Electronics and Electrical Engineering BEng (Hons)

Level: Undergraduate

Subject: Engineering

Year of entry: 2026

Key facts

UCAS Code

H600

Award

BEng (Hons)

Duration of study

4 years

Delivery

Full-time

Study location

King's Buildings campus

Start date

September 2026

School

School of Engineering

College

College of Science and Engineering

Study abroad

Available

Accreditation

Available

Placement

No

Second year entry

Available

Open days and events

About the degree programme

Electronics and electrical engineers pioneer change in the modern technologies that underpin our world. From the tiny processors in smartphones, to the heavy-duty power electronics in wind turbines, they create more powerful, efficient and universal products, systems and materials, addressing the future needs of societies locally and across the globe.

Electronics is the study of circuits and devices that carry relatively small currents and voltages. It concerns the sensing, transduction and processing of data signals, in either digital or analogue forms.

Electrical engineering concerns much larger currents and voltages, usually for the purpose of generating and transmitting electrical power.

In an electronics and electrical engineering (EEE) degree programme, you will study both areas, with the opportunity to specialise in later years.

We deliver this content across three streams:

  • electronics (for example, analogue, digital, microelectronics)
  • information sciences (for example, communications, sensors, machine learning)
  • power (for example, smart grids, machines, systems)

 

 

Programme aims 

During this degree programme you will:

  • develop a clear understanding of the science and mathematics underlying applications within electronics and electrical engineering systems
  • balance theoretical knowledge, computational skills, and practical experimentation in the study of the field
  • cultivate the ability to work both independently and collaboratively to solve contemporary engineering challenges

Ties to industry 

Our Industrial Liaison Board includes senior representatives from prominent electronics and electrical engineering companies. This has, and continues to, influence our curriculum and programme development.

Many of our EEE courses benefit from industry collaboration, including a state-of-the-art electronics laboratory equipped with industry-standard measurement and testing equipment. We also regularly host guest lectures from experienced professionals in the EEE sector.

How long it takes to complete this degree programme

This programme takes 4 years to complete.

A key benefit to studying a 4-year degree programme is that you have the flexibility to study a range of subjects in Year 1 and Year 2.

Second year entry 

Our course structure is designed in such a way that we permit Year 2 direct entry. You will receive support and resources to allow you to catch-up with relevant Year 1 material. You will receive support and resources to allow you to catch-up with relevant Year 1 material. If you are eligible for a direct entry into the second year, this programme takes 3 years to complete.

(Revised 12 March 2025 to add in second year entry information)

Programme rankings

  • Consistently ranked in the UK's top 10 universities for engineering (THE Rankings by subject 2024 and QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025).

Programme benefits

  • Make use of an enviable suite of facilities including specialist laboratories, student makerspaces and cutting-edge industry-standard equipment.
  • You will benefit from research-led teaching by internationally leading academics.
  • We have strong links to industry (particularly in microelectronics) with excellent career prospects, industry relevant curriculum and internships.
  • Benefit from a balanced curriculum covering theoretical and practical skills and individual and group work.

The degree doesn't just teach engineering principles; it equips me with the practical skills, industry exposure, and confidence needed to excel in my future career. The combination of rigorous academics and real-world applications ensures that I'm well-prepared to tackle the challenges of the engineering field and enter my future career with a degree that is well recognised and valuable to employers.

Mukhil 4th Year BEng Electrical and Mechanical Engineering student

Find your entry requirements

Use the dropdowns to find out your entry requirements.

  1. Select the country where you are studying or where you studied your qualification.
  2. Select the qualification you are studying or studied.
United Kingdom,

Tuition fees for BEng (Hons) Electronics and Electrical Engineering

View the tuition fees for one academic year of BEng (Hons) Electronics and Electrical Engineering.

Tuition fees for this programme

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that a single student can potentially spend a maximum of £920 to £2,257 on living costs each month, depending on your accommodation.

This estimate covers the costs of:

  • accommodation
  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel within Edinburgh
  • health and wellbeing costs

See a breakdown of living costs

Scholarships and funding

Funding information

You can find detailed information on financial support available, based on where you are living, in our funding section.

Funding

What you will study

In the early years of the degree, we teach a solid foundation of electronics and electrical engineering. Our courses are designed to improve your team-working and problem-solving skills. 

In later years, our degree gives you the flexibility to study specialist courses in areas you are most interested in.

Curriculum renewal

The School of Engineering is currently undertaking an ongoing curriculum renewal, which may result in changes to this degree programme.

The renewal is being carried out with:

  • our industrial partners
  • accreditation bodies
  • students

This renewal makes sure we equip you for an exciting career in the ever-changing world of engineering.

You will take introductory courses and develop skills that you will later rely on as a professional engineer, including:

  • problem-solving skills
  • teamwork
  • advanced thinking
  • confidence
  • technical topics in general engineering, electronics and electrical engineering
  • mathematics
Additional courses

You will choose courses from across the University to complement your engineering studies, with options available in the sciences, arts and humanities.

Find Year 1 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

In Year 2, you will specialise in core electronics and electrical engineering themes, which usually include:

  • analogue circuits 
  • digital system design 
  • microelectronics 
  • power engineering 
  • signal processing 
  • communications

You will also usually study essentials in the engineer’s toolkit to develop your skills in: 

  • programming
  • engineering mathematics 
  • professional skills for engineers

These courses prepare you for further specialisation at honours level. They cover technical concepts and, where possible, give you the opportunity to apply these in a practical situation. 

You can also broaden your knowledge and skills by taking courses in other engineering disciplines, or in other subjects.

Find Year 2 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

The thematic areas developed in Year 2 continue into Year 3. 

You will also be introduced to the new themes of: 

  • electromagnetics and photonics 
  • control and instrumentation engineering 

You will complete practical or computing exercises in: 

  • microelectronics and digital systems design 
  • analogue mixed signal labs 
  • embedded software 
  • electrical machines 
  • control and instrumentation engineering

You will also take part in group projects and exercises, including a power system group design project, and team exercises in design and manufacturing.

Progression routes 

At the end of Year 3, you will have the option to complete one more year for a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degree, or a further two years for a Master of Engineering (MEng) degree. 

The latter is subject to you achieving an average of 55% or higher in Year 3.

Find Year 3 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

Year 4 allows you to specialise in your chosen thematic areas, including:

  • analogue electronics
  • bioelectronics
  • digital electronics
  • power engineering
  • Radio-frequency engineering
  • signals and communications
  • software, data analysis and machine learning

You will also learn about the economic, social and environmental context of engineering, in preparation for a professional career within the field.

Individual project 

You will undertake a major individual project worth one third of your grade for the year. This forms the most significant practical element of your programme.

Your project can be linked to the research activity of your supervisor. This will expose you to, and allow you to contribute to, the research output of the University.

Find Year 4 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

Study abroad

In Year 3, you will have opportunities to study abroad.

The University has a variety of agreements with international institutions that allow you to study there in Year 3. 

Common destinations include:

  • USA 
  • Canada
  • Australia
  • Europe
  • Asia

What are my choices for going abroad?

This is enhanced by subject-specific agreements which provide additional destinations.

Where can I go?

(Revised 12 March 2025 to update study abroad information)

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

The exciting nature of engineering means you will have a diverse learning experience throughout your degree programme. 

We will teach you through a mixture of:

  • lectures
  • tutorials
  • laboratory sessions
  • projects
  • group work

In your final years, you will dedicate more time to private study, so you will need to be well-motivated and organised. 

You will also receive individual supervision with projects.

Assessment

You will be assessed through coursework and examinations.

For detailed information on compulsory and option courses you should review the Programme Structure - Degree Programme Table. You can find links to this information under the individual years of study.

Refer to individual course details to see the types of assessment included.

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.

Support for your studies

Our academic staff

Our research directly informs what you study. You will learn from academics who are researching solutions to the world’s grand challenges and delivering critical societal, economic and environmental outcomes.

Where you will study

Study location

The majority of your learning will take place at the King’s Buildings campus, depending on the courses selected.

The King’s Buildings campus is around 15 minutes from central Edinburgh by bus or bike.

You may also study at various University campus locations in the vibrant city of Edinburgh, depending on the option courses selected.

Academic facilities

You will have access to state of the art laboratory facilities, including:

  • industry standard software and hardware
  • in-person and remote labs

At the King's Buildings campus, you will have access to a wide range of practical facilities, including :

  • electronics teaching labs (Kivlin Suite)
  • power teaching lab

In addition, you can access a wide range of academic facilities, including:

  • libraries
  • study spaces (some spaces are open 24 hours)
  • IT facilities
  • social spaces
  • leisure facilities

You can also take advantage of the University’s computing resources. This includes a laptop loan service offered through the library, with extended loans available for those in financial hardship.

Borrowing a laptop

All essential reading materials are freely accessible through the University library or on our online learning platform LEARN.

Engineering Makerspace

You will also be able to bring your ideas to life at the Engineering Makerspace, a dedicated workspace for students to design, build and test their own projects and inventions.

Engineering Makerspace

Virtual tour

You can take a closer look at the School of Engineering and explore our facilities and campus on the University's Virtual Visit site.

Virtual visit - School of Engineering

Accreditation

Accredited by the Institution of Engineering Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer. 

Candidates must hold a masters degree or doctorate accredited as further learning for Chartered Engineers (CEng) to hold accredited qualifications for the CEng registration.

Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees. 

An accredited degree is also likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.

Career paths

Electronics and electrical engineering are vibrant parts of the UK economy, where demand for graduates is high. 

BEng graduates have a rich variety of engineering and wider professional career pathways into which they can progress. The programme also opens the door to further postgraduate degrees.

Where our graduates find employment

Usually, our graduates find employment in engineering or sometimes in IT or financial services roles.

Typical roles in engineering include:

  • electrical engineer
  • electronics engineer
  • embedded systems engineer
  • hardware engineer
  • project engineer

Recent graduates working in other fields took roles such as:

  • finance analyst
  • green deal project advisor
  • junior trade finance analyst
  • project manager

Our graduates have entered challenging and rewarding careers with a wide range of companies. 

Internships

The School of Engineering funds a number of internships each year to enable students to work on research or teaching focused projects over the summer and gain relevant work experience here in the School. Internships are allocated on a competitive basis, across each of the four disciplines: Chemical, Civil, Electronics & Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. Applications are open to non-finalist undergraduate students who are at least in the second year of their programme.​

We advertise internship opportunities and arrange company presentations with the Careers Service. These experiences can feature on your transcript after completing an Edinburgh Award.

Edinburgh Award

(Revised 12 March 2025 to update internships information)

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 strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions

Visit the Careers Service website

Further study

Postgraduate study

Graduates who progress to postgraduate study may complete a taught masters degree or research degree, including a PhD, in subjects that include engineering areas, such as:

  • communication and signal engineering
  • energy (including renewables)
  • nanotechnology

Plus, other fields such as:

  • actuarial science
  • artificial intelligence
  • climate change
  • computer science
  • economics

How to apply

You must submit a full application through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) before the relevant deadline.

Guidance on applying through UCAS

What you need to apply

As part of your application, you will need:

  • your academic qualifications
  • a personal statement
  • evidence of your English language skills (with relevant qualifications)
  • a reference

How we select

If you have met, or are predicted to meet, all our entry requirements by the relevant deadline, then your application will go into our selection process.

As part of this selection process, we will review all the information you submit in your UCAS application when we decide who to select for this degree programme.

How we select applicants

When to apply

  • 2026 entry UCAS deadline: 14 January 2026 (6:00pm GMT)

This is the deadline for all UK, EU and international applicants to non-medicine and veterinary medicine programmes.

To find out if any degree programmes have spaces after 14 January 2026, search the University of Edinburgh on the UCAS website.

Search degrees that are open on the UCAS website

Key application dates and deadlines

After you apply

After you have applied for your degree programme, we suggest you have a look at the following information to help you prepare for university:

Applying as an international student

As an international student, you apply for this degree programme through UCAS.  

Find out more about applying through UCAS  

Visas and immigration 

If you do not have the right to live in the UK, you will need to apply for and secure a Student visa before the start date of your degree programme.  

Our Student Immigration Service can help you with the Student visa application process. 

Applying for a visa  

Agents  

An education agent is someone who can help you with the application process as an international student. 

We work with education agents around the world and have a list of local offices you can contact.  

Find contact details for an education agent

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single undergraduate students from outside Edinburgh. To be eligible, you need to meet all criteria and apply for accommodation by 16 August in the year of your entry to the University.

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

If 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

You will be able to gain practical experience through design projects run with our industrial partners, internships and placements or by joining our student-led projects such as:

  • Engineering for Change (sustainability)
  • Edinburgh University Formula Student (automotive technology)
  • HYPED (Hyperloop)
  • Endeavour (rocketry)
  • Asteria (space and satellites)
  • HumanEd (robotics)
  • Precious plastics (recycling)

The electronics and electrical engineering discipline supports the Electronics After Hours Club. This allows you to develop your own extra-curricular projects in a supportive environment.

Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.

Societies

Sports clubs

The city of Edinburgh

Edinburgh is regularly voted among the UK’s top student cities (top 2 in the UK, QS 2024).

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

Our community

The School of Engineering fosters a vibrant and inclusive community for all its members. Our students, from diverse backgrounds, come together to collaborate on innovative projects, and participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities. The supportive environment encourages personal and academic growth, with numerous opportunities for community-building and networking.

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 adjustment

Health and wellbeing support services

Contact us

Contact us through our enquiry team if you have any questions about this programme.

Open days, events and visits

Find out when our next open days will be taking place

Open days, events and visits

Chat to our students on Unibuddy

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Discover Uni data

This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.

It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

Some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.