Electronics and Computer Science BEng (Hons)

Level: Undergraduate

Subject: Engineering

Year of entry: 2026

Key facts

UCAS Code

GH60

Award

BEng (Hons)

Duration of study

4 years

Delivery

Full-time

Study location

Multiple campuses

Start date

September 2026

School

School of Engineering

College

College of Science and Engineering

Study abroad

Available

Accreditation

Available

Placement

No

Open days and events

About the degree programme

Electronics and computer science are a fascinating and highly valuable combination. 

Interactions between these fields have generated some of the most significant advances in computer design and communications technology over the last 50 years.

We teach a solid foundation of electronics and computer science. You will learn how to design and apply both the hardware and software of general-purpose and embedded computer systems.

United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals

Based on our compulsory course material, this degree aligns with many of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the top three being: 

  • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
  • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure 

Ties to industry 

Our Industrial Liaison Board includes senior representatives from prominent electronics and electrical engineering companies. This has, and continues to, influence our curriculum and programme development.

Many of our electronics and electrical engineering (EEE) courses benefit from industry collaboration, including a state-of-the-art electronics laboratory equipped with industry-standard measurement and testing equipment. We also regularly host guest lectures from experienced professionals in the EEE sector.

How long it takes to complete this degree programme

This programme is studied over 4 years.

How a joint degree programme works

A joint programme allows you to gain a well-rounded learning experience. You will have more exposure to different disciplines, allowing you to expand your knowledge and expertise.

Teaching on joint programmes is split across the two subject areas, and teaching will take place in locations associated with both subjects.

You will gain a different perspective through studying more than one subject and have a wider skill set that is highly attractive to future employers.

Programme rankings

  • Consistently ranked in the UK’s top 10 universities for engineering (THE Rankings by subject 2024 and QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024).
  • Consistently ranked top 30 globally for computer science (20th in the world and 4th in the UK for Computer Science in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024).
  • Ranked 7th in the world and 2nd in the UK for sustainability, recognising our leadership in creating a more sustainable world (2025 QS World University Rankings).

Programme benefits

  • Make use of an enviable suite of facilities including specialist laboratories, student makerspaces and cutting-edge industry-standard equipment.
  • Study in Edinburgh, a city regularly voted among the UK’s top student cities (top 2 in the UK, QS 2024).
  • Benefit from research-led teaching by internationally leading academics.
  • We have strong links to industry with excellent career prospects, industry relevant curriculum and internships.
  • A balanced curriculum that covers theoretical and practical skills and individual and group work.
  • Our degree programmes are accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

The programme is taught by leading experts in the field of informatics, with access to world-class engineering resources.

I like the concept of being able to collaborate with other students to complete certain assignments. This way we are able to learn from each other, be more efficient and build more meaningful projects.

Zi Yu Choo 2nd Year MEng Electronics and Computer Science student

Find your entry requirements

Use the dropdowns to find out your entry requirements.

  1. Select the country or region where you are studying or where you studied your qualification.
  2. Select the qualification you are studying or studied.
United Kingdom,

Tuition fees for BEng (Hons) Electronics and Computer Science

View the tuition fees for one academic year of BEng (Hons) Electronics and Computer Science.

Tuition fees for this programme

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that a single student can potentially spend £1,023 to £2,043 on living costs each month, depending on your accommodation.

This estimate covers the costs of:

  • accommodation
  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel within Edinburgh
  • health and wellbeing costs

See a breakdown of living costs

Scholarships and funding

Funding information

You can find detailed information on financial support available, based on where you are living, in our funding section.

Funding

What you will study

In the early years of the degree, we teach a solid foundation of electronics and computer science. Our courses are designed to improve your team-working and problem-solving skills.

In later years, our degree gives you the flexibility to study specialist courses in areas you are most interested in.

Curriculum renewal

The School of Engineering is currently undertaking an ongoing curriculum renewal, which may result in changes to this degree programme.

The renewal is being carried out with:

  • our industrial partners
  • accreditation bodies
  • students

This renewal makes sure we equip you for an exciting career in the ever-changing world of engineering.

In Year 1, electronics and computer science have equal weighting. 

You will learn fundamental concepts across both areas, which provides the basis for more advanced study in later years.

You will take introductory courses and develop skills that you will later rely on as a professional engineer, including:

  • problem-solving skills
  • teamwork
  • advanced thinking
  • confidence
  • technical topics in general engineering, electronics and electrical engineering
  • mathematics
Find courses

The courses you can study will vary from year to year and may be different for your year of entry.

You can get an idea of what you might study by viewing the latest course information for this programme.

Find Year 1 courses (2025-2026 academic year)

In Year 2, you will specialise in core themes in electronics, which usually include:

  • analogue circuits
  • digital system design
  • microelectronics
  • signal processing and communications
  • software and embedded systems laboratory

Meanwhile, you will develop a greater understanding of computer science from introductory courses covering: 

  • algorithms
  • data structures
  • computer systems

You will also usually study essentials in the engineer's toolkit to develop your skills in: 

  • engineering mathematics
  • essential professional skills for engineers
Find courses

The courses you can study will vary from year to year and may be different for your year of entry.

You can get an idea of what you might study by viewing the latest course information for this programme.

Find Year 2 courses (2025-2026 academic year)

The thematic areas developed in Year 2 continue into Year 3. 

You will typically have a choice of different course options on a wide range of topics. These balance theoretical and practical study elements.

Depending on your preference, you may choose more electronics courses than computer science courses, or the other way around.

Progression routes 

At the end of Year 3, you will have the option to complete one more year for a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degree, or a further two years for a Master of Engineering (MEng) degree. 

The latter is subject to you achieving an average of 55% or higher in Year 3.

Find courses

The courses you can study will vary from year to year and may be different for your year of entry.

You can get an idea of what you might study by viewing the latest course information for this programme.

Find Year 3 courses (2025-2026 academic year)

The wide variety of course options expands even further in Year 4. 

You can choose options from both electronics and computer science. 

As in Year 3, you can move away from an equal split of the two subjects.

You will also learn about the economic, social and environmental context of engineering.

Individual project 

You will undertake a major individual project worth one third of your grade for the year. 

This forms the most significant practical element of your programme.

Your project can be with a supervisor in either engineering or informatics. 

You can link your project to the research activity of your supervisor. This will expose you to, and allow you to contribute to, the research output of the University.

Find courses

The courses you can study will vary from year to year and may be different for your year of entry.

You can get an idea of what you might study by viewing the latest course information for this programme.

Find Year 4 courses (2025-2026 academic year)

Study abroad

In Year 3, you will have opportunities to study abroad.

The University has a variety of agreements with international institutions that allow you to study there in Year 3. 

Common destinations include:

  • USA
  • Canada
  • Australia
  • Europe
  • Asia

What are my choices for going abroad?

This is enhanced by subject-specific agreements which provide additional destinations.

Where can I go?

(Revised 12 March 2025 to update study abroad information)

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

The exciting nature of engineering means you will have a diverse learning experience throughout your degree programme.

We will teach you through a combination of:

  • lectures
  • tutorials
  • laboratory sessions
  • projects
  • group work

In your final years, you will dedicate more time to private study, so you will need to be well-motivated and organised. 

You will also receive individual supervision with projects.

Sustainability

Compulsory course material on this programme reflects the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals; primarily SDGs 7, 8 and 9.

Depending on the optional courses you choose to take, you will have the opportunity to explore others.

Further your knowledge of sustainability with our free training and resources

Social and civic responsibility is a key focus of the University.

Learn more about our focus on social and civic responsibility in our Climate Strategy

Assessment

You will be assessed through coursework and examinations.

For detailed information on compulsory and option courses you should review the Programme Structure - Degree Programme Table. You can find links to this information under the individual years of study.

Refer to individual course details to see the types of assessment included.

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.

Support for your studies

Where you will study

Study location

As this is a joint honours degree across the Schools of Engineering and Informatics, your taught courses will be delivered across two different campus locations within the city.

Informatics and computer science related courses will primarily be delivered in the University’s Central Campus area, close to the city centre.

Engineering courses will primarily be delivered on the King’s Buildings campus, around 15 minutes from central Edinburgh by bus.

You may also study at various other University campus locations in the vibrant city of Edinburgh, depending on the option courses selected.

Academic facilities

You will have access to state of the art laboratory facilities including:

  • industry standard software and hardware
  • in-person and remote labs

In addition, you can access a wide range of academic facilities, including:

  • libraries
  • study spaces (some spaces are open 24 hours)
  • IT facilities
  • social spaces
  • leisure facilities

You can also take advantage of the University’s computing resources. This includes a laptop loan service offered through the library, with extended loans available for those in financial hardship.

Borrowing a laptop

All essential reading materials are freely accessible through the University library or on our online learning platform LEARN.

Engineering Makerspace

You will also be able to bring your ideas to life at the Engineering Makerspace, a dedicated workspace for students to design, build and test their own projects and inventions.

Engineering Makerspace

Virtual tour

You can take a closer look at the School of Engineering and explore our facilities and campus on the University's Virtual Visit site.

Virtual visit - School of Engineering

Accreditation

Our Electronics and Electrical Engineering degrees are currently going through the process of reaccreditation by the Institution of Engineering and Technology. From time to time, programmes undergo review as part of the cyclical accreditation processes. Statuses can be checked on the Engineering Council pages.

Accredited by the Institution of Engineering Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

Candidates must hold a masters degree or doctorate accredited as further learning for CEng to hold accredited qualifications for CEng registration.

Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees. 

An accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.

(Revised 21 May 2025 to update accreditation information)

Career paths

The electronics and IT sectors are vibrant parts of the UK economy, where demand for graduates is very high.

Graduates are leading advances in fields such as: 

  • machine learning and deep learning
  • technology for medicine
  • efficiency in transportation
  • safety monitoring systems
  • surveillance
  • entertainment
  • wireless communications
  • manufacturing and computing
  • renewable energy generation

Our graduates usually find employment in engineering or IT and computing, with a few graduates entering other graduate jobs.

This includes employment in electronics and IT, for example, as:

  • electronics engineer
  • firmware engineer
  • hardware design engineer
  • software engineer
  • IT consultant

Our graduates have entered challenging and rewarding careers with a wide range of companies.

Internships

The School of Engineering funds a number of internships each year to enable students to work on research or teaching focused projects over the summer and gain relevant work experience here in the School. Internships are allocated on a competitive basis, across each of the four disciplines: Chemical, Civil, Electronics & Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. Applications are open to non-finalist undergraduate students who are at least in the second year of their programme.​

We advertise internship opportunities and arrange company presentations with the Careers Service. These experiences can feature on your transcript after completing an Edinburgh Award.

About the Edinburgh Award

(Revised 12 March 2025 to update internships information)

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals.

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies.

With the Careers Service, you can:

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions

Visit the Careers Service website

Further study

Edinburgh graduates have progressed into employment or postgraduate study like our MSc Sensors and Imaging Systems degree.

MSc Sensors and Imaging Systems

How to apply

You must submit a full application through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) before the relevant deadline.

Guidance on applying through UCAS

What you need to apply

As part of your application, you will need:

  • your academic qualifications
  • a personal statement
  • evidence of your English language skills (with relevant qualifications)
  • a reference

How we select

If you have met, or are predicted to meet, all our entry requirements by the relevant deadline, then your application will go into our selection process.

As part of this selection process, we will review all the information you submit in your UCAS application when we decide who to select for this degree programme.

How we select applicants

When to apply

  • 2026 entry UCAS deadline: 14 January 2026 (6:00pm GMT)

This is the deadline for all UK, EU and international applicants to non-medicine and veterinary medicine programmes.

To find out if any degree programmes have spaces after 14 January 2026, search the University of Edinburgh on the UCAS website.

Search degrees that are open on the UCAS website

Key application dates and deadlines

After you apply

After you have applied for your degree programme, we suggest you have a look at the following information to help you prepare for university:

Applying as an international student

As an international student, you apply for this degree programme through UCAS.  

Find out more about applying through UCAS  

Visas and immigration 

If you do not have the right to live in the UK, you will need to apply for and secure a Student visa before the start date of your degree programme.  

Our Student Immigration Service can help you with the Student visa application process. 

Applying for a visa  

Agents  

An education agent is someone who can help you with the application process as an international student. 

We work with education agents around the world and have a list of local offices you can contact.  

Find contact details for an education agent

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single undergraduate students from outside Edinburgh. To be eligible, you need to meet all criteria and apply for accommodation by 16 August in the year of your entry to the University.

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

Our societies help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.

Our engineering student-led projects include:

  • Engineering for Change (sustainability)
  • Edinburgh University Formula Student (automotive technology)
  • HYPED (Hyperloop)
  • Endeavour (rocketry)
  • HumanEd (robotics)
  • Precious plastics (recycling)

Societies

Sports clubs 

The electronics and electrical engineering discipline supports the Electronics After Hours Club. This allows you to develop your own extra-curricular projects in a supportive environment.

The city of Edinburgh

Edinburgh is regularly voted among the UK’s top student cities (top 2 in the UK, QS 2024).

Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life.

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

Our community 

The School of Engineering and the School of Informatics foster a vibrant and inclusive community. Our students come together to collaborate on innovative projects, and participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities. The supportive environment encourages personal and academic growth, with numerous opportunities for community-building and networking.

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include:

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustment

Health and wellbeing support services

Contact us

Contact us through our enquiry team if you have any questions about this programme.

Open days, events and visits

Find out when our next open days will be taking place

Open days, events and visits

Chat to our students on Unibuddy

Related degree programmes

You may also be interested in

Discover Uni data

This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.

It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

Some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.

  • Revised A level and IB required subjects on 9 April 2025 to correct Computing Science to Computer Science.
  • Revised 29 May 2025 to add information on Sustainable Development Goals and sustainability at Edinburgh to overview, rankings and teaching sections