Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
electrical and
electronic engineering
The field of electrical and electronic engineering is diverse covering power engineering
to microcomputer chips, communications and computing to control and manufacturing.
In the United Kingdom (UK), the term electrical engineering is used to cover power
engineering, including the generation, transmission, control and use of all forms of
electrical power. The term electronic engineering is used to include the expanding
fields of electronic communications of all sorts (including computer networks),
computers (both hardware and software) and electronic components. These
components include microcomputer chips and, increasingly frequently, the optical
devices now being used for many applications. In addition, the field of control
engineering spans the electrical/electronic boundary and, with its use of computer
systems, is very broadly based. Manufacturing engineering involving, as it does,
computer techniques, control and power electrical engineering is another major and
vital branch within the field of electrical and electronic engineering.
This very broad and vibrant discipline has interfaces with physics (in the component
field), computer science (in software engineering) and mechanical engineering (in
manufacture and control).
www.educationuk.org
Checklist: Why study electrical and electronic engineering in the United
Kingdom?
• there are more than 2,000 degree and diploma courses alone to choose from,
reflecting the UK’s long and distinguished history in this subject
• your qualification will be internationally recognised
• you will improve your fluency in English as you learn
• a wide range of career-based qualifications offer highly practical training at different
levels
• UK courses in electrical and electronic engineering include training in management
and communication skills as well as in technical skills
• the profession is regulated by the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE), the
largest professional engineering society in Europe
• through membership of the IEE, you can aim for registration as a Chartered
Engineer and European Engineer
• the IEE also encourages and helps its members to keep up to date technically and
to develop their full career potential through courses, conferences and seminars.
www.educationuk.org
First degree The MEng is a first degree course that is now offered alongside or
courses: BEng in place of the BEng at a number of institutions. It is growing in
(Bachelor of popularity. The MEng is a higher award than the BEng and usually
Engineering); takes one year longer to complete. A BEng usually takes three or
MEng (Master four years full time; a MEng usually takes four or five years full
of time. BEng students with high marks in their second year are
Engineering) usually offered the opportunity to transfer to the MEng.
A MEng degree fulfils the educational requirements for the
Chartered Engineer (CEng) qualification. A BEng degree, providing
it is accredited, partially fulfils the educational requirements for
the CEng but will need a ‘top up’ of the equivalent of a further
year of study.
www.educationuk.org
Several universities offer a foundation year before starting your
degree – these are suitable for students whose entrance
qualifications are not of the required standard (for example, those
who did not achieve maths or physics at A-level) and who need
some extra, remedial or conversion tuition (see ‘Entrance’ below).
Both BEng and MEng courses are available as sandwich courses.
This means that they include one or more periods of supervised
work experience. The work placement is usually either in one
twelve-month block or in two six-month blocks separated by a
period of study.
Postgraduate The MSc is a taught course and takes one year full-time. The MPhil
courses: (two years) and the PhD (three years) are research degrees.
MSc (Master of
Science); MPhil
(Master of
Philosophy);
PhD
(doctorate)
Short courses are also offered by universities and colleges of higher education. Search
for these on www.hotcourses.com.
www.educationuk.org
Distance learning
The IEE produces a range of distance-learning packs for training and educational use in
the electrical engineering, electronics, manufacturing and computer software
industries. The courses are usually either video-based or computer-based training
(CBT) packages.
They fall under the following headings:
• communications
• manufacturing and Lucas open-learning courses
• management for engineers
• regulations, standards, codes of practice, safety
• software engineering courses.
For courses offered by the Open University, go to www.open.ac.uk. You can also search
for distance learning courses provided by educational institutions on the web site
www.educationuk.org. For more information, see Distance learning in this series.
• if you are unsure of the level of study to aim for, check with the professional body in
the countries in which you would like to work
• consider whether you would be best advised to follow a general course in
electrical/electronic engineering or a more specialised course (for example, in
medical electronics); also consider whether you want to combine your engineering
studies with another discipline (for example, business)
• think about where you would prefer to live as well as study, as you will be able to
find courses at all levels throughout the UK.
2. Entrance
Entrance qualifications vary, but for IEE-accredited courses, the minimum requirement
for a MEng is three grade Bs at A-level, ABBB at Scottish Higher or thirty-two points at
International Baccalaureate. For a BEng the minimum requirement is three grade Cs at
A-level, BBBC at Scottish Higher or twenty-nine points at International
Baccalaureate.Your subjects at A-level/Scottish Higher/International Baccalaureate
should include mathematics and a physical science.
If you do not have the standard entry qualifications, some universities offer a
foundation year providing remedial or conversion tuition before you start your
BEng/MEng.
www.educationuk.org
Higher National Diplomas ask for two subjects (usually non-specific) at A-level/Scottish
Higher.
Refer to the section ‘Entrance’ in Engineering in this series for full details and
information on how to check whether your qualifications are of the required standard.
www.educationuk.org
The Institution of Electrical Engineers - – proposed structure
Membership of the IEE will be open to everyone with a professional interest in its
activities and by whose participation electrical, electronic, information and
manufacturing engineering and related applications can be advanced.
Students Affiliate
Undergoing programme of Open to all who would value
appropriate study, and intending to membership but who do not meet the
satisfy requirements for Membership. educational or equivalent workplace
learning threshold, or the
employment requirement for entry to
the Member grade.
Member (MIEE)
Have achieved the standard of knowledge and understanding, as demonstrated
either by relevant educational qualifications to degree equivalent level, or through
relevant work experience.
www.educationuk.org
Would a United Kingdom qualification be recognised in other countries?
Your qualification will be widely recognised wherever you want to work. See ‘Would a
UK qualification be recognised in other countries?’ in Engineering in this series.
4. Next steps
www.educationuk.org
The Institution of Electrical The National Academic Registration
Engineers (IEE) Information Centre (UK NARIC)
2 Savoy Place ECCTIS Ltd
London WC2R 0BL Oriel House
Telephone +44 (0) 20 7240 1871 Oriel Road
Fax +44 (0) 20 7240 7735 Cheltenham
E-mail [email protected] Gloucestershire GL50 1XP
Web site www.iee.org Telephone +44 (0) 1242 260010
Fax +44 (0) 1242 258611
IEE Professional Development E-mail [email protected]
Department Web site www.uknaric.org.uk
Michael Faraday House
Six Hills Way
Stevenage
Hertfordshire SG1 2AY
Telephone +44 (0) 1438 767282
E-mail [email protected]
www.educationuk.org
Other useful sources
British Qualifications (Kogan Page, 2001, ISBN 0 7494 3708 1) – lists every qualification
on offer in the UK, by schools, colleges, universities, business schools, learned
societies, trade and professional bodies and associations.
While every effort has been made to ensure that the information given here is correct
and up to date, the British Council accepts no legal liability for its accuracy, currency or
completeness.
May 2002
British Council
classification
Which course (red) 6/9
www.educationuk.org