Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Electrical and electronic engineering encompasses an extraordinary breadth of technologies that define and drive modern life. From the design of microelectronic chips and the development of telecommunications systems to the generation and distribution of electrical power and the engineering of the smart, connected devices that characterise the Internet of Things, this discipline sits at the heart of the technological infrastructure on which twenty-first century society depends. At Queen's University of Belfast, this four-year programme with a sandwich year includes a year of professional experience in industry, and it covers the full spectrum from micro-electronic chip design to power generation and distribution.
You will develop a broad and deep understanding of electrical and electronic engineering, studying circuit theory, digital electronics, signal processing, power systems, communications and control alongside the mathematical and computational tools that underpin them. The sandwich year is a distinctive feature of the programme, giving you extended engagement with real engineering practice in a professional environment before you complete your degree, and significantly strengthening both your technical competence and your professional credibility. The programme is designed for a world in which sustainable energy, smart home technology, the Internet of Things and autonomous vehicles are not aspirations but realities.
Electrical and electronic engineering graduates are among the most employable of all engineers, working in telecommunications, power systems, consumer electronics, defence, aerospace, automotive, medical devices, renewable energy and technology companies of all kinds. The breadth of the discipline means that graduates can pivot between sectors throughout a career, following the areas of greatest technical challenge or personal interest. Many graduates pursue chartered engineer status through the Institution of Engineering and Technology.
Postgraduate study in power electronics, telecommunications, signal processing or embedded systems is a well-established route for those who wish to develop specialist technical expertise.