Electronic & Computer Engineering MEng (Hons) (with Foundation Year)
UCAS Code: V239|Duration: 5 years|Full Time|Hope Park
UCAS Campus Code: L46
International students can apply|Study Abroad opportunities
About the course
Electronic and Computer Engineering is an exciting and rapidly developing area of technology that has increasingly affected every aspect of our lives. Examples are everyday objects with which we interact, such as mobile phones, tablets and games consoles. All of these need electronics design and software programming. This degree combines recent Software and Computer Engineering electronics Hardware technological advances and exposes you to new, much sought-after skills and up-to-date areas of research in a way that neither an electronics or a computer science degree can alone provide.
You will learn the fundamentals of the subject, including Analogue and Digital Electronics, Programming, Software Development and more specialised topics such as Embedded Computer Systems, Intelligent Systems, Mechatronics, Mobile Devices and Robotics. You will experiment and interact with specialist software, hardware interfaces and systems, as well as exotic robots and fabrication facilities. You will be taught by academics whose research is rated as internationally excellent by the latest Research Excellence Framework in areas including Robotics and Intelligent Systems.
The degree has a good balance of academic theory and practical ‘hands-on’ project work. You will work in purpose-built laboratories, using the very latest equipment.
Course structure
Teaching on this degree is structured into lectures, where all students are taught together, seminars of smaller groups of around 15-20 students, and tutorials which typically have no more than 10 students.
In the UK, degree level study equates to a total of 1200 hours, (nominally around 40 hours per week) with part of this time taught within the university and the remainder as private study.
In your first year of study, there are approximately 12 teaching hours each week, which reduces to approximately 10 teaching hours in your second, third and fourth years. As well as teaching hours, you are also be expected to spend a number of hours each week studying independently, as well as in groups to prepare for any group assessments you may have.
Assessment and feedback
During each year you will have a variety of assessments, including coursework, portfolios, tests and written exams that closely relate to the practical aspects you have studied. In your final year, you complete a research project (named a Dissertation) that you will be prepared for by project work in the earlier years of your degree.
You will be given written feedback on your assessments, and you will have the opportunity to discuss this with your tutor in more detail.
Foundation Year
The Foundation Year is a great opportunity if you have the ability and enthusiasm to study for a degree, but do not yet have the qualifications required to enter directly onto our degree programmes. A significant part of the Foundation Year focuses upon core skills such as academic writing at HE level, becoming an independent learner, structuring academic work, critical thinking, time management and note taking.
Successful completion of the Foundation Year will enable you to progress into the first year (Level C) of your chosen honours degree. Further details can be found here.
Year One
In the first year, you will develop the theoretical knowledge and practical skills that underpin Electronics and Computer Engineering. Topics studied include:
- Engineering Principles: This provides the fundamental blocks for the curriculum and covers topics such as electromagnetism, circuit theory, engineering practice, mathematics, engineering programming.
- Computing Principles & Professional Development: Professional Development prepares you for learning and study in an engineering discipline and also introduces the fundamental practices, values and expectations of an engineer. Computing principles introduces the fundamental aspects of computer systems and databases.
- Programming Principles: This block of study introduces the principles of algorithm design and programming, including an introduction to web development.
Year Two
In the second year, you will develop a broader understanding and knowledge of the theoretical and practical aspects of Electronics and Computer Engineering. You study:
- Embedded systems and machine learning: Embedded systems involves the study of microcontrollers which are becoming increasingly ubiquitous. You will also study machine learning.
- Object-oriented Programming with C++ : You will not only learn the C++ programming language in depth, but use it as a vehicle for the more general skills of object-oriented coding and design. In particular, you will learn Unified Modeling Language (UML) for designing and managing large projects for industry.
- Professional Skills: A range of topics are covered in this block, more generally equipping you for working in industry.
- Software Engineering: This course complements the skills you learn for object-oriented coding, but uses the Java programming language. It is far from just about coding though, and teaches you how to work as part of a team and the different approaches to project management that are available, as well as the latest technology being used in industry.
- Applied electronics: In this block of study you will learn about semiconductor devices and circuit applications, control systems, mechatronics and computer networks.
Year Three
In your third year, the curriculum focuses on employability and is more influenced by staff expertise and research. Here, you will develop a deeper understanding of the theoretical aspects of Electronic and Computer Engineering.
Topics will depend on latest developments but will include areas such as
- Immersive technologies (VR/AR and MR): You will learn using the software commonly used for virtual reality development, i.e. Unity and Unreal Engine, but also touch upon other technologies, such as for VR in the browser. You will also have access to cutting edge technology to test out your creations.
- Internet of Things (IoT): You will broaden your knowledge to the emerging internet-of-things, whereby physical things in the world are part of the internet. As with VR, you will have access to a range of technologies on which to develop and test your ideas.
- Advanced Web Technologies: This part of your course will focus on the Javascript language, which has emerged as one of the world’s most popular languages. It will focus on client-side development of web applications using various libraries and the latest technologies, such as Node.JS (for server-side) and React.
- Intelligent Systems: The course focuses on artificial intelligence, with a particular emphasis on machine learning. You will begin with foundational knowledge of different ML models, moving toward metaheuristics (genetic algorithms) and reinforcement learning. You will then move toward natural language processing and more exotic models within machine learning, such as meta-learning and semi-supervised learning
- Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing: The main emphasis of this part of the course is on Android application development, using Android Studio and the Java programming language.
Year Four
In your final year you will be studying with a great degree of autonomy with a focus on preparation for industry. The Curriculum is focused on the professional application of technical material that has been studied in prior years; reflecting latest developments in Robotics and will include topics such as:
- Advanced Robotics
- Parallel Computing
- Advanced Intelligent Systems
- Image and Speech Processing
Entry requirements
There may be some flexibility for mature students offering non-tariff qualifications and students meeting particular widening participation criteria.
Careers
A degree in Electronic and Computer Engineering will make you highly employable, having developed specific skills in electronic systems design. There is a skills gap in this area, and we constantly seek to give our graduates an ‘edge’ by examining emerging and cutting-edge technologies. You will be ideally placed to gain employment in high-demand roles such as design engineer across a range of sectors including consumer electronics and computer engineering. Examples of recent graduate appointments include technical engineer and systems engineers.
Many of our graduates also go on to further study at postgraduate level.
Enhancement opportunities
SALA
The Service and Leadership Award (SALA) is offered as an extra-curricular programme involving service-based experiences, development of leadership potential and equipping you for a career in a rapidly changing world. It enhances your degree, it is something which is complimentary but different and which has a distinct ‘value-added’ component. Find out more on our Service and Leadership Award page.
Study Abroad
As part of your degree, you can choose to spend either a semester or a full year of study at one of our partner universities as part of our Study Abroad programme. Find out more on our Study Abroad page.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2023/24 academic year are £9,250 for full-time undergraduate courses.
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £9,250.
The University reserves the right to increase Home and EU Undergraduate and PGCE tuition fees in line with any inflationary or other increase authorised by the Secretary of State for future years of study.
Additional costs
As well as your tuition fees, you will need approximately £250 to buy key textbooks, hardware, software, and general computer consumables.
You will also need to consider the cost of your accommodation each year whilst you study at university. Visit our accommodation pages for further details about our Halls of Residence.
Scholarships
We have a range of scholarships to help with the cost of your studies. Visit our scholarships page to find out more.
International tuition fees
The International Tuition fees for 2023/24 are £12,500.
Visit our International fees page for more information.
Course combinations
With Foundation year, this degree is only available to study as a Single Honours course.