BEng (Hons)

Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Electrical and electronic engineering is at the core of innovation across many industries, and you’ll be ready to make a real impact as you develop your skills on this course.

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Key Course Details

  • UCAS Code

    H601

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Pontypridd

  • Campus Code

    A

Fees

  • Home students

    £9,535*

  • International students

    £16,200*

  • Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.

  • UCAS Code

    HQ00

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Pontypridd

  • Campus Code

    A

Fees

  • Home students

    £9,535*

  • International students

    £16,200*

  • Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.

Today’s electrical engineers don’t just need outstanding skills but also creativity and innovation to thrive in a more digitised, intelligent, and connected world. This degree strikes a balance between theory and practice, preparing graduates for leadership roles in industry.

DESIGNED FOR

If you have an interest in how the world is wired up, want to understand how things work and apply your knowledge to real-world problems, this is the course for you. Bring your inquiring mind and this course will prepare you for a range of electrical engineering roles across almost every industry.

Industry Ready

  • Designed to meet the learning outcome requirements of the UK Engineering Council Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes version 4.

Career Paths

  • Electronic design engineer  
  • Electronics and communication engineer  
  • Power electronics engineer  
  • Mobile and communication engineer  
  • Embedded systems engineer  

Skills taught

  • Wireless network systems 
  • Electronics design and build 
  • Electrical and power applications 
  • Teamwork, communication and presentation 
  • Management, leadership and problem-solving 
  • Embedded systems 

 

A close up of two circuit boards wired up to small lights being held by two sets of hands in a USW electronic workshop

Course Highlights

Industry-focused

Our strong links with industry bring your learning to life with live, real-world projects and case studies.

Work placement opportunities

Take part in industrial placements and work closely with employers to maximise your opportunities.

Expert knowledge

Learn from experts who take part in globally significant research and bring valuable industry experience.

Module Overview

Build essential knowledge and skills during the first and second years, before refining and applying your knowledge to a range of complex technical problems seen by industry experts. Work experience and major projects in the final year develop your management and leadership skills.

Year One

Mathematics for Engineers
Electrical Principles
Engineering Applications
Programming for Electronics Engineering
Professional Development and Industrial Practice
Analogue & Digital Electronics

Year Two

Communication Engineering 
Power, Machines and Control 
Electrical Principles and Analytical Methods 
Configuration and Programming of Embedded Systems
Advanced Electronic Systems
Leadership and Product Development 

Year Three

Supervised Work Experience (SWE) 
Industrial Management
Power Electronics Applications
Advanced Embedded Systems
Electronics Design 
Major Engineering Project 

Lay theoretical foundations by learning key mathematical concepts, as well as how to work safely in practical environments. You’ll be introduced to the key concepts, systems and hardware you’ll use during the course, and start to build the professional qualities needed to succeed.

Mathematics for Engineers  
Understand the importance of mathematics in engineering and build the mathematical and data skills needed to solve electrical engineering problems. 

Electrical Principles  
Develop knowledge of circuit theory and apply it to solve basic circuit problems involving battery technology, electrical drives, renewable energy sources and smart grids.  

Engineering Applications 
Work hands-on in teams to design, build and test simple electrical systems, developing lots of practical skills such as CAD, soldering and safe working. 

Programming for Electronics Engineering  
Through challenging practical lab exercises, you’ll develop the skills required to manage complex firmware for microcontrollers.   

Analogue and Digital Electronics  
Explore a range of analogue and digital electronic systems and how they can be applied based on their functionality. 

Professional Development and Industrial Practice  
Understand the legal requirements around safe practice and develop the personal skills required for future success both academically and in the workplace. 

Advance your knowledge of power, communication, and programming, and start to apply it to real-world problems. This culminates in a large group project where you’ll apply business and management techniques to develop a viable solution to a complex technical problem.

Communication Engineering  
Understand how the different forms of communication work, comparing and reviewing communications systems based on their use, functionality and technology. 

Power, Machines and Control  
Apply mathematical models to analyse electronic machines and power systems, with an introduction to specific instrumentation and control strategies.  

Electrical Principles and Analytical Methods  
Design more advanced circuits and systems as you analyse and perform detailed calculations, applying high-level mathematical principles. 

Configuration and Programming of Embedded Systems 
Use C programming language to develop real-time embedded systems on a general-purpose microcontroller. 

Advanced Electronic Systems 
Advance your knowledge of analogue and digital systems as you design and synthesise electronic circuits and systems to meet technical and commercial specifications. 

Leadership and Product Development  
Don your management hat as you work in a team planning and executing a project to solve a complex technical problem, applying established business techniques. 

We encourage you to undertake a year-long sandwich placement after your second year, where you’ll gain real insights into the industry and be shaped by priceless experiences. Upon your return, you will build specialist knowledge and have the opportunity to focus on your strength through an option module and a final year dissertation.

Industrial Management
Gain an insight on to Industrial Management from Projects to Operations and learn to evaluate aspects of manufacturing systems whilst also undertaking a project to apply much of what you will learn.

Power Electronics Application
Explore the operating principles of power electronic devices and power electronic converters, including motor drive schemes, switch mode techniques and control techniques.

Advanced Embedded Systems
Test your knowledge, analytical, problem-solving and evaluation skills as you apply software/firmware solutions to complex embedded systems.

Electronics Design
Explore advanced analogue and digital electronics principles such as System on Chip (SoC), Hardware Description Language (HDL) and Analogue Conversion to design advanced circuits.
 
Supervised Work Experience (SWE)
An optional (but always recommended) sandwich placement at a key employer, where you’ll build real experience, apply your skills and build relationships.
 
Major Engineering Project
Demonstrate your skills by undertaking a detailed, research or project in a subject area of your choice.

Course Highlights

How you’ll learn

We’re an industry-focused course, designed to get you ‘work-ready’. As such, there’s a heavy practical element, with lots of time spent in our high-spec labs, workshops and software suites. We also visit industrial sites and carry out field trips.

You do need to learn some theoretical underpinning, and you’ll do this in interactive lectures and seminars, often with visiting industry experts involved. There are inevitably some exams that test key knowledge, but a lot of assessment is done in innovative ways that prepare you for industry, such as presentations, practical projects and lab reports. 

Teaching staff

Our teaching staff bring expertise from a broad range of fields and backgrounds. Some have years of experience working in engineering roles, while others have a track record of internationally significant research. This blend ensures our staff provide the highest level of academic support and help you navigate the industry, providing connections to organisations and opening doors for future employment.

We have experts in every field, such as optoelectronics, communications, semiconductors and fuel cell technology, and this means you’ll have someone to support you in your final year when you pursue your own specialism. 

Placements and work experience

It’s impossible to overstate how beneficial a sandwich placement can be. It not only deepens your learning through real-world application but most students who do a placement are offered a job at the company upon graduation.

Our teaching staff and careers team support you in securing a placement at companies such as Airbus, Tata Steel or Bosch.

Even when you are on campus, you’ll get plenty of real-world work experience as you work on live briefs alongside industry specialists, using industry-standard equipment and replicating the processes and practices used at top engineering firms. 

Facilities

As a BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering student, you’ll have everything you need at the Treforest campus.

We’re always upgrading the facilities within our embedded systems, general electronics, and power and renewable energy labs, and they’re designed with input from leading firms such as Renesas, so you know they’re industry standard. They include state-of-the-art equipment such as multimeters, oscilloscopes, signal generators and power supplies.

Our workshops include soldering stations, and you can also use our laser cutters and 3D printers. You’ll also have a dedicated project lab where you can work on your independent projects without interruption. 

Careers and Employability

Graduate careers

The course opens doors for you across a wide range of electrical and electronic engineering sectors. You could design, develop or manage communication and computer systems, or produce electronic systems and components.

Our graduates often progress into roles at Tata Steel, National Grid, the NHS, the MoD and more.

Our embedded programming strand opens a lot of doors, particularly in the automotive industry, where the use of microcontrollers is growing. But your skills are in demand in almost every sector, from medicine and manufacturing to aerospace and communications. High-achieving students can also study at MEng level. 

Careers support

Our teaching staff are always available to discuss potential career options within electrical engineering. Their unparalleled knowledge and connections within the industry ensure they can guide you towards specialisms and placements that align with your ambitions and interests. We also have dedicated faculty-based careers advisors who provide tailored support with your CV, interview skills, self-promotion and more. Our curriculum includes modules dedicated to improving your professional practice to ensure you’re ‘work-ready’, understand how to navigate the industry and secure an electrical engineering role after graduating.  

Industry partners

We have excellent links with key organisations, ensuring our curriculum is relevant and aligned to industry needs. These links also provide placement opportunities. Our students have gained invaluable experiences at the likes of Tata Steel, Renesas, Airbus UK, Renishaw, GlaxoSmithKline, Panasonic, Bosch, IBM and Network Rail.

We also work closely with the Industrial Advisory Board to ensure our course keeps pace with industry trends and enables you to hit the ground running in your employment.

Our industry partners provide valuable feedback, helping us update our curriculum and facilities, and integrate emerging technologies. 

Sandwich years

A sandwich year enables you to apply the knowledge gained during your degree to real-world work situations. You’ll equip yourself with a transferable skillset and gain invaluable work experience that will help you to stand out to potential employers in future job applications. A sandwich year also provides a fantastic opportunity to network and, if you impress your employer, you may even find you have a job waiting for you when you graduate. Many employers like to take on dedicated employees as showcased via a sandwich year placement scheme.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

UCAS Points: 112 (or above)

Typical qualification requirements:

  • A Level: BBC to include Mathematics and a numerate subject such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Geography 
  • Welsh BACC: Pass the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma with Grade C in the Skills Challenge Certificate and BB at A Level to include Mathematics and a numerate subject such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography
  • BTEC: BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction Merit Merit in a relevant subject which must include Maths and Engineering or Science modules 
  • Access to HE: Pass an Access to HE Diploma in Maths/Science and obtain a minimum of 112 UCAS tariff points
  • T Level: Pass (C and above)

Additional Requirements:

GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics and English at Grade C or above, or their equivalent but consideration is given to individual circumstances

International applications welcomed:

We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence, please view our dedicated country pages.

English language requirements

International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component/TOEFL 72 overall and a minimum of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing or equivalent.

Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.

If you have previously studied through the medium of English, IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.

If you do not meet the English entry criteria, please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.

Contextual offers

We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.

USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.

 

We're here to help

Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch, and we'd love to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.

 

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Fee

£9,535

per year*
International Full-time Fee

£16,200

per year*
International Full-time Fee

£16,200

per year*

Further Information

Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).

*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.

Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy.  We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.

 

Fees and Funding Scholarships and Bursaries Cost of Living Support

Additional Costs

As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment. 

Introducing Calon

We are investing in the future of STEM at USW with an exciting new Computing, Engineering and Technology building at our Pontypridd Campus.


University Quality Assurance

At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.

If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AT USW GIVES YOU THE MIX OF SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO GET THE BIGGER PICTURE OF HOW MACHINES OPERATE.

Hamda Mayir

How to apply

All applications for full-time undergraduate courses or foundation degrees should be made via UCAS. Take the next step: Apply through UCAS. You can apply to us directly for all part-time undergraduate courses, if you’re seeking advanced entry or you’re an international student. To apply directly, please choose the application form below for your preferred start date and mode of study (full-time or part-time.)

Advanced entry

If you already have a relevant qualification or experience related to the course you're applying for, you may be eligible to start at a later stage of the course. For example, students from partner colleges can ‘top up’ their qualifications to a degree by joining us in Year Two or Year Three of a course. This process is known as ‘advanced entry’, you can apply directly to the University for 'advanced entry' using the application forms provided above.

International admissions

International applicants can apply to us directly. If the University has an in-country team in your region, your application will be assigned to them for assistance.
 

Work, earn and learn!

This course is also available through Network75, a combined work and study route.

Learn more