-
Courses
Courses
Choosing a course is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make! View our courses and see what our students and lecturers have to say about the courses you are interested in at the links below.
-
University Life
University Life
Each year more than 4,000 choose University of Galway as their University of choice. Find out what life at University of Galway is all about here.
-
About University of Galway
About University of Galway
Since 1845, University of Galway has been sharing the highest quality teaching and research with Ireland and the world. Find out what makes our University so special – from our distinguished history to the latest news and campus developments.
-
Colleges & Schools
Colleges & Schools
University of Galway has earned international recognition as a research-led university with a commitment to top quality teaching across a range of key areas of expertise.
-
Research & Innovation
Research & Innovation
University of Galway’s vibrant research community take on some of the most pressing challenges of our times.
-
Business & Industry
Guiding Breakthrough Research at University of Galway
We explore and facilitate commercial opportunities for the research community at University of Galway, as well as facilitating industry partnership.
-
Alumni & Friends
Alumni & Friends
There are 128,000 University of Galway alumni worldwide. Stay connected to your alumni community! Join our social networks and update your details online.
-
Community Engagement
Community Engagement
At University of Galway, we believe that the best learning takes place when you apply what you learn in a real world context. That's why many of our courses include work placements or community projects.
Electronic and Computer Engineering
Course Overview
Electronic and Computer Engineering is a course that aims to integrate two separate engineering fields to meet the joint demands made by the electronics and computer industries in today's world. This programme combines coursework in different aspects of both fields over four years, with an emphasis on the design of computing systems. Electronics and computers, and their joint applications, are playing an ever-increasing role in our lives as Information Communications Technology (ICT), with everything from consumer goods to space shuttles using electronic hardware (circuits) and computer software integrated together. The increased use of ICT in every aspect of our lives ensures the continued relevance of this area of engineering.
Companies who design integrated electronics and computer systems require engineers who possess the software skills to complement traditional electronic hardware skills. The Electronic and Computer Engineering degree programme has been developed in response to these industry demands to develop students' hardware and software engineering skills in an integrated way and the analytical powers to apply them jointly.
Graduates of this course are ideally placed to pursue their specialism in ICT, which has wide applicability both nationally, with many indigenous technology companies and the multinational sector, and internationally. With the exponential development of ICT technologies worldwide, graduates will be at the forefront of people being employed in this area.
Integrated Masters (ME) and Work placement
All students registering for an engineering degree at NUI Galway will be enrolled on an integrated five year programme; a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) (four years, Level 8) + a Master of Engineering (ME) (one year, Level 9). Upon successful completion of the five years of study, graduates will have the educational qualifications required for progression to Chartered Engineer. Students registering for an engineering degree at NUI Galway in 2019 will make a decision at the beginning of 3rd Year to either remain on the BE+ME pathway (five years) or exit with a BE (four years). Students on the BE+ME pathway will avail of advanced engineering modules, a substantial research and development project, and a work placement of eight months duration during the 4th Year. For students exiting with a BE, the work placement (eight months) will occur during 3rd Year. Read more about Engineering work placements.
Accreditation
All Engineering Degrees at NUI Galway are professionally accredited by the statutory professional body, Engineers Ireland. This “Accreditation” means that the degree has been assessed and approved to meet the educational requirements for professional Engineers.
Under an international agreement (Washington Accord), any Degree accredited by the National professional body (Engineers Ireland) is recognized internationally. So having an “Accredited” degree means that employers outside of Ireland can (1) understand the quality/education achieved by a graduate and (2) know that it is equivalent to their own Education system/standards, and (3) can offer appropriate employment on this basis. For example, certain functions (sign-off on large civil engineering construction projects) can only be carried out by a chartered engineer.
Engineers Ireland changed the criteria for Accreditation in 2012, and now requires a Masters (Level 9) qualification as the education standard required for Registered Professional Titles of Chartered Engineer* (prior to this, a Level 8 degree was required). The changes were implemented because the standard European engineering qualification (degree or diploma) is at level 9, and European industry maintains a strict differentiation between those engineers qualified at level 9 and those qualified at level 8. Any graduate interested in working in Europe/Worldwide is now strongly advised to get an accredited level 9 award.
Engineers Ireland accreditation can be obtained at the following levels:
- Level 8: 4-year honors degree – associate engineer
- Level 9: 5-year master’s degree – chartered engineer
*A Chartered Engineer is the highest professional education standard in Engineering. A chartered Engineer is competent (because of their education and training) to assume personal responsibility for the development and application of engineering in research, design, construction, manufacturing, superintending, managing and in the education of the engineer. His/her work is predominantly intellectual and varied and not of a routine mental or physical character. It requires the exercise of original thought and judgement and the ability to supervise the technical and administrative work of others.
Applications and Selections
Who Teaches this Course
Requirements and Assessment
Key Facts
Entry Requirements
Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 Level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, Mathematics, a laboratory science subject (i.e., Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physics with Chemistry (joint), Agricultural Science or Computer Science) or Technology, and any two other subjects recognised for entry purposes. Additional requirements: Minimum H4 in Mathematics or, alternatively, obtain a pass in the Engineering Maths Qualifying Exam (held in the University).
Additional Requirements
For A-Levels: A minimum of Grade C in Mathematics is required
Duration
4 years
Next start date
September 2023
A Level Grades (2022)
universityofgalway.ie/alevels
Average intake
20
QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes
Closing Date
NFQ level
Mode of study
ECTS weighting
Award
CAO
GY406
Course code
Course Outline
Year 1
Covers the basics of mathematics and science as they apply in engineering, as well as an introduction to engineering, including engineering graphics and computing.
Year 2
Year 2 covers theoretical and practical foundation in electronics and computing including programming languages, circuit analysis, digital and analogue electronics, sensors and instrumentation, communication technologies and electromagnetics.
Year 3&4
You make your decision at the start of year three whether to remain on the five-year integrated BE+ME programme or to exit with a BE at the end of year four. Year 3 continues with further training in design of digital and analogue systems, programming languages and database systems, communications and signals and systems. Year 4 covers a range of advanced topics in electronic and computer engineering including real time systems, machine learning, integrated circuit design, telecommunications software, digital signal processing and distributing systems and computing. All modules include practical classes to provide you experience of hardware/software tools for circuit design and testing. These skills are developed further in project work. Modules on professional skills such as project management are also included
Year 5 optional
At the School of Engineering we are focused on ensuring that you will be educated to the highest standards, and will have the necessary qualifications to avail of all of the professional opportunities presented to you, both in Ireland and across the world. You will be enrolled on an integrated five year programme; a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) (four years, Level 8) + a Master of Engineering (ME) (one year, Level 9). Students on the BE+ME pathway will avail of advanced engineering modules, a substantial research and development project, and a work placement. Upon successful completion of the five years of study, graduates will have the educational qualifications required for progression to Chartered Engineer. Full information on the optional 5th Year is provided www.nuigalway.ie/courses/taught-postgraduate-courses/electronic-computer-engineering.html
Curriculum Information
Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Glossary of Terms
- Credits
- You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
- Module
- An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
- Subject
- Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
- Optional
- A module you may choose to study.
- Required
- A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
- Required Core Subject
- A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
- Semester
- Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.
Year 1 (60 Credits)
Required EI160: Engineering Graphics - 5 Credits - Semester 1Required CH140: Engineering Chemistry - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required MP120: Engineering Mechanics - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required MA140: Engineering Calculus - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required EI140: Fundamentals of Engineering - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Required CT1110: Engineering Computing I - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required MM140: Engineering Mathematical Methods - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Required EI150: Engineering Design - 10 Credits - Semester 2
Required CT1111: Engineering Computing II - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Required PH140: Engineering Physics - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Year 2 (60 Credits)
Required MA2101: Mathematics and Applied Mathematics I - 5 Credits - Semester 3Required ST1100: Engineering Statistics - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required CT2106: Object-Oriented Programming - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required EE219: Analogue Systems Design I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required EE220: Digital Systems I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required EE231: Electronic Instrumentation and Sensors - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional MA2286: Differential Forms - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required MA2102: Mathematics and Applied Mathematics II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required EE224: Microprocessor Systems Engineering - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required EE230: Electrical Circuits & Systems - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required EE2101: Communications and Networking Foundations - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required EE232: Fundamentals of Electromagnetic Theory - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required CT2109: Object Oriented Programming: Data Structures and Algorithms - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Year 3 (60 Credits)
Required EE4102: Secure and Wireless Communication Technologies - 5 Credits - Semester 5Required EE345: Digital Systems II - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Required EE357: Signals and Communications - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Required CT326: Programming III - 10 Credits - Semester 5
Required CT230: Database Systems I - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Required EE3126: 3rd Year Project - 10 Credits - Semester 5
Required EE342: Analogue Systems Design II - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Required EE348: Engineering Electromagnetics - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Required CT414: Distributed Systems & Co Operative Computing - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Required CT420: Real Time Systems - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Year 4 (60 Credits)
Optional EE452: System on Chip Design II - 5 Credits - Semester 7Required EE347: Embedded Systems Applications Programming - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Required EE445: Digital Signal Processing - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Required EE451: System on Chip Design I - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Required EE4101: Mobile Networks: Architecture and Services - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Required CT417: Software Engineering III - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Required ME3102: Project Management for Engineers - 5 Credits - Semester 8
Required EE3127: Electrical & Electronic Discipline BE Professional Experience Programme - 20 Credits - Semester 7
Required CT3112: Professional Skills - 5 Credits - Semester 8
Further Education
- Common postgraduate pathways available after graduation.
- Postgraduate options here at NUI Galway (including hyperlinks to relevant PG courses).
- Other opportunities for specialization.
- Professional accreditation pathways and next steps.
- Research opportunities
- Teaching opportunities
Upon completion of the undergraduate degree, suitably qualified students have the option to enrol and continue their studies to Masters or PhD level.
Students can advance to Masters level (ME) through our one year taught Masters programme (September-June) that builds on the successful completion of their undergraduate programme, subject to a sufficient standard (2nd Class Honours minimum). This programme is an integrated follow-on to the BE programme and is designed to meet Engineers Ireland’s criterion for Level 9 degrees, providing graduates with a route to Chartered Engineering status that will be recognised worldwide.
Masters degree education is becoming increasingly the norm internationally in Engineering, and this programme strengthens the ability of our graduates to compete nationally and internationally at the highest level for employment in industry and other sectors of the economy.
In our PhD programme, students develop highly innovative state-of the-art solutions to current problems in Electronic & Computer Engineering, particularly in technologies such as signal and image processing, medical electronics, embedded systems and communications. Many PhD students work closely with industry on the research and development of solutions in a diverse range of applications such as: automotive, biomedical, environmental, aerospace, energy and the Internet of Things.
Why Choose This Course?
Career Opportunities
Completing the University of Galway/Engineers Ireland-accredited BE degree in Electronic and Computer Engineering offers a passport to national and international career opportunities in the wide and diverse range of industries, utilities and other organizations that use electronic and computer engineering expertise. This includes such areas as electronic system design, medical systems, healthcare, networking and distributed computing, telecommunications, automotive electronics, industrial automation, consumer electronics, broadcasting, management information systems and energy management systems. ICT expertise offers you the prospect of doing research or working in industry in these interesting, exciting and challenging areas.
Who’s Suited to This Course
Learning Outcomes
Transferable Skills Employers Value
Work Placement
Study Abroad
Related Student Organisations
Course Fees
Fees: EU
Fees: Tuition
Fees: Student Contribution
Fees: Student levy
Fees: Non EU
EU Fees are comprised of Tuition + Student Contribution Charge + Student Levy** €140. **Payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI. Further detail here.
Find out More
Electrical & Electronic Engineering
T +353 91 492 728
F +353 91 494 511
E mary.costello@universityofgalway.ie
URL for School/College webpage: https://eee.universitygalway.ie/Other Useful Links: Follow us on https://twitter.com/eeeuniversityofgalway
What Our Students Say
Eva De Barros | Electrical and Computer Engineering
Overall, I am extremely happy I chose to do engineering. My favorite part about the course is the plethora of subjects we get to study not just in first year, but throughout the next 3 /4 years of our degrees. In first year, I had the chance to study subjects I was familiar with from Leaving Cert while also learning skills I never thought I would enjoy or understand such as computer programming, a module I went into with no prior knowledge but encouraged me to choose ECE as my course of study. First year alone taught me that engineering is all about thinking on your feet, sharing knowledge and getting creative with solutions, a lesson that I think is essential for any future career based in STEM. As well as this, being an engineering student has enabled me to obtain a summer internship with an University of Galway based research institute who are exploring technologies at the convergence of Computer Science, Web Science and Artificial Intelligence. These are key areas in the future of computer technology and having an opportunity to explore these technologies has allowed me to gain an insight into the world of work I will be entering upon graduating.