Electronics MSc Level: Postgraduate taught Subject: Engineering Year of entry: 2026 Study options Mode of study On campus Full-time MSc | 1 year | Start date: September 2026 Key facts School School of Engineering College College of Science and Engineering Study location King's Buildings campus Accreditation Not available Apply now 19 to 21 November 2025: Postgraduate Virtual Open Days Join us live to explore postgraduate taught and research study at Edinburgh and gain key insights before you apply. Register now Overview About the degree programme Electronics engineers design and develop the circuits and components which underpin the foundation of the world’s economies.Our MSc programme in Electronics is tailored for the cutting-edge world of consumer electronics, chip-making industries, and the dynamic interface of digital and analogue domains. With a foundation in both digital and analogue electronics, as well as mixed-signal systems, the programme will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the design, development, and integration of systems optimised for smartphones, computers, and other advanced consumer devices.Emphasising both theoretical knowledge and hands-on practice, you’ll be introduced to modern prototyping, advanced micro and nanofabrication techniques, machine learning, chip design and applications, as well as the electronic systems that form the backbone of today’s most innovative technology, from internet-of-things devices to biomedical instruments.United Nations' Sustainable Development GoalsBased on our compulsory course material, this degree aligns with many of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the top one being SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. Programme rankings The School of Engineering is consistently ranked in the UK's top 10 universities for engineering (Times Higher Education rankings by subject 2025 and QS World University rankings by subject 2025)The School of Engineering’s joint submission with Heriot-Watt University in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) was ranked 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK by Times Higher Education, based on the quality and breadth of our combined researchThe University of Edinburgh is ranked 7th in the world and 2nd in the UK for sustainability, recognising our leadership in creating a more sustainable world (2025 QS World University Rankings) Fees, costs and funding Tuition fees Tuition fees by award and duration Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year. Full-time MSc Electronics (1 year) tuition fees Graduate discount If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.Find out how to receive your graduate discount Deposit If you receive an offer of admission you will need to pay a deposit to secure your place:£1,500 (this contributes towards your tuition fees)How and when to pay the deposit Costs Additional programme costs You may wish to consider purchasing your own laptop, however you can also make use of our laptop and internet loan services for free while studying with us.IT Requirements and Support Accommodation and living costs You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.Living costs include:foodutility billstravel, clothes, books and stationeryrecreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)Living costsAccommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.University postgraduate accommodation options and costs Funding opportunities Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:borrowing moneytaking out a loanfamily supportpersonal savingsincome from workemployer sponsorshipscholarshipsExplore sources of funding for postgraduate study Search for other funding opportunities You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.Postgraduate funding opportunities Entry requirements These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026. Qualifications A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in electronics or electrical engineering. Your transcript and application should demonstrate clear evidence that you have studied both analogue at the transistor level and digital electronics at the gate level. You should provide proof of competence in at least one general-purpose programming language, such as Python and C/C++, as well as experience with hardware description languages, such as Verilog or VHDL, using FPGAs. We may also consider your application if you have appropriate professional experience; please contact us to check before you apply. Entry to this programme is competitive. A typical offer will normally require a UK first class honours degree or equivalent. International qualifications To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list. Where you studied - Select a country or region -AfghanistanAlbaniaAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCôte d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFinlandFranceGabonThe GambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaHaitiHondurasHong Kong-SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKorea, Republic ofKuwaitLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLithuaniaLuxembourgMacau-SAR ChinaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMauritiusMexicoMoldovaMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlands, TheNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPacific IslandsPakistanPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTajikistanTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTogoTrinidad and TobagoTurkeyTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamWest Indies and CaribbeanZambiaZimbabweMy country or region is not listed English language requirements You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:an English language testa degree that was taught and assessed in Englishcertain professional qualifications English language tests we accept We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher: IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component. Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components. Oxford ELLT: total 7 with at least 6 in each component. Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 145 with at least 135 in each component. How old your English language tests can be Tests no more than two years oldThe following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:IELTS AcademicTOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)Trinity ISEOxford ELLTOxford Test of English AdvancedTests no more than three and a half years oldAll other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality. Degrees taught and assessed in English We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.UKVI list of majority English speaking countriesWe also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).Approved universities in non-MESCHow old your degree can beIf you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country. Find out more about our English language requirements Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.English language requirements Programme details What you will study The programme runs over 12 months. You will take two semesters of taught courses, followed by a research project during the summer months, leading to the submission of your masters dissertation.The courses correspond to 120 credits of taught material, plus 60 credits of a research project.Taught coursesYou will select between two distinct specialities (streams) in Electronics Engineering, which makes up the taught component of the programme over the first two semesters:Analogue streamIn the Analogue stream, you will focus on transistor-level integrated circuits and chip design, which includes traditional analogue circuits such as differential amplifiers, and mixed-signal circuits such as analogue to digital converters. You will also learn the science behind nanotechnology and microfabrication techniques.Analogue and Digital streamIn the Analogue and Digital stream, you will focus on both transistor-level designs and digital systems, especially RTL and hardware programming, including microcontrollers and FPGAs. You will also enhance your skills in system-level development and programming.Research project and dissertationFollowing the first two taught semesters, you will then undertake an advanced research project to put into practice the knowledge and skills you have acquired. You will undertake the research project over the summer months, culminating in the submission of a dissertation.We offer a wide range of topics including:machine learning applications in electronicsradio frequencyroboticselectronic design and test automationbiomedical sensorsembedded systemsdevice fabrication and modelling (including MEMS - microelectromechanical systems)memory technologies (including memristors)LiDAR and CMOS imagingoptoelectronics and photonics.You will integrate within the research group of your academic advisor, which may also include industrial collaborations with local and international companies. Your project will address a real-world problem relevant to the use of electronics in everyday life and global challenges.SustainabilityCompulsory course material on this programme reflects the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals; primarily SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. Depending on the optional courses you choose to take, you will have the opportunity to explore others.Further your knowledge of sustainability with our free training and resourcesSocial and civic responsibility is a key focus of the University.Learn more about our focus on social and civic responsibility in our Climate Strategy Find courses for this programme Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed. The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme. Full-time MSc Electronics (1 year) (2025-2026) We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative. Teaching and assessment Learning outcomes Our aim is to train the next generation of electronics engineers who are equipped to solve global engineering challenges and meet the evolving needs of society.We will support you to:deepen your knowledge and ability to cooperate with others in electronic system designacquire a deep understanding of both analogue and digital Electronics principlesgain expertise in the integration of transistors for cutting-edge circuit and chip designexperience a diverse range of electronic applications, from imaging to robotics and advanced artificial intelligencedevelop proficiency in chip design through learning to use leading industry-standard software. Support for your studies You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need. How we support you Careers and further study Career opportunities On graduating you will be well equipped to take on roles in industry or pursue further education in a PhD.Our recent graduates have gone into engineering roles that include:Application engineers in the sensor and measurement industry, such as in the healthcare sectorDesigners of mixed-signal integrated circuits such as voltage regulators and data convertersRobotic engineers in the mechatronic industry, including for smart vehicles and citiesOptoelectronics engineers, including imaging and quantum technologies. Further study After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.Applying for research degreesMoving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service) Careers Service Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. With the Careers Service, you can: access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengthstry different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you developget help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobsattend careers events and practice interviewsget information and advice to help you make informed decisions Visit the Careers Service website Applying How to apply You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin. If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 3 applications from the same applicant. When to apply Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines.We strongly recommend you apply as early as possible. Applications may close earlier than the published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand.We may make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis. However, the majority of applications will be held until the advertised deadline.We aim to make the majority of decisions within eight weeks of the selection deadline.If we have not made you an offer by a specific selection deadline this means one of two things:your application has been unsuccessful, in which case we will contact you to let you knowyour application is still being considered, it will be carried forward for consideration in the next selection deadline, and we will be in touch once a decision is madeThe final deadline may be extended if any places remain on the programme.If the final deadline is extended, we encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.Selection deadlinesRoundApplication deadlineDecisions made or applications rolled to the next deadline115 December1 March231 March31 May331 May31 July When to submit your supporting documentsYou must submit all supporting documents by the application deadline, or we will be unable to consider your application. Regardless of when you apply, you have 28 days from submitting your application to supply any supporting documents through the Application Hub, after which we will automatically reject your application. Application fee There is no fee to apply to this programme. What you need to apply As part of your online application, you will need to provide: a personal statementdetails of relevant knowledge/training skillsYou will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:copies of your degree certificates and academic transcripts that confirm your current or final marksreferencesevidence you meet the English language requirementscertified translations if your original documents are not in EnglishWhen you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide. For this programme, you will need to submit a CV/Resume with your application.Find out more about applications and CVs for further study ReferencesYou must submit one reference with your application. Apply Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for. Select programme - Select a programme -MSc Electronics (1 year) After you apply Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.Checking the status of your applicationWe will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.Receiving our decisionWhat to do if you receive an offer:Receiving an offerAccepting an offerSubmitting supporting documents Life at Edinburgh Accommodation We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programmeaccept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 Julystudy at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in SeptemberUniversity accommodation websiteAccommodation guarantee criteriaWe also offer accommodation options for couples and families.Accommodation for couples and familiesIf you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place Societies and clubs Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.SocietiesSport Clubs The city of Edinburgh Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. Find out more about living in Edinburgh Exercise, leisure and support facilities Outside of your studies, we offer a range of facilities that you might find useful day-to-day, including:sport and exercise facilitiesUniversity cafes and cateringEdinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) venues and shopsa multi-faith chaplaincy for all faiths and nonea University nursery (based at King’s Buildings campus) Health and wellbeing support You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.The support services we offer include: a student counselling service a health centre (doctor's surgery) support if you're living in University accommodation dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustmentsHealth and wellbeing support services Disability and Learning Support Contact General enquiries Phone line is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm. futurestudents@ed.ac.uk Phone:+44 (0)131 650 5737 Academic contact For specific questions about this programme's curriculum, you can contact the programme director. Dr Danial Chitnis Programme Director Contact details Email: d.chitnis@ed.ac.uk
