Electrical and Electronic Engineering MSc

Postgraduate

Female student working on a small model car

If you like the idea of creating electrical systems which could help millions of people on a day-to-day basis, then studying an MSc in electrical and electronic engineering could be for you.

Year of entry

2023-24 2024-25

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Part-time

Duration

1 year full-time
2-3 years part-time

Course code

EECT052

Start date

May 2024

How to apply

Book an Open Day

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Course overview

Electrical and electronic engineers are crucial to the development of power systems and devices, electrical machines, alternative energy and smart grids, digital communication systems, computer networking, Internet of Things (IoT) and household electronic devices worldwide, to name a few. Engineers capable of designing and implementing electrical and electronic systems and devices for such applications are in high demand all over the world.

This accredited¹ course provides you with the opportunity to develop practical skills and theoretical knowledge in a range of electronics fields, including digital systems, image and signal processing, robotics and sensors, together with electrical systems such as renewable energy, smart grids, advanced control engineering and instrumentation, electrical machines and power generation.
Designed to follow the Engineering Council UK-SPEC standard, the course encompasses theoretical and practical subjects within the broad area of electrical and electronic engineering as used by industries as diverse as aerospace and automotive, chemical and construction.
You’ll have access to modern facilities⁴, as well as an annual programme of lectures (subject to availability) which aim to inspire you in the areas of contemporary engineering and computing topics which are presented by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and British Computer Society (BCS) at no extra cost.

Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects

Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2023

Why you should study this course

At Coventry University, we believe that studying engineering should be so much more than just learning theory and passing examinations. Instead, our activity-led learning approach can enable you to develop your skills and knowledge by working on real-life problems and projects, many commissioned by our industry collaborators.
We aim to regularly update course content to reflect emerging trends and knowledge fields to enrich your technical and transferrable skills. For example, power electronics explores the modern-day systems used for electrical power generation, such as smart meters, smart appliances, renewable energy resources and energy efficiency resources.
Robotics is another key area, so we will examine the sub-systems that a robot needs, such as sensors to perceive its environment, cognition to make informed decisions, image processing to ‘see’ and detect objects in the real world and the mechanics to enable movement through 3D space.
You’ll study in our modern £50m Engineering and Computing building, with access to extensive facilities⁴ and the latest technologies in the fields of electrical and electronic engineering, such as a new machines and microprocessors laboratory.
We currently have extensive industry links with a broad range of commercial collaborators including IBM, Invensys and Jaguar Land Rover to name just a few, enabling you the potential opportunity to collaborate on industry-themed research projects².
You’ll be taught by current experts in their field, many of whom are active researchers in areas that include but are not limited to control theory and applications, wireless sensors, pervasive computing, embedded micro-electronics and electrical energy. This should not only help to inform your teaching, keeping you abreast of new developments and issues, but may also provide opportunities to partner staff on research projects. (Please note staff may be subject to change)

Accreditation and professional recognition

This course is accredited¹ and recognised by:

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

As part of this course, you will undertake a professional development module which is currently accredited by the  Chartered Management Institute (CMI) for the 2023-24 intake. Upon successful completion of the module, you will gain the CMI  Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice  at no additional cost. Further details can be found under the modules tab and on the Professional Development module homepage.

Coventry University’s accreditation with CMI is currently ongoing for the relevant modules and is regularly reviewed and monitored by the CMI through their quality systems.

What you'll study

You will have the opportunity to explore areas such as electrical machines, signal processing, robotics and advanced control engineering and instrumentation. Additionally, there are modules exploring digital system design and communications systems, power systems, smart grid, and consultancy.

Modules

FPGA-Based Digital System Design - 15 credits

This module aims to provide the capability to apply the VHDL hardware description language for the simulation and synthesis of digital systems. We cover the essential syntax of VHDL and its coding styles for different digital functions. You will apply VHDL to configure a digital system using integrated circuits, also known as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA).

Compulsory

Digital Signal and Image Processing - 15 credits

Computer-based systems are increasingly required to detect, analyse and manipulate signals, or data, from a wide range of sources, such as sound, light, temperature or pressure. You’ll have the opportunity to learn to analyse continuous and discrete-time signals and systems, developing higher-level signal processing techniques and filters, together with knowledge of digital image processing and pattern recognition. You will apply these to problems to demonstrate their applications, such as feature extraction, object recognition, noise removal etc.

Compulsory

Robotics – Kinematics, Dynamics and Applications - 15 credits

Electrical Machines and Drives - 15 credits

Power Systems - 10 credits

Alternative Energy and Smart Grid - 15 credits

Digital Communications - 10 credits

Advanced Control Engineering and Instrumentation - 15 credits

This module aims to provide you with exposure to the underlying classical linear control theory and design tools with extensive applications in industrial practice. Additionally, the Instrumentation segment is aimed to impart the knowledge and skills necessary to work in areas involving design, testing and selection of sensors and development of advanced measurement systems.

Compulsory

Individual project - 60 credits

You will also be asked to perform a detailed research or design study with the help of an experienced supervisor into a technical aspect from the course. You can choose a topic to suit your interests, research to assist your career aspirations or a practical project. As an example, one former student worked on a project commissioned by a worldwide supplier of retail display solutions to develop a recoiler unit for mobile phone display security in shops.

Compulsory

Entrepreneurial Practice – 10 credits

This module aims to provide you with a framework of knowledge and understanding of how to effectively lead and develop people in a strategic and entrepreneurial way. Ultimately, you will be given the opportunity to develop strategic priorities for entrepreneurial leadership.

Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

This course will be taught using traditional teaching methods, such as lectures, with associated seminars, tutorials and practical laboratory classes⁴. However, we also incorporate a range of innovative teaching methods, including flipped classroom, activity-led learning and peer-based learning which the students will undertake both individually and in groups.

The flipped classroom is a pedagogical model in which the typical lecture and homework elements of a course are reversed. Short video lectures are viewed at home before the lecture, whilst lecture time is devoted to exercises, projects, or discussions. The video lecture is often seen as the key ingredient in the flipped approach, such lectures being either created by the staff and posted online or selected from an online repository. While a prerecorded lecture could certainly be a podcast or other audio format, the ease with which video can be accessed and viewed today has made it so ubiquitous that the flipped model has come to be identified with it.

This course can be offered on a part-time basis. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Request further information about part-time study.

Teaching contact hours

The number of full-time contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, there is around 30 hours of contact time associated with each module.

Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 35 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.

The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods may include individual and group work, presentations, laboratory work, formal examinations, technical reports, in-class test, online quizzes, posters and computer simulation employing Simulink, Matlab, Multisim and PSCAD.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2023/24 entry.

An honour’s degree in electrical and/or electronic engineering or a related subject area. Applicants offering equivalent professional qualifications and experience will be considered on merit.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

Russia and Central Asia

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

An honour’s degree in electrical and/or electronic engineering or a related subject area. Applicants offering equivalent professional qualifications and experience will be considered on merit.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Fees and funding

2023/24 tuition fees.

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£11,200	Request fee information
EU	£11,200 per year with EU Support Bursary £20,050 per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£20,050	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Throughout your studies, you will have access to our modern facilities⁴; computers are installed with all the relevant computing software, ranging from the basics such as Matlab and Xlinix ISE to more subject-specific, like VREP (Virtual Robotic Environment Platform), Flux Electromagnetic and Thermal Finite Element Analysis software.

Electronics Laboratories

Our labs are equipped with a range of test and measurement equipment for you to use. These include development boards for embedded electronics, communications and motor solutions, and a variety of interface applications such as GSM and Ethernet.

Electrical Power Laboratory

This provides you with hands-on learning tools and test benches. You can benefit from training in the maintaining and running of electrical machines and learning of the properties of electrical generation use.

Cisco Laboratory

The Cisco Laboratory is used for working with general networking as well as working towards accreditation by Cisco. You can take optional modules to work in the lab to develop your skills in preparation for the Cisco certification exam.

Careers and opportunities

On successful completion, you will have knowledge of:

Advanced principles of electrical and electronic engineering and their relationships to leading-edge, real-world applications.
Advanced analysis and design tools and processes.
The implementation and critical evaluation of design solutions relevant to the subject areas through simulation and practical applications.

You successful completion you will be able to:

Critically appraise the main approaches to research design, sampling and analysis appropriate to Engineering and construct research questions or hypotheses.
Conceptualise complex technical aspects of electrical and electronic engineering.
Conduct detailed and systematic technical analyses of aspects of electrical and electronic engineering.
Devise technical solutions to problems in the design and implementation of electrical and electronic engineering.
Critically evaluate literature and solutions relating to problems arising in the design and implementation aspects of electrical and electronic engineering.
Select, apply and critically appraise tools and techniques of advanced analysis and design.
Implement appropriate software and hardware solutions and simulations and critically evaluate the outcomes.
Plan, perform, critically evaluate and present the results of an independent project in a chosen specialist subject area.

The course has several features designed to make you more attractive to employers.

Not only is the technical content of the course regularly reviewed to reflect what is currently important and in-demand in the electrical and electronic engineering industry, we also strive to ensure that the capabilities and skills that the sector regularly asks for are well addressed.

The specialist topics studied in the programme aim to prepare you for a wider range of roles in related industries. Possible industries include electrical power supply generation and distribution including renewables; transport and industrial equipment manufacturers employing electrical drives; electrical vehicles are anticipated to create increased demand in this area; industrial measurement and monitoring systems; robotics and associated activities.

Where our graduates work

Graduates can progress onto further study in the form of a PhD or could begin a career in the electrical and electronic industries, for example, smart grids, Internet of Things, energy supply infrastructure, electrical devices, mobile communication devices and infrastructure.

Graduate Immigration Route visa

Based on current information from the UK Government, international students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.

How to apply

UK students

To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online.

Full-time applications

Part-time applications

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Chat with our admissions team

Complete our contact form.

International students

Full-time international students applying to start in September should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degree view our International hub.

You can also download our International guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation and tips for travel.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

applications.io@coventry.ac.uk

Chat with our admissions team.

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2023/24 contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.