Electronics and Computer Engineering
Electronics and computer engineering sits at the intersection of hardware and software, concerned with the design and implementation of the embedded systems, firmware, and electronic components that underpin the devices and infrastructure of the modern digital world. From the chips in smartphones and medical equipment to the control systems in industrial machinery and autonomous vehicles, electronics and computer engineers design the physical and logical foundations on which software runs and through which the digital and physical worlds connect. The rise of the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and cyber-physical systems makes the field more expansive and more consequential than ever.
At the University of Northampton you will follow this three-year full-time programme, developing skills in circuit design, embedded systems programming, digital electronics, firmware development, and the engineering methods needed to build reliable hardware and software systems. You will engage with emerging fields including IoT systems, AI integration in embedded platforms, and the design of interconnected cyber-physical systems, preparing you for a discipline that is evolving rapidly and in which the ability to work across the hardware and software boundary is increasingly valued.
Graduates of electronics and computer engineering work in a wide range of industries. Consumer electronics, telecommunications, automotive and aerospace engineering, industrial automation, medical devices, defence, robotics, and the technology sector all employ engineers with these skills. Roles include embedded systems engineer, hardware design engineer, firmware developer, systems integrator, IoT engineer, and technology consultant.
Many graduates pursue professional engineering registration with bodies such as the IET. Postgraduate study in electronics, computer engineering, embedded systems, AI, or cybersecurity is an option for those who wish to develop specialist expertise or pursue research careers in a field that is at the forefront of technological change.