Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)

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Course Overview

Electrical and Electronic Engineering involves developing technologies required for our future needs in such areas as communication, electrical energy, transport, healthcare and entertainment. Electrical and Electronic Engineers are involved in advances in medical technology, mobile phones, wireless communications, electrical power systems, renewable energy, electric vehicles, e-commerce and the internet-of-things. This degree programme provides students with a broad range of skills relating to all aspects of the design of electrical and electronic systems and devices. It combines coursework in different aspects of electrical and electronic engineering, as well as individual and group project work, where students design and build innovative electrical and electronic systems.

This programme provides a solid technological base from which a career in electrical and electronic engineering can be launched, along with the basic skills needed to sustain professional development throughout a graduate career. As it combines coursework, laboratory classes and projects in different aspects of electrical and electronic engineering, the programme will give graduates the knowledge and skills needed to design and develop innovation technologies for a wide range of industry sectors. It incorporates the design and development of devices, circuits and systems that are used in a wide range of high-tech products and so it will appeal to students who like to understand how technology works, and who have an interest in electrical or electronic circuits. Students who enjoy science, and particularly physics, are usually attracted to it.

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 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 require 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 honours 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.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Course Outline

Year 1:

Years 1 covers the basics of maths and science as they apply in engineering, as well as an introduction to engineering, including engineering graphics and computing. 

Year 2:

There are some additional maths modules in year 2, but the main focus is on introductory modules on electrical and electronic engineering, including circuit analysis, analog and digital electronics, electromagnetics and programming.

 Years 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. In years three and four, training in electrical and electronic circuit design continues with advanced modules in analogue and digital systems, electrical engineering and applied software. There is a greater focus on application areas such as telecommunications, microelectronics (system-on-chip), electrical power/energy, and control systems (automation). 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 5^th Year is provided here

Curriculum Information

Further Education

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 power electronics, automotive electronics, consumer electronics, biomedical electronics and bio-inspired systems. Much of the research in Electrical & Electronic Engineering at NUI Galway involves a high level of interaction with the hi-tech R&D industry sector.

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

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

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