The University of Southampton

H620 BEng Electrical Engineering (3 Years)

Our three-year Electrical Engineering BEng degree course covers all topics related to electrical power. We will provide you with the analytical skills to design and develop the technology of tomorrow using our outstanding experimental facilities, including our high-voltage laboratory.

3rd= in the UK for career prospects in Electronic and Electrical Engineering (Guardian University Guide 2020)

Introducing your degree

Electrical Engineering offers a challenging and rewarding career. Our graduates are highly regarded by industry and well prepared to reach the top of their chosen profession.

Overview

What is this?(More Information)This information is based on historical data and may have been aggregated. It is also subject to theUniversity's disclaimer notice.

Electrical engineering concerns anything that involves electrical power, from the electromagnetics of superconducting systems to the principles of power generation and transmission, and the development of more efficient and sustainable energy sources.

Energy is one of today’s biggest global challenges, with energy generation and supply, coupled with environmental factors, placing future energy needs and provision at the top of the government agendas in every country.

At Southampton we will provide you with the analytical skills to design and develop the technology of tomorrow using our outstanding experimental facilities, including our high-voltage laboratory.

Key areas of study include:

  • technologies of electrical power production, distribution and control
  • microelectronics
  • computing

You will work on systems that interface electronics and computers with aircraft, electric cars and renewable energy sources.

The programme has been specifically designed to meet the increasing demand from industry for electrical engineers with cross-disciplinary skills. We have excellent relationships with employers, and have our own Careers Hub website We also run an annual careers fair.

View the 2019/20 programme specification document for this course

View the 2020/21 programme specification document for this course

Accreditation

Our BEng Electrical Engineering degree is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and we are a member of the IET Power Academy bringing opportunities for generous scholarships.

Programme Structure

Students undertake three years of study. Each year there are compulsory modules. However, the degree has been designed to maximise student choice by allowing you to tailor the degree structure to suit your own interests. You will have the unique opportunity to study and research experimentally and theoretically, across a wide range of subjects. In each year, you will be involved with design and build projects, developing confidence and the skills to deliver working prototypes.

To Apply

All undergraduate applications for Electronics and Computer Science should be made online through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Find out how to apply and get further details about UCAS' website, phone and contact details.

Foundation Year

If you want to study for a degree in Electrical Engineering but you did not choose mathematics or physics at A level, our Foundation Year may be of interest. This is a one-year full-time course integrated with a further three-year degree. If you would like to apply for BEng Electrical Engineering with Foundation Year (H621) you can find out more about the Foundation Year here.

Key Facts

We have pioneered many of the most important advances in electronics and microelectronics over the past 30 years

We lead the UK for the volume and quality of Electrical and Electronic Engineering research (REF 2014)

97% of our Electrical and Electronic Engineering research outputs are rated as world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2014)

The Guardian University Guide 2019 shows the University of Southampton second in the UK for Electronics and Electrical Engineering

We are ranked second equal for graduate prospects in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in the Complete University Guide 2019

Southampton is ranked in the top 100 universities for Electrical and Electronic Engineering in the 2018 QS World Rankings, and top 10 in the UK

We are Europe’s top-ranked university for Telecommunication Engineering – ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2018

We have outstanding experimental research facilities, including our world-class high-voltage laboratory and our £110m interdisciplinary clean room

"I have thoroughly enjoyed studying, researching and working here and would encourage other potential students to consider the University. A degree from Southampton is a great start to a career."

Dr James Pilgrim

Entry Requirements

Typical entry requirements

For 2020 entry

Qualification Grade
GCSE Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)
GCE A-Level AAA including grades AA in mathematics and an additional required subject

or
A*AB including grades A*A in mathematics and an additional required subject

GCE A-Level with Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A-level offer: 

AAB including mathematics (minimum grade A) and an additional required subject (minimum grade A) and grade A in the EPQ

GCE A-Level with Contextual offer

We are committed to ensuring that all students with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a student’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. 

Students who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme, as follows:

AAB including grades AA in mathematics and an additional required subject

A-level additional information

Required A-level subjects include mathematics, physics, electronics and further mathematics. Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.  ‘Use of mathematics’ A level is not a substitute for ‘mathematics’ A level. A pass in the physics Practical is required where applicable. 

Welsh Baccalaureate offer

AAA including grades AA in mathematics and an additional required subject

or
AA from two A-levels including mathematics and an additional required subject, and A from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate
or
A*AB including grades A*A in mathematics and an additional required subject
or
A*A from two A-levels including mathematics and an additional required subject, and B from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate

International Baccalaureate Diploma
offer
Pass, with 36 points overall with 18 at Higher Level including 6 at Higher Level mathematics and 6 at Higher Level physics 
International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP)
offer

Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements.

Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.

Access to HE Diploma offer

Applicants with an Access to HE Diploma should apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics/Geophysics Foundation Year

Irish Leaving Certificate offer (first awarded 2017)

H1 H1 H2 H2 H2 H2 including mathematics at H1 and physics at H1

Irish Leaving Certificate offer (last awarded 2016)

A1 A1 A2 A2 A2 A2 including mathematics at A1 and physics at A1

Scottish Qualification offers

Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education. Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.

Cambridge Pre-U offer D3, D3, D3 in three Principal subjects including mathematics and physics.
Level 3 BTEC (QCF) offer (unreformed) D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus grades AA in A-level mathematics and an additional required A-level subject

We do not accept the BTEC Extended Diploma

We do not accept the BTEC Diploma

Applicants with a BTEC Extended Diploma or the BTEC Diploma should apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics/Geophysics Foundation Year

Level 3 BTEC (RQF) offer (reformed)

D in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus grades AA in A-level mathematics and an additional required A-level subject

We do not accept the BTEC National Extended Diploma

We do not accept the BTEC National Diploma

Applicants with a BTEC National Extended Diploma or the BTEC National Diploma should apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics/Geophysics Foundation Year

European Baccalaureate offer 85% overall including grade 8.5/10 in mathematics and grade 8.5/10 in physics
International qualifications Find a list of accepted international qualifications listed by country

This is a list of the international qualifications that are recognised by the University of Southampton. If you are not sure that your qualifications meet the requirements of this course please contact our Admissions Teams.

English language requirements Band B IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in all components

For 2019 entry

Qualification Grade
GCSE GCSE Mathematics and English at grade C or above
GCE A-level AAA in three A Levels (or equivalent qualifications), including mathematics and physics. In some cases, physics may be substituted by further mathematics or electronics.
Alternative Qualifications We welcome applications from candidates offering qualifications other than A and AS levels (including BTEC Higher National Diploma, European Baccalaureate, International Baccalaureate, Irish Leaving Certificate and Scottish Highers). You will be expected to attain an equivalent standard (or higher) to an A level applicant.
International Qualifications We welcome applications from international students. For information on applying, visit the International Office website.
English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will be required to pass an approved English test. We normally ask for a score of IELTS 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each competency. For information on other accepted English language tests, please visit www.southampton.ac.uk/admissions_language.

Other Qualifications:

Foundation Year

If you want to study for a degree in Electrical Engineering but you did not choose mathematics and physics at A level, our Foundation Year may be of interest to you. The Engineering/Physics/Maths/Geophysics Foundation Year is a one-year full-time course integrated with a further three-year degree course.

Find out more about the Foundation Year.

Mature Applicants

We welcome applications from mature students. If you will be over 21 at the start of your proposed degree programme, you may be eligible for exemption from our normal entry requirements. However, you will be required to provide evidence of having completed recent study (eg Access, Return to Study, Open University foundation courses) and of your capacity to pursue the course.

Selection process:

We select students on the basis of a UCAS application. UCAS code: H620 Course title: BEng Electrical Engineering Course duration: 3 years

Career Opportunities

Employability is embedded into modules from the first year onwards and right from the first lecture. We explain the degree skills which are being taught throughout the modules and offer a number of optional employability modules.The technical skills you will obtain are in great demand, as are skills of understanding and analysing problems, together with communicating the results.

We have excellent relationships with employers and our own ECS Careers Hub website offers a valuable resource. Adam Malpass, MEng graduate of Electronic Engineering, was UK Electronics Skills Foundation Scholar of the Year 2011.“The ECS careers fairs offer many opportunities for employment and placements,” he said.“Being in ECS really does open doors for you”.

Through an extensive blend of networks, mentors, societies and our on-campus startup incubator, we also support aspiring entrepreneurs looking to build their professional enterprise skills. Discover more about enterprise and entrepreneurship opportunities.

What ECS students say

Electronics and Computer Science students talk about their plans for the future.

Learning & Assessment

Breakdown of study time and assessment

Proportion of time spent in scheduled learning, teaching and independent study
Learning, teaching and assessment stage123
Scheduled learning & teaching study33%30%22%
Independent study67%70%78%
Placement study0%0%0%
Proportion of assessment by method
Learning, teaching and assessment stage123
Written exam assessment50%68%44%
Practical exam assessment19%20%0%
Coursework assessment31%12%56%

Fees & funding

Tuition fees

Course fees for 2017/18 full-time UK and EU undergraduate students are typically £9,250 per year. Tuition fees for international students differ between each course. Most part-time courses cost 50% of the full-time fee.

View the full list of course fees

Funding

Scholarships, bursaries or grants may be available to support you through your course. Funding opportunities available to you are linked to your subject area and/or your country of origin. These can be from the University of Southampton or other sources.

Explore funding opportunities

Costs associated with this course

Students are responsible for meeting the cost of essential textbooks, and of producing such essays, assignments, laboratory reports and dissertations as are required to fulfil the academic requirements for each programme of study.

There will also be further costs for the following, not purchasable from the University:

TypeDescription
Approved CalculatorsCandidates may use calculators in the examination room only as specified by the University and as permitted by the rubric of individual examination papers. The University approved models are Casio FX-570 and Casio FX-85GT Plus. These may be purchased from any source and no longer need to carry the University logo.
StationeryYou will be expected to provide your own day-to-day stationery items, e.g. pens, pencils, notebooks, etc). Any specialist stationery items will be specified under the Additional Costs tab of the relevant module profile.
TextbooksWhere a module specifies core texts these should generally be available on the reserve list in the library. However due to demand, students may prefer to buy their own copies. These can be purchased from any source.

Some modules suggest reading texts as optional background reading. The library may hold copies of such texts, or alternatively you may wish to purchase your own copies. Although not essential reading, you may benefit from the additional reading materials for the module.
Printing and Photocopying CostsIn the majority of cases, coursework such as essays; projects; dissertations is likely to be submitted on line. However, there are some items where it is not possible to submit on line and students will be asked to provide a printed copy. A list of the University printing costs can be found here: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/isolutions/students/printing-for-students.page.

In some cases you’ll be able to choose modules (which may have different costs associated with that module) which will change the overall cost of a programme to you. Please also ensure you read the section on additional costs in the University’s Fees, Charges and Expenses Regulations in the University Calendar available at www.calendar.soton.ac.uk.

Location

Highfield Campus

Highfield is our main campus and the heart of the University. Set in beautiful green surroundings, it’s easily accessible from the city centre. University Road, Southampton, SO17 1BJ.

Find out more

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