Computer Engineering

Computer engineering is a discipline that sits at the boundary of computer science and electronic engineering, concerned with the design and development of both the hardware and the software that make computing systems work. Computer engineers design the processors, circuits, and embedded systems that run everything from mobile phones and games consoles to medical devices, industrial control systems, and autonomous vehicles. Unlike software engineers who work primarily at the level of code, or electronic engineers who focus on circuits, computer engineers understand both, and can design systems that integrate hardware and software intelligently.

At Queen's University Belfast this four-year full-time programme includes a year in industry, giving you substantial professional experience in a technology company before you graduate. It is a research-led degree that combines academic thought with practical application, teaching you to understand and develop the devices and systems that define modern life. You will study digital systems, microprocessors, embedded programming, computer architecture, networking, signal processing, and software engineering, developing both the technical depth and the collaborative skills that the profession demands.

Queen's strong research connections in computer engineering and Northern Ireland's growing technology sector provide additional professional context.

Graduates go on to careers in embedded systems development, semiconductor design, hardware engineering, systems integration, robotics, automotive engineering, telecommunications, and many other technology-intensive fields. The combination of hardware and software expertise is particularly valuable in industries where the two must be optimised together, and computer engineers are increasingly sought after as devices become more complex and connected. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study or research in computer engineering, computer science, or electronic systems.