Electronic and Computer Engineering BEng

About the Course

Electronics equipment and products are becoming a vital part of our daily lives, from simple MP3 players, mobile phones and computers to highly sophisticated diagnostic equipment used in hospitals and state-of the-art fibre optic communications systems. Computers, telecommunication systems and consumer electronics are advancing at a fast pace. Electronic and microelectronic embedded systems are at the core of these developments.

Developed in response to the needs of industry, this degree will give you advanced level knowledge and skills in the design of complex electronic and microelectronic systems.

About the Electronic and Computer Engineering Department at Brunel

At Brunel, our degree programmes will teach you about state-of-the-art technology, which means our graduates can work at the forefront of all the major areas of electronic engineering. We adopt a teaching style that is research-led, so the latest cutting-edge technologies will be taught as part of the course. Our courses combine theory with practical and project work – an approach which can help you to turn ideas into real systems – and our students are regularly awarded national and international prizes.

Our degrees have a common first year during which you will study all of the main specialisms. Based on your own personal learning experiences of these subjects, you will be able to re-evaluate your original degree choice at this level and switch to a related course if you want.

Is this course for me?

You must have engineering potential and be someone who is analytical, creative, logical, a problem solver, a realist, versatile and forward thinking. You should be interested in understanding about the big picture as well as becoming a specialist in your chosen area. Intellectual challenge is important to you, as is hands-on experience, and you want to work alongside other high achievers.

Maybe you know what engineering area you want to specialise in already and realise that a broad degree can provide you with an invaluable springboard to any number of careers. You don’t want to limit your options. Maybe you are seeking a broad-based engineering degree to explore your interests and strengths in a variety of exciting fields,all of which are of crucial importance in today’s world.

Aims

We aim to produce graduates who are part of a high-tech elite – greatly sought-after professionals with specialist understanding and skills in microelectronics, but who also have a solid knowledge of electronic engineering as a whole. This will give you ultimate vision and flexibility in your future career.

Enquiries

Dr David Smith
Admissions Tutor
School of Engineering and Design
Brunel University
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 3PH

Tel: +44 (0)1895 265814
Email: sed.ug.admissions@brunel.ac.uk

Related Courses

• Computer Systems Engineering BEng
• Computer Systems Engineering with Professional Development BEng
• Computer Systems Engineering MEng
• Computer Systems Engineering with Professional Development MEng
• Electronic and Electrical Engineering BEng
• Electronic and Electrical Engineering with Professional Development BEng
• Electronic and Electrical Engineering MEng
• Electronic and Electrical Engineering with Professional Development MEng

Special Features

• Our expertise in data communications and networks is almost unparalleled in the UK.
  
  
• You may have the opportunity to work abroad as part of your study or as a professional work placement – we have well-established links with France, Germany and Italy. We also offer free foreign language classes.
  
  
• We have good links with business. For our students this means courses designed to meet the needs of industry and the market place, and greater choice and quality of work placements.
  
  
• Labs are very well-equipped, with extensive gifts of software and hardware from prestigious industrial collaborators. Yearly expenditure on new software is high and the School of Engineering and Design has 500 computers. Our policy is to maintain and to give students access to the most current and commercially relevant software available.
  
  
• We benefit from being located near much of the country’s information engineering industry.
  
  
• Our courses and research are aimed squarely at developing the expertise, knowledge and new ideas needed for the information age, and cover the full breadth of electronic, computer and multimedia engineering.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

Facts and Figures

Engineering and Design is one of the largest Schools in the University with over 60 members of staff involved in teaching and research, an undergraduate population of over 800 and a postgraduate populationof over 200.

Course Content

You will take the same core modules at Level 1 as Electronic and Electrical Engineering students, which will give you a broad understanding together with a high level of analytical and engineering design skills.

You begin to specialise in microelectronics at Level 2 and into Level 3, with a greater emphasis on understanding integrated circuit design, software and system design.

Typical modules

Level 1 Core (Year 1)

• Digital Systems and Microprocessors
• Devices and Circuits
• Electronic Engineering Mathematics
• Engineering Science, Systems and Society
• Level 1 Electronic Engineering Workshop
• Systems and Programming

Level 2 Core (Year 2)

• Computer Architecture and Interfacing
• Digital Systems Design and Reliability Engineering
• Electronic Systems
• Object Oriented Systems and Programming
  
• Signals and Systems
• Engineering Group Design Project
  
• Management
  

Level 3 Core (Year 3)

• Individual Project
• Advanced Electronics
• Advanced Digital Systems

Level 3 Optional (Year 3 or 4)

Select two from the following:

• Software Engineering and Technology
• Design of Intelligent Systems
• Control Systems
• Multimedia Digital Signal Processing
• Distributed Systems and Computing

Teaching and Learning

Staff Expertise

We take pains to maintain our high level of teaching. Lecturers are at the leading edge of their fields and many are internationally and nationally recognised for their work. They act as consultants for major companies, are often widely published and have good links with industry, so they know exactly what is going on in the commercial world.

Hours

In Level 1 you will have about 18 taught hours a week. This will fall to around eight hours of lectures and seminars in Level 3, with one whole day of project work.

In addition to this, staff are normally happy to answer queries outside this time. We operate an open door policy so you can drop in and chat or email lecturers with your questions. Students are expected to carry out a total of 40 hours study a week, including contact hours.

How will I be taught?

Lectures – These provide a broad overview of key concepts and ideas relating to your course and give you a framework from which to carry out in-depth study.

Laboratories – These are normally stand alone three hour sessions where students can develop, understand and practice using industry standard equipment. They provide an informal environment in which to explore new ideas and apply what you have learnt in lectures, with the help of a tutor. The staff/student ratio is 1:10 (one supervisor and a demonstrator).

Workshops – In a workshop you will work on more complex problems with guidance from a member of staff. This might involve producing an artefact or a design solution. Workshops allow you to develop new intellectual and practical skills and also serve to reinforce material learnt in lectures.

Tutorials – These involve up to six students. At Level 1 they will provide an opportunity to look at your academic knowledge and to develop personal skills, such as communication ability and study skills.

One-to-one – You will have one-to-one supervision for all project work, throughout all levels. If you go on a placement you will also be allocated an industrial tutor who will help you set objectives, monitor your progress, and provide further support if you need it. You will also have a personal tutor who is available to discuss both academic and personal problems.

Other – This may include guest speakers from prominent organisations, research seminars and external site visits.

Assessment

Level 1 does not count towards your final degree mark but you have to pass this year in order to progress to level 2. Level 2 is worth a third of your final degree classification. Level 3 is worththe rest.

In the final year you will carry out a major individual project worth a third of your final year marks. This is in addition to other project work at level 2. The percentage of coursework to exam varies from course to course and also depends on the modules you select.

Assessment is by a variety of methods, depending on your degree programme. In general, the following techniques are used:

• Traditional exam
  
• Pre-seen exam - a case study to prepare in advance
  
• Written assignments
  
• Practical and creative design assignments
  
• Laboratory work
  
• Individual and group presentations.

Equal emphasis is put on teamwork and individual contribution in assessed group projects and presentations.

Employability

There is a relaxed and friendly relationship between students and staff and we take a genuine interest and pride in the success of our students and graduates. This, together with acknowledged high quality teaching and resources, results in an excellent record of employment amongst our graduates.

Careers

You will have a wide choice of careers in mainstream electronic and microelectronic industries and in other engineering, computing and ‘high-tech’ fields. The growth of embedded electronic systems in all areas of our lives has created exciting employment prospects across all areas of industry and business.

The majority of our graduates move into research, development or manufacturing companies – a choice many make when accepting sponsorship from a company – but opportunities do exist in most other professional spheres such as medicine, finance, management and the media.

Recent graduates have gone on to work for prestigious companies including the BBC, Virgin Airways, Opodo, Philips, Intel, Siemens and a variety of design companies.

Placements

You have the opportunity to undertake high quality work placements within prestigious organisations.

Fees for 2013/14 entry

UK/EU students: £9,000 full-time

International students: £15,000 full-time

We are introducing over 700 scholarships for 2013, meaning that one in five applicants who join Brunel next year will receive financial support from the University. See our fees and funding page for full details

Fees quoted are per annum and are subject to an annual increase.

Entry Requirements for 2013 Entry

• GCE A-level BBB, including Maths and a Science or Engineering subject (General Studies and Critical Thinking not accepted).
• Irish Leaving Certificate ABBBB, including Maths and a Science or Engineering subject.
• Scottish Advanced Highers BBB, including Maths and a Science or Engineering subject.
• Advanced Diploma Progression Diploma Grade B in Engineering, plus the Specialist Unit in Maths for Engineers at grade C Along with 1 AS-level at Grade B for Additional and Specialist Learning.
• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma DDD including Distinction in a Maths module and Merit in either Electrical or Electronic Principles.
• IBDP 32 points, including 5 in Higher Level Maths and 5 in a Science or an Engineering subject.
• Foundations of Engineering see the course page; for external foundation courses, please contact the Admissions Tutor.
• Access Complete and pass Access to Engineering, Computing or Science course with 45 credits at Level 3 and with Merit or higher in all units. All Maths and Physics units must be Distinctions at level 3.

All applicants are required to attend an interview before a formal offer is made.

For all of the above, 5 GCSEs or equivalent at Grade C or above are also required, to include English and Maths (please note that these must have been gained by the time you submit your UCAS application).

English Language Requirements

Brunel also offers our own BrunELT English Test and accept a range of other language courses. We also have a range of Pre-sessional English language courses, for students who do not meet these requirements, or who wish to improve their English.