Why you should study this course
- Meets the full academic requirements for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) registration upon successful completion of the course (subject to additional costs). Further details can be found on the IET website.
- Well-equipped dedicated electronics laboratory and CISCO laboratory, featuring electronic development and testing equipment, networking devices, associated tools and software.
- Regular free to attend expert guest lectures, which have previously covered topics such as 3D printer PCB design by RS Component, embedded development with ARM processors by ST Microelectronics and system security by IET members (subject to availability).
What you'll study
Year one
The first year is designed to allow students from a diverse range of backgrounds to make a solid start on the course. Computer engineering looks at the building blocks of computers and essential programming skills required for the following year, while electrical engineering covers essential electrical circuits. In electronics, you will explore the digital logic and electronic circuits which are the foundation of computer hardware engineering.
Modules
-
Introduction to Computer Engineering – 20 credits
This module aims to introduce students to the fundamentals of computer hardware and software engineering. The main topics covered include data representation, main components of a computer and their functions. It also includes the fundamentals of operating systems and computer networking, designing, testing and implementing computer software.
Compulsory
-
Introduction to Programming and Algorithms – 20 credits
This module introduces the fundamentals of computer programming and algorithm construction that will underpin the technical and theoretical content of undergraduate degree courses based within the discipline of Computing.
Compulsory
-
Analogue Circuits and Embedded Systems – 20 credits
Adopting a very practical approach, this module aims to provide general and key technology skills associated with technical project implementation. To facilitate learning students will be mentored by academic staff and supported by technical staff.
Compulsory
-
Analogue and Digital Electronics 1 – 20 credits
This module introduces students to the application of elementary analogue and digital electronic techniques. Learning is enhanced through an active approach involving computer circuit simulation and the design of practical circuits.
Compulsory
-
Electrical Science – 10 credits
The module aims to provide a broad basic introduction to electrical science for non-specialists. It places an emphasis on d.c. circuit theory, electrical supply and rotating machinery.
Compulsory
-
Engineering Mathematics 1 – 20 credits
This module aims to further develop the students' competence in mathematical methods relevant to engineering whilst at the same time emphasising fundamental concepts which the engineer needs to understand in order to produce a mathematical formulation of a problem.
Compulsory
-
Add+vantage Module – 10 credits
Compulsory
Year two
In your second year, more advanced electronics and embedded system design topics will be covered in the electronic modules. Operating system and advanced programming will be taught along with a communication technologies module.
Modules
-
Operating Systems and Security – 20 credits
This module introduces students to modern Operating Systems (OS) with a focus on security. The main topics covered will include basic OS concepts such as processes, memory management, drivers and file systems.
Compulsory
-
Analogue and Digital Electronics 2 – 20 credits
Compulsory
-
Object Oriented Programming – 20 credits
Compulsory
-
Embedded System Design and Development – 20 credits
This module allows the students via group activities to apply appropriate theoretical and practical project management methods to aid the design, develop, manufacture, construct, commission, operate, maintain, decommission and re-cycle embedded products.
Compulsory
-
Communication and Networking Systems – 20 credits
This module aims to provide a fundamental knowledge of computer communications (mainly in the context of local and wide area networks) and network architecture from the user’s point of view. It aims to give an overall understanding of the issues and constraints involved in wired and wireless communication systems.
Compulsory
-
Manufacture of Electronic Systems for Regulatory Complicate – 10 credits
This module aims to develop an understanding failure analysis of electronic systems linked to manufacture and environment and regulatory aspects involved in the design development and manufacture of electronic systems, to be able to assimilate testing for compliance and other matters associated.
Compulsory
-
Add+vantage Module – 10 credits
Compulsory
Following your second year, you will have an option to apply for a one-year professional work placement or study abroad in a partner institution. Past students have undertaken placements working as a trainee system test engineer at Halliburton, trainee operational analyst at IBM and trainee network operations engineer at BlackBerry in the UK.
If you wish to undertake the optional study abroad/placement year, you will take either the Placement Year module or the Study Abroad Year module which both typically run for a full academic year between years 2 and 3 of your course. You are normally able to progress onto the relevant module if you have successfully completed the first two years of the course (i.e. having accumulated 240 credits) and have a confirmed opportunity two weeks prior to the start of the academic year. However, we encourage international students to confirm their placements earlier to ensure they are able to meet any applicable visa requirements.
Students opting for either the work placement or study abroad module will be registered on a non-credit bearing module. Whilst the modules do not bear credits, they do require completion of marked activities reflecting on your placement/study abroad or work placement experience. Following successful completion of the activities, the module selected will appear on your final academic transcript. Students will thus graduate with 360 credits in total, assuming successful completion of their final year.
Final year
In the final year, you will continue your studies in advanced hardware and software design, but with a focus on individual projects in which you will perform a detailed research or design study into a technical aspect from the course with the help of an experienced supervisor.
You can choose a topic to suit your interests or to assist your career aspirations, with past students having worked on train diagnostics interface system for Spherea GmbH, designing and building a brand new MCC (Motor Control Centre) for Coalport STW and flat panel implementation of a Lava Lamp for Morph Designs.
Modules
-
Final year Projects – 30 credits
Compulsory
-
Mobile Application Development – 20 credits
This module will enable students to use development kits to build applications for mobile platforms. The practical issues of programming for such devices will be taught alongside software design for portable devices, investigation of the interface components and user interaction possibilities of smartphones.
Compulsory
-
Hardware Realisation of a Computer System – 20 credits
The aim is to enable the student to design a computer system using a hardware description language. Specific focus would be on field programmable gate array implementation, which includes synthesis, testing and verification. An additional aim for the student is to learn complex system design techniques including architecting for speed and area.
Compulsory
-
System on Chip Design – 20 credits
Compulsory
-
Optional Modules (one of two)
Machine Learning and Related Application – 20 credits
This module represents an introduction to the wide field of machine learning. It will present fundamental concepts related to supervised and unsupervised learning methods, for example linear regression, support vector machines, radial basis function, decision trees and random forests, clustering techniques and naïve Bayes classification models.
Security – 20 credits
This module introduces students to the concepts and practical considerations of creating and evaluating secure computer systems. Systems will be analysed at both the application level and at the level of interconnected devices in architectures suck as client-server and cloud-based, with attention given to security-by-design, security legislation and regulation and the associated products and services.
Optional
