The university’s focus on practical learning and industry experience helps graduates compete effectively in the global job market.

• Professional Accreditation Value: The BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering degree is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), providing graduates with a recognised qualification that supports progression towards professional engineering registration, including Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status and the academic requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng) development.

• Strong Graduate Outcomes: Graduates leave Exeter with a combination of technical expertise, practical project experience, and transferable skills such as teamwork, communication, and innovation, enabling them to pursue successful careers in both national and international engineering organisations.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering, students can continue their studies through postgraduate programmes such as an MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering or specialist master’s degrees in areas including renewable energy, communications engineering, robotics, embedded systems, artificial intelligence, and advanced electronics. These further study options allow graduates to deepen their technical expertise and strengthen their pathway towards becoming professionally qualified engineers.