Electrical and Electronic Engineering
BEng (Hons)

Gain a real career advantage on this exciting degree which will put you at the forefront of future technologies. With the BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering on your CV, you can join one of the UK’s most in-demand professions. 

• 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)

*We are seeking accreditation for the BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Industrial Year course in 2017

If you have the potential and ambition to study with us, but feel you’re not quite ready to join the BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering right now, why not consider taking this course with a foundation year?

Electricity lights our homes, runs many of our domestic gadgets, and keeps the wheels of industry turning. We often take it for granted, yet it remains a fascinating and developing field of study – all captured in our distinctive BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

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 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 

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 

Advanced standing

One of the accreditation requirements of the BEng, as laid down by the IET, is that students must normally complete at least their final two years at the awarding institution, in this case the University of Derby. We therefore cannot offer direct entry to the BEng for the final year of study only. If you want to enter the BEng "with advanced standing" – by carrying academic credit over from another institution – you can only be considered for entry into Year 2.

Part-time ‘top-up’ study

The final stage in the BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering, often taken as "top-up" from HND or Foundation Degree qualifications, takes two years of part-time study. The programme is delivered on a day release basis and teaching may take place any time between 9am and 9pm.

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 2018 typical entry requirements

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 2019 typical entry requirements

Alternative entry qualifications:

• BTEC - DDM
• Access to HE Diploma - 60 credits: 45 at level 3 with a minimum of Dist: 15 Merit: 24 Pass: 6

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.

2018/19 Fees

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

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 details

† Additional information about your studies

Full-time: 4 years (with placement year), 3 years (without placement year) 

Part-time day release: For final-year direct entry to H600 only. 

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.

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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