MEng Electronics and Computer Science

Curriculum renewal

We are 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.

Year 1

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.

Engineers are creative problem-solvers. They are skilled at working in interdisciplinary teams to deal with society's ever more complex challenges.

Introductory courses

In Year 1, you will take introductory courses and develop skills that you will later rely on as a professional engineer, including:

• confidence
• advanced thinking
• teamwork
• problem-solving skills

Engineering Principles

In this course, you will experience a wide range of challenges and develop essential engineering skills. Plus, you will understand the subject's breadth, as well as the role of your chosen discipline.

Engineering Design

In this course, you will work as part of a team on an interdisciplinary engineering task. You will get involved in design and use your engineering judgement to test your solution.

Computer Science

In this course, you will be introduced to the basic principles of programming and computation. You will study how information can be represented and processed in computer systems; learn fundamental techniques for managing data and solving problems using computer programs.

Additional courses

You will also study mathematical topics that have particular relevance to engineers.

Year 2

In Year 2, you will specialise in core topics 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 on:

• algorithms
• data structures
• computer systems

You will also usually study:

• engineering mathematics
• essential professional skills for engineers

These courses prepare you for further specialisation at honours level.

They cover technical concepts and, where possible, give you the opportunity to apply these in a practical situation.

Year 3

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

You will typically have a choice of 23 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 BEng degree, or a further two years for an MEng degree.

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

Year 4

The wide variety of course options expands even further in Year 4, with 50 courses to choose from across electronics and computer science.

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

You can also typically take the course ‘Professional Issues for Engineers'. In this course, you will learn about the economic, social and environmental context of engineering.

Individual project

You will begin a major project that will span Years 4 and 5.

If you undertake an industry-sponsored project on placement, you will normally conduct this on company premises.

If you undertake an internal project, you will work within the University with a supervisor from either Engineering or Informatics.

Your project can be linked to the research activity of your supervisor. This will expose you to, and allow you to contribute to, the research output of the School.

Year 5

Your final year will involve practical and project work.

Semester 1

You will continue the major project you started in Year 4, working in industry or embedded within one of our academic research groups in Engineering or Informatics.

This phase of the project represents approximately half of your year’s work, meaning Year 5 involves the application of learned knowledge to practical situations.

Semester 2

You will select from a choice of usually 45 advanced courses to specialise further or broaden your skills.

Programme structure

Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.

To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme structure (2023/24)

Our facilities

In Year 1, your lectures are taught in the University's Central Campus area close to the city centre.

Other teaching takes place within the School of Engineering or the wider King's Buildings campus.

In later years you will mainly learn at the King's Buildings campus, depending on courses selected.

The King's Buildings campus is around 15 minutes from central Edinburgh by bus.

The School of Informatics’ lectures, tutorials and other classes are held in Appleton Tower. The building is located in the University's Central Campus area, and provides purpose-built facilities and dedicated learning and teaching spaces.

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

Access to facilities

You can access the University's:

• libraries
• study spaces (some study spaces are open 24 hours)
• IT facilities
• social spaces
• leisure facilities
• the brand-new shared learning, teaching and social hub, the Nucleus

Take a virtual tour of our School

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

Placements

In your final year, you will have the opportunity to undertake a six-month placement in industry or at an overseas research institution or university.

During this placement, you will complete a major individual project.

Finding a placement

Many students find placements through:

• our network of local industry partners
• through a UK Electronics Skills Foundation (UKESF) scholarship

UK Electronics Skills Foundation (UKESF) scholarship

These opportunities are competitive; you will need to interview for a place.

You also have the option to source your own placement in a relevant company.

We will support you in securing a placement.

All placements advertised by our school will be paid opportunities.

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 (University of California, Caltech, Chicago, Pennsylvania, and others)
• Canada
• Australia
• Europe
• Asia

Subject specific agreements

This is enhanced by subject specific agreements arranged by the School of Engineering and the School of Informatics.

These subject specific agreements provide additional destinations in countries such as:

• USA (for example, Texas at Austin)
• France
• Germany
• Switzerland

In addition, MEng projects occasionally take place overseas.

What are my choices for going abroad?

How will I learn?

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

Teaching can be through a mixture 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.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed through coursework and examinations.

For detailed information you should review the Programme Structure - Degree Programme Table to see compulsory and option courses. You can find this information under 'What you will study'.

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

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

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

MSc Sensors and Imaging Systems

Where do our graduates find employment?

Usually, in engineering or IT/computing with a few graduates entering other graduate jobs.

This includes employment in electronics/IT. For example:

• electronics engineer
• firmware engineer
• hardware design engineer
• software engineer
• employment in other graduate roles such as an IT consultant

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

Some of the notable employers for recent graduates include:

• Arm
• Cirrus Logic
• CSR
• IBM
• Microsoft
• NTT Communications
• Texas Instruments

Careers Service

We support you to recognise the wealth of possibilities ahead, during your time at the University and after graduation.

Our award-winning Careers Service plays an essential part in your wider student experience and provides:

• tailored advice
• individual guidance and personal assistance
• internships and networking opportunities (with employers from local organisations to top multinationals)
• access to the experience of our worldwide alumni network

We invest in your future beyond the end of your degree and studying at the University of Edinburgh will lay the foundations for your future success.

Careers Service

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

• SQA Highers: AAAA (achievement by end of S5 preferred). BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: AAA - AAB.
• IB: 37 points with 666 at HL - 34 points with 655 at HL.

Minimum entry requirement

The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

• SQA Highers: AABB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 32 points with 655 at HL.

More information for widening access applicants

Required subjects

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:

• SQA: Highers: Mathematics at A and one of Physics (preferred) Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science or Engineering Science at B. Higher Applications of Mathematics is not accepted in place of Higher Mathematics. Advanced Higher Mathematics is recommended. National 5s: Physics or Engineering Science at B and English at C.
• A Levels: Mathematics at A and one of Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science/Computing, Design & Technology (excluding Food Technology) or Engineering at B. GCSEs: Physics or Science at B or 6 and English at C or 4.
• IB: HL: Mathematics (Analysis and approaches only) at 6 and one of Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science or Design Technology at 5. SL: Physics at 5 (if not at HL) and English at 5.

Find out more about entry requirements

International applicants

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Entry requirements by country

Mature applicants

We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.

Mature applicant qualifications

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.

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

• SQA National 5 at C
• GCSE at C or 4
• Level 2 Certificate at C
• IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

English language tests

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

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component.
• 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 162 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 54 in each component.

(Revised 29 August 2023 to remove PTE Academic Online)

We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

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

English language requirements

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.

Please note that some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for MEng Electronics and Computer Science

Additional costs

Laptop

Many students do bring their own laptop/computer to access online materials, but there are University computing facilities and laptop loan schemes available if students do not have one of their own.

Textbooks

Some key academic textbooks are purchased by students, but all essential reading materials will be freely available through the University Library.

Funding

For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.

Fees and funding

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