BEng, 3 years, UCAS: H610
Typical A level offer: ABB-BBB
Subject overview
Why engineering?
Science and technology have the potential to benefit society – engineers realise this potential. Society depends on the reliability and continued development of engineering systems, which is why the role of the engineer is so important.
There is a wide range of sectors employing engineers, covering critical areas such as transport, sustainable power generation and distribution, healthcare, communications and manufacture. These diverse sectors will appeal to you if you like to know how things work and want to make them work better – faster, more quietly, more cleanly, more efficiently – and if you like the challenge of real, practical problems and finding innovative solutions to them.
Why engineering at Sussex?
We offer degrees in automotive, computer, electrical, electronic and mechanical engineering. Our courses are based on a common first-year core, offering you the flexibility to change degrees if you wish.
Electrical engineering at Sussex was ranked 4th (91 per cent) for personal development and 8th (93 percent) for overall satisfaction in the 2012 National Student Survey (NSS).
Sussex is ranked among the top 20 universities in the UK for mechanical engineering in The Sunday Times University Guide 2012 and among the top 30 in the UK in The Complete University Guide 2014.
Sussex is ranked among the top 20 universities in the UK for electrical and electronic engineering in The Times Good University Guide 2013 and The Sunday Times University Guide 2012, and in the top 25 in the UK in The Complete University Guide 2014.
You will be taught and supervised by research active academics: we were rated 14th in the UK for ‘General Engineering and Mineral and Mining Engineering’ research in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). 95 per cent of our research was rated as recognised internationally or higher, and 60 per cent rated as internationally excellent or higher.
All of our engineering courses are currently accredited by professional institutions under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council, and either the professional Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) or the professional Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
We have strong links with industry, which you benefit from through the provision of placements, industrial advisors on our curriculum, industrial support for our research, and sponsored prizes and projects.
Laboratory and project work uses industry-standard computer-aided design software and circuit design, simulation and virtual instrumentation systems.
Our Year 4 MEng students are able to undertake a substantial interdisciplinary project, which mimics work in industry. For example, producing an entry for the Formula Student competition – a unique experience bringing together a team of specialists in all engineering disciplines.
For information about industrial placement opportunities during your studies, refer to Department of Engineering and Design: Student placements and Professional placements.
MEng or BEng?
All of our engineering courses are currently accredited by professional institutions under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council. For more information, visit the Engineering Council.
All our electrical, electronic and computer engineering courses are currently accredited by the professional Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) up to the 2011 intake, and the regular review for future accreditation is due in autumn 2012. Completion of an MEng course ensures that you have met the full educational requirements for chartered engineer status. For more information, visit The Institution of Engineering and Technology.
All our mechanical and automotive engineering courses are currently accredited by the professional Institution of Mechanical Engineers up to the 2012 intake, and the regular review for future accreditation is due in 2013. Completion of an MEng course ensures that you have met the full educational requirements for chartered engineer status. For more information, visit the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
The fourth year of the MEng courses has specialist technical modules that reach a higher level than the final year of the three-year BEng. The MEng is for those who wish to become chartered engineers and to aim for leadership positions as early as possible in their careers.
The three-year BEng courses are for those looking for a good grounding in engineering to equip them for a range of careers and who either want to get into industry quickly or to take a more technical approach after graduation with a specialist MSc course – which can also lead to chartered engineer status.
The four-year MEng courses have higher entry requirements but BEng students who make good progress are offered the opportunity to transfer into MEng courses up until the end of Year 2.
Programme content
The extraordinary explosion in information technology has been made possible only through the expansion in communication systems and the ability to produce ever more sophisticated circuits in cheaper and more compact forms. Most of the building blocks of electronic systems are fabricated and interconnected on minute chips of silicon. Billions of the resulting integrated circuits are used in computers, communication systems and transportation systems and in the entertainment industry.
In this course, you will gain an appreciation of the properties of integrated circuits, a sound understanding of the basic electronic components of which they are made, and the state-of-the-art systems that use these devices. There is a strong practical component to the courses, including laboratory exercises and group and individual projects. You will be trained in the use of industry-standard hardware and software and will be given a personal prototyping kit to use in your own time and with your projects.
We continue to develop and update our modules for 2013 entry to ensure you have the best student experience. In addition to the course structure below, you may find it helpful to refer to the 2012 modules tab.
How will I learn?
Engineering at Sussex is based on strength in the practical application of engineering principles. The Department has been congratulated by external reviewers on the use it makes of team-based project work.
There are many ways to acquire skills – from taught sessions (such as lectures and problem classes) and laboratory assignments to projects and independent and computer-based learning. In addition, the first-year and foundation-year timetables include one-hour small-group tutorials.
Individual topics are offered for third-year projects, arising from the extensive industrial and scientific research in the Department, from industrial contracts, and from student suggestions. National businesses and professional institutions sponsor prizes for the best projects each year.
The Department of Engineering and Design provides all first-year undergraduate students with the myDAQ electronics instrumentation device as part of the learning experience for the duration of the course. For more information, visit Department of Engineering and Design: myDAQ: hands-on learning anytime, anywhere.
What will I achieve?
If you work hard, you will earn a well-respected degree, opening the door to the career you want and equipping you to succeed in it. In particular, you will acquire:
- a thorough understanding of, and the ability to apply, the mathematical and scientific concepts required to become an engineer
- the ability to analyse and design conceptual and practical solutions to engineering problems
- the ability to employ industry-standard computational tools and computer-aided design packages
- an understanding of business management skills and techniques required to manage projects and balance risks, costs, reliability and environmental impact
- research skills that provide a framework for innovative and creative thinking in order to generate and test systems and designs. You should be able to analyse resulting data and determine their validity using computational tools and packages
- interpersonal, communication and teamworking skills you will need as you progress along your chosen career path.
Core content
Year 1
Year 1 ensures that you have a good grounding in the fundamentals of engineering and the flexibility to transfer between courses if you wish. Topics shared by all of our courses, apart from Computer Engineering, include electrical circuits and devices • electromechanics • engineering mathematics • mechanics and properties of materials • programming for engineers • thermodynamics. In addition, you study a project-based module focusing on either electrical/electronic engineering or mechanical/automotive engineering, as appropriate. The Computer Engineering courses replace some of these topics with introductions to programming concepts and techniques.
Year 2
You continue to develop your mathematics knowledge and are introduced to the principles of signal processing and feedback control. You also study the key professional skills required for accreditation – project management, technical communication, risk and professional ethics.
Additional modules shared by this group of courses cover topics such as digital systems, microprocessors and microcontrollers • electrical machines and power electronics • high-frequency communications. Group project work in Year 2 is based around electronic circuit and system design.
Year 3
The major component of Year 3 is a two-term individual project with associated training in project planning and management. In addition, each course offers a range of core modules and options allowing specialisation in the relevant subject areas. In electrical engineering, these include control engineering • electrical drives • electrical power systems. In electronic and computer engineering, they cover computer networks • digital communications • high-frequency circuits and devices • micro-processor systems • sensor systems. In mechanical and automotive engineering, you undertake a design and manufacture group project culminating in a presentation to judges from industry. In addition, you can study topics in computational fluid dynamics • dynamics of machines and vehicles • engine technology heat transfer • sensor systems.
Please note that these are the modules running in 2012.
Year 1
Core modules
Year 2
Core modules
Electrical Circuits & Devices
15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 1
DC circuits: Ohm's law; Kirchhoff's laws, node and mesh analysis; Thvenin's theorem, Norton's theorem, superposition principle. AC circuits: inductance (L) and Capacitance (C); sinusoidal steady-state, phasors. Energy dissipation and storage. Frequency response of R-L, R-C and R-L-C circuits, resonance. Transient response of R-L, R-C and R-L-C circuits. Operational amplifiers: inverting, non-inverting and differential amplifiers; integrators and differentiators; simple filters. Semiconductor devices: diodes, junction transistor as a switch, Boolean algebra, Karnaugh maps, Combinational logic. Simple circuit applications: rectifiers.
Electromechanics
15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 1
Topics covered by this module will include: magnetic fields of currents and coils; magnetic materials; magnetic circuits; induced EMF; inductance; transformers; magnetic forces, permanent magnets and electromagnets; moving-coil devices; DC motors; and AC machines and 3-phase systems.
Electronic Devices and Circuit Prototyping
15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 1
Semiconductor devices: diodes, junction transistors, FETs; Simple circuit applications: rectifiers and amplifiers; Component specifications and selection; Use of data sheets and applications notes; Production of circuit diagrams; Circuit simulation; Circuit prototyping; Development and testing; PCB production; Final construction and testing; Project team management; Recording of work; Technical report writing
Engineering Maths 1A
15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 1
The module will be taught using the Helping Engineers Learn Mathematics (HELM) resource.
The module will include thorough revision of A level Maths topics, particularly:
- differential calculus
- integral calculus
- algebraic manipulation of functions
- vectors.
Then new material:
- complex numbers
- further differentiation, integration, partial differentiation
- curves and functions.
Engineering Maths 1B
15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 1
Line, surface and volume integrals;
Power series expansions;
Matrix algebra including determinants, Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors;
Expansions with orthogonal basis functions - Fourier Series
First-order and second-order ODEs with constant coefficients;
Engineering Thermodynamics
15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 1
Fundamental Concepts: Fluid properties, work, heat, temperature, properties of a gas from the ideal gas law.
1st Law of Thermodynamics: The equivalence of work and heat, concepts of thermodynamic systems and boundaries, internal energy, enthalpy. Applications to non-flow and steady flow processes, an introduction to thermodynamic cycles, Bernoulli's equation.
2nd Law of Thermodynamics, entropy and the concept of reversibility and the Carnot cycle.
General Thermodynamic relations (Maxwell)
Application of thermodynamic principles to simple engine cycles (Otto, Diesel & Joule).
Properties of vapours with specific reference to the use of the steam tables. Application to simple Rankine and refrigeration cycles.
Properties of mixtures with specific reference to the measurement of humidity.
Dimensional Analysis. Buckingham's theorem and derivation of some basic dimensional groups (e.g. Reynolds number and skin friction coefficient).
Heat Transfer: use of the basic laws for simple problems in conduction, convection and radiation.
Programming for Engineers
15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 1
This module introduces you to the following topics:
Compiling and linking
Constants, variables, data types and conversion
Operators and expressions
Program structure and pseudo code
Selection and repetitive statements
Functions
Recursion
Pointers
Arrays
Characters and strings
Data structures
File input/output
Well-designed programs and testing (software engineering)
Introduction to programming paradigms
o C and Matlab (procedural)
o MATLAB - Simulink
o LabVIEW (Graphical Programming)
o Concept of Object orientated programming (C++, Java)
Statics and Mechanics of Materials
15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 1
Introduction to materials: principal characteristics and applications of plastics, metals, composites and ceramics.
Introduction to the mechanics of materials. Material properties: density; tensile strength; yield stress, proof stress, Young's modulus; ductility; toughness, endurance limit; glass transition temperature; specific heat; thermal conductivity; temperature limits. The development of a design stress and an introduction to factors of safety. Basic calculation methodology for the identification of material capability. Introduction to atomic bonding, the basic force/separation curve and development of the stress/strain relationship. Dislocation theory, strengthening of metals. Elastic behaviour of composite materials. Viscoelastic materials. Failure criteria, fatigue, crack growth. Introduction to creep. Introduction to corrosion.
Applications of the principles developed in this module are given by a series of examples such as the modelling of snap fit joints, shafts, tubular steel, catches.
Introduction to Mechanics; Newton's laws.
Statics: force, moment of a force about a point and an axis, static equilibrium. Pin jointed frames. Introduction to bending of beams. Introduction to torsion.
Analogue Communication and Propagation
15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2
This module introduces key physical and engineering concepts in high frequency propagation which underpin the transmission and reception of analogue electromagnetic signals. The module covers:
Maxwell's equations, the electromagnetic wave equation, the Poynting vector;
Plane waves, phase and group velocity, skin depth;
Propagation along transmission lines, attenuation and distortion, characteristic impedance, reflections and standing waves;
Electromagnetic propagation in free space, line of sight communications and design using Fresnel zone, power budget in satellite links, tropospheric and ionospheric propagation;
Introduction to antennas and aerials (inc. dipole, Yagi-Ueda, arrays, dish, planar, patch, antennas for CP) radiation pattern, reciprocity theorem, antenna gain;
Analogue communication systems, modulation and demodulation systems (AM/FM/pulse), phase lock loops;
Physical sources and statistical properties of electrical noise, signal-to-noise ratio, noise figure, noise temperature;
Spectrum management and EMC, radio transmitter and receiver architecture.
Digital Systems and Microprocessor Design
15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 2
This module covers a range of topics relating to digital systems:
1) the review of digital basics, logic gates and design techniques, and combinational digital logic circuits
2) fundamental synchronous sequential logic covering types of flip-flops with an understanding of analyzing and synthesising circuits that use the flipflop.
3) registers and counters forming digital systems as part of an arithmetic unit.
4) configuration of memory formed from combinational and sequential logic
5) programmable logic devices such as PLDs, FPGAs and ASICs and their place in the digital world
6) design studies using algorithmic state machines (ASMs), implemented with sequential logic
For your project work, you will be given an overview of computer- aided design of digital systems followed by laboratory experiments covering elements covered in lectures. The project includes design entry in schematic capture or hardware description language (VHDL), and design circuit timing and simulation. The gate array implementation is realized using FPGA development hardware allowing circuit testing and verification.
Electrical Machines & Power Electronics
15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 2
Topics covered on this module include: DC machines; transformers; AC machines and rotating magnetic fields; synchronous machines; induction machines; variable frequency control of AC motors; power electronics technology, devices and applications; DC choppers and switched-mode regulators; AC controllers and cyclo-converters; DC link DC-AC inverters, quasi-square wave and PWM operation; and electronic drive circuits.
Electronic Circuit & Systems Design
15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 2
Topics include: filters: frequency domain analysis, gain and phase and use of the s variable; types of filter response, low-pass, band-pass and relation to the transfer function; design of low-order active filters from pole-zero locations; Butterworth, Chebyshev and Elliptic responses with design from tables and computer programs; small-signal analysis with matrix-based nodal analysis for circuits using operational amplifiers; computer-based analysis in the frequency domain and time domain; circuits: instrumentation amplifiers, logarithmic amplifiers, oscillators, mixers and other communication circuits; analysis and design considering temperature compensation and stability; coursework: design project of a small analogue circuit, computer-aided printed circuit layout, building and testing, computer-aided analysis.
Embedded Systems
15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2
In this module you will obtain new basic knowledge of data structures and algorithms. You will be able to understand and use these structures as system components to design and build a basic software system, as well as understand the relative merits and limitations of these elements in different application contexts. As a result of this exercise you will have a basic understanding of the process involved in system specification, analysis and implementation. From the practical work you will have explored the task of evaluating, selecting and implementing basic data structures and algorithms for particular problems, in particular those data structures and associated methods supported by the embedded systems development environment.
Engineering Mathematics 2
15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 2
Polynomials with real coefficients, and roots of polynomials; Continuous-time signals; integrators. Solution of simultaneous equations. Second order differential equations, linear homogeneous, and non-homogeneous; initial and boundary value problems. Laplace transforms and associated theorems; Convolution. Solution of ODEs via Laplace Transforms; The numerical solution of ODEs. Simulating differential equations, phase plane for a second order system.
Vector calculus: grad, div and curl; line, surface and volume integrals; theorems of Gauss and Stokes. Laplace's equation, Poisson's equation, Wave equation. Fourier series and Fourier transforms. Probability: random variables, distribution and density functions, expectations; rms. Normal distribution, Central Limit Theorem. Estimation of parameters: moment and maximum likelihood methods, confidence intervals. Regression: least squares fit, correlation. Quality control: acceptance sampling, reliability, failure rates, Weibull distribution.
Professional and Managerial Skills
15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2
This module covers the technical communication, project and financial management skills, and the understanding of the importance of ethics, required of professional engineers. In addition, it encourages a holistic view of the engineering degree programme and how it fits the graduate for their future career. Teaching and learning methods include; specialist lectures on technical communication and careers planning, supported by Study Direct resources and online exercises; lectures and workshops leading to a management group project based on a computer based simulation; and lectures and seminars based around case studies on the application of ethical principles. Topics covered include;
Technical reports and presentations
Project planning and management
Gantt charts
Financial management and control, cost management, application to projects
Financial models and return on investment
Risk management
Professional ethics
Health and safety
Preparing CVs, Career development
Systems Analysis and Control
15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2
Step and impulse response of first and second-order systems via Laplace transforms; Transfer functions; Block diagrams. Polynomial and pole zero representations. Frequency response; modelling of simple mechanical and electrical systems; Simple Filters. Control objectives and feedback systems; open loop and closed loop transfer functions; use of Matlab. Error transfer functions; steady state errors; errors to inputs and disturbances, pole-zero diagrams, root locus methods; Bode and Nyquist diagrams; stability via Routh-Hurwitz and simplified Nyquist criterion; gain and phase margins; introduction to PID.
Business and Project Management
15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3
This module addresses wider business and project management issues that affect the technological and engineering environment. Some of these issues include: principles of strategic management, project management and planning, the business environment, auditing and control, organisational structure, business legislation, resource management, global markets and supply, and forecasting.
Computer Systems Engineering
15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3
This module introduces students to the following topics:
Introduction
- Overview
- Computer organisation
- Performance
Computer function and interconnection
- Components and function
- Bus and PCI
Computer Memory
- Internal memory
- External memory
- Interfacing
Buses and Input/Output
- I/O fundamentals
- Programmed I/O
- Inturrupt-driven I/O
- DMA
Arithmetic and ALUs
- The ALU
Integer arithmetic
- Floating point arithmetic
- Multiplication and division
Instruction Set Architecture
- Machine instruction characteristics
- Types of operations
- Intel x86 and ARM data types
Processor structure & function
- Processor and register organisation
- Instruction cycle and pipelining
Reduced Instruction Set Computers (RISCs)
- Fundamentals
- Specific case study
Control unit
- Control unit operation
- Processor control
- Microprogramming
Digital Communications
15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3
The aim of the module is to introduce the basic principles of digital communications and provide the students with knowledge and skills required in the design and performance analysis of digital communication systems.
The following topics will be covered:
- introduction
- digital versus analogue
- main components of digital communication systems
- digital baseband transmission
- sampling
- quantisation
- PCM/DPCM
- data transmission fundamentals
- line coding
- binary and multilevel signalling
- multiplexing
- detection of digital signals
- noise in communication systems
- inter-symbol interference
- decision theory
- digital modulation and demodulation
- ASK/FSK/PSK/DPSK
- probability of error performance and bandwidth efficiency
- fundamentals of information theory and channel coding
- research project and simulation work using MATLAB software tools.
Individual Project
45 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3
The Individual Project in Year 3 is a major component of your degree and builds upon all of your modules to date to explore in depth an engineering problem in the area of your degree. It is designed to give you experience of the full cycle of an engineering project, from initial planning to final presentation, and involves management, resourcing, planning, scheduling, documentation, and communication. You will interact with a range of skilled people, complete work within budget and available resources, and by an agreed deadline. The project will involve the design, development and testing of a system and will include construction and measurement (for hardware projects) and code development and testing (for software projects). It will demand creative thinking, self-organisation and research skills. You will typically spend 18 hours per week for two terms on the project and it is assessed by an interim report at the mid-way point, a final technical report (dissertation) and a 20 minute oral presentation. You must keep a record of your work throughout the project in a dated logbook, which is handed-in with the final report. The project is supervised by a single member of faculty, who takes on the role of technical director along with a second (minor) supervisor who provides occasional guidance and, in some cases, complimentary expertise.
Computer Networks
15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3
Control Engineering
15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3
Using MatLab/Simulink and some hardware experiments as tools, this module teaches students some theoretical concepts, design methods and practical topics in control engineering. The main teaching/leaning paten is the same as that of our current Y2 Electrical Design Project one (two) hour lecture and three hours computer lab per week for 10 weeks; and each student is assigned a unique case study to complete. In addition, each student will have 6 hour lab in total (in 2 weeks) on hardware experiments to supplement what they have learnt in computer simulation/design.
Digital Signal Processing
15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3
The module is to cover DSP topics, including digital signals and sampling requirements, dasic types of digital signals, quantisation error.
It is followed by the topics: time-domain analysis, including Linear-time-invariant system, Block Diagram for LTI systems, Impulse response, Convolution sum, Difference equations. For Frequency-domain analysis: it includes The discrete Fourier Series, Fourier transform of aperiodic digital sequences, Frequency responses.
The z transform topic includes z-transform and inverse z-transform, z-transform properties, z-plane pole-zero representations, Stability of a system, Evaluation of the Fourier Transform in Z-Plane, Characteristics of 1st and 2nd Order Systems.
For Filter design topic, it includes Non-recursive (FIR) filters, Fourier technique of designing non-recursive filters, Truncation and Windowing, Recursive (IIR) filter design, Bilinear transformation methods.
Discrete Fourier transform (DFT) and its relation to CFT, Fast Fourier transform (FFT), Basic Spectral Analysis, Spectra of Harmonics, Spectral leakage, Windowing, and Effects of Windows, introduction to random digital signals are also to be covered.
Radio to Optical Frequency Engineering
15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3
Sensor Systems & Applications
15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3
Sensor technologies are evolving at a rapid pace and are core to the drive for increased energy efficiency. You will gain a systems level understanding of a broad range of technologies and be provided with the knowledge and skills required to specify and design sensor systems. You will discuss specific sensor technologies in the context of their application to a range of areas including healthcare, security, control, materials characterisation and HCI.
You will cover the following topics: Transducers and sensors, operating principles; low noise systems; signal processing, hardware & DSP; intelligent sensors; wireless sensors; specific sensor technologies, hall effect, magneto-resistance, piezoelectrics, electromagnetic, ultrasonic, microwave, solid state, MEMS, radiation sensors, gas, chemical, biological sensors.
Entry requirements
Sussex welcomes applications from students of all ages who show evidence of the academic maturity and broad educational background that suggests readiness to study at degree level. For most students, this will mean formal public examinations; details of some of the most common qualifications we accept are shown below. If you are an overseas student, refer to Applicants from outside the UK.
All teaching at Sussex is in the English language. If your first language is not English, you will also need to demonstrate that you meet our English language requirements.
A level
Typical offer: ABB-BBB
Specific entry requirements: A levels must include Mathematics
International Baccalaureate
Typical offer: 32-34 points overall
Specific entry requirements: Higher Levels must include Mathematics, with a grade of 5 or 6.
For more information refer to International Baccalaureate.
Other qualifications
Access to HE Diploma
Typical offer: Pass the Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at Level 3, of which 30 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher.
Specific entry requirements: Successful applicants will normally need A level Mathematics, grade B, in addition to the Access to HE Diploma.
For more information refer to Access to HE Diploma.
Advanced Diploma
Typical offer: Pass with at least a grade B in the Diploma and at least B in the Additional and Specialist Learning.
Specific entry requirements: The Additional and Specialist Learning must be an A-level in Mathematics, grade B.
For more information refer to Advanced Diploma.
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma
Typical offer: DDD
Specific entry requirements: Successful applicants will need to achieve Distinction in the unit in Further Mathematics for Technicians within the Engineering BTEC Extended Diploma. Ideally applicants will have A level Mathematics, grade B in addition to the Diploma. GCSE (or equivalent) Mathematics with at least grade B is essential.
For more information refer to BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.
European Baccalaureate
Typical offer: Overall result of 75% to 77%
Specific entry requirements: Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential (normally with a final grade of at least 8.0).
For more information refer to European Baccalaureate.
Finnish Ylioppilastutkinto
Typical offer: Overall average result in the final matriculation examinations of 5.5 to 6.0.
Specific entry requirements: Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.
French Baccalauréat
Typical offer: Overall final result of at least 12.5/20
Specific entry requirements: Successful students will need to be taking the science strand within the French Baccalauréat with a final result of at least 12/20 in Mathematics.
German Abitur
Typical offer: Overall result of 2.0 or better
Specific entry requirements: Successful applicants will need a very good final result in Mathematics (at least 12/15) at a high level.
Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher level)
Typical offer: AABBBB-BBBBBB
Specific entry requirements: Highers must include Mathematics, grade A.
Italian Diploma di Maturità or Diploma Pass di Esame di Stato
Typical offer: Final Diploma mark of 88/100
Specific entry requirements: Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.
Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers
Typical offer: AABBB-BBBBB
Specific entry requirements: Highers must include Mathematics, grade B. Applicants should also have an Advanced Higher in Mathematics (grade B).
For more information refer to Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers.
Spanish Titulo de Bachillerato (LOGSE)
Typical offer: Overall average result of 7.5 to 8.0
Specific entry requirements: Evidence of existing academic ability in Mathematics is essential.
Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma
Typical offer: Pass the Core plus AB to BB in two A-levels
Specific entry requirements: A levels must include Mathematics, grade B.
For more information refer to Welsh Baccalaureate.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with not less than 6.0 in each section. Internet-based TOEFL with 88 overall, with at least 20 in Listening, 19 in Reading, 21 in Speaking and 23 in Writing.
For more information, refer to alternative English language requirements.
For more information about the admissions process at Sussex:
Undergraduate Admissions,
Sussex House,
University of Sussex, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9RH, UK
T +44 (0)1273 678416
F +44 (0)1273 678545
E ug.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk
Related subjects
Fees and funding
Fees
Home/EU students: £9,0001
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £9,0002
Overseas students: £16,2003
1 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
2 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
3 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
To find out about your fee status, living expenses and other costs, visit further financial information.
Funding
The funding sources listed below are for the subject area you are viewing and may not apply to all degrees listed within it. Please check the description of the individual funding source to make sure it is relevant to your chosen degree.
To find out more about funding and part-time work, visit further financial information.
Care Leavers Award (2013)
Region: UK
Level: UG
Application deadline: 31 July 2014
For students have been in council care before starting at Sussex.
First-Generation Scholars Scheme (2013)
Region: UK
Level: UG
Application deadline: 13 June 2014
The scheme is targeted to help students from relatively low income families – ie those whose family income is up to £42,611.
First-Generation Scholars Scheme EU Student Award (2013)
Region: Europe (Non UK)
Level: UG
Application deadline: 13 June 2014
£3,000 fee waiver for UG Non-UK EU students whose family income is below £25,000
High Flier Scholarship (Engineering & Design) (2013)
Region: UK
Level: UG
An unlimited number of 'high-flier' Engineering & Design scholarships of £1,000 are available.
Mrs Emily O Akinluyi Scholarship (2013)
Region: UK
Level: UG
Application deadline: 19 October 2013
£5000 paid over the length of the course
Careers and profiles
Career opportunities
The career of an engineer is richly rewarding in terms of personal satisfaction, status and salary. According to the Association of Graduate Recruiters, engineers are now among the top earners of the graduate population and are one of the most likely groups to fast track into management positions.
Career opportunities include employment in sectors such as communications, aerospace, transport, marine or space exploration, environment, marketing, the supply chain, robotics, security and defence, the power industry, and health and medicine.
Our recent graduates have taken up a wide range of posts with employers including:
- design engineer at Delphi Diesel Systems
- hardware design engineer at Optisense Ltd
- research and development engineer at itmsoil
- graduate engineer at hurleypalmerflatt
- production systems engineer at Gemini Data Loggers UK Ltd
- development engineer at Eschmann Equipment
- embryologist at The Agora Clinic
- graduate analyst at the Royal Bank of Scotland
- manufacturing engineer at Lola Group
- project engineer at Allen Gears
- design engineer at Nissan Technical Centre Europe
- development engineer at Delphi
- trainee electrical engineer at Max Wright Limited
- IT consultant at Aron Willis IT Consultants
- programmer at PeoplePlanner
- electrical engineer at CBG consultants
- research and development engineer at Dyson
- design engineer at BP
- engineer at Tesla
- mechanical engineer at Network Rail.
Specific employer destinations listed are taken from recent Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education surveys, which are produced annually by the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
For more information, refer to Department of Engineering and Design: Career opportunities.
Careers and employability
For employers, it’s not so much what you know, but what you can do with your knowledge that counts. The experience and skills you’ll acquire during and beyond your studies will make you an attractive prospect. Initiatives such as SussexPlus, delivered by the Careers and Employability Centre, help you turn your skills to your career advantage. It’s good to know that 94 per cent of our graduates are in work or further study (Which? University).
For more information on the full range of initiatives that make up our career and employability plan for students, visit Careers and alumni.
Contact our School
Department of Engineering and Design
The Department of Engineering and Design has expertise in electronic and mechanical engineering, with significant emphasis on design. It offers high-quality teaching and world-leading research in an exciting and supportive learning environment.
How do I find out more?
For more information, contact:
Department of Engineering and Design,
University of Sussex, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9QT, UK
E ug.admissions@engineering.sussex.ac.uk
T +44 (0)1273 678743
F +44 (0)1273 678399
Department of Engineering and Design
Visit us
Campus tours
We offer weekly guided campus tours.
Mature students at Sussex: information sessions
If you are 21 or over, and thinking about starting an undergraduate degree at Sussex, you may want to attend one of our mature student information sessions. Running between October and December, they include guidance on how to approach your application, finance and welfare advice, plus a guided campus tour with one of our current mature students.
Self-guided visits
If you are unable to make any of the visit opportunities listed, drop in Monday to Friday year round and collect a self-guided tour pack from Sussex House reception.
Go to Visit us and Open Days to book onto one of our tours.
Hannah's perspective
'Studying at Sussex gave me so many opportunities to really throw myself into university life, and being taught by enthusiastic academic staff who are involved in ground-breaking research meant that the education I received was second to none.
'Coming to an Open Day gave me a great insight into both academic and social life at Sussex. Working here means that I now get to tell others about my experiences and share all the great things about the University. And if you can’t make it to our Open Days, we’ve other opportunities to visit, or you can visit our Facebook page and our Visit us and Open Days pages.'
Hannah Steele
Graduate Intern, Student Recruitment Services
Aaron-Leslie's perspective
'Leaving home to study at Sussex was an exciting new experience, and settling in came naturally with all the different activities on campus throughout the year. There are loads of facilities available on your doorstep, both the Library and the gym are only ever a short walk away.
'My experience at Sussex has been amazing. It's a really friendly campus, the academics are helpful, and Brighton is just around the corner. I now work as a student ambassador, and help out at Open Days, sharing all the things I've grown to love about Sussex!'
Aaron-Leslie Williams
BSc in Mathematics