h640 - Electronic Communications BEng
Electronic Communications BEng Honours
UCAS Code: H640 (full time: 3 Years)
Course Overview
Become an electronic communications specialist who can help drive the revolution of mobile communications and broadband media.
At a Glance
UCAS Code
H640
UCAS Institution Name and Code
NEWC, N21
Degree Awarded
BEng Honours
Course Duration
3 Years
Entry Requirements
A Level: ABB
IB: 32 points
Opportunities
This degree focuses on the transmission of information by wired and wireless means, including via mobile phones, broadcasting and the internet.
The development of smartphones and e-commerce are just some of the factors fuelling demand for graduates in this area.
In Stages 1 and 2 you study a common syllabus, developing your expertise in electrical machines and electronic communications systems.
In Stage 3 you study specialist topics, such as:
- digital control systems and image processing
- machine vision
- cross-cutting technologies in signals and communications, such as MIMO technology
You also undertake a large individual design project – for example, developing a brain-to-machine interface – to showcase your skills to future employers.
Professional accreditation*
Our degrees are professionally accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council. This means future employers will recognise the quality of your degree because it meets high professional standards.
*All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.
BEng or MEng?
Both our BEng and MEng degrees provide a pathway to becoming a Chartered Engineer (CEng). This is one of the most recognised international engineering qualifications.
Our Master of Engineering (MEng) degrees are a direct route to becoming chartered. You don’t need to study any more qualifications after your degree to work towards chartered status.
Our three-year BEng degrees can also lead to Chartered Engineer status. This can be achieved through professional development or a Master’s degree.
Find out more
Find out more about the benefits of becoming a Chartered Engineer on the Engineering Council’s website.
Quality and Ranking
- top 10 in the UK for world-class research, with 90% of research classed as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ – Research Excellence Framework 2014
- top 175 – Engineering and Technology category – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2018
- Ranked top 10 in the UK with a 91% overall student satisfaction score – National Student Survey 2019
What you will study
We cover core topics to enable you to understand the operation of simple electrical machines and electronic communications systems, such as:
- current flow in semiconductor devices
- electromagnetism
- digital electronics
- linear control theory
We complement this with teaching in how to analyse, design and construct electrical and electronic circuits to meet specific criteria.
We help you to develop your computing skills and engineering mathematics knowledge, with topics covering:
- extended C and assembly language programming techniques
- the design and testing of microprocessor systems
- the application of differential equations and linear algebra to describe complex engineering systems
You also take part in a series of group projects to develop your skills in soldering, wiring, circuit board construction and project planning such as a simple digital voltmeter, a power amplifier, a radio transmitter and receiver, and a mini-racing car that can find its own way round a track. You race the car and create a crowdfunding video on how the technology can be utilised in industry.
Flexible degree structure
We understand that you may not yet know which area of electrical and electronic engineering you want to specialise in.
We have designed our degrees so that all of our students study a common syllabus for the first two years. This gives you the chance to see where your interests lie.
It also means that you may transfer between any of our Electrical and Electronic Engineering degrees up to the end of the second year should your ideas change as your skills and knowledge develop.
Transfer from a BEng degree to a MEng degree is subject to you achieving the appropriate academic standard.
Boost your employability with a work placement
Apply to spend 9 to 12 months on an optional work placement between Stages 2 and 3. You can apply to spend your placement year with any organisation and will receive University support to do so.
You’ll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.
It will extend your degree by a year and is subject to availability.
Find out more about Work Placements.
Sponsorship / DTUS
Company sponsorship
Our students are so sought after that many leading companies offer sponsorship and scholarships to our students (on a competitive basis) via the E3 Academy and UK Electronics Skills Foundation (UKESF).
We are one of only three university members of the E3 Academy, which provides scholarships and work experience placements to students of electrical engineering.
We are also a partner university in the UKESF, which also provides bursaries, work placements and mentoring.
Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (DTUS)
This degree is also approved by DTUS for entry to all technical corps.
DTUS is a Ministry of Defence sponsorship programme for students who wish to join the Royal Navy, British Army, RAF, or Defence Engineering and Science Group (DESG) as technical officers after graduation.
Find out more on the DTUS programme.
Facilities and support
The School of Engineering is located in Merz Court in the heart of our city-centre campus.
Continued investment in our undergraduate teaching laboratories means that you can learn in excellent facilities – described as the best in Europe by leading industrial visitors.
We have dedicated computing facilities with industrially relevant software and hardware. These are refreshed every two years so you are always working with the most up-to-date equipment available.
You will have access to state-of-the-art teaching laboratories. These include teaching laboratories for electronics, electrical power/motors, an Intelligent Sensing Lab and smart grids.
You will also benefit from machines laboratory and class 100 clean rooms for the fabrication of semiconductor devices.
Support
To support you in your studies, all new students entering year 1 or year 2 will receive:
• a tablet so you can download the online learning resources you’ll need for your course (helping us to make our campus more sustainable);
• a start-up pack containing essential personal protective equipment and text books.
You'll have access to a personal tutor throughout your degree – an academic member of staff who can help with academic and personal issues.
Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have.
Social activities
There's a highly active student-led society, ShockSoc, which organises regular social events.
Industry links
One of our key strengths is our reputation in the industry and the opportunities that this creates for students who study with us.
We have sponsorship arrangements with leading industrial companies including Dyson, Sevcon and Tridonic, offering financial support and summer placements.
We are one of only three UK universities to be members of the E3 Academy. This offers three- or four-year sponsorship opportunities for our undergraduate students as well as giving you access to industrially relevant training and employment in leading UK companies.
We also pay for your student membership of the regional branch of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), which runs social events and provides more opportunities for contact with practising engineers in the region.
Modules for 2019 entry
Please note
The module and/or programme information below is for 2019 entry. Our teaching is informed by research and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, student feedback, or insufficient numbers of students interested (in an optional module). To find out more read our terms and conditions.
Module/programme information for 2020 entry will be published here as soon as it is available (end of May 2020).
Our degrees are divided into Stages. Each Stage lasts for an academic year and you need to complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each Stage. Further information, including the credit value of the module, is available in each of the module descriptions below.
Stage 1
Compulsory modules
- EEE1001 Fields, Materials and Devices
- EEE1002 Electronics I
- EEE1003 Circuit Theory
- EEE1005 Signals and Communications I
- EEE1008 C Programming
- EEE1009 Communication Skills and Innovation
- ENG1001 Engineering Mathematics I
Stage 2
Compulsory modules
Work Placement (optional)
You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months on an optional work placement between Stages 2 and 3. You can apply to spend your placement year with any organisation and will receive University support to do so. It will extend your degree by a year and is subject to availability. Find out more on about Work Placements.
Year 3 (Placement Year)
On completion of Stage 2 and before entering Stage 3, you may as part of your studies for the degree spend a year in a placement with an approved organisation. If you are required to re-sit your Stage 2 assessment, you must delay the start of your placement until you have done so. If you fail Stage 2, you may not complete a placement year.
Stage 3
Compulsory modules
- EEE3004 Digital Signal Processing
- EEE3013 Image Processing and Machine Vision
- EEE3015 Telecommunication Networks
- ENG2001 Accounting, Finance and Law for Engineers
Optional modules
You will choose one of the following modules:
- EEE3095 Individual Project and Dissertation (BEng)
- EEE3096 Individual Project and Dissertation (BEng)
- EEE3097 Individual Project and Dissertation (BEng)
You also take 40 credits of optional modules from the following list:
- EEE3001 Linear Controller Design and State Space Analysis
- EEE3003 Introduction to the Basics of Modern Power Electronics
- EEE3007 Design and Test of Digital Systems*
- EEE3008 Industrial Automation and Robotics
- EEE3009 Real Time and Embedded Systems
- EEE3011 Electric Drives
- EEE3012 Integrated Circuit Design*
- EEE3014 Power System Operation
- EEE3016 Photonics*
- EEE3018 Digital Control Systems
- EEE3021 Renewable Energy Systems and Smart Grids
*Recommended modules.
With the approval of the Degree Programme Director alternative optional modules to those listed above may be selected.
All candidates are considered on an individual basis.
If your qualifications are not listed here, please see our additional entry requirements web pages to find out which other qualifications are considered.
The entrance requirements below apply to 2020 entry.
Careers
Electronic Communications careers
In addition to the technical and practical expertise that you will gain from studying electrical, electronic and computer engineering, you will discover that our degrees are designed to provide you with opportunities to learn and develop transferable skills, such as analytical and problem-solving, project-working both as part of a team and on your own, communicating with others, planning and time management, and of course computer literacy, all of which are vital for the employment market.
Our recent graduates report earning between £23,000 and £26,000 per year (Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey, 2014–15). You can expect this to increase significantly over the course of your career. Within six months of graduating, 97% of our graduates were in employment or further study.
Electrical and electronic engineers are in demand with employers within the UK and overseas. Within electrical engineering the main employment areas include electrical supply and distribution, power systems, transport and electrical machinery.
Opportunities within electronics exist in electronic circuit design, instrumentation and control for safety on industrial plants, e.g. manufacturing, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, telecommunications, mobile technology, automotive and aviation electronics and medical systems. Some graduates enter a related field as IT professionals. Popular areas outside of engineering include commercial, industrial and public sector management.
Graduate engineering posts will usually give you the opportunity to work towards incorporated or chartered engineer status.
Electrical and electronic engineers are expected to make a quick and useful contribution at work, so it may not be enough to rely on your technical expertise. Relevant vacation work experience and industry placements will greatly increase your level of employability.
Find out more about the career options for Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Prospects: The UK's Official Careers Website.
What our graduates go on to do: employment and further study choices
See what our recent graduates went on to do and view graduate destinations statistics. These statistics are based on what graduates were doing on a specific date, approximately six months after graduation. Take a look at the most recent data available for our graduates.
The destination data is available in varying levels, beginning with the University and moving through Faculty and School down to individual course reports. This final level may give you some useful ideas about possible options after your course or a course you are considering.
Careers and employability at Newcastle
Newcastle University consistently has one of the best records for graduate employment in the UK.
96% of our 2017 UK-domiciled UG/PG graduates progressed to employment or further study within six months of graduating.
85.5% of our graduates are in graduate level employment or further study within six months of graduating.
We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through an initiative called ncl+. This enables you to develop personal, employability and enterprise skills and to give you the edge in the employment market after you graduate.
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers.
Applying to Newcastle University through UCAS
To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
UCAS codes for Newcastle University
- institution name - NEWC
- institution code - N21
UCAS buzzword
Ask your teacher or adviser from your school or college for the UCAS buzzword. You need the buzzword when you register on the Apply system. This makes it clear which school or college you are applying from.
All UK schools and colleges and a small number of EU and international establishments are registered with UCAS.
If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.
Making your application
On the UCAS website you can also find out more about:
- application deadlines and other important dates
- offers and tracking your application
Application decisions and enquiries
Find out more about our admissions process and who to contact if you need help with your application.