BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering

This is a three-year full-time degree, with largely core modules in Years One and Two. Year Three has a carefully chosen balance of core and optional modules, allowing you to choose subjects to tailor to your personal interests or chosen career path. You need to earn 120 credits a year.

Year One

Year one consists of a series of lectures underpinned by practical laboratory sessions.

Core Modules for Year One

• Engineering Maths and Computation
• Fundamentals of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• Applied Design and Practice

Year Two

Year two again consists of a series of lectures underpinned by practical laboratory sessions.

Core Modules for Year Two

• Control Engineering
• Fields, Waves and Transmission Lines
• Microcontroller Applications and Embedded Design
• Engineering Mathematics 2
• Group Design Project
• Electric Power Systems
• Electronic Circuit Design
• Signals and Systems for Communications
• Programming for Engineering

Year Three

Year three includes a major project, totalling 40 credits. For this, you will work individually, alongside a supervising staff member.

Core modules include Project Management but there is also a choice of optional modules, building upon the foundations established in the earlier years.

Core Modules for Year Three

• Engineering Project Management
• Automatic Control
• Embedded Systems
• Individual Project

Optional Modules for Year Three

• Commercialising Innovation
• Power Electronics
• HF and RF Engineering
• Object Oriented Engineering Computing
• Power Systems A
• Electrical Machines and Drives A
• Renewable Energy Technologies
• Grid Integration of Renewables
• Advanced Analogue IC Design
• Analogue and Digital Communication Systems
• Introduction to Magnetic Materials

How Will I Be Assessed?

Your assessments will be varied to evaluate knowledge, understanding, professional skills, and key skills. Assessment in Year One is mostly through tests during the year, short reports, a professional development portfolio, presentations, and two written examinations. This range of assessments is carried into the higher years with a gradual change from tests to exams. The major individual project in Year Three is assessed by a dissertation report.

What Skills Will I Practise and Develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will be able to do as a result of your study at Cardiff University. They will help you to understand what is expected of you.

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme can be found below:

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding

• KU1 Apply a comprehensive knowledge of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles to the solution of complex problems in electrical and electronic engineering. Much of the knowledge will be at the forefront of the particular subject of study and informed by a critical awareness of new developments and the wider context of electrical and electronic engineering
• KU2 Formulate and analyse complex problems to reach substantiated conclusions. This will involve evaluating available data using first principles of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles, and using engineering judgment to work with information that may be uncertain or incomplete, discussing the limitations of the techniques employed
• KU3 Evaluate the environmental and societal impact of solutions to complex electrical and electronic engineering problems (to include the entire life-cycle of a product or process) and minimise adverse impacts
• KU4 Discuss the role of quality management systems and continuous improvement in the context of complex electrical and electronic engineering problems
• KU5 Apply knowledge of engineering management principles, commercial contexts, project and change management, and relevant legal matters including intellectual property rights

Intellectual Skills

• IS1 Select and apply appropriate computational and analytical techniques, recognising/discussing the limitations of the techniques employed, for the synthesis of electrical and electronic engineering problems, and to make judgements on appropriate action
• IS2 Select and evaluate technical literature and other sources of information to address complex problems
• IS3 Design solutions for complex electrical and electronic engineering problems that meet a combination of societal, user, business and customer needs as appropriate, with consideration of applicable health & safety, diversity, inclusion, cultural, societal, environmental and commercial matters, codes of practice and industry standards
• IS4 Apply an integrated or systems approach to the solution of complex problems

Professional Practical Skills

• PS1 Select and apply appropriate practical laboratory and workshop skills in electrical and electronic engineering, particularly in devising analytical or experimental approaches, to investigate complex problems
• PS2 Select, apply and evaluate appropriate materials, equipment, engineering technologies and processes, recognising their limitations
• PS3 Use a risk management process to identify, evaluate and mitigate risks (the effects of uncertainty) associated with a particular electrical and electronic engineering project or activity
• PS4 Adopt a holistic and proportionate approach to the mitigation of security risks in electrical and electronic engineering

Transferable/Key Skills

• TS1 Communicate effectively on complex engineering matters with technical and non-technical audiences, evaluating the effectiveness of the methods used
• TS2 Identify and analyse ethical concerns and make reasoned ethical choices informed by professional codes of conduct
• TS3 Adopt an inclusive approach to engineering practice and recognise/articulate the responsibilities, benefits and importance of supporting equality, diversity and inclusion
• TS4 Function effectively as an individual, and as a member or leader of a team
• TS5 Plan and record the reflective evaluation of self-learning and development as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD

Our electrical and electronic engineering graduates hold key positions in leading firms such as National Instruments, Babcock, BAE Systems, RWE npower, Network Rail, Rolls Royce, Ford, Nokia, Bosch and the National Grid.

Being at the forefront of engineering research means Cardiff has excellent links with industry. These links have been developed with companies, both in the UK and overseas, through our Year in Industry schemes and through consultancy work by staff. This involves advising on matters such as energy policy, bridge design, magnetic materials and semiconductor devices.