Overview

Engineering decisions don't happen in isolation. They must work technically while meeting legal, ethical, safety and regulatory requirements.

Engineering with Law BEng combines a broad engineering education with the study of law, regulation and professional responsibility. You'll build knowledge across engineering science, design, electronics, digital systems, sensors and automation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and selected mechanical engineering topics, while developing an understanding of contract, tort and intellectual property law.

You'll learn how to tackle complex technical challenges responsibly and innovatively, combining engineering expertise with legal knowledge to understand how engineering and legal frameworks influence decision-making in modern organisations.

Learning is practical and research-informed, with laboratory work, workshops, design activities, case studies, and individual and group projects helping you apply your knowledge to real-world challenges. You'll also benefit from opportunities to engage with engineers, legal professionals and business practitioners, giving you insight into the professional environments where engineering and law intersect.

You can choose to take an optional placement year between your studies, giving you the opportunity to experience engineering in a professional setting and gain valuable industry insight before returning for your final year.

The course develops your technical, legal and professional skills while helping you understand the wider commercial, ethical and regulatory context of engineering practice. In your final year, you'll undertake a substantial individual project, applying the knowledge and skills you've developed to a real engineering challenge.

You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.

Course content

You'll study engineering from both technical and professional perspectives, developing the knowledge needed to design, analyse and improve engineering systems while understanding the legal and regulatory frameworks that influence modern practice.

In your first year, you'll build a foundation in engineering science, design, mathematics and electronics while being introduced to contract law and the civil justice system. You'll also explore professional responsibility, ethics, sustainability and the social impact of engineering.

As you progress, you'll develop expertise in areas such as sensors and automation, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and machine learning, alongside engineering design and professional skills. You'll also study tort law and examine how legal principles apply to complex real-world situations.

In your final year, you'll deepen your understanding of engineering management, quality, risk and sustainability while studying intellectual property law. You'll complete an individual engineering project and choose from specialist engineering options covering areas such as embedded systems, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, mechatronics, machine vision and advanced mechanical engineering topics.

Throughout the course, you'll develop:

Engineering knowledge grounded in mathematics, science and systems thinking
Analytical, computational and modelling skills
Design, laboratory and workshop experience
An understanding of legal, regulatory and ethical responsibilities
Risk, security and sustainability awareness
Project, quality and change management skills
Teamworking, leadership and communication skills
The ability to communicate with both technical and non-technical audiences
Reflective and professional development skills that support lifelong learning

These capabilities are particularly valuable in regulated and safety-critical environments where engineering decisions must meet technical, legal and professional requirements.

Year 1

Compulsory

BE1623 - Engineering Design I
To develop the design skills required by students studying in all engineering disciplines, thereby supporting their journey through Higher Education and into their professional life with the intention of maximising their employability. Skills development in the following areas will be addressed:
- Problem solving
- Engineering design
- Introductory project management
- Engineering Communication
- Working in inclusive teams
- Health and safety
- Sustainability and Security
BE1624 - Professional Engineering Skills - Social Responsibility
- To introduce students with the core principles and values underpinning the work of engineers, its breadth and impact on society and the responsibilities that arise as a result, via a combination of general principles and specific case studies.
- To provide guidance on the typical career of an engineer and introduce the standards set by the Engineering Council, which must be met to qualify for each relevant professional title.
- To allow engineering students to develop the skills required to thrive in their journey through Higher Education and into their professional life, so that they can develop their full potential, maximising their academic performance, work productivity and their employability, while achieving a satisfactory and healthy work-life balance.
BE1625 - General Engineering Science
The aim of this module is to introduce students to some of the main engineering concepts applied across all engineering disciplines. The module will cover basic principles of measurement and uncertainty, application of Newtonian physics to design and analyses of objects and engineering systems, and the basics of fluid’s behaviour. The module will provide students with an opportunity to gain experience and confidence in problem-solving in both a theoretical and practical manner.
EE1630 - Electronic Devices and Systems
The main aims of the module are to develop students’ understanding of the contemporary electronic and computer engineering professions, and their understanding of what being a Chartered Engineer involves. This includes developing student’s expertise in both understanding and designing basic analogue and digital electronic systems.
EE1642 - Mathematics for Computer Systems
The aim of this module is to develop students’ ability to understand and apply fundamental methods of engineering mathematics that are relevant to computer systems.
LX1605 - Contract Law and Civil Justice Systems
This study block aims to explain:

Legal principles applicable to legally binding agreements between parties and the effects of any defects in their formation or performance, including a detailed knowledge, examination and understanding of:
- the essential elements required to form legally binding contracts
- the obstacles that affect the formation of contractual agreements, including those elements that vitiate consent
- the content of legally binding contractual agreements
- termination & remedies.
The civil Justice system and procedures in England and Wales such as:
- the ‘doctrine of precedent.’
- main types of civil proceedings and how these differ from each other in terms of procedure and evidence.
- Key stages of a civil claim.
- Analyse and apply the relevant procedural rules to case scenarios
- Drafting of documents.

Optional

EE1629 - Digital Devices and Systems
This module aims to develop students’ understanding of the contemporary electronic and computer engineering professions, and their understanding of what being a Chartered Engineer involves. This includes developing student’s expertise in understanding and designing basic digital electronic systems.
BE1626 - Mechanics of Materials and Manufacturing
- To provide a grounding in the fundamental principles of engineering mechanics, including statics and dynamics of rigid bodies.
- To provide knowledge and understanding of engineering materials and manufacturing processes relevant to engineering applications.
- To provide experience and confidence in problem-solving.

Year 2

Compulsory

EE2652 - Sensors and Automation
This module aims to introduce the principles of sensors, computer control, and automation within engineering systems. Students will develop an understanding of sensor technologies and measurement principles alongside fundamental concepts of automation and control. The module also supports the development of practical skills in the analysis, design, and application of automated and computer-controlled systems relevant to modern engineering practice.
EE2661 - Data Networks and Cyber Security
This module aims to develop knowledge and understanding to successfully appreciate, create and manage different networks depending on the various needs of the hosting environment, and to develop knowledge and understanding of the fundamental issues and methods for maintenance of data security in servers and networks, and in particular of internet traffic.
EE26BB - Engineering Design and Professional Skills
To reinforce and develop:
- microcontroller based engineering design, personal and transferable skills appropriate to students' scheme of studies
- business aspects of engineering enterprise
- student preparedness for work placement and employment.
EE26DD - Applied Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Students will develop knowledge and skills in developing and applying artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, techniques, and methodologies.
LX2080 - Law of Tort
To familiarise students with the key principles that underpin this branch of the common law and to introduce them to the main aims of functions of tort and its role in apportioning losses in modern society.

Optional

EE26CC - Digital Systems and Microcontroller Principles
- To develop an understanding of digital systems and microcontroller architecture from a practical engineering perspective.
- To develop students’ appreciation of fundamental algorithms, roles, limitations of CAD tools used in digital systems design and their limitations.
- To give a practical insight in the design, implementation and testing of Digital systems.
- To develop the underlying knowledge and give a practical insight in today’s embedded systems design using microcontrollers.
EE2653 - Electrical Engineering and Sustainability
This module will study the basic principles and the sustainability of renewable energy systems, and to learn about integrating them into conventional energy systems.
ME2613 - Fluid Mechanics
This module will introduce students to the fundamental principles of fluid mechanics and their application to biomedical engineering systems. Students will develop an understanding of the behaviour of fluids at rest and in motion, including the analysis of fluid properties, flow behaviour, and conservation laws. The module also supports the application of theoretical concepts to practical engineering problems, enabling students to analyse and model fluid flow in a range of biomedical engineering contexts.
ME2614 - Solid Mechanics and Introduction to FEA
- To establish a solid foundation for the analysis of solids and structures based on the fundamental principles of continuum mechanics
- To introduce analytical and numerical methods for the solution of continuum-mechanics problems
- To link models and engineering applications with a range of real-life examples, experimental testing and comparative analysis of experimental measurements and theoretical results

Year 3

Compulsory

EE36DD - Individual Project
To provide students with the opportunity to:
- Design, execute, report and demonstrate a substantial individual project in a professional manner;
- Further develop their communication, planning, time management, research and development skills and initiative.
EE36AA - Professional Engineering skills - Management and Quality
To develop understanding of managing key processes and projects in engineering with a specific focus on principles/ techniques for managing the quality of Engineering systems.
LX3071 - Intellectual Property Law
The Intellectual Property module aims to provide students with knowledge about the theoretical rationales and policy arguments for the recognition and protection of intellectual property rights such as copyright, trademarks, designs, patents and trade secrets.

The module seeks to explain the nature and scope of these rights, the procedures for the granting or recognition of the rights, and mechanisms for enforcement as well as defences against enforcement.

Additionally, the module aims to explore intellectual property law within a wider social, economic, cultural and political context. This includes consideration of the impact of technological changes in the protection of intellectual property. The principal aim is to provide students with a working knowledge of the major areas of intellectual property law.

Optional

EE3635 - Embedded Systems
This module aims to develop students’ understanding of the engineering, scientific, and economic trade-offs involved in the design and implementation of embedded systems. It also provides familiarity with, and practical experience of, a range of architectural techniques and design methodologies, including their application and suitability for embedded platforms such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).
EE3638 - Design of Internet of Things
To develop knowledge and understanding of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and methods with which IoT-enabled devices communicate and exchange, compute and visualise data gathered using the range of sensors and actuators available to them. A practical component will involve designing and developing a software application for mobile devices, such as smartphones, and wearable devices, such as wristbands, using a popular mobile platform that helps with collection, analysis and visualisation of such sensor data.
EE36CC - Machine Vision and Perception for Robotics
To develop students’ understanding of machine vision and perception methods used in robotic and autonomous systems, including image acquisition, visual feature extraction, camera geometry, object detection, localisation, sensor fusion, and perception-driven decision making. The module aims to enable students to design, implement, evaluate, and critically discuss vision-based perception pipelines for real-world robotic applications, considering technical limitations, uncertainty, safety, ethics, and deployment constraints.
ME3622 - Mechanical Engineering Structures
This module aims to introduce advanced concepts for the analysis and design of mechanical engineering structures and structural components. Students to develop further the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for the solution of mechanical engineering structures.
ME3618 - Mechatronics and Control Engineering
The aim of this module is to introduce knowledge and methods for designing and implementing mechatronic systems for control and robot systems, and to provide a mathematical foundation for control systems analysis, design and performance improvement. Students will develop an understanding of modelling dynamic systems using transfer functions and block diagrams.
ME3621 - Applied Fluid Mechanics
This module aims to develop ability to solve the Navier-Stokes equations numerically in students and apply appropriate modelling choices for different flows.

This course can be studied undefined undefined, starting in undefined.

This course has a placement option. Find out more about work placements available.

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Careers and your future

As an Engineering with Law graduate, you'll be prepared for careers that sit at the intersection of engineering, technology, regulation and professional practice.

Your combination of technical expertise and legal awareness can open opportunities across engineering design, systems engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, automation, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and mechatronics.

You'll also be well placed for roles involving regulatory compliance, intellectual property, engineering contracts, risk management, health and safety, quality assurance, sustainability and technical consultancy.

Many graduates progress into project engineering, engineering management and technical governance positions, where understanding both engineering principles and legal frameworks is increasingly important.

If you choose the optional placement year, you may gain experience with engineering consultancies, manufacturing companies, construction firms, technology organisations and businesses involved in engineering design, operations and project management. Placements can help you build professional experience in areas such as quality assurance, health and safety, risk assessment, regulatory compliance and business operations.

UK entry requirements

2026/7 entry

Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants as well as our full GCSE requirements and accepted equivalencies in place of GCSEs.

Brunel University London is committed to raising the aspirations of our applicants and students. We will fully review your UCAS application and, where we’re able to offer a place, this will be personalised to you based on your application and education journey.

GCSEs

A minimum of five GCSEs are required, including GCSE Mathematics grade C or grade 4 and GCSE English Language grade C or grade 4 or GCSE English Literature grade B or grade 5.

A-level

Standard Offer: GCE A-level ABB including one of the following subjects; Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, Electronics or Design and Technology (Use of Maths, Critical Thinking, Mathematical Studies and General Studies not accepted).

Contextual Offer: GCE A-level BBB including one of the following subjects; Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, Electronics or Design and Technology (Use of Maths, Critical Thinking, Mathematical Studies and General Studies not accepted).