Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year

Gain a real career advantage on this exciting degree which will put you at the forefront of future technologies. With the BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering on your CV, you can join one of the UK’s most in-demand professions. 

• Prepare for rewarding careers in areas as diverse as avionics, medical electronics, automotive electrical and electronic systems, electrical power generation, the rail industry or music and entertainment
• Not sure about the type of engineering you want to study? Spend the first year covering all aspects of engineering and gain the multi-disciplinary skills and knowledge that employers are looking for
• In year two, you have the option to switch your degree to either BEng (Hons) Motorsport Engineering or BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering or continue studying on BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• Include an optional placement year as part of your studies to gain vital insights into professional practice
• Study in an inspirational learning environment at our Markeaton Street site, home to our impressive STEM Centre and fully equipped with laboratories, workshops and the latest technology
• Learn from an expert teaching team experienced in the different branches of electrical and electronic engineering and who have produced many influential research publications and textbooks
• This course is available part-time for direct entry to the final year only. 

Electricity lights our homes, runs many of our domestic gadgets and keeps the wheels of industry turning. We often take it for granted, yet it remains a fascinating and developing field of study – this is all captured in our distinctive BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Foundation Year - helping you to achieve more

Including a foundation year as part of your four-year study programme will give you a head start in your academic and professional life. The foundation year offers the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence – with extensive support from our expert staff – before you advance to stage one of your honours degree. It could also be beneficial if you are planning a career change and want to get to grips with aspects of subjects which are new to you.

Our degrees with a foundation year are continuous, meaning that you won’t need to apply again once you have successfully completed the first year.

Meeting the needs of the industry and you

Engineering is such a broad discipline, and you may not fully know which area of engineering is the right choice to study when beginning your studies.

Employers are increasingly seeking engineers with a broader knowledge of mechanical and electrical engineering to meet their environmental, consumer and business needs. As a University based in an advanced engineering city, it’s vital that we offer degrees with a strong focus on sustainability, electrification and automation.

With this in mind, we have developed our degrees to match the multi-disciplinary requirements that employers are shouting for. All engineering students will take the same core modules in the first year to gain an essential foundation in all aspects of engineering, giving you the chance to settle into your studies, and allowing you time to decide which area suits you best. At the end of your first year, you’ll have the opportunity to switch to either our BEng (Hons) Motorsport Engineering or BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering degree should you realise your passion falls within this area, or you can continue on BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Use specialist facilities

Your studies will feature practical learning and experiments in our specialist laboratories. Areas include:

• Electronic Principles Lab: Featuring a range of test equipment, demonstration boards, and equipment used to conduct investigative experiments on common electronic circuits as well as more advanced systems, you’ll hone your understanding of circuit behaviour in a safe and supportive environment. The computers are also equipped with the latest simulation software from Matlab, Microchip and National Instruments
• Electrical Power, Sustainable and Renewable Energies Lab: The lab has a range of renewable technologies and a variety of DC and AC electrical machines test rigs.
• Electronics Project Developments and Innovations Lab: In this lab you’ll learn practical skills covering basic hand tools and soldering skills, as well as electronic component identification, following circuit schematics and Printed Circuit Board (PCB) layouts, simple design of PCBs, and the complete build and commission of a project
• Multipurpose Lab: This lab doubles as an experimental lab, with several permanently installed tests, and a programming suite for both audio and lighting. Our lighting simulation programme will allow you to view 3D simulations of a lighting design
• Multi-Channel Sound Lab: The Multi-Channel Sound Lab is a Dante audio equipped room containing 32 loudspeakers used for investigative future immersive audio applications
• Multipurpose Lab: Our other multipurpose lab is used for small scale audio testing. Containing a very small anechoic chamber, a vintage hearing test booth and a selection of loudspeakers in different stages of deconstruction

You'll also have access to our Makerspace - a place where you can work on any project and turn your ideas into a prototype. Equipment in the Makerspace includes a laser cutter, 3D printers, soldering irons and CNC machines. All students across the University can use this space and it is a fantastic way of sharing knowledge and skills with one another. 

Learn from the experts

The Electrical and Electronic Engineering teaching team have a wide range of research interests and expertise that they bring into their teaching. They include:

• Dr Ahmad Kharaz: Ahmad is the programme leader for the course and is a reader in intelligent instrumentation. He has industrial experience in instrumentation and control and his research areas span low power embedded systems and power quality
• Dr Amar Bousbaine: Amar is a reader in power electronics and an active researcher in several areas including renewable energy sources and autonomous control of drones. He teaches on both of our Electrical and Electronic Engineering courses and is the programme leader for our MSc Control and Instrumentation degree
• Dr Uchenna Diala; Uchenna is a member of several respected institutions including the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the Nigerian Society of Engineers. His research interests include renewable and smart energy systems, energy harvesting and smart systems and structures
• Dr Mahmoud Shafik: Mahmoud is a reader in intelligent mechatronics systems and technology. He is an international expert in this area with more than 20-years of industrially applied research experience

Vital practical experience

We give you the opportunity to take a placement year in industry as part of this degree. This experience, which takes place between the second and final stage of your studies, will greatly enhance your career prospects after graduation. A large number of companies seek placement students each year. In addition, we offer extensive support to boost your employability while you are studying with us: for more information, contact our Careers and Employment Service team.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

The programme is taught through a mix of lectures, tutorials and laboratory work. Very popular with our students, mini-projects are also used as a hands-on way of learning real-world skills.

The timetable contains up to 16 hours of contact with staff a week, with around the same amount of time designated as "directed study".

All modules are supported through University of Derby Online (UDOL), so you have access to essential support materials at any time of the day or night.

How you are assessed

Assessment is through a careful blend of assignment and examination. Assignments may relate to work at the computer or in the laboratory, or may involve a piece of written or analytical work. 

2025 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2025 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)

2025/26

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.

Additional costs and optional extras

When you graduate, a wide range of employment opportunities will open up for you in electrical and electronic engineering. You could move into areas as diverse as avionics, medical electronics, automotive electrical and electronic systems, electrical power generation, the rail industry or music and entertainment.

Recent students have moved into roles involving electrical or electronic system design, installation and commissioning, programming, maintenance, and related activities. Derby graduates can now be found developing embedded systems in cars, electrical power distribution systems, railway signalling systems, or rolling stock enhancements. They are also managing major industrial processes, from breweries to assembly lines.

The numeracy and problem-solving skills you develop during the BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering will broaden your career scope further still, with alternative options including teaching, banking, accountancy, technical sales or management. 

You could also consider taking your studies to postgraduate level by taking, for example, our MSc Control and Instrumentation.

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.

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