Electronic and Computer Engineering including a Foundation Year - BEng (Hons)

Course structure

Duration: 4 years full-time

Modules

The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.

On most programmes, you study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also be able to take ‘elective’ modules from other programmes so you can customise your programme and explore other subjects that interest you.

Foundation year

Compulsory modules currently include:

• Calculus
• Electromagnetics for Engineers
• Engineering Principles – 1
• Engineering Principles – 2
• Engineering Principles – 3
• Engineering and Programming Skills
• Graphs, Geometry and Trigonometry
• Algebra and Arithmetic

Stage 1

Compulsory modules currently include:

• Introduction to Programming
• Electronic Circuits
• Engineering Design and Mechanics
• Introduction to Electronics
• First Year Engineering Applications Project
• Digital Technologies
• Engineering Mathematics
• Engineering Analysis 

Stage 2

Compulsory modules currently include:

• Systems Programming
• Microcomputer Engineering
• Entrepreneurship and Professional Development
• Engineering Group Project
• Instrumentation and Measurement Systems
• Digital Implementation
• Control and Mechatronics
• Communications Principles

Stage 3

Compulsory modules currently include:

• Project
• Embedded Computer Systems
• Reliability, Availability, Maintainability & Safety (RAMS)
• Digital Systems Design
• Digital Signal Processing and Control

Optional modules:

• Robotics and AI
• Communication Network and IoT
• Image Analysis and Applications

Fees

The 2021/22 annual tuition fees for this programme are:

• Home full-time TBC
• International full-time TBC

For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.

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.* 

Your fee status

The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.

Additional costs

General additional costs

Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.

Funding

University funding

Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details. 

Government funding

You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.

Scholarships

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. 

The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages. 

The scholarship is also extended to those who achieve AAB at A level (or specified equivalents) where one of the subjects is either mathematics or a modern foreign language. Please review the eligibility criteria.

Teaching and assessment

Most modules consist of a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and computer sessions.  All modules are continuously assessed. All years include project work that replicates industrial practice to maximise the employability of our graduates.

Contact hours

For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours.  The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Programme aims

The course aims to:

• Educate students to become electronic and computer engineers who are well equipped for professional careers in development, research and production in industry and universities, and who are well adapted to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing subject.
• Produce electronic and computer engineers with specialist skills in hardware and software engineering, prepared for the complexities of modern electronic and computer system design.
• Enable students to satisfy the educational requirements of the IET for C. Eng. registration.
• Provide for all students, academic guidance and welfare support given by academic advisers and professional services staff.
• Create an atmosphere of co-operation and partnership between staff and students, and offer the students a community environment where, with staff and peers, they can develop their potential in terms of electronic and computer engineering and a rich set of transferable skills.
• Give an opportunity to gain experience as an engineer working in a professional environment.
• To develop employment-related skills, including an understanding of how you relate to the structure and function in an organisation, via a year in industry.

 

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

• Mathematical principles relevant to electronic and computer engineering, underpinning circuit analysis and design, signal processing, embedded and control systems, and communication networks. (SM2p).
• Scientific principles and methodology relevant to electronic and computer engineering with an emphasis on practical applications in computer systems, embedded and control systems and communication networks. (SM1p).
• Advanced concepts of embedded systems, control, computer communications and operating systems, influenced by ongoing and current industrial needs and informed by internationally recognised relevant research expertise.
• The value of intellectual property and contractual issues for professional and entrepreneurial engineers (EP5p, EP5m).
• Business, management and project management techniques, seen mainly in a case study context which may be used to achieve engineering objectives (ET1p, ET2p, ET3p, ET5p, ET2m).
• The need for a high level of professional and ethical conduct in electronic and computer engineering, directly applied in a case study context. (ET1p, ET1m).
• Current manufacturing practice with particular emphasis on product safety, environmental and EMC standards and directives (ET6p, D2p).
• Characteristics of the materials, equipment, processes and products required for electronics, network communications, instrumentation, sensing and digital systems (EP2p, EP2m).
• Appropriate codes of practice, industry standards and quality issues, directly applied in a case study context. (EP6p, EP7p, ET6p, EP6m, EP7m).
• Contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied to solve new problems (EP1p).
• Aspects of the core subject areas of computer systems, electronics and communication networks from the perspective of a commercial or industrial organisation.

 

Outcomes specific to Year in Industry course:

 

Intellectual skills

• Analysis and solution of hardware and software engineering problems using appropriate mathematical methods with a strong emphasis on engineering example based learning and assessment. (SM2p)
• Ability to apply and integrate knowledge and understanding of other engineering disciplines to support study of computer systems engineering particularly through student led practical project design (SM3p).
• Use of engineering principles and the ability to apply them to analyse key electronic and computer engineering processes with an emphasis on simulation and practical learning (EA1p).
• Ability to identify, classify and describe the performance of systems and components through the use of analytical methods and modelling techniques with an emphasis on simulation and practical learning (EA2p, EA2m).
• Ability to apply and understand a systems approach to electronic and computer engineering problems by top level analysis to consolidate learning of underpinning principles. (EA4p).
• Ability to investigate and define a problem and identify constraints including cost drivers, economic, environmental, health and safety and risk assessment issues largely by undertaking student led individual and group project work. (ET6p, D2p, EP9p, D2m, EP11m).
• Ability to use creativity to establish innovative, aesthetic solutions whilst understanding customer and user needs, ensuring fitness for purpose of all aspects of the problem including production, operation, maintenance and disposal (D1p, D2p, D4p, D5p, D1m, D2m, D6m).
• Ability to demonstrate the economic and environmental context of the engineering solution (ET1p, ET3p, ET4p, ET4m).
• Apply some of the intellectual skills specified for the course from the perspective of a commercial or industrial organisation.

 

Subject-specific skills

• Use of mathematical techniques to analyse problems relevant to electronic, communications, instrumentation, control and embedded systems engineering. (SM2p)
• Ability to work in an engineering laboratory environment and to use a wide range of electronic equipment, workshop equipment and CAD tools for the practical realisation of electronic circuits (Ep1p, EP3p, EP3m).
• Ability to work with technical uncertainty or incomplete knowledge particularly through experiential learning in practical project design (EP8p, D3p, D3m, EP8m).
• Ability to apply quantitative methods and computer software relevant to electronic and computer engineering in order to solve engineering problems in analytical, simulation based, and practical engineering activities (EA3p).
• Ability to implement software solutions using a range of structural and object oriented languages.
• Ability to design hardware or software systems to fulfil a product specification and devise tests to appraise performance. (D5p, EP9p)
• Awareness of the nature of intellectual property and contractual issues and an understanding of appropriate codes of practice and industry standards (EP5p, D2p, EP7p, ET2p, ET5p).
• Ability to use technical literature and other information sources and apply it to a design (EP4p, EP4m).
• Ability to apply management techniques to the planning, resource allocation and execution of a design project and evaluate outcomes (D5p, D3m).
• Ability to prepare technical reports and give effective and appropriate presentations to technical and non-technical audiences. (D6p, D6m).
• Apply some of the subject-specific skills specified for the course from the perspective of a commercial or industrial organisation.

 

Transferable skills

• Ability to generate, analyse, present and interpret data.
• Use of Information and Communications Technology.
• Personal and interpersonal skills, work as a member of a team.
• Ability to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences and/or using a variety of methods.
• Ability for critical thinking, reasoning and reflection.
• Ability to manage time and resources within an individual project and a group project.

Careers

Graduate destinations

Our graduates go into careers in areas such as: 

• electronic engineering and computing
• telecommunications industries including radio, television and satellite communications;
• medical electronics, instrumentation and industrial process control.

They have gone on to work in companies including:

• BAE Systems
• Nokia
• the Royal Navy
• Xilinx
• British Energy
• RDDS. 

Some graduates choose to go on to postgraduate study, for example, MSc Advanced Communication Engineering (RF Technology and Communications), Advanced Electronic Systems Engineering and Information Security and Biometrics.

Help finding a job

Employers are always keen to employ graduates with knowledge of the work environment and some students receive job offers from their placement company.

The University also has a friendly Careers and Employability Service which can give you advice on how to:

• apply for jobs
• write a good CV
• perform well in interviews.

Career-enhancing skills

In addition to the technical skills you acquire on this programme, you also gain key transferable skills including:

• planning and organisation
• leadership
• effective communication. 

You can gain extra skills by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.