Intro

Our accredited course will prepare you for a career as a skilled electrical engineer. We work with industry and our accrediting bodies to ensure that you develop the knowledge and skills needed in the workplace.

Learning with a team with an international research reputation you’ll explore the theory, design and application of electronic systems. You’ll study topics including analogue electronics and communications, digital system design, product innovation and management, and high voltage power, distribution and utilisation.

Working with specialists from other engineering disciplines on challenging and rewarding projects, such as those in the Sustainable Technology and Engineering Projects (STEP) lab, gives you experience that mirrors industry. Placements and guest lectures from industry provide professional insight and networking opportunities.

Our Electrical and Electronic Engineering MEng offers an extra year of study at master’s level.

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Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

UCAS code H605

Full-time 3 years
With placement year 4 years

Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology

Apply now with UCAS for 2023

Course content

Course structure

In years 1 and 2 you will explore different aspects of power engineering, electronics and communications. You will also study mathematics, engineering concepts, electrical engineering, computer programming and engineering design, innovation and management.

After year 2 you may also opt to put your studies into practice by undertaking a year-long industrial placement.

The final year includes specialist options and a major individual project, which is often supported by industry.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

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Second year students put learning into practice with the Robot Wars project.

Year 1

Through a shared first year with our Electronic and Computer Engineering course, you will explore fundamental electrical and electronic engineering topics.

Design projects integrate practical and theoretical work, and help to reinforce your learning.

Modules

  • Engineering Mathematics

    In this module you will learn to apply mathematical concepts and software tools to solve engineering problems.

    On completion you will be able to use analytical techniques and software tools to solve simple algebraic problems, develop mathematical models of engineering systems, and apply an appropriate analytical method, or software tool to solve a mathematical model.

  • Engineering Practice

    On this module you will develop your engineering skills using projects as the focus of your learning.

    You will work on group projects, applying engineering skills such as reflection, organisation, planning, design, communication and planning. Concepts across a range of engineering specialisms will be introduced as part of a problem-based approach.

  • Embedded Systems 1

    This module explicitly builds a base of knowledge and skills in programming using the ‘C’ language (a very common language used in embedded systems), which can then be extended in level 5.

    The module implicitly aims to inculcate enthusiasm for embedded programming to the point where you will set programming challenges for yourself. Use of the “Arduino” platform with a mix of sensors and actuators is the key to this self-motivation.

  • Analogue and Digital Electronics 1

    This module will provide a foundation of analogue and digital electronics engineering knowledge enabling you to explore more specialised subjects as you progress through your degree.

  • Analogue and Digital Electronics 2

    This module enables you to explore concepts that underpin analogue and digital electronics, including implementing and measuring the performance of systems.

  • Introduction to Electrical Engineering

    This module will provide you with context and practical experience of electrical engineering. You will be introduced to fundamental characteristics of power system components, electrical power generation and distribution systems.

Group of students in the robotics lab

Year 2

You will learn programming to an advanced level and spend time in our specialist labs compiling, simulating and implementing your designs.

Modules

  • Control and Applications
  • Embedded Systems 2
  • Digital Systems Design
  • Engineering Design
  • Electrical Engineering 2
  • Analogue Electronics and Communications
Student with long hair in front of computer working a robot arm

Placement year

A placement year offers you a great opportunity to:   

  • build knowledge of real-world businesses and organisations   
  • develop existing skills and discover new ones   
  • make contacts in industry and commerce   
  • increase your confidence   
  • improve your time management. 

You will also gain the appropriate amount of work experience to reach Engineering Technician (EngTech) status.

Our students have been on placement with companies including Rolls-Royce, General Electric and National Rail.

Three students working in the engineering STEP lab

Final year

You will undertake an individual project from business plan through to project completion.

Modules

  • Project
  • Product Design
  • Electronics
  • High Voltage Power, Distribution and Utilisation

Options*

  • Digital Signal Processing
  • Communications

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Group of students working with the robotic dog

Careers

Becoming an engineer 

This course is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

Professional accreditation ensures the content of the course prepares you for your career as well as giving you a strong academic grounding.

On successful completion of this course, you'll be eligible to apply for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status.

You can progress to Chartered Engineer status (CEng) with further study and experience.

IET logo

Prepare for your career  

In your career you need a combination of knowledge, skills, personal qualities and relevant experiences – and you’ll get all of this from your degree. 

Project work in groups with other engineering specialists develops your teamwork, project management, presentation, and communication skills, giving you hands-on experience that mirrors industry.

  • Build and fight your own robot for our annual combat robot competition
  • Collaborate on projects that reflect real engineering challenges in the student-run Sustainable Technology and Engineering Projects (STEP) Lab
  • You’ll also have opportunities to get involved in real industrial projects.

Facilities for learning 

You’ll have access to our specialist facilities for hands-on learning

Facilities include:

  • the Sir Harry Ricardo labs
  • a Simulation Suite with flight simulators and a car simulator that use VR and motion platform tech
  • a wind tunnel
  • prototyping labs and workshops in our advanced engineering building
  • 3D printers, CNC machines.
Aero simulator 360
Click to view a virtual tour of some of our facilities.

Industry/Professional links 

We work closely with industry to make sure you develop the skills and knowledge needed in the workplace.

  • Our industrial liaison panel advises on the content of our course.
  • Guest lectures from industry experts give you a feel for what it’ really like to be an engineer.
  • You will showcase your individual project to potential employers at the final year project exhibition.
  • Brighton technology company, Paxton, offers our engineering computing, maths, and product design students three scholarships a year worth £10,000 and a three-month paid placement.
Engineering facilities

Graduate destinations 

Our graduates are working in companies including: Rolls-Royce; Network Rail; Southern Water; Edwards High Vacuum; Innogy; Electa; Eurotherm; and Paxton Access.

Further study 

You can progress to year 3 or 4 of our integrated masters MEng if you achieve the required standard in year 2 or 3 of the BEng. 

Advanced Engineering Building

Supporting your employability

Outside of your course, our Careers Service is here to support you as you discover (and re-discover) your strengths and what matters to you. We are here for you throughout your university journey as you work towards a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Connect with our careers team

  • Find part-time work that you can combine with your studies.
  • Find, or be, a mentor or get involved with our peer-to-peer support scheme.
  • Develop your business ideas through our entrepreneurial support network.
  • Get professional advice and support with career planning, CV writing and interview top tips.
  • Meet potential employers at our careers fairs.
  • Find rewarding volunteering opportunities to help you discover more about what makes you tick, and build your CV.

Whatever your career needs, we are here to help. And that's not just while you are a student, our support carries on after you've graduated.

Find out more...

Coloured background with the words Be More, Connected, Skilled, Emlployable

Entry criteria

Flexible admissions

When you apply to Brighton we want to hear about who you are. Grades are never the whole picture; we're interested in things like creativity, resourcefulness, persistence and the capacity to think big and find new ways of doing things. And we recognise that not everyone has the same background. That's why we treat everyone who applies as an individual. We recognise many qualifications and we care about all of your achievements and the experiences you've had that set you apart.

Find out more

Graphic with the text 'Potential + possibility'

Entry requirements

A-levels or BTEC
Entry requirements are in the range of A-level BBB–BCC (120–104 UCAS Tariff points), or BTEC Extended Diploma DMM–MMM. Our conditional offers typically fall within this range.

A-levels must include maths at grade C and a physical science. BTEC must include further maths for engineering techs.

International Baccalaureate
26 points, with three subjects at Higher level.

Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall. Level 3 units in maths and a physical science required. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 24 credits at merit or above.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
Must include English language, maths and a science.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits or relevant experience may count towards your course at Brighton, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3. 

English language requirements
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

Other
Foundation course with maths and a physical science.

We also offer this degree with an integrated foundation year for applicants who do not meet the standard entry requirements.

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 15,300 GBP

If you choose to take the professional placement (sandwich) year offered on this course you will pay a reduced fee during this year. Our fee for the professional placement year is £1,410 for UK students and £2,180 for international students. This fee may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

  • Travel and accommodation costs are included for all mandatory taught residential field trips, but you’ll need to provide your own food and drink.
  • There will be opportunities to attend additional study trips or optional taught residential field trips throughout the school, but these are not required to pass your course. Normally, a contribution will be required towards expenses such as travel, entrance fees and accommodation. This will vary depending on where and how long the trip is, but you should budget around £1,500.
  • Where optional international field trips are offered, these are not required to pass your course. You should expect to budget £300–£500 for these, to cover flight, accommodation, food and entrance to museums. The total amount spent would be based on location and number of trips taken.
  • If you choose to take an optional paid placement, you’ll be expected to cover your own travel, accommodation, food and drink.
  • Some students require specialist outdoor equipment and/or personal protective equipment (PPE) and should budget up to £150.
  • You will have access to computers and necessary software; however, many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices, but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses. Find out what free software is available from the University of Brighton.
  • Course books are available from the university, but you may wish to budget from £15 to £100 per year to buy your own copies and subscribe to design magazines.
  • In most cases coursework submissions are electronic but students may wish to print notes which would involve an extra cost.
  • Costs of up to £50 are included in the fees for students on engineering courses to pay for materials for their final year projects. On rare occasions where material costs exceed £50, they will need to be paid for by the student.

For architecture, interior architecture, design and product design, additional costs are as follow

  • Students should budget around £25 for printing and binding dissertations in their final year.
  • In your first year of studies, you will need to buy a drawing and modelling toolkit. Each course will suggest a list of items of which some will be essential, and others optional. You should budget around £100–£250 for these.
  • For most courses you will need to budget between £100 to £300 per year for printing and portfolio costs. Costs will vary depending on type of printer and type and size of paper used. Some students tend to work digitally, spending more on printing and some by hand, spending more on materials so these costs vary widely between students.
  • For most courses you will need to budget between £10 and £100 for material costs per design project. Costs will vary depending on how and what you use to make models. You are encouraged to recycle used materials where possible.
  • You will need to budget between £5–£50 to exhibit work for the end-of-year show. Fundraising by the student society, BIAAS, normally helps towards this cost.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2023–24.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Over the last four years Moulsecoomb has undergone a major transformation, planned with accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability in mind.

Over 900 students live here in our halls, Moulsecoomb Place and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

On campus you’ll find professional-standard facilities and learning resources for all of our subjects and a brand new academic building Elm House, alongside the library, student centre, fitness facilities and the Students’ Union.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains and to all the exciting things happening in our home city.

Two people walking past Mithras halls

Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in the city centre, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

  • Moulsecoomb campus is linked to Mithras halls and Varley Park. All halls are self-catered.
  • Varley Park offers a mix of rooms. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Halls

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Park

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Students eating at the Hub

Students eating at the Hub

Local area

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

Brighton is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more.

Students talking in a social area

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Students playing frisbee

 Student views  

Thomas Brockwell

"When I left school I did aerospace engineering at college, which was more mechanical. Then I worked as a builder for five years but had friends who did this course at Brighton; I got involved a bit through them as they really enjoyed it. From that I knew I wanted to come back to engineering and this was the course I wanted to do.

"I really enjoyed robot wars in the second year. Designing and building electronics is really challenging and great experience. Working in a team was good – there are less electrical engineers involved in the project so a lot of the electrical work was down to me, which makes you get really involved. You’re seen as gold dust!

"Another highlight has been the practical learning. I find the theory sinks in more when you learn the theory in lectures and then put it into practice on a project afterwards.

"I would definitely recommend this course. When I was working I ummed and ahhed about studying and wondered whether it was for me. I needn’t have had any concerns – it keeps you so interested all the time, you don’t even realise how much you’re learning.

"What advice would I give to someone who is thinking of applying for this course? Just do it! It’s so interesting and time goes so quickly. You won’t regret it."

Thomas Brockwell

Stay in touch

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Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

Statistics

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at Brighton. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked below). You can find out also about the support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Course and module descriptions on this page were accurate when first published and are the basis of the course. Detailed information on any changes we make to modules and learning and assessment activities will be sent to all students by email before enrolment, so that you have all the information before you come to Brighton.

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Programme specification

The programme specification is the approved description of each course. They give a detailed breakdown of the content and structure of the course, and are updated following course changes.

Programme specification

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