Electrical and Electronic BEng/MEng Modules

First year | Second year | Third year | MEng

First year

Engineering Mathematics I

provides a sound knowledge of the elements of classical engineering mathematics which universally underpin the formation of the professional engineer. Topics include fundamental algebraic techniques, function manipulation and single-independent variable calculus.

Electrical and Electronic Principles I

provides basic concepts and knowledge for the analysis, design and development of simple electronic circuits. You will also be introduced to the basic operation of the Arduino microcontrollers for building digital devices.

Electrical and Electronic Principles II

links the various concepts in electricity with network operation of devices highlighting the practical use and application of these devices, along with concepts for analysing these electrical/electronic systems.

Electronic Circuits and Systems

involves the study of the processes of analysis and design of electronic circuits and systems. You will learn about circuit design and develop your practical skills by designing electronic circuits and systems in hands-on activities.

Engineering Mathematics II

introduces intermediate engineering mathematical techniques. These include trigonometry, matrices, vectors and complex numbers, study of differential equations and numerical methods. You will also cover statistics and probability methods used in the engineering domain.

Communication Systems

Design and Manufacture

covers the basic principles of design and manufacture with the opportunity to get hands on with industrial workshop equipment. This module will help you to develop a set of skills and techniques that will allow you solve engineering problems in a cost effective and sustainable manner.

Electronics CAE and Programming Fundamentals

introduces the general principles of Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) and its applications to electronic engineering. You will use software to design the hardware for simple electronic circuits, create manufacturing files for printed circuit boards, and develop a working knowledge of the 'C’ programming language. You will also receive a basic introduction to MATLAB as a numerical analysis tool.

Second year

Engineering Mathematics III

is an advanced engineering mathematics module. You will study topics such as functions of several variables, operators: grad, div and curl, multiple integrals and Fourier transforms.

Introduction to Control Engineering

introduces you to the theory of control systems and computer control. You will study the analysis and design of single-input single-output continuous and digital feedback systems. The background theory is supported by computer aided design studies (e.g. using the MATLAB package) and practical laboratory experiments.

Programmable Logic Controllers and Instrumentation

covers the instrumentation aspects of computer control systems. You will learn about programmable logic controllers, the principles of interfacing industrial processes with control computers and the instrumentation required for this purpose.

Applied Electronics

provides an insight into the practical applications of electronics. You will study basic functional blocks such as microcontrollers, power supplies, amplifiers, oscillators, data acquisition circuits etc. and will also look at methods of designing complex electronic systems. The module is led by a project: you will design, build and test a piece of electronic equipment, including CAD-based PCB design, layout and assembly.

Embedded Systems Fundamentals

is an introduction to the fundamentals of embedded systems from the perspective of an electronics engineer tasked with designing and developing firmware and hardware for low to medium resource microprocessor systems.

Electromagnetics

is at the heart of electrical and electronic engineering and is fundamental in understanding electricity generation and transmission or microprocessors and mobile telephony. You will develop a broad understanding of theory, numerical modelling and experimental practices relevant to this most central of electronics disciplines.

Embedded Design for Internet of Things

extends the themes of Embedded Systems Fundamentals to provide you with the skills to utilize common low to medium resource microcontrollers, together with wired and wireless communication protocols, in the hardware and firmware design of interconnected embedded systems. You will also consider security at the point of design of the inter-processor communications links.

Project Management

presents some of the background, theory and practice to enable you to embed project management expertise in your academic and professional development. You will focus on the wider role of a project manager, such as scheduling, time/resource management and how future environmental pressures can influence a current project.

Third year

Core modules

Individual Project

gives you the opportunity to engage in a substantial piece of individual research and/or product development work focused on a topic relevant to your specific discipline. This topic may be drawn from a variety of sources including your placement experience, research groups, the company in which you are employed or a subject of personal interest (subject to suitable supervision being available).

Advanced Digital Design

reviews design philosophy in the light of using modern Electronic Computer Aided Design (ECAD) tools for design, simulation and implementation. You will discuss programmable Logic Devices (PLD) and Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), and consider major aspects of the modern top-down approach to Very-Large-Scale Integration (VLSI) circuit design, aiming to shorten the design cycle and to manage increased complexity.

Optional modules

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

introduces you to the fundamentals of Power Electronics starting with basic linear and switching power conversion. The module reflects the wide knowledge base associated with the field of power electronics, and draws on knowledge of power semiconductors, control, signal processing, DSP and embedded systems.

Advanced Power Electronics and Applications

builds on Fundamentals of Power Conversion, and introduces the use of power electronics to control motor drives, electric automotive power systems and power generation systems. You will also cover modern vector-controlled motor drives and renewable energy power conversion, and their applications.

Advanced Embedded Systems

demonstrates the essential features of an embedded system and the use of microcontrollers/microprocessors in realising innovative modern engineering design. You will study the key development methods and tools unique to the goals of a systems developer. The role of a systems developer and its relevance to modern engineering will feature in terms of product design, machine design, and process design.

Model Based System Intergration

provides you with an understanding of Model Based System Integration (MBSI) methodology. This includes application of the Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) and Model Based Design (MBD) methods and tools to the unique goals of the systems integrator. You will consider the essential features of systems integration and its application in realising innovative modern engineering design via a design study.

Electrical Transmission and Distribution I

develops your awareness and advanced knowledge of both the theory and practice of the transmission and distribution of electrical power. An introduction to the power system network covers the basic theory and rationale behind three-phase power systems, which is then extended to modelling and analysis of power systems.

Electrical Transmission and Distribution II

builds upon the knowledge and skills developed in Electrical Transmission and Distribution 1. with detailed mathematical models for three-phase transformers and synchronous machines. You will study advanced admittance and impedance models along with advanced power flow techniques such as sparse matrix and optimal ordering of nodes in large networks, economic dispatch and fast decoupled load flow.

Mobile Communication I

focuses on the rapid changes in mobile communications, particularly on how technology is evolving to satisfy new needs. You will unpick these technological developments by analysing past, current and future mobile technologies, including cell structure and traffic handling, digital modulation, and channel coding.

Mobile Communication II

covers the advances in mobile communication systems, highlighting their network architecture and the underlying technologies such as multiple access techniques, multiantenna systems, and other advanced topics.

Communication Networks I

covers the discipline of computer networks from basic components to fundamental functions and applications. The Internet will be used as a model when appropriate to illustrate applications and techniques.

Communication Networks II

is the second part of Communication Networks I. The module will explain the fundamental functions of networking, including the rationale and application of congestion control algorithms, quality of service techniques, Internet transport protocols (UDP, TCP), multimedia communication, and network security.

MEng

Core modules

Group Project

gives you the opportunity to work on an engineering project as part of a multidisciplinary team, similar to that found in industry. This module has been specifically designed to expose you to the multidisciplinary and team nature of many engineering projects. It will help you select a pathway to an engineering career, and prepare you to be responsible for quality of your output, in particular conforming to required protocols, and managing technical uncertainty.

Engineering Business Environment

enables you to understand and reflect upon the role of business in a rapidly changing and globalised world. You will explore the steps a business can take to respond to the environmental challenges ahead, for example: through supply chain management, logistics, life-cycle analysis, green accounting and carbon trading.

Optional modules

Electromagnetic Compatibility

is the study of how one electronic system or device interferes with another, how this can be measured and how both the victim and the threat can be better designed to minimise both the level of interference and the response of the victim. You will gain the highly-prized ability to understand EMC as part of the normal design and development process of electronic equipment.

Power Electronics

develops your analytical and developmental skills within the field of Power Electronics, from basic switching power supply principles through modern vector-controlled motor drives to advanced power conversion systems. The module reflects the wide knowledge base associated with the field of power electronics, and draws on knowledge of power semiconductors, control, signal processing, DSP and embedded systems.

Digital Signal Processing

considers the applications of signal analysis and computational methods for processing digital signals, including images. The emphasis is on the generation of appropriate 'software solutions' for digital signal and image processing (DSIP) in the time and frequency domains.

Control and Instrumentation

gives you an advanced knowledge of both the theory and practical implementation of control systems, including state-space representation and advanced topics for SISO systems. You will learn about the principles of interfacing industrial processes with control computers and the instrumentation required for this purpose.

Embedded Systems

is an advanced level embedded Systems module. You will cover topics such as: description of embedded systems; basic aspects of C programming for embedded systems; interrupts; shared-data proble;, the use of sub-routines/co-routines/semaphores and real-time operating systems (RTOS). You will also consider the principles of assembly language programming and compare these with the C programming of microcontrollers.

Physics of Semiconductor Devices

covers the fundamental physics of semiconductor devices. You will consider three key devices: PN junctions; MOS and Bipolar. You will study the properties of semiconducting materials and how these are modified to produce functional devices, as well as device physics of PN junction, MOS and Bipolar.