Postgraduate study
Edinburgh: Extraordinary futures await.

Electronics MSc

Awards: MSc

Study modes: Full-time

Funding opportunities

Electronics engineers design and develop the circuits and components which underpin the foundation of the world’s economies.

Our MSc programme in Electronics is tailored for the cutting-edge world of consumer electronics, chip-making industries, and the dynamic interface of digital and analogue domains. With a foundation in both digital and analogue electronics, as well as mixed-signal systems, the programme provides a comprehensive understanding of the design, development, and integration of systems optimised for smartphones, computers, and other advanced consumer devices.

Emphasising both theoretical knowledge and hands-on practice, you’ll be introduced to modern prototyping, advanced micro and nanofabrication techniques, and the electronic systems that form the backbone of today’s most innovative technology, from internet-of-things devices to biomedical instruments.

How will I learn?

You will select between three distinct specialities (streams) in Electronics Engineering, which makes up the taught component of the programme over the first two semesters:

  • Analogue
  • Analogue and Digital
  • Bioelectronics

In the Analogue stream, you will focus on transistor-level integrated circuits and chip design, which includes traditional analogue circuits such as differential amplifiers and mixed-signal circuits such as analogue to digital converters. You will also learn the science behind nanotechnology and microfabrication techniques.

In the Analogue and Digital stream, you will focus on both transistor-level designs and digital systems, especially RTL and hardware programming, including microcontrollers and FPGAs. You will also enhance your skills in system-level development and programming.

In the Bioelectronic stream, you will focus on using chip-scale systems and advanced nanotechnology for bioelectronic and biomedical applications.

Following the first two taught semesters, you will then undertake an advanced research project to put into practice the knowledge and skills you have acquired.

Research project

You will focus exclusively on a research project of your choice during Semester 3, under the joint supervision of an academic adviser.

You will integrate within the research group of your academic advisor, which may also include industrial collaborations with local and international companies. Your project will address a real-world problem regarding using Electronics in everyday life and global challenges.

The programme is full-time and runs over 12 months.

You must select one of the three streams. All streams encompass two semesters of taught courses, followed by a research project.

  • Fundamental Compulsory Courses
  • Students from all streams must take the following compulsory courses in semester 1:
  • Analogue IC Design
  • Principles of Microelectronic Devices
  • Engineering Research Methods with Grand Challenge
  • Stream courses

Additionally, you will take a combination of further compulsory and option courses from within your chosen stream.

For details visit

MSc Electronics: Project and Dissertation

You will undertake a research project over the summer months, culminating in the submission of a dissertation. We offer a wide range of topics including:

  • Robotics
  • Radio Frequency
  • CMOS Imaging
  • Accelerated computing hardware and software
  • Memory and Memristors technology
  • Novel hardware for Machine Learning
  • Biotechnology sensors
  • Wearable technology
  • Optoelectronics devices

Courses can change from year to year. Those listed provide a representation of courses previously offered. Courses for the forthcoming year will be published on the Degree Programme Table in the Spring.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScElectronics1 YearFull-timeProgramme structure 2023/24

Our aim is to train the next generation of Electronics engineers who are equipped to solve global engineering challenges and meet the evolving needs of society. We will support you to:

  • deepen your knowledge and ability to cooperate with others in electronic system design
  • acquire a deep understanding of both analogue and digital Electronics principles
  • gain expertise in the integration of transistors for cutting-edge circuit and chip design
  • experience a diverse range of electronic applications, from imaging and bioelectronics to robotics and advanced artificial intelligence
  • develop proficiency in chip design through learning to use leading industry-standard software.

On graduating you will be well equipped to take on roles in industry or pursue further education in a PhD.

Our recent graduates have gone into engineering roles that include:

  • Application engineers in the sensor and measurement industry, such as in the healthcare sector
  • Designers of mixed-signal integrated circuits such as voltage regulators and data converters
  • Robotic engineers in the mechatronic industry, including for smart vehicles and cities
  • Optoelectronics engineers, including imaging and quantum technologies.

Examples of some of our graduate employers include:

  • Dialog Semiconductor
  • Analog Devices
  • ST Microelectronics
  • Cadence Design Systems
  • AMD (formerly Xilinx)
  • Indie Semiconductor

All our MSc Electronic students are eligible to apply for Peter Denyer’s international PhD scholarship, an exclusive scholarship for graduates of the MSc Electronics programme. This three-and-a-half-year scholarship provides an excellent opportunity to continue on the research path and significantly contribute to the role of Electronics in science and engineering.

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in electronics or electrical engineering.

Your transcript and application should demonstrate clear evidence that you have studied both analogue at the transistor level and digital electronics at the gate level. You should provide proof of competence in at least one general-purpose programming language, such as Python and C/C++, as well as experience with hardware description languages, such as Verilog or VHDL, using FPGAs.

We may also consider your application if you have appropriate professional experience; please contact us to check before you apply.

Entry to this programme is competitive. A typical offer will normally require a UK first class honours degree or equivalent.

Students from China

This degree is Band B.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Deposit

If you receive an offer of admission you will need to pay a deposit to secure your place.

  • £1,500 (this contributes towards your tuition fees)

Any applicants who are required to pay will receive an offer with full details. (If there is no information on your offer about the deposit, then you are not required to pay.)

Find out more about tuition fee deposits:

Living costs

You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScElectronics1 YearFull-timeTuition fees

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

  • your programme
  • the duration of your studies
  • your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

Engineering International Masters Scholarships

  • £3,000

The scholarships will be awarded to overseas applicants who have been accepted for admission on a full-time basis for an eligible postgraduate taught Masters programme within the School of Engineering.

The scholarship will be awarded broadly on the basis of academic merit with candidates requiring a first-class honours degree from a UK university or overseas equivalent.

Learn more about this scholarship:

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • School of Engineering
  • Sanderson Building
  • The King's Buildings Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH9 3FB
Programme start date Application deadline
9 September 2024 31 May 2024

Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines.

We strongly recommend you apply as early as possible. Applications may close earlier than the published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand.

We will make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis, but hold the majority of applications until the next published selection deadline.

We aim to make the majority of decisions within eight weeks of the selection deadline.

If we have not made you an offer by a specific selection deadline this means one of two things:

  • your application has been unsuccessful, in which case we will contact you to let you know, or
  • your application is still being considered, will be carried forward for consideration in the next selection deadline and we’ll be in touch once a decision is made

Selection Deadlines

Round Application Deadline Decisions made or applications rolled to next deadline
1 15 December 1 March
2 31 March 31 May
3 31 May 31 July

You must submit one reference with your application.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • School of Engineering
  • Sanderson Building
  • The King's Buildings Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH9 3FB