Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year
BEng (Hons)

• Prepare for rewarding careers in areas as diverse as avionics, medical electronics, automotive electrical and electronic systems, electrical power generation, the rail industry or music and entertainment
• Choose a course accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)* and start your journey towards Chartered Engineer (CEng) status
• Include an optional industry placement year as part of your studies to gain vital insights into professional practice
• Study in an inspirational learning environment at our Markeaton Street site, home to our impressive new STEM Centre and fully equipped with laboratories, workshops and the latest technology
• Learn from an expert teaching team experienced in the different branches of electrical and electronic engineering and who have produced many influential research publications and textbooks
• Take the chance to get involved in far-reaching projects such as the ALICE experiment, on which we are working in partnership with leading organisations at CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research
• Enhance your career prospects: 91.7% of our Electrical and Electronic Engineering graduates are now in graduate level employment (DLHE 2015/16).

Choose a university with a focus on employability: we are ranked 15^th highest among all UK universities and 12^th for English institutions, with 96% of graduates in work or further study within six months of completing their degree (HESA 2016)

Foundation Year - helping you to achieve more

Including a foundation year as part of your four-year study programme will give you a head start in your academic and professional life. The foundation year offers the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence – with extensive support from our expert staff – before you advance to stage one of your honours degree. It could also be beneficial if you are planning a career change and want to get to grips with aspects of subjects which are new to you.

Our degrees with a foundation year are continuous, meaning that you won’t need to apply again once you have successfully completed the first year.

Build a broad set of skills

On this course, you will study both electrical engineering - where electricity is used to transport and deliver energy - and electronic engineering, where electricity can be used to process, transmit and store information.

Electrical engineering deals with the study of motors and generators and their control, power transmission and distribution systems, as well as the principles that underpin them.

Electronic engineering depends heavily on semiconductor technology, which has advanced significantly since the invention of the transistor, leading to the so-called microchip, the world of mobile phones and laptops, and the Internet of Things. Both electrical and electronic engineering are underpinned by the same fundamental scientific laws, but diverge widely beyond those basics.

Your studies will feature practical learning and experiments in our specialist laboratories dedicated to electrical and electronic engineering.

Vital practical experience

We give you the opportunity to take a placement year in industry as part of this degree. This experience, which takes place between the second and final stage of your honours degree studies, will greatly enhance your career prospects after graduation. A large number of companies seek placement students each year.

In addition, we offer extensive support to boost your employability while you are studying with us: for more information, contact our Careers and Employment Service.

BEng vs BSc – what is the difference?

We offer both a BEng (Hons) and a BSc (Hons) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Each provides an excellent route into professional practice and recognition as a qualified electrical or electronic engineer. The two courses are similar, but the BEng features more analytical study and deeper scientific underpinning.

Both courses are accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), under strict rules laid down by the Engineering Council UK. They therefore help prepare you to work either as an Incorporated Engineer or as a Chartered Engineer. See the Engineering Council website for a full definition of these roles.

While the BSc provides the educational requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer, the BEng provides part of the educational requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng). The full educational requirement for CEng is met by completing accredited postgraduate study, for example our MSc in Control and Instrumentation. 

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

The programme is taught through a mix of lectures, tutorials and laboratory work. Very popular with our students, mini-projects are also used as a hands-on way of learning real-world skills.

The timetable contains up to 16 hours of contact with staff a week, with around the same amount of time designated as "directed study".

All modules are supported through University of Derby Online (UDOL), so you have access to essential support materials at any time of the day or night.

How you are assessed

Assessment is through a careful blend of assignment and examination. Assignments may relate to work at the computer or in the laboratory, or may involve a piece of written or analytical work. 

September 2019 typical entry requirements

Alternative entry qualifications:

• BTEC - MPP
• Pass Access to HE Diploma 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 and 15 at Level 2.

We usually consider an A-level in General Studies as a supplementary qualification. A good application/performance will be taken into account if you do not meet the criteria/offer conditions.

Our entry requirements for this course should be read together with the University's general entry requirements, which details subjects we accept, alternative qualifications and what we're looking for at Derby.

September 2020 typical entry requirements

Alternative entry qualifications:

• BTEC - MPP
• Pass Access to HE Diploma 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 and 15 at Level 2.

We usually consider an A-level in General Studies as a supplementary qualification. A good application/performance will be taken into account if you do not meet the criteria/offer conditions.

Our entry requirements for this course should be read together with the University's general entry requirements, which details subjects we accept, alternative qualifications and what we're looking for at Derby.

2019/20 Fees

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.

Additional costs and optional extras

2020/21 Fees

* The fees stated above are for the 2019/20 academic year; fees for 2020/21 have not yet been confirmed by the UK government. We will update this information as soon as it is available.

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.

Additional costs and optional extras

When you graduate, a wide range of employment opportunities will open up for you in electrical and electronic engineering. You could move into areas as diverse as avionics, medical electronics, automotive electrical and electronic systems, electrical power generation, the rail industry or music and entertainment.

Recent students have moved into roles involving electrical or electronic system design, installation and commissioning, programming, maintenance, and related activities. Derby graduates can now be found developing embedded systems in cars, electrical power distribution systems, railway signalling systems, or rolling stock enhancements. They are also managing major industrial processes, from breweries to assembly lines.

The numeracy and problem-solving skills you develop during the BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering will broaden your career scope further still, with alternative options including teaching, banking, accountancy, technical sales or management. 

You could also consider taking your studies to postgraduate level by taking, for example, our MSc Control and Instrumentation.

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.

Additional information about your studies

Download programme specification

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Additional costs and optional extras

We’re committed to providing you with an outstanding learning experience. Our expert teaching, excellent facilities and great employability prepare you for your future career. As part of our commitment to you we aim to keep any additional study costs to a minimum. However, there are occasions where students may incur some additional costs.

Included in your fees

• Use of resources such as computer rooms, workshops and laboratories
• Software to install on own devices such as NI suite including Multisim, Ultiboard and Labview and the student version of Matlab
• Student membership of IET (£50)
• Study trips to places such as power stations, NPL, Mitsubishi etc
• £120 maximum allowance for final year project

Please note: Our courses are refreshed and updated on a regular basis. If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.

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