Electronic and Electrical Engineering with Placement Year

MEng Hons

  • UCAS code H611
  • Entry year 2025
  • A level requirements AAA
  • Duration Full time 5 years

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • Practical hands-on courses including lab-based sessions and project work

  • Brand new state-of-the-art facilities

  • Get real-world experience with our placement years

Electronic and electrical engineering is concerned with the broad application of electricity and electronics, ranging from small intelligent microprocessor-based systems through to large scale power generators. Virtually every sector requires and uses electronic or electrical engineering, and it is difficult to think of an application where it does not have influence.

You will benefit from our research informed teaching, which is a key strength of this programme. You will join a thriving academic department that makes use of our expertise in microelectromechanical smart systems; novel electromagnetics; radio frequency engineering; and millimetre waves with THz signals. Through this programme, you will be exposed to our work with organisations such as CERN and the European Space Agency.

The programme begins with a broad based common first year, shared by all our engineers. You explore topics such as heat transfer and manufacturing, which form a key requirement of modern electronic systems. You will work alongside people from other engineering disciplines, reflecting very much how you would operate in industry, equipping you with interdisciplinary project, communication and professional skills to allow you to excel in your professional career.

Specialist modules in electronic and electrical engineering continue in the second year, where you will build your familiarity and practical experience in widely used programming languages and software development environments, reinforcing your technical knowledge. This year, you will complete a small group project, where you will apply your specialist knowledge within an interdisciplinary team.

In third year, you will start your individual project: a substantial piece of research and investigation into a topic of your choice, but often linked with industry or one of our research groups. The project period covers the entire academic year, with an intensive period following exams to finalise results and present the findings professionally. Previous examples include remote moisture sensing for internet of things; wearable antennas for medical body area network; low carbon shipping through improved electric propulsion; and energy storage and development of an electrical storm tracker.

The third year also continues the management skills theme, which is essential to modern engineering. You will develop your knowledge in company finance and aspects of law, human resource management and industrial organisation. You will also receive an overview of environmental reporting, quality, and safety management.

In fourth year, you will undertake a year in industry, gaining valuable experience and enhancing your employability. We have extensive links built through our leadership in research and have students undergoing placements with multinational corporate companies through to smaller specialist SMEs. Once you have completed your placement, you will write an extended reflective piece about your time spent with the company.

The MEng programme is 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. It provides a sound foundation in crucial aspects in the design and manufacture of future systems in the medical, environmental, energy, transport, communications and ICT markets. You will gain hands-on experience with modern facilities and an array of high-quality equipment in our state-of-the-art engineering building.

Lancaster is a member of the UK Electronics Skills Foundation (UKESF).This scheme connects undergraduates to leading employers in the electronics sector and provides an annual bursary, paid summer work placements and a paid-for residential workshop.

Careers

Our modern world is defined by electronic and electrical apparatus, from the motherboards in our computers to the systems and circuits that control our rail and transport industries - and engineers play an integral part in the manufacturing of all these systems. You will graduate with a broad range of subject specific skills, such as CAD design, understanding electrical circuits, power systems and much more and this in-depth, specialist knowledge will make you a sought-after employee able to embark on a wide range of careers in sectors such as defence, power generation, automotive, telecoms, and utilities. The transferable skills you develop can be applied to any career you choose. The ability to think creatively, develop solutions to problems, manage projects, apply practical and technical knowledge and to be confident in decision making will place you in demand. You may even decide to pursue further study and seek a career in academia. Graduates from our Engineering degrees are well-paid too, with a median starting salary of £29,000 (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023).

Here are just some of the roles that our BEng and MEng Electronic and Electrical Engineering students have progressed into upon graduating:

  • Graduate Electrical Engineer – CBG Consulting
  • PhD Candidate – Kings College London
  • Network Engineer – Vodaphone
  • Electronics Engineer – Elvie
  • Graduate Engineer – Sellafield Ltd
  • Electronic Engineer – Elekta
  • Engineer – Partner Electronics Ltd
  • Electrical Power Engineer – BAE Systems
  • Senior Applications Engineer – Siemens Energy
  • Graduate Electrical and Electronics Engineer – Ultra Electronics (Maritime)
  • AWS Platform Engineer – Digital Dimensions

Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, you also graduate with the relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.

Entry requirements

Grade Requirements

A Level AAA

Required Subjects A level Mathematics and a Physical Science, for example, Physics, Chemistry, Electronics, Computer Science, Design & Technology or Further Mathematics.

GCSE Mathematics grade B/6, English Language grade C/4

IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages.

Interviews Applicants may be interviewed before being made an offer.

Other Qualifications

International Baccalaureate 36 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects including either:

  1. Mathematics HL grade 6 (either pathway) plus grade 6 in a HL Physical Science
  2. Mathematics HL grade 6 (either pathway) plus grade 6 in two SL Physical Sciences
  3. Mathematics SL grade 7 (Analysis and Approaches) plus HL grade 6 in a Physical Science

Acceptable physical science subjects include Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, and Design Technology.

BTEC (Pre-2016 specifications): Distinction, Distinction, Distinction in an Engineering related subject to include Distinctions in Mathematics for Engineering Technicians and Further Mathematics for Engineering Technicians units.

BTEC (2016 specifications): Distinction, Distinction, Distinction in an Engineering related subject to include Distinctions in the following units – Unit 1 Engineering Principles, Unit 3 Engineering Product Design and Manufacture, Unit 6 Microcontroller Systems for Engineers, Unit 7 Calculus to Solve Engineering Problems. Unit 8 Further Engineering Mathematics is highly recommended.

We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualifications. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.

Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

International foundation programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Contextual admissions

Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.

Course structure

Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

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Fees and funding

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.

Our Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2025/26 are:

Home International
£9,250 £29,820

Fees and funding information

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Scholarships and bursaries

You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

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We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.

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