Universities that lead the world in Electronic Engineering

21 Nov 2018

Electronic engineering is defined as “the science and technology of the conduction of electricity in a vacuum, a gas, or a semiconductor, and devices based thereon”.

What began with the invention of the telephone, radio and television, as well as the electronic systems of munitions and weapons during World War II, have advanced leaps and bounds ever since.

Today, the modern world relies on electronics, sensors and the communication between them for almost everything we do. Electronic engineering, though relatively young, is the discipline behind the computers and systems running the world today, in virtually everything from fighter aircrafts to personal laptops.

Universities play a big role in this progress. Lewis B. Monroe, Dean of Boston University’s School of Oratory, offered to pay in advance Alexander Graham Bell’s lecture fees for the following year, allowing Bell, who was then financially strapped and exhausted, enough time to devote to his invention – the telephone. “Without his help,” Bell later said, “I would not have been able to get along at all.”

Then there’s Satya Narayana Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. Nadella began his tertiary education with a BE in Electronic Engineering from the Manipal Institute of Technology in India before pursuing an MS in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin.

Bell and Nadella show that the breadth and impact of an electronic engineering degree spans far and wide. From ground-breaking new technology to helming big multinationals, electronic engineering graduates possess a versatile, in-demand skillset for industries such as medicine, entertainment, communications and more.

According to the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS), three quarters of electrical and electronic engineering graduates are working in the UK six months after graduation while 12.2 percent remain in further study. A Statista report predicted that the global revenue growth for this industry sector is set to expand in the future, with an increase of four percent in 2018 and up to five percent in Asia and the Americas.

Are you inspired by Bell and Nadella and the prospect of a future with high employability? Start your journey at these top three Electronic Engineering Schools that are leading the world in teaching and research:

COLLEGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING, BANGOR UNIVERSITY

It’s easy to explain why the Engineering at Bangor University holds a 95 percent employability rating.

For one, it’s an exceptional educator. Whether it’s BEng in Electronic Engineering or MSc in Broadband and Optical Communications, Bangor students benefit from the school’s long history of expertise in electronic engineering and its rich range of modules.

Most of Bangor’s degrees are accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology, which comply with very strict levels of academic quality and grant Bangor graduates automatic exemption from the admissions examinations of the IET.

Source: Bangor University

As the First Welsh University to achieve a Gold Award from the national Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), learning standards here are outstanding. Students are taught by staff who are experienced electronic engineers and who maintain links with industry to ensure courses reflect the most recent developments.

The university has also been acknowledged by the National Student Survey (2017) for being a top academic institution in the UK in terms of student satisfaction and course quality.

Research in the department focuses on the main themes of: Next Generation Sensors, Communication and Electronic Devices, Bio-Medical and Environmental Electronics, Nuclear Futures Institute; Materials for Extreme environments and Predictive Modelling, Visualisation and Modelling Graphics, Data Science and Pontio Innovation.

Prospective postgraduate students will be happy to note that the college was ranked fourth in the UK for research output in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF). Its research environment received a remarkably high rating, too.

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND THE ENVIRONMENT, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON

Education, research and enterprise in engineering takes centre stage at the University of Southampton’s School of Engineering and the Environment. As a member of the prestigious Russell Group, expertise here cover everything from below the Earth’s crust to the depths of space.

Students interested in electronic engineering will find that the university is one of the best for the study of this discipline. There’s a varied list of general and specialised undergraduate degrees, including Aerospace Electronic Engineering and Biomedical Electronic Engineering.

Here, students develop skills to engineer the electronic signals present everywhere around us, from cutting-edge electronics, computer processors and artificial intelligence, to nanoscale materials and communication techniques – all of which are taught by researchers at the forefront of their disciplines.

Source: University of Southampton

Postgraduate students will thrive in this graduate school, which not only offers Postgraduate Taught MSc Programmes, but also the opportunity to work with top researchers to connect your studies with the latest thinking and modern techniques being used in industry today. MSc programmes on offer here include Electronic Engineering, Micro and Nanotechnology and European Masters in Embedded Computing Systems.

Freddie Temperton, fourth-year MEng Electronic Engineering student, says: “The facilities alone would make anyone want to come to Southampton but with the recent development of their innovation hub and inspiring lecturers, it has created an experience which makes its students some of the most desirable and employable in the world.”

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF SURREY

The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering is the largest faction of the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Surrey. It holds 54 members of academic staff, 300 undergraduate students, 100 MScs, plus more than 250 Research (Graduate) Students and an additional 110 research staff.

Surrey offers numerous courses involving all aspects of Electronic Engineering in BEng and MEng degrees. Optional professional training placements accompany all undergraduate degrees, so students gain valuable experience in a real-world job, such as time and project management, communication and teamwork skills. All BEng, MEng and MSc courses here are professionally accredited.

The department is consistently ranked among the best Electronic Engineering Departments in the UK. In the Guardian University Guide 2019, Surrey ranks third in the UK. And in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), the department was ranked second in the UK within the electrical and electronic engineering, metallurgy and materials unit of assessment for the scale and impact of its research, with 93 percent of its research rated world-leading or internationally-excellent.

Source: University of Surrey

Hashini Thirimanne, a PhD candidate in Electronic Engineering, says: “Having done my undergraduate degree in chemistry in Sri Lanka, the two factors which attracted me to Surrey for my PhD were the ATI’s excellent research reputation and Surrey’s high ranking in the league tables. Since coming here, I know that I made the right choice. Although at times my work is challenging, I find inspiration from working with pioneers in the field.”

*Some of the institutes featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International