The MEng Electronic Engineering is a four-year first degree that delivers the breadth and depth that you will need in the world of engineering. It is designed to produce graduates who will go on and lead engineering teams. Your first two years offer you a broad-based engineering education. You then specialise into Electronic Engineering in your third and fourth years.

It is important to highlight that you can transfer between the different Engineering programmes that we offer (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronic, etc.) up until the end of the second year, provided that you meet the relevant progression requirements. We believe that students should make an informed decision about their futures and allowing our students to transfer between programmes, once they understand the different disciplines, demonstrates our commitment to this and the Department’s General Engineering philosophy.

In the first three years of your degree at Durham you will take six modules, the year is divided into three terms and there are examinations at the end of each year. The taught modules in the final year are smaller to reflect their specialist content – you will take six of these modules plus a dissertation, or final year, project.

Year 1

You will study four modules in engineering, one in mathematics and one optional module. In your engineering modules, you will receive instruction in the use of 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) software (e.g. SolidWorks), be taught how to implement engineering algorithms into computer code (specifically in C and MATLAB) and take part in a number of practical labs. You will also take part in a group design activity where you have to design, build and test a device to solve specific engineering challenge. Recent examples include miniature hydroelectric generators and chain-climbing robots. On the course, you also attend lectures, problem classes and supervisions with academic staff.

Compulsory modules:

• Solid Mechanics and Structures 1
• Electronic and Electrical Systems 1
• Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics 1
• Engineering Practice 1
• Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists

And one free elective.

The optional (free elective) module may be selected from anything that will fit the timetable and for which you meet the necessary prerequisites. Popular choices in the past have included ‘Introduction to Programming’, ‘Computational Thinking’ and a range of different language modules, but some students have taken modules in History or Poetry.

Year 2

Engineering and mathematics now occupy the full six modules in the timetable.

You will undertake a major design project as part of a small team with guidance from an academic supervisor and an ‘Industrial Tutor’ (an engineer from industry). This lets you put into practice the skills and knowledge that you have developed in your lectures. The end result is a detailed design report and a series of CAD drawings good enough to manufacture a device from.

Compulsory modules:

• Engineering Mathematics 2
• Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics 2
• Solid Mechanics and Structures 2
• Electrical Engineering 2
• Electronics 2
• Engineering Design 2.

Year 3

At this point in the degree you will specialise into Electronic Engineering.

You will take five taught modules covering important aspects of Electronic Engineering. The sixth module is a major team design project, where you consider your design challenge as a product and do everything from basic market research to design for manufacture. These design projects span our different third year specialisms so you will be working with students from other engineering disciplines – much like you will do when working as a graduate engineer. Practical skills, in addition to the weekly laboratory sessions, cover topics from such as industrial problem-solving with interaction with local industry.

Compulsory modules:

• Electrical Engineering 3
• Engineering Design 3
• Control and Signal Processing 3
• Electronics and Communications 3
• Digital Electronics and Digital Signal Processing 3
• Semiconductor Physics and Devices 3.

Year 4

The highlight of the degree for many of our students is the final year project. This activity, which is half the year in most streams, involves working closely with an academic supervisor on an area of cutting-edge research and development. The best student projects have been featured in internationally recognised engineering journals, indicating that our students are amongst the finest young engineers in the world. In addition to this, you will take modules on advanced Electronic Engineering topics.

Compulsory modules:

• MEng Research and Development Project (or MEng Technical Project and Engineering into Schools)
• Radio and Digital Communications 4
• Communications Networks 4
• Advanced Electronics Measurement 4
• Advanced Electronics 4
• Photonics 4.

Placement

Study abroad

Engineering is an increasingly international discipline and living and working in another country is a valuable addition to your CV. For this reason, students are encouraged to apply during their degree for a year-long placement with one of the Engineering Department's or the University's international partners, as an additional year of study. Students may study in English at some of the partner universities, whereas at others foreign language skills are essential. Students are fully supported by the Department both during the application process and during the year abroad. Language tuition is available in the first year in a range of languages as free elective modules and in other years through the University’s Languages For All scheme.

Placement Year/Year in Industry

Practical engineering experience is invaluable and to recognise this you can choose to take a year-long placement in industry between your second and third year. The Department will assist in finding placement opportunities for you through the Industrial Partnership Committee (IPC) which consists of local, national and multi-national companies, including: British Airways, BP, IBM and Caterpillar, amongst many others.

This four-year degree delivers the breadth and depth that you will need to succeed in the world of engineering. It is designed to produce graduates who will go on to lead engineering teams.

A common first two years in General Engineering provide you with the broad knowledge required to effectively work on multi-disciplinary engineering problems. The course structure offers a huge amount of flexibility – you could join us on a electronic engineering pathway but decide to pursue civil engineering at the end of your second year. We believe in empowering our students to make informed decisions that would best serve their future careers.

After your first two years, you will start to specialise in Civil, Electrical, Electronic or Mechanical Engineering, and supplement this discipline-specific knowledge with Engineering Design activities and focused practical skills. You can further specialise in your final year, with two additional choices: Aeronautical Engineering and Renewable Energies, learning advanced topics at the forefront of engineering knowledge whilst working with a world-leading academic on a research and development dissertation project, the highlight of many of our students’ degrees.

Course structure

Year 1

You will study four modules in engineering, one in mathematics and one optional module. In your engineering modules, you will examine 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software and implement engineering algorithms into computer code. You will also take part in a group design activity where you have to design, build and test a device to solve a specific engineering challenge. Recent examples include miniature hydroelectric generators and chain-climbing robots.

Core modules:

Solid Mechanics and Structures 1 gives you a working knowledge of solid mechanics, structures and structural analysis, in a wider engineering context.

Electronic and Electrical Systems 1 provides you with a working knowledge of electrical and electronic circuit theory, components, electromagnetism and hardware interfacing.

Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics 1 offers knowledge of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics including dimensional analysis, fluid statics and fluid dynamics.

Engineering Practice 1 provides you with practical engineering skills relevant to multiple engineering disciplines. It shows how the material covered in other engineering modules fits together in the wider engineering context, and will also introduce you to engineering ethics and professional issues.

Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists gives you all the maths skills and techniques needed for studying Engineering and other sciences.

Examples of optional modules:

• Introduction to Programming
• Computational Thinking.

Year 2

Core modules:

Engineering Mathematics 2 provides a working knowledge of probability and statistics and advanced mathematical methods for modelling engineering problems.

Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics 2 gives you further working knowledge of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics.

Solid Mechanics and Structures 2 builds your knowledge of the mechanics of dynamics and vibration, stress analysis of structures and sections, trusses and frames, and the mechanics of soils. It also provides an introduction to finite element methods.

Electrical Engineering 2 provides you with knowledge of mathematical methods for modelling engineering problems and computing.

Electronics 2 gives you a knowledge of electronics and computing in terms of circuits, digital electronics and microprocessor design.

In Engineering Design 2 you will learn about various aspects of the design process including the principles of design and project management. You will undertake a major design project with guidance from an academic supervisor and an external (industrial) engineer.

Year 3

At this point in the degree you will specialise in Electronic Engineering.

Core modules:

Electrical Engineering 3 covers the fundamental concepts and the range of techniques used for electromechanical energy and power conversion in industrial applications. It introduces the foundations of power electronics control in modern industrial applications and the issues regarding renewable resource integration in modern energy networks.

Electronics and Communications 3 develops the principles of analogue electronics and your understanding of the use of CAD tools in electronics. It covers the fundamental concepts of communications engineering.

Control and Signal Processing 3 builds on your knowledge of different mathematical techniques used in the design and analysis of control systems. It will also teach you about methods of analysis for both continuous and discrete signals.

Digital Electronics and Digital Signal Processing 3 develops the principles of digital electronics and provides an understanding of programmable logic design. You will explore the relationship between hardware and software as well as the design, implementation and verification of these systems.

Engineering Design 3 will enhance your understanding of the design process and the way theoretical work supports design. It will give you an introduction to innovation and business aspects of engineering design projects.

In Semiconductor Physics and Devices 3 you will learn the basic concepts of materials for electronic devices and the physics of semiconductor devices, including material structure, band theory, junction phenomena and devices. You will study fabrication technology for integrated circuits and their applications.

Year 4

Core modules:

Radio and Digital Communications 4 examines in depth pulse analogue modulation schemes, digital communication systems and the technical aspects of cellular networks. It will also introduce and familiarise you with analytical methods of radio propagation.

Communications Networks 4 provides an overview of communications networks and explains some of the challenges facing designers of this technology. It will provide advanced knowledge and understanding of key networking technologies used in modern communication networks and the principles underpinning the design of communications networks. It will provide a firm foundation for a broad range of careers in communications networks.

Advanced Electronics Measurement 4 describes methods for measuring, characterising and assessing communication systems and semiconducting devices. It will explain the working principles of various metrology and characterisation procedures. It will also introduce and familiarise you with measurement techniques for radio channel characterisation, wideband propagation models in various frequency bands, and solid-state device reliability tests and application.

In Advanced Electronics 4 you will examine electronic devices at nanometre scale and their principles of operation. It will explain the technical and economic constraints for the miniaturisation and design of electronic devices and solutions. You will also become familiar with application-based device design and analysis, as well as technical knowledge of VLSI/MEMs systems.

Photonics 4 characterises the propagation of electromagnetic waves and the underpinning Maxwell equations. It will give you advanced knowledge and understanding of advanced semiconductor photonic devices, including photon–matter interaction.

You can choose between the MEng Research and Development Project or the MEng Technical Project plus the module Engineering into Schools.

Examples of optional modules:

• Internet of Everything 4
• Optimisation 4
• Environmental Engineering 4.

Additional pathways

Students on the MEng in Engineering courses can apply to be transferred onto either the ‘with Year Abroad’ or ‘with Placement’ pathway during the second year. Places on these pathways are in high demand and if you are chosen your studies will extend from four years to five.

Placement