MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering with a Year Abroad
Enrich your study of electrical and electronic engineering with a year abroad in this professionally accredited, integrated Master’s degree.
Key information
Award
MEng
Duration
4 years
full-time
Applications : admissions ratio
10 : 1
Based on 2021 entry data
- UCAS course code: n/a*
- ECTS: 240/270
- Start date: October 2023
- Department: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Campus: South Kensington
* Apply initially for MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering (H604)
Overview
Electrical and electronic engineers are at the forefront of the challenge to connect our world; to design and build more efficient and affordable technology; to provide a robust and green energy network; and to help us live better, healthier, smarter and more sustainably.
It’s a discipline which impacts on almost every area of our lives, including communications, commerce, entertainment, manufacturing, healthcare, transport, energy and the environment.
Study programme
Years one and two follow a core programme covering the fundamentals of electrical and electronic engineering in areas such as analogue and digital electronics, communication and control, alongside mathematics and computing modules.
You will learn to analyse and optimise systems by modelling them. You will also focus on programming, with the chance to use the latest computing technologies.
In your third year, you tailor your degree to fit your interests and choose from a number of advanced topics that broaden and deepen the material covered in years one and two. You choose from a range of advanced subjects in electrical and electronic engineering.
MEng students have the option to complete a six-month industrial placement, gaining valuable skills and experience by solving real engineering problems. Alternatively, you can take part in a three-month group project, acting as technical consultants to a brief provided by an industrial client. This involves specifying and designing, implementing and testing a pre-production prototype of a new product or technical solution.
You also have the chance to complete an integrated year abroad during your third year at one of our partner universities where you can challenge yourself in a different academic and cultural environment.
Projects
Engineers are innovators and problem solvers – you need practical skills, planning, time management and the ability to work as part of a team.
You'll start developing your engineering skills through a structured programme of project work from your first year, with a group project to establish the basics of the engineering design process.
You begin by deconstructing a simple electronic toy and using a circuit simulation program to understand how it works. You then propose and design some enhancements to the toy and try them in the circuit simulator. Finally, you build your chosen design and test it in competition with other groups.
Group projects in your second and third year let you investigate the technical, social and financial aspects of products and services, and how to design, build and test them.
You will also have weekly classes in the electrical and computer laboratories to gain valuable practical experience.
By your final year you'll be fully equipped to demonstrate all your knowledge, skills and innovation in a large and ambitious individual project. This project is the most important single piece of work in your degree programme, giving you the chance to demonstrate independence and originality, and to plan and organise a large project.
Transfer between courses
Electrical and Electronic Engineering students and Electronic and Information Engineering students share a common first year. This gives you a solid theoretical base and lets you understand and explore the two subjects before making your choice.
At the end of your first year, you choose whether to study on the Electrical and Electronic Engineering stream, or the Electronic and Information Engineering stream.
Within the Electrical and Electronic Engineering degree, you have further options for your studies:
- You can decide whether to study the BEng (3 years), MEng or MEng with Management (4 years) at the end of your second year.
- You can transfer from to the MEng with a Year Abroad during your third year. The placements are competitive and the final selection is made following an interview. You must normally be achieving marks of 65% and above at the time of selection to be eligible for the Year Abroad option.
There is no benefit in applying to more than one course in this Department so you should only apply to one.
If you are an international student, transferring to a different course could have an impact on your student visa. Please visit our International Student Support webpage for further information.
Structure
Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about them.
Year 1
Core modules
- Mathematics 1A
- Mathematics 1B
- Topics in Electrical Engineering
- Analysis and Design of Circuits
- Digital and Computer Architecture
- Programming for Engineers
- Electronics Design Project 1
Year 2
Core modules
- Mathematics for Engineers
- Signal and Systems
- Electromagnetism
- Circuits and Systems
- Power Electronics and Power Systems
- Communications
- Control Systems
- Electronics Design Project 2
Year 3
Core modules
You will take the following core modules.
- I-Explore
I-Explore
Your I-Explore module offers you choices from a range of subjects hosted outside of the department. You will be taught alongside students from other courses with options including business, management and many more.
Optional modules
You will choose four modules from Group A and two modules from Group B, along with one module from Group P.
Group A
- Advanced Mathematics for Signal Processing
- Analogue Integrated Circuits and Systems
- Artificial Intelligence
- Biomedical Electronics
- Communication Networks
- Communication Systems
- Control Engineering
- Digital Signal Processing
- Electrical Energy Systems
- Machine Learning
- Microwave Technology
- Optoelectronics
- Semiconductor Devices
Group B
- Advanced Signal Processing
- Deep Learning
- Digital Systems Design
- Embedded Systems
- High Level Programming
- Instrumentation
- Power Electronics
- Principles of Classical and Modern Radar
- Real Time Digital Signal Processing
Group P
- Group Consultancy Project
- Individual Industrial Placement - Part I
Group Consultancy Project
As an alternative to the industrial placement, you can take part in a group project (6–8 people) during the summer term. The group acts as a technical consultant to a brief provided by an industrial client. The project will involve the specification, design, implementation and testing of a pre-production prototype of a new product or technical solution.
Individual Industrial Placement
The industrial placement typically runs from April to September and is supervised by a member of staff from the host company and a member of staff from the Department. It must be related to your degree in technical, business or commercial content. Departmental staff will help you set and agree on objectives for your placement, which is assessed by a written and oral report.
Students have previously enjoyed placement opportunities with:
- Altera
- Bang & Olufsen
- Dialog Semiconductors
- Goldman Sachs
- IBM
- Ocado Technology
Year 4 (Year abroad)
Opportunities
The third year consists of an agreed programme of study at an approved university in either Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland or the USA. We currently have exchange agreements with:
- KU Leuven, Belgium
- Ecole Polytechnique, France
- Telecom, Paris Tech, France
- RWTH Aachen, Germany
- University of Rome, Tor Vergata, Italy
- Technical University of Delft, Netherlands
- National University of Singapore, Singapore
- KTH Stockholm, Sweden
- ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- University of California, USA
This is an integrated year abroad so the grades you achieve will count directly towards your Imperial degree.
Conditions
Language proficiency
Teaching is in the language of your host country in France and Germany, so you will need to reach an acceptable proficiency in the relevant language before you go. Free language classes are available at the College to help you prepare.
Availability
There are limited places available on the Year Abroad programme, which means that competition for selection is strong and a placement cannot be guaranteed.
Normally, only students with marks of 60% or above will be eligible for placements in France and Germany. Only students with marks of 70% or above will be eligible for placements in Singapore and the USA.
Other
- Please note the above is an illustrative list of universities located abroad which the Department is currently partnered with. Partnerships with universities are subject to continuous review and individual partnerships may or may not be renewed.
- There may be limitations placed upon your ability to live and study in these locations. If applicable you will need to successfully apply for the relevant visa. This applies to all students, including Home students, in light of the UK's decision to leave the European Union. Find the latest information on Imperial and the EU.
- Study abroad placements in Europe are currently available through the Erasmus scheme. Imperial College now has approval to continue implementing its 2020-21 Erasmus project into 2021-22.Find the latest information on the Erasmus scheme.
Download theprogramme specification [PDF] – this is the most up-to-date version available for this course. It may change for your year of entry. If/when changes to this course are approved by the College, we will update this document and the information on this course page.
I-Explore
Through I-Explore, you'll have the chance to deepen your knowledge in a brand new subject area, chosen from a huge range of for-credit modules.
All of our undergraduate courses include one module from I-Explore's wide selection. The module you choose will be fully integrated into your course's curriculum and count as credit towards your degree.
Professional accreditation
This course is professionally accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
Achieving a professionally accredited integrated Master's degree (MEng) means that you have satisfied the first step to becoming a Chartered Engineer (CEng) in your chosen field by satisfying the educational requirements of professional registration. To gain Chartered status, you will need to demonstrate your ability to meet additional graduate level competences described in the Engineering Council's UK-SPEC.
A CEng is a highly respected qualification earned by professionals working in engineering, which can lead to higher earning potential and better career prospects.
Professional registration also brings international recognition of your qualification, which is particularly useful for students preparing for a career abroad.
Our accreditation agreement with the Institution of Engineering and Technology is renewed every five years. The current accreditation agreement is due to be renewed for students starting their studies in the 2023–24 academic year. The Department expects to be accredited into the future.
Associateship
As well as your main Imperial degree, you will also receive the award of the Associateship of the City and Guilds of London Institute (ACGI) on completion of this course.
The City and Guilds of London Institute is one of three historic Colleges that came together to form Imperial College London in 1907.
Find out more about our Associateships.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching
We place great importance on teaching you the underpinning analytic bases of the subject from the start. To do this, we use a combination of the following teaching methods:
- Lectures
- Design and build projects
- Flipped classroom approaches
- Group projects
- Laboratory work (software, hardware and embedded systems)
- Individual projects
- Industrial placement (MEng option only)
- Problem solving classes
- Software laboratory
- Workshops
- Video recordings
- Tutorial sessions
Assessment
- Coursework software or hardware deliverable
- Oral and poster presentations
- Reports
- Written examinations
Staff expertise
All your modules are taught by our academic staff, who are experts in their field and often bring their extensive research experience into the classroom. Some modules, such as mathematics, are taught by specialised teaching fellows. Your laboratory sessions are run by academic staff, who are supported by our technical staff, and graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants (GTAs and UTAs).
European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)
The overall ECTS credit will depend upon the selection of modules, and whether you choose to do an industrial placement (greater ECTS credit) or the group project alternative (lower ECTS credit).
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis – see selection process below.
For advice on the requirements for the qualifications listed here please contact the Department (see Contact us).
We also accept a wide range of international qualifications. If the requirements for your qualifications are not listed here, please see our academic requirements by country page for guidance on which qualifications we accept.
A-levels
Minimum entry standards
Our minimum entry standard for 2023 entry is A*A*A or A*AAA overall, to include:
- A* in Mathematics
- A*/A in Physics (A* is required if applying with three A-levels. At least an A is required if applying with four A-levels)
- A in a third and/or fourth subject
Recommended subjects
- Further Mathematics (strongly encouraged but not essential)
- Chemistry
- Computer Science /Computing
- Design and Technology
- Electronics
General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted.
Students taking English exam board science A-levels will be required to pass the practical endorsement.
Typical offer range
As a guide, here are the typical offers made to at least 80% of A-level applicants for 2021 entry:
- Three A-level offer: A*AA-A*A*A
Practical endorsement (practical science assessment)
If you are made an offer you will be required to achieve a pass in the practical endorsement in all science subjects that form part of the offer.
The practical endorsement is part of the reformed English linear A-levels.
Additional Mathematics support
Our A-level Mathematics online course covers a range of key topic areas to help you gain a deeper understanding of the skills and techniques required to succeed in your A-level Mathematics exams.
This optional course has been built around the A-level syllabus with the aim of developing your thinking skills, fluency and confidence.
Please note: this course is not compulsory and does not form part of the entry requirements for this course. It is available free of charge via the EdX website. It is self-paced so you can start it at any time.
International Baccalaureate
Minimum entry standards
Our minimum entry standard for 2023 entry is 40 points overall, to include:
- 7 in Mathematics at higher level
- 7 in Physics at higher level
Typical offer range
As a guide, the typical offer made to at least 80% of IB applicants for 2021 entry was 38–40 points.
Mathematics Higher Level
Mathematics Analysis and Approaches or the Applications and Interpretation syllabi will be accepted at higher level, but Analysis and Approaches is preferred.
Additional Mathematics support
Our A-level Mathematics online course is available free of charge via the EdX website.
Although this optional course has been built around the A-level syllabus, it is relevant to your curriculum too.
Please note: this course is not compulsory and does not form part of the entry requirements for this course. It is self-paced so you can start it at any time.
Advanced Placements
The grades detailed below are the minimum requirements for students offering only Advanced Placements as their exams for entry to Imperial.
If you are studying a High School Diploma that is accepted by Imperial alongside Advanced Placements, requirements may apply to both your Diploma and Advanced Placements.
Please consult our country index to check whether we accept your High School Diploma programme for admission.
Our minimum requirement for this course is grades 5, 5, 5, 5, to include:
- 5 in Calculus BC
- 5 Physics
- 5 in two further relevant subjects
Additional Mathematics support
Our A-level Mathematics online course is available free of charge via the EdX website.
Although this optional course has been built around the A-level syllabus, it is relevant to your curriculum too.
Please note: this course is not compulsory and does not form part of the entry requirements for this course. It is self-paced so you can start it at any time.
Selection process
Assessing your application
Admissions Tutors consider all the evidence available during our rigorous selection process and the College flags key information providing assessors with a more complete picture of the educational and social circumstances relevant to the applicant. Some applicants may be set lower offers and some more challenging ones.
Post-application open day and interview
We encourage applications from all who want to learn what it takes to create our future. You should have the potential to succeed in a challenging course, as demonstrated by meeting our entry grades. But we are looking beyond your raw marks for a passion in developing your knowledge and understanding of this broadest form of engineering. In addition to your academic ability, we will look at your personal statement and reference to understand your personal motivation, your commitment to your chosen area of study, and your broader interests.
Interview
If your UCAS application indicates that you are likely to satisfy our requirements you may be invited for an online interview.
Here you will be interviewed by a member of academic staff on general engineering topics and your aspirations for the future. You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions you have about our courses and life at Imperial.
Foundation programmes
A foundation course is a one-year preparation course, designed for international students, which leads to undergraduate programmes in the UK. Foundation programmes are normally for school-leavers who have studied a non-British curriculum but wish to pursue a degree at a UK university.
Foundation programmes are offered by many UK universities, but only two would be considered for entry to Imperial:
- UCL’s Undergraduate Preparatory Certificate for Science and Engineering (UPCSE), and
- Warwick’s International Foundation Programme (IFP) in Science & Engineering
UCL UPCSE
A year-long programme for international students whose school leaving qualifications do not allow them direct entry to UK universities. Students must complete four modules across the year – two compulsory and two elective modules:
| Module | Status |
|---|---|
| Research and Academic Skills: Science and Society | Compulsory |
| Academic English | Compulsory |
| Biology | Elective |
| Chemistry | Elective |
| Mathematics | Elective |
| Physics | Elective |
| Information correct at time of publishing, but subject to change | |
To be considered for admission to Electrical and Electronic Engineering, international students studying UCL UPCSE must achieve:
- 80% overall
- 80% in Mathematics and Physics
Warwick IFP Science and Engineering
A year-long programme for international students whose school leaving qualifications do not allow them direct entry to UK universities.
To be considered for admission to Electrical and Electronic Engineering, international students studying Warwick IFP Science and Engineering must achieve:
- 80% overall
- 80% in Mathematics and Physics
To meet these requirements, students should choose from the following IFP pathways:
- Engineering
Contextual admissions
We want to make sure that the Imperial learning community is as diverse as the society we serve. So to make our admissions process as fair as possible, we have introduced admissions schemes for Home students that allow us to consider your application in the full context of any additional barriers you may face.
Find out if you meet the eligibility criteria for our contextual admissions schemes.
If your predicted grades meet the minimum College entry standard of AAA at A-level or an equivalent level qualification in the relevant subjects, this department will guarantee you an interview.
Read more about the contextual admissions scheme in this department and others.
English language requirement (all applicants)
All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.
For admission to this course, you must achieve the higher College requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the English language requirements for undergraduate applicants.
Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)
An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students who apply for this course.
For more information about the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS), please see the International Student Support website.
View our terms and conditions on visas.
Competence standards
Our competence standards highlight the core skills students should be able to demonstrate by the end of this course.
View the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering's competence standards:
- Competence standards (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) [PDF]
- Competence standards (Electronic and Information Engineering) [PDF]
We believe in providing the widest practicable access to all of our degree programmes and will make reasonable adjustments wherever possible to support your study. For more information, please contact the Department using the contact details below.
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
T: +44 (0)20 7594 6196
E: admit.eee@imperial.ac.uk
Tuition fees and funding
We charge tuition fees for every year that your course lasts. The fee you will be charged is based on your fee status, which is determined by government regulations.
Home rate of tuition
2023 entry
£9,250 per year.
Please note, this fee is set by the UK government and is subject to change until it has passed into legislation. We will update this page when this happens.
Year abroad
For the 2022-23 year abroad, the fee was £1,385 for that year.
Read more about funding for year abroad placements.
For each subsequent year, you should expect and budget for your tuition fee to increase by an amount in line with inflation. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPIX) value, taken from April in the calendar year in which the academic session starts.
For example, the RPIX value in April 2023 will apply to fees for the academic year 2023–2024.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Home fee or not depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
Home fee eligibility
You can find the conditions you need to meet to pay the Home rate of tuition fees from the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA). These apply to higher education courses in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand, noting that these are subject to amendment.
Because of the UK’s exit from the European Union, some frameworks of eligibility have been amended. Individuals affected by the amended frameworks should refer to the UKCISA publication, Who pays ‘home’ fees for higher education in England [PDF].
Government funding
If you're a Home student, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the UK government to cover the entire cost of tuition for every year of your course.
You can also apply for a means-tested Maintenance Loan to help towards your living costs.
Overseas rate of tuition
2023 entry
The fee for Overseas students has not been confirmed for the 2023-24 academic year. The fee is controlled by the College and we will update this page when it is announced.
As a guide, the Overseas fee for 2022-23 was £35,100.
Year abroad
For the 2022-23 year abroad, the fee was 100% of the relevant fee for that year.
Read more about funding for year abroad placements.
For each subsequent year, you should expect and budget for your tuition fee to increase by an amount in line with inflation. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPIX) value, taken from April in the calendar year in which the academic session starts. For example, the RPIX value in April 2023 will apply to fees for the academic year 2023–2024.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Overseas fee or not depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
Home fee eligibility
You can find the conditions you need to meet to pay the Home rate of tuition fees from the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA). These apply to higher education courses in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand, noting that these are subject to amendment.
Because of the UK’s exit from the European Union, some frameworks of eligibility have been amended. Individuals affected by the amended frameworks should refer to the UKCISA publication, Who pays ‘home’ fees for higher education in England [PDF].
Additional course costs
This section outlines additional costs relevant to this course. These are not included in your tuition fees. It's possible that all, or only some, of these will be relevant to you.
Figures are approximated, usually based on costs in the most recent academic year. They are likely to change each year but it's useful for you to be aware of the things you may have to pay for. This can help you budget for life at Imperial.
Mandatory costs are those that you will need to pay to fully participate in and complete your studies. Optional costs are not essential to your studies so you can opt-out of these.
| Description | Mandatory/optional | Guide to cost |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment (course materials) | Mandatory | Provided |
| Equipment (laptop computer) | Optional | Variable |
| Placement (travel and/or accommodation) | Optional | Variable |
| Personal Protective Equipment | Mandatory | Provided |
| Please review the information below for more information on the costs listed in the table. | ||
Course materials
The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering will provide you with the necessary materials for your study free of charge, within reason. We encourage you to bring your own devices, but a number of laptops can be obtained on loan. The Library has multiple copies of the recommended textbooks to support the different modules.
Industrial placement
You have the opportunity to undertake a six-month industrial placement as part of the Department's MEng degrees. The industrial placement is optional and there is a group project alternative (see Structure for more information).
The additional costs associated with the industrial placement will vary depending on where your placement is based. You should expect to budget for travel and/or accommodation, though you will also receive a salary from your host company which you can put towards these costs.
Laptop computer
You will need a laptop for some classes and coursework. Any modern device running Windows, Linux or Mac OS X will be suitable. For Windows users, the minimum specification for the 2017–18 academic year was:
- Windows 10 capable
- Intel i5/i7 6th/7th generation processor
- 8GB RAM
- 256 GB SSD HDD
The Department has a number of laptops available for daily loan.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Wearing personal protective equipment is compulsory for some activities on this course. Where this applies, we will provide you with the necessary PPE free of charge.
Accommodation and living costs
Living costs, including accommodation, are not included in your tuition fees.
Most Imperial undergraduates choose to live in our halls of residence in their first year. You can compare costs across different accommodation options.
Bursaries and scholarships
Careers
In every industry where you find modern technology, you’ll also find our graduates. Because of the diversity of our field, our students go on to careers in every type of organisation you could imagine, from energy suppliers to investment banks, from computer game designers to car manufacturers.
Recent graduates have become:
- Electronics Engineer, Sony
- Chassis Electronics Engineer, Multinational automotive company
- Software Engineer, Goldman Sachs
- Technology Analyst, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
- Low Carbon Engineer, Electricity distribution company
How to apply
UCAS key information
- UCAS course code: n/a*
- UCAS institution code: I50
Apply on UCAS
You can start and track your application on UCAS Hub. There you can add this course as one of your choices.
* Apply initially to MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering (H604)
Application deadlines
25 January 2023 at 18.00 (UK time).
If your application includes a medicine course, the deadline is 15 October 2022 at 18.00 (UK time).
Any questions?
Explore our step by step guide on how to apply. You can also find answers to your questions about admissions.
Related departments
You may also be interested in the following related departments and the courses they offer:
Connect with us
Got a question?
T: +44 (0)20 7594 6198
E: admit.eee@imperial.ac.uk
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