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Electronics-based products play a vital role in our daily lives, from the sophisticated diagnostic equipment used in modern hospitals to leading-edge fibre optic communications. Computer technology, telecommunications and consumer electronics are advancing at an ever-increasing pace.
Overview
At Kent, we offer degree programmes teaching state-of-the-art technology, which means our graduates can work at the forefront of all the major areas of electronic engineering.
Our teaching is research-led so you get to know about the latest cutting-edge technologies, and the courses combine theory with vitally important practical and project work – the chance to turn ideas into real systems. Our student work has been awarded international prizes.
The School has strong links with the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). We have several visiting industrial professors who contribute to the strong industrial relevance of our courses.
Our staff meet regularly with a team of senior industrialists to ensure that our courses keep up to date with industry, and you have the opportunity to spend a year working in industry, which improves your skills and career prospects.
The Year in Industry offers you the opportunity to work in a real-life business environment between Stages 2 and 3 of your degree. You will see how the technologies you are studying at Kent are put to use in companies and organisations. Typical placements include manufacturing companies and the electronics departments of industrial, commercial or public service organisations.
See what our students have to say.
Independent rankings
In the National Student Survey 2015, the School of Engineering and Digital Arts was ranked 1st in the UK for student satisfaction.
Course structure
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.
Year in industry
Spend a year working in industry between Stages 2 and 3. Please note that acceptance onto the course is not a guarantee of a placement and to complete the Year in Industry you must achieve an average score of 60% in Stage 1 and 2. The Year in Industry contributes to 10% of your final degree classification.
Although it is your responsibility to secure a suitable placement, the School has excellent industrial links and our dedicated Employability Officer will help with your application. If you still cannot find a placement, your registration changes to the equivalent three-year programme without the Year in Industry option.
Students taking the Year in Industry programme are eligible to apply for a placement offered through the School's exchange agreement with Hong Kong City University.
There are many benefits to taking the Year in Industry. Download our Year in Industry leaflet (PDF) for information on why students take the programme, how the year works, advice on finding a placement and previous students’ experiences.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching includes practical work in conventional laboratory experiments or projects, lecture modules and examples classes, which develop your problem-solving skills, and staff hold regular ‘surgeries’ where you can discuss any questions you have. Practical work is carried out in air-conditioned laboratories, with state-of-the-art equipment and outstanding IT infrastructure.
Stage 1 modules are assessed by coursework and examination at the end of the year. Stage 2 and 3 modules, with the exception of the Stage 3 project, are assessed by a combination of coursework and examination. All years include project work to replicate industrial practice and develop skills to maximise employability.
Please note that progression thresholds apply. In particular, in order to be considered for an Industrial Placement, students are required to achieve an overall mark at Stage 1 of at least 60%.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- educate students to become engineers, well equipped for professional careers in development, research and production in industry and universities, who are well adapted to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing subject
- produce professional electronic engineers with a well-balanced knowledge
- enable students to satisfy the professional requirements of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
- provide academic guidance and welfare support for students
- create an atmosphere of co-operation and partnership between staff and students, and an environment where students can develop their potential
- offer an opportunity for students to gain experience as an engineer working in a professional environment
- develop employment-related skills, including an understanding of how to relate to the structure and function in an organisation, via a year in industry.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- mathematical principles relevant to electronic and communications engineering
- relevant scientific principles and methodology
- advanced concepts of analogue and digital circuits and systems, telecommunications and instrumentation
- the value of intellectual property and contractual issues
- business and management techniques to achieve engineering objectives
- the need for a high level of professional and ethical conduct
- current manufacturing practice with particular emphasis on product safety and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) standards and directives
- characteristics of materials, equipment, processes and products
- codes of practice, industry standards and quality issues
- contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied
- aspects of the core subject areas from the perspective of a commercial or industrial organisation.
Intellectual skills
You gain the following intellectual abilities:
- analyse and solve problems using appropriate mathematical methods
- apply and integrate knowledge and understanding of other engineering disciplines to support the study of electronic engineering
- use of engineering principles and the ability to apply them to analyse key electronic engineering processes
- identify, classify and describe the performance of systems and components using analytical methods and modelling techniques
- understand and apply a systems approach to electronic engineering problems
- investigate and define a problem and identify constraints including cost drivers, economic, environmental, health and safety and risk assessment issues
- use creativity to establish innovative, aesthetic solutions while understanding customer and user needs, ensuring fitness for purpose of all aspects of the problem including production, operation, maintenance and disposal
- demonstrate the economic and environmental context of the engineering solution
- apply some of the intellectual skills specified for the programme from the perspective of a commercial or industrial organisation.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in the following:
- use mathematical techniques to analyse problems
- the ability to work in an engineering laboratory environment and to use a wide range of electronic equipment, workshop equipment and computer aided design (CAD) tools for the practical realisation of electronic circuits
- work with technical uncertainty.
- apply quantitative methods and computer software relevant to electronic engineering to solve engineering problems
- design electronic circuits or systems to fulfil a product specification and devise tests to appraise performance
- awareness of the nature of intellectual property and contractual issues and an understanding of appropriate codes of practice and industry standards
- use technical literature and other information sources and apply it to a design
- apply management techniques to the planning, resource allocation and execution of a design project and evaluate outcomes
- prepare technical reports and presentations
- apply subject-specific skills specified for the programme from the perspective of a commercial or industrial organisation.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in the following:
- generate, analyse, present and interpret data
- use information and communications technology
- personal and interpersonal skills, and to work as part of a team
- communication by various means: written, verbal and visual
- learn effectively for the purpose of continuing professional development
- critical thinking, reasoning and reflection
- manage time and resources within an individual project and a group project.
Careers
If you choose to take our year in industry programme, you will gain practical work experience, while assessing possible future career options and making contacts in the industry. In addition to the technical skills you acquire on this programme, you also gain key transferable skills including the ability to present complex material in an accessible way, the ability to work independently and in a team, and the confidence to develop your own ideas.
Our graduates go into careers such as: electronic engineering and computing; telecommunications industries including radio, television and satellite communications; medical electronics, instrumentation and industrial process control, in companies including BAE Systems, Nokia, the Royal Navy, Xilinx, British Energy and RDDS. They also frequently go on to postgraduate study, for example, MSc in Broadband and Mobile Communication Networks, Embedded Systems and Instrumentation or Information Security and Biometrics.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | BBB including B in Mathematics and a science/technology subject (Physics, Computing or Electronics) |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | Engineering: Distinction, Distinction, Merit including Distinction in Further Mathematics for Technicians |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 15 at HL including Mathematics (not Mathematics Studies), and a science subject 5 at HL or 6 at SL |
International students
The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2016/17 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
UK/EU/International students on an approved Year Abroad for the full 2016/17 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Those on an approved Year in Industry pay an annual fee of £865 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on our funding page.
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. For 2016 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page.