Why this course?

You can select classes from the extensive range of postgraduate taught courses delivered by our Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering. This unique flexible structure allows you to build a personalised Masters programme that meets your academic interests and career aspirations.

The course can lead to a wide range of career opportunities. Recent graduates have gained well paid positions in:

• electrical supply industries
• telecommunications and IT
• consulting and design companies
• healthcare and aerospace

What you’ll study

You'll have two semesters of compulsory and optional classes, followed by a three-month research project in your chosen area. There’s the opportunity to carry this out through the department's competitive MSc industrial internships.

The internships are offered in collaboration with selected department industry partners, including ScottishPower, Smarter Grid Solutions and SSE. You'll address engineering challenges facing the partner, with site visits, access and provision of relevant technical data and/or facilities provided, along with an industry mentor and academic supervisor.

Facilities

You'll have exclusive access to our extensive computing network and purpose-built teaching spaces, including our outdoor test facility for photovoltaics high voltage laboratory, equipped with the latest technologies including:

• LDS 6-digital partial discharge test & measurement system
• Marx impulse generators & GIS test rigs
• £1M distribution network and protection laboratory comprising a 100kVA microgrid, induction machines and programme load banks

You'll have access to the UK’s only high-fidelity control room simulation suite and the PNDC. This is Europe’s first centre dedicated to the development and demonstration of “smart-grid” technologies.

Accreditation

The Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET) – this programme is CEng accredited and fulfils the educational requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer when presented with a CEng-accredited Bachelors programme.

Learning & teaching

We use a blend of teaching and learning methods including interactive lectures, problem-solving tutorials and practical project-based laboratories. Our technical and experimental officers are available to support and guide you on individual subject material.

Each module comprises of approximately five hours of direct teaching per week. To enhance your understanding of the technical and theoretical topics covered in these, you're expected to undertake a further five to six hours of self-study, using our web-based virtual learning environment (Myplace), research journals and library facilities.

The teaching and learning methods used ensure you'll develop not only technical engineering expertise but also communications, project management and leadership skills.

You'll undertake group projects. These will help to develop your interpersonal, communication and transferable skills essential to a career in industry.

Industry engagement

Interaction with industry is provided through our internships, teaching seminars and networking events. The department delivers monthly seminars to support students’ learning and career development. Siemens, Rolls-Royce, Xilinx, Selex ES and Mott MacDonald are just a few examples of the industry partners you can engage with during your course.

Assessment

A variety of assessment techniques are used throughout the course. You'll complete at least six modules. Each module has a combination of written assignments, individual and group reports, oral presentations, practical lab work and, where appropriate, an end-of-term exam.

Assessment of the summer research project/internship consists of four elements, with individual criteria:

• Interim report (10%, 1,500 to 3,000 words) – the purpose of the report is to provide a mechanism for supervisors to provide valuable feedback on the project’s objectives and direction
• Poster Presentation (15%) – a vital skill of an engineer is the ability to describe their work to others and respond to requests for information; the poster presentation is designed to give you an opportunity to practise that
• Final report (55%) – this assesses the communication of project objectives and context, accuracy and relevant of background material, description of practical work and results, depth and soundness of discussion and conclusions, level of engineering achievement and the quality of the report’s presentation
• Conduct (20%) – independent study, project and time management are key features of university learning; the level of your initiative, and independent thinking and technical understanding are assessed through project meetings with your supervisor and your written logbooks

How much will I earn?*

• Graduate starting salaries are around £26,000.
• Average salaries for engineers with experience can range from £35,000 to £60,000.
• Salaries for specialist engineers or those with chartered status can be considerably more

Where are they now?

Job titles of recent graduates include:**

• Design Engineer
• Electrical Engineer
• Graduate Test Engineer
• Lecturer/Technical Director

Employers include:**

• Mott MacDonald
• Siemens
• Nokia
• JP Morgan
• China Electric Power Research Institute
• China Nuclear Power Design Company
• China Southern Power Grid Company
• Circadian Solar
• Fraser-Nash Consultancy

*information is intended only as a guide and figures are taken from Prospects (accessed 24 October 2019).

**Based on the results of the national Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey.