Electrical and Electronic Engineering (with an industrial placement year) BEng (Hons)

Modules

• Year 1 at Sussex

  Your modules

  Core modules

  Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

  Autumn teaching

  • Electrical Circuits & Devices
  • Engineering Maths 1A
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Programming for Engineers

  Spring teaching

  • Electromagnetism and Introduction to Electrical Machines
  • Electronic Devices and Circuit Prototyping
  • Engineering Maths 1B
  • Engineering Thermodynamics

  Intersemester Week

  • Global Design Challenge

  Your degree

  Year 1 is shared across our Engineering degrees and gives you a strong foundation in the core principles underpinning modern engineering. The common first year helps you make an informed decision about your future specialism matching your interests, strengths and career aspirations.

  You’ll develop practical engineering and design skills, and fundamental knowledge in:

  • mathematics
  • programming
  • mechanics
  • electrical systems
  • materials
  • thermofluids.

  A highlight of the year is the strong emphasis on hands-on and cross-subject learning through laboratory activities, design challenges and project work. You’ll gain experience with industry-standard software and equipment, and also begin to develop professional engineering skills. These include teamwork, communication, problem-solving and digital literacy, while gaining experience with industry-standard software and equipment.

  Teaching

  Teaching methods typically include lectures as well as practical and laboratory sessions.

  

  55%: Lecture
  45%: Practical

  Assessment

  Assessment methods typically include unseen and computer-based examinations; laboratory, project and group reports; video submissions and practical coursework activities.

  Contact hours and workload

  This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 410 hours of contact time and about 790 hours of independent study.

  Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.

• Year 2 at Sussex

  Your modules

  Core modules

  Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

  Autumn and spring teaching

  • Industry Ready: Mastering the Placement Application Process

  Autumn teaching

  • Digital Systems and Microprocessor Design
  • Electrical Machines & Power Electronics
  • Electronic Circuit & Systems Design
  • Engineering Mathematics 2

  Spring teaching

  • Analogue Communication and Propagation
  • Embedded Systems
  • Professional and Managerial Skills
  • Systems Analysis and Control

  Your degree

  Year 2 focuses on the core technologies underpinning modern electrical and electronic engineering. You’ll:

  • deepen your understanding of digital systems, microprocessors, electronic circuit design, communications, electromechanics and control systems
  • gain programming, analytical, and practical engineering skills
  • develop digital and AI capabilities – increasingly sought by employers across the engineering sector
  • tailor your course to your interests with options
  • understand how intelligent algorithms, software, and data-driven approaches are increasingly integrated into modern electronic and electrical systems.

  The year also places a strong emphasis on professional and industry-relevant skills including project management, teamwork and communication.

  Teaching

  Teaching methods typically include lectures as well as practical and laboratory sessions.

  

  60%: Lecture
  40%: Practical

  Assessment

  Assessment methods typically include unseen and computer-based examinations; laboratory, project and group reports; portfolios, presentations and project work.

  Contact hours and workload

  This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 380 hours of contact time and about 820 hours of independent study.

  Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.

• Placement

  To help you gain experience and increase your employability, you can apply for an optional placement as part of your course. You’ll be responsible for applying for and securing your placement. Our dedicated careers team can provide you with information and advice. If you’re successful in obtaining a placement, this will form part of your course.

  On placement in an engineering or technology-related organisation, you’ll have the opportunity to apply your technical knowledge and practical skills to real engineering projects. This will help you develop your confidence, professional communication and understanding of engineering practice in industry.

  During your placement, you’ll be supported by an academic mentor who will provide guidance and feedback as you reflect on your professional and technical development.

  Teaching methods typically include workplace learning, professional practice and independent reflective activities supported by your employer and academic mentor.

  Assessment methods typically include reflective reports and professional development activities based on your placement experience.

  Find out more about placements and internships

  Our careers team offers dedicated support to help you obtain a placement, including:

  • finding an employer
  • drafting an application
  • preparing for interviews
  • ongoing help throughout a placement.

  Don’t worry if you’re not successful in securing a placement, you’ll simply transfer to a non-placement version of your course.

  Please note that if you’re receiving – or applying for – USA federal Direct Loan funds, you can’t undertake your placement in the USA if the number of credits for the placement/internship exceeds 25% of the total credits for your course. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid

• Year 3 at Sussex

  Your modules

  Core modules

  Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

  Autumn and spring teaching

  • Individual Project

  Autumn teaching

  • Business and Project Management
  • Control Engineering
  • Electrical Power Systems

  Spring teaching

  • Smart Interactive Sensing Systems and Applications

  Options

  Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

  While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

  Spring teaching

  • Electrical Drive Systems
  • Programming in C++
  • Radio to Optical Frequency Engineering

  Your degree

  Year 3 focuses on advanced electrical and electronic engineering, independent learning and professional preparation. You’ll:

  • study specialist topics
  • develop your ability to analyse, design and integrate complex electrical and electronic systems
  • tailor your studies through specialist options.

  This flexibility allows you to develop expertise in emerging technologies while maintaining a strong electrical and electronic engineering foundation.

  A highlight of the year is the Individual Project. This is an opportunity for you to undertake substantial design, research, simulation or experimental work on a topic aligned with contemporary engineering and industry challenges. The project allows you to integrate knowledge from across your degree while developing technical, problem-solving, project management and professional skills expected of graduate electrical and electronic engineers.

  Teaching

  Teaching methods typically include lectures as well as practical and laboratory sessions.

  

  35%: Lecture
  65%: Practical

  Assessment

  Assessment methods typically include unseen and computer-based examinations; laboratory, project and group reports; portfolios, presentations, oral assessments and project work. 

  Contact hours and workload

  This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 340 hours of contact time and about 860 hours of independent study.

  Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.