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MEng (Hons) Electronic and Computer Engineering

Become a leader in the design of efficient, safe and cost-effective systems

Year of entry: 2024/25
Show year of entry: 2025

UCAS code

H639

Institution code

Y50

Length

4 years full-time (plus optional placement year)

Typical offer

AAA (full entry requirements)

Start date

September 2024 (semester dates)

UK (home) fees

£9,250 per year

International and EU fees

£28,800 per year

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Computers are all-pervasive.  Almost every aspect of daily life depends on highly sophisticated computing systems.

With continuing advances in technology, high user expectations and increasing statutory requirements, there is a high-demand for skilled engineers in electronic computing. 

Unlike pure computing degrees which often concentrate on the software, scientific and mathematical aspects of computing, this course will provide you with a wider range of engineering skills, including in hardware and applications of computing to electronic systems. The course draws from the expertise of the Intelligent Systems and Nano-science Research Group at York.

This course will consolidate your knowledge of fundamental principles and introduce you to more advanced concepts. You'll experience a large team software engineering project, as well as managing a substantial individual project, allowing you to develop the knowledge and skills required to become a leader in the industry. With an increased choice of advanced option modules, you'll have the opportunity to engage with world-class researchers and work with our latest innovative technology.

Year in industry

All of our courses are available with a year in industry, which gives you the opportunity to gain vital experience in the workplace and find out more about your career options. The year in industry is generally taken in the year prior to your final year of study.

The School will help you to find a suitable placement. You will be fully supported by an academic member of staff who will visit you in the workplace and meet you regularly to discuss your placement work.

Accreditation

This course is fully accredited by the IET and fulfils the training requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status. Our courses have been continually accredited for 25 years.

The course offers a wide range of modules and specialisations, providing the opportunity to explore the different areas of engineering. The staff are amazing - they are enthusiastic about their subject area, and the support they provide is fantastic. There is always someone there if you need some help, or advice.
Amy

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Flexible courses

You may be able to change course, add a year in industry or change between MEng and BEng. Just ask us for more details.

Free online courses

Get a taste of university-level study on one of York's free short courses, including our subject course, 'Engineering the future'.

7th for 'Overall Satisfaction'

in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, out of the Russell Group universities included in the latest National Student Survey (2022).

Course content

On the MEng you'll be able to choose from more advanced option modules in your third year, which are geared to meet the rigorous needs of the electronics industry. You'll also complete a large team software engineering project where you’ll work with other students as part of a small ‘company’ to produce a major software application for desktop or Android. You’ll take on a major role in this, use professional software tools and present your work to ‘sell’ your product. Through this project you'll gain essential project management, communication and leadership skills.

You'll study the principles and practicalities of electronic engineering, as well as honing essential skills in mathematics and computer programming. As you progress, you'll cover topics such as electronic hardware design, software programming, signal processing and analysis, microprocessor interfacing, engineering construction and design, feedback and computer control.

In your final year, you'll choose option modules which will allow you to specialise according to your interests, and you'll work on a much larger and more ambitious final-year individual project. The project will give you invaluable skills for your future career.

Study abroad

There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:

Placements

There are opportunities to spend time in industry as part of this course.

Year 1

Year 1 provides you with a grounding in electronic principles, circuits, components and devices. There's a strong emphasis on mathematics and computing, including learning the C and Python programming languages. You'll also develop your practical skills, designing and building complete products as part of laboratories and group projects.

Core modules

Academic integrity module

In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.

Learning by design

Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Subject Knowledge: Conduct research in applied electronic engineering and computing technology to advance the state of knowledge in algorithms, devices and systems..
  • Engineering Analysis: Extract and critically evaluate data from complex systems through analytical and computational methods and modelling.
  • Engineering Design: Create innovative and optimised designs to address real-world problems involving computer hardware and software systems by synthesising ideas into engineering specifications.
  • Practical Skills: Apply professional skills of programming, CAD, construction and measurement, combined with an understanding of engineering systems and components, to solve technically challenging problems.
  • Technical Communication: Debate, defend and contextualise information in a succinct and technically accurate manner for audiences of engineers and members of the public, and to write and interpret technical documentation.
  • Management & Personal Development: Proficiently manage themselves, teams and complex projects in preparation for technical careers as leaders in applied computer and electronic engineering.

Strong links with industry

We will help you to become an employment-ready, motivated graduate, with skills in the latest developments in engineering such as robotics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality and immersive technology.

Group work to prepare you for your career

Our programme involves group work to allow you to experience the management, coordination and decision-making processes required by engineers. We structure this throughout the programme so that you develop key transferable and managerial skills.

Free membership

We offer all students free membership of the York Engineering Society (our student engineering society) and student membership of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) while you are at York.

Teaching Excellence Framework Gold Award

Gold-standard education

Our teaching, learning and student experience is outstanding, recognised by a Gold rating from the Office for Students in the 2023 national assessment (Teaching Excellence Framework).

Why we’re gold-rated

Teaching and assessment

You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.

Teaching format

Our courses are highly intensive. Your timetabled activities each week will include:

  • Lectures
  • Practical work (including projects every year)
  • Workshops and tutorials
  • Computer laboratories
  • Supervisions

You'll also be expected to spend time studying independently. As you progress through the course you'll take on more independent study, guiding your own learning and developing your project management skills.

An academic member of staff will help guide you through your final-year individual project, ensuring that you are able to combine the knowledge and skills you have learned throughout the course to successfully undertake an engineering project tailored to your interests and career goals.

Timetabled activities

In your first year, you can expect:

Lectures10 hours per week
Tutorials2 hours per week
Practicals9-10 hours per week
Optional activities0-2 hours per week

These figures are representative of a typical week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.

Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.

In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.

Facilities

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAtTsM6R1R0

You'll have access to laboratory space, recording studios, clean rooms, computing classrooms and the University’s JEOL Nanocentre. Explore our facilities.

Teaching location

You will be based in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology, on Campus West.

Most of your contact hours will be in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology, with some additional teaching on Campus West.

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.

Assessment and feedback

Your assignments will be designed not just to test you but for you to creatively apply what you've learned, and to stretch you to supply novel solutions. We use a variety of assessment styles, including exams, coursework and practical engineering tasks. You'll encounter all of them during your course, but the exact balance will depend on the modules you choose:

  • Closed-book and open-book exams
  • Short technical reports
  • Electronic portfolios, including programming exercises, video reports or blogs
  • Presentations and demonstrations
  • Major technical reports

You'll receive written feedback on work you hand in to help you understand your grade and develop your skills. For your final-year individual project you'll produce a written report, have a viva (a presentation and question/answer session) and also show your project on our demo day, which our external advisory board attend.

The staff are friendly and helpful, and if you put yourself out there you'll feel like part of the family. I honestly can't praise them enough regarding the support they provide me, and my university experience is one I will never forget
Pippa, BEng Electronic Engineering with Music Technology Systems

Read Pippa's blog post

Careers and skills

The growth of the electronics industry means demand for new engineers is always high. Our students enter a wide range of jobs relating to electronic engineering, including software and hardware development.

For those wishing to take different career paths, the transferable skills you'll develop are highly valuable. Mathematics, programming, team working and technical management are sought after in a huge range of sectors, from media to financial services. Recent employers have included Jaguar Land Rover, IBM, Qinetiq, ARM, BBC, BT and Network Rail. Find out more about our graduate destinations and graduate profiles.

Career opportunities

  • Avionic systems engineering
  • Design engineering
  • Digital consultancy
  • Software and systems engineering
  • Cyber security
  • Telecommunications design
  • Broadcast engineering
  • Automotive safety
  • Visual effects

Transferable skills

  • Analyse system and component performance through computational methods and modelling
  • Create designs to address real-world problems by synthesising ideas in engineering specifications
  • Solve technical problems through applying skills in programming, CAD, construction and measurement
  • Communicate and explain electronic engineering issues to a variety of audiences verbally, in writing, and using multimedia
  • Assess designs by applying detailed knowledge algorithms, devices and systems, and consulting relevant research
  • Coordinate and execute complex projects
  • Effective time management, teamworking and ethical decision making

Entry requirements

Typical offer
A levels

AAA including Maths.

BTEC National Extended Diploma DDD from the BTEC National Extended Diploma in any subject plus A level Maths grade A.

DD from the BTEC National Diploma in any subject plus A level Maths grade A.

If you are studying for a different combination of A levels and BTEC qualifications please contact us for advice.
Cambridge Pre-U D3, D3, D3 including Mathematics
International Baccalaureate 36 points overall with grade 6 in Higher Level Mathematics - Applications and Interpretation or 6 in Higher Level or Standard Level Mathematics - Analysis and Approaches.
T levels We are currently not accepting T Levels for this course unless an additional A Level (or equivalent qualification) in Mathematics has been taken.
Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers Advanced Highers - A in Mathematics plus Scottish Highers - BBBB

We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications.
International foundation programme Foundation Certificate from our International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative.
Other qualifications We consider a wide range of academic and vocational qualifications as long as Maths is obtained at A level or equivalent and are happy to talk to you about your individual qualifications profile. We also offer a Foundation Year BEng Electronic Engineering with a Foundation Year for those not taking Maths A level which, following successful completion, allows you to progress onto one of our BEng or MEng courses depending on your Foundation Year average marks.  
Other international qualifications Equivalent qualifications from your country

Alternative offers

Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.

Criteria Adjustment
Widening participation If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to three A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Black Access Programme, Next Step York, Realising Opportunities, YESS, YorWay to York. More about widening participation.
Contextual offers If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers.
EPQ If you achieve C or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer.

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic) 6.0, with a minimum of 5.5 in each component
Cambridge CEFR 169, with a minimum of 162 in each component
Oxford ELLT 6, with a minimum of 5 in each component
Duolingo 105, minimum 95 in each component
GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) Grade C / Grade 4
LanguageCert SELT B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic B2 Communicator with a minimum score of 25/50 in each component
KITE 426 Main Flight score with 396 in each component
Skills for English B2: Pass with Merit overall, with Pass in each component
PTE Academic 55, with a minimum of 51 in each component
TOEFL 79 overall, with a minimum of 17 in Listening, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking, 17 in Writing
Trinity ISE III Pass in all components

For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.

If you haven't met our English language requirements

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.

The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.

After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.

Applying

To apply to York, you will need to complete an online application via UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).

  • How to apply

Next steps

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Get in touch if you have any questions

Admissions Enquiries - Helen Lay

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School of Physics, Engineering and Technology

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