Electronic Engineering
Entry requirements
A level
120-128 points from 2 or 3 A levels, including an A level in a relevant subject.
122-128 Tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject.
Cambridge Pre-U score of 56-60, to include a minimum of 3 Principal Subjects, to include a Principal Subject in a relevant subject.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
3 GCSEs at grade C or above to include English and Mathematics/3 GCSEs at grade 4 or above to include English and Mathematics.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
29 points from the IB Diploma. 664 at Higher Level, with one relevant subject at Higher Level - 30 points from the IB Diploma. 665 at Higher Level, with one relevant subject at Higher Level.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
H3,H3,H3,H3,H3-H2,H2,H3,H3,H3
To include a Higher Level in a relevant subject.
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Must be in a relevant subject.
120-128 Tariff points, including an Advanced Higher in a relevant subject.
T Level
Acceptable T Level Subjects: T Level in Construction: Design, Surveying and Planning, T Level in Building Services Engineering, T Level in Engineering and Manufacturing Design and Development, T Level in Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing, T Level in Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control
UCAS Tariff
120-128 points from 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, to include a relevant subject.
120-128 points from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate including 2 A levels, one of which must be a relevant subject, plus the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
**This is a Connected Degree**
Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.
**Overview**
On this course, you’ll learn to design, develop and manufacture electronic equipment and devices that could have a significant impact on the world. Develop your knowledge of the theory and design of electronics while putting theory into practice in our extensive facilities.
**BEng or MEng?**
You can study this course as a 3-year Bachelor's degree (BEng) or a 4-year integrated Master's degree (MEng).
When you finish the BEng course successfully, you'll meet the educational requirements for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status. Once you've met the work experience requirements for IEng status, you can progress to Chartered Engineer status (CEng) with further study and experience.
The MEng allows you to achieve a Master’s level degree with just one extra year of undergraduate study. When you finish the MEng course successfully, you'll meet the educational requirements for Chartered Engineer status (CEng).
IEng and CEng status demonstrate your expertise and can include benefits such as improved career prospects and earning potential.
**Course highlights**
- Use the latest equipment for analysing and measuring electronics, including logic analysers, spectrum analysers, digital scopes and multi-function generators
- Work with analogue and digital components such as microprocessors, microcontrollers and programmable devices
- Use experimental kits, such as ServoSET servo-mechanism (which helps you learn how to stabilise systems) and superheterodyne radio receivers (which help you understand the principles of radio receiver operation)
- Get student membership of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, at no cost to you – giving you access to practical, technical and career-related resources, and opportunities to build links with prospective employers
- Work on a multidisciplinary group project to get the practical experience sought by employers when you choose the 4-year MEng option
**Careers and opportunities**
The demand for innovation in medical technology devices, and consumer electronics such as mobile phones and televisions is always increasing. All engineering roles are listed in the UK Government’s 'skills shortage list'.
90% of our BEng graduates and 95% of our MEng graduates are in work or further study after completing their course.
With electronic engineering professionals in high demand, graduates of our MEng course are earning £39,500 a year on average, 5 years after graduation.
Our graduates have worked for companies such as:
- Thales
- QinetiQ
- Barnbrook Systems
- Royal Navy
- Network Rail
- Flylogix
- NXP Semiconductors
Our graduates now work in roles including:
- communications and information systems engineer
- digital design engineer
- electronic design engineer
- graduate signalling and telecoms engineer
- hardware design engineer
- service application consultant
Other graduates have continued their studies at postgraduate level or set up successful businesses with help and support from the University.
**Placement opportunities**
After your second year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry.
A placement year gives you an advantage over other graduates who may understand theory but won't have the experience of applying their learning to a working environment. We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your aspirations, and you’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year.
Modules
Year 1
Core modules in this year include:
- Engineering Sciences
- Introduction to Algorithms and Programming
- Introduction to Analogue Circuits
- Mathematical Principles
- Principles of Digital Systems
- Principles of Networked Systems
There are no optional modules in this year.
Year 2
Core modules in this year include:
- Analogue Analysis and Design
- Engineering Mathematics
- Group Design Project
- Innovation and Enterprise
- Microcontrollers and Programmable Logic
Optional modules in this year currently include:
- Control Systems Analysis
- Telecommunication Principles
Placement year (optional)
After your second year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry.Students have completed work placements at organisations including: XMOS Core, Airbus, Portsmouth Water, Spirent, IBM, Apollo Fire Detectors. Many students have gone on to work for their placement employer after the course.
We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your aspirations. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year.
Year 3
Core modules in this year include:
- Advanced Electronic Systems
- Digital Signal Processing
- Individual Project
Optional modules in this year include:
- Artificial Intelligence or Real-time Embedded Systems
- Control Systems Design or VHDL and FPGA Systems
Year 4 (MEng only)
MEng year modules include:
- Analytical Management Techniques
- Digital Data Processing
- Engineering Management, Economics and Risk Analysis
- Microwave and High Speed Digital Design
- Multidisciplinary Group Project
- Sensors and Measurement Systems
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies. Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Assessment methods
You’ll be assessed through:
- written examinations
- coursework
- practical tests
- project work
- presentations
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You will get feedback on all formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
The way you’re assessed may depend on the modules you select. As a guide, students on this course last year were typically assessed as follows:
- Year 1 students: 55% by exams and 45% by coursework
- Year 2 students: 62% by exams, 38% by coursework
- Year 3 students: 33% by exams and 67% by coursework
- Year 4 students: 48% by exams and 52% by coursework
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
University of Portsmouth
Faculty of Technology
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Electrical and electronic engineering
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Electrical and electronic engineering
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
This is one of the more popular areas to study engineering and there is not quite such a serious shortage of electrical engineers as there is of other engineering subjects - but there's still plenty of demand. The most common jobs are in telecommunications, electrical and electronic engineering, but there is some crossover with the computing industry, so many graduates start work in IT and computing jobs. At the moment, there's a particular demand for electrical engineers in the electronics, and the car and aerospace industries, and also in defence, and salaries can vary across the country depending on the industry you start in. Bear in mind that a lot of courses are four years long, and lead to an MEng qualification — this is necessary if you want to become a Chartered Engineer.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Electrical and electronic engineering
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£27k
£31k
£38k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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