BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering
When can you start this course? | UCAS code | Fees | Course length | Entry requirements
Why choose this course?
It's a broad-based introduction to electrical/electronic engineering, with the opportunity for you to enjoy extensive hands-on experience. There's also an energetic staff team who have received impressive recognition for their expertise.
It makes sense to keep your options open in the early stages as we'll give you a broad introduction to the subject in the first year, but then let you specialise in areas you find interesting.
About the course
Electricity can be used to transport and deliver energy - it lights our homes, runs many of our domestic gadgets and is such an established part of our lives we too often take it for granted. Electrical engineering deals with the study of motors and generators and their control, transmission and distribution systems.
In Electronic Engineering we use electricity to process and store the information behind mobile phones and computers, as well as a huge range of systems in commerce and industry. Both electrical and electronic engineering depend on the same fundamental scientific laws, but diverge widely beyond these basics. This programme gives you professional entry to these two closely related fields.
In the early stages of the programme you'll learn the underlying principles, both electrical and electronic, as well as computing and maths. You also acquire some of the practical skills you will need, like wiring and assembling printed circuit boards. This leads to the study of analogue and digital electronics, through microprocessor systems, as well as aspects of electrical systems, like motors and generators. The degree is more than pure engineering, however. You'll learn project management, team-working and communication skills, essential for the modern engineer.
Your career
There is a national shortage of these skills in power industries, like generation, distribution and rail, as well as the fast-changing electronic technologies. You can move on to work in design, installation, maintenance or production line management, as well as the newest technologies, like digital signal processing, embedded systems, or electromagnetic compatibility.
After graduating from this course, Peter Hill is now working in DSP development for a company called Analog Devices.
What our students say
'...my time spent within the Division of Electronic Systems [now Electronics and Sound] has successfully equipped me with the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful career in an area that several years ago I knew nothing about. I found the University's working relationship with local industries to be particularly useful...'
Vote of thanks, Graduation 2003.
How you'll learn
The programme is taught through a mix of lectures, tutorials, and laboratory work. The timetable contains around 16 hours of contact with staff a week, with around the same amount of time as "directed study". All modules are supported through UDo, the University of Derby Online, so you have access to essential support materials at any time of the day or night.
How you're assessed
This is by a careful blend of assignment and examination. Assignments may relate to work at the computer or in the laboratory, or may be a piece of written or analytical work. Mini-projects are also used, and these are really popular with our students, as a hands-on way of learning real skills.
Fieldtrips
There are no field trips as such, but industrial visits are arranged from time to time.
Work placements
There are no formal work placements. However we do encourage you to get relevant work experience. You can get tutor support for this, which can lead to academic credit. For example, a suitable work placement which you undertake over the summer could be assessed, and then recognised as part of your programme of study, so you gain marks towards your final degree classification.
Start dates
If you're from the UK or EU you can apply to study this course in:
- September 2010 (part time only, if available)
- September 2011
See a list of courses we are still taking applications for in September 2010.
If you're from a country outside the EU you can apply to study this course full time in:
- September 2010
- September 2011
UCAS code
H600
H601 with Technology Foundation Year
Fees *
UK/EU students
- Full time: £3,290 (each year)
- Part time: £270 per single module (you usually take 24 of these modules in total)
International students
- Full time: £8,800 (each year)
*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2010 and August 2011. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year and there may be extra costs eg for exams, trips or special modules.
Course length
Full time: 3 years or 4 years with a Technology Foundation Year.
Part time: 5 years minimum.
Direct entry into later stages of the course is available if you've got a relevant HND or equivalent qualifications.
Entry requirements
Our entry requirements are usually 180-240 UCAS points from A levels, including Science, Maths, ...
