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Computer Systems Engineering with an Industrial Placement Year

Entry requirements


A level

A,A,B

including Maths and a science subject (science subjects include Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronics, Engineering, Further Maths, Physics, or Technology)

Access to HE Diploma

D:36,M:9,P:0

Award of Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 36 at Distinction (to include Maths and Science/Engineering), and 9 at Merit

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

34

with 6, 5 in Higher Level Maths and a science subject (science subjects include Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronics, Engineering, Further Maths, Physics, or Technology)

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H2,H2,H2,H2,H2,H3

including Maths and a science subject (science subjects include Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronics, Engineering, Further Maths, Physics, or Technology)

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DD

in Engineering or Applied Science + A in A Level Maths

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDD

in Engineering or Applied Science + A in A Level Maths

Scottish Advanced Higher

A,B

in Maths and a science subject + AABBB in Scottish Highers (science subjects include Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronics, Engineering, Further Maths, Physics, or Technology)

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)

B

+ AA in Maths and a science subject at A Level (science subjects include Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronics, Engineering, Further Maths, Physics, or Technology)

UCAS Tariff

104-136

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


Course option

4years

Full-time with year in industry | 2024

Subject

Computer systems engineering

This four-year BEng course will develop your engineering skills in computer software and hardware. The key difference between this and a computer science degree is the focus on engineering systems: electromechanical design, robotics and computer programming for embedded systems. You'll also carry out an industrial placement to enhance your employability.

Modules are informed by our world-leading research and designed with input from our industry partners, so you'll have the best start for your career. You'll use industry-standard equipment and learn about state-of-the-art applications in infrastructure, medicine and aviation.

Our courses share a common first year. You'll study subjects that are fundamental to computer systems such as mathematics, computing, control, electronics, software and embedded systems.

In the first year, you'll learn how to control robotic systems and you will work as part of a team to design, analyse and test robots, autonomous vehicles and other complex electro-mechanical systems.

In your second year, core modules cover subjects such as programming (including C++, Python and Java), mathematics and data modelling, signals, systems and communications.

You'll apply your skills to a practical project, where you'll design a system using 3D CAD tools. You'll then build the system in our iForge makerspace. This innovative facility gives you access to 3D printers, laser cutters and more.

Your third year will be spent on your industry placement. This will put your academic study into context, as you gain work experience and improve your employability prospects.

In your final year, specialist modules cover topics ranging from intelligent systems and digital signal processing to system design and security. You can tailor your degree to suit your interests with optional modules.

The highlight of your final year is an individual project. Working closely with one of our world leading academics, you'll deepen your technical knowledge and develop your expertise in a range of engineering techniques and skills such as project management and communication.

Other options for you:

Subject to achieving a satisfactory performance you can transfer from the BEng to the MEng degree at the end of the second year.
You can choose to study a year abroad.
The content of this course is under review and there might be some changes before you start. We'll publish an up-to-date course description soon.

This course is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), the Institute of Measurement and Control and the Engineering Council UK.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

England
£9,250
per year
International
£29,110
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University of Sheffield

Department:

Automatic Control and Systems Engineering

Read full university profile

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.

84%
Computer systems engineering

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

81%
Staff make the subject interesting
85%
Staff are good at explaining things
82%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
80%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

89%
Library resources
83%
IT resources
92%
Course specific equipment and facilities
65%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

46%
UK students
54%
International students
81%
Male students
19%
Female students
86%
2:1 or above
10%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

A
B
A

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.

£27,000
med
Average annual salary
94%
med
Employed or in further education
84%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

54%
Engineering professionals
18%
Information technology and telecommunications professionals
5%
Sales, marketing and related associate professionals

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

£27k

£33k

£33k

£35k

£35k

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.

Explore these similar courses...

Higher entry requirements
Newcastle University | Newcastle upon Tyne
Electronics and Computer Engineering
BEng (Hon) 3 Years Full-time with year in industry 2024
UCAS Points: 128-152
Nearby University
University of York | York
Electronic and Computer Engineering
BEng (Hon) 3 Years Full-time with year in industry 2024
UCAS Points: 48-128
Same University
University of Sheffield | Sheffield
Electronics and Computer Engineering
BEng (Hon) 3 Years Full-time with year in industry 2024
UCAS Points: 104-136

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

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This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

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?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here