Overview
Ranked top three in London for career after 15 months by the Guardian University Guide 2024.
Our Electronic and Electrical Engineering (Communication Systems) BEng degree is a modern course that has been developed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to work and research in electronic and electrical engineering with specialisation in digital communication systems.This programme will help to develop underlying knowledge and skills appropriate for today’s digital communication systems including introduction to standardised systems.
You’ll gain a good understanding of the different engineering areas, giving you the opportunity to learn more about the fundamental engineering subjects such as design, structures, materials, fluid mechanics, electronics and maths and gain skills in technical drawing.
By specialising in communication systems you’ll develop in-depth knowledge of communication systems and apply techniques on individual programmes.
Access is available to modern technical facilities including computer, electronics, and power and control laboratories where you’ll work on your experiments. The latest industry standard engineering software packages are available for you to use in dedicated computer clusters.
Brunel's BEng electronic and electrical engineering (communication systems) course is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). This professional engineering institution ensures that your engineering degree meets the academic requirement to qualify as a professional engineer. This accredited BEng degree in electronic and electrical engineering can be studied full-time over three years, or four years with a placement year. The BEng degree meets the educational requirement to become an Incorporated Engineer (IEng).
We encourage the placement year option. This time in industry helps you to further prepare for the world of work and you’ll have a year’s worth of invaluable professional experience when you graduate. If you decide to go on an engineering placement year, you will have the opportunity to work in an engineering or technology company. This short video features a current student on placement at Network Rail.
At the end their final year, engineering and maths students are invited to showcase their project work at Brunel Engineers +, an event that both celebrates their achievements and gives them the chance to network with industry figures and employers. This video shows some of the projects exhibited at the 2024 Brunel Engineers + event, with explanations by the students themselves.
"There is a strong collaboration culture [at Brunel]; everyone wants to help and support you, from students to staff alike. It’s a very inclusive and diverse culture, you just fit in." - Humam Jumaa
"My placement year has really helped me progress in terms of technical skills and areas of expertise" - Lorenzo Cucurachi
"Brunel helped me in developing the ability to take on a challenge, supported by a great mentor" - Anthony Bitar
"The Careers team at Brunel is amazing. They helped me a huge amount in presenting myself professionally in interviews and on my CV" - Mohammed Khan
"There is a strong collaboration culture [at Brunel]; everyone wants to help and support you, from students to staff alike. It’s a very inclusive and diverse culture, you just fit in." - Humam Jumaa
"My placement year has really helped me progress in terms of technical skills and areas of expertise" - Lorenzo Cucurachi
Course content
Course delivery is a combination of theory, practical sessions and project work. In your first two years, you will gain solid knowledge and understanding of electronic engineering. You’ll also learn to work as part of a team through the engineering design group project. In your final year, you will study advanced electronics and digital communication systems. You will also work on your individual project on a topic of your choice.
Compulsory
- Engineering Mathematics and Programming II
Aims: To develop students’ ability to understand and apply fundamental methods of engineering mathematics; to introduce the use of programming in engineering, and develop students’ ability to represent and solve problems algorithmically.
- Engineering Mathematics and Programming I
Aims: To develop students’ ability to understand and apply fundamental methods of engineering mathematics; to introduce the use of programming in engineering, and develop students’ ability to represent and solve problems algorithmically.
- Engineering Practice
Aims: To develop the skills required by students studying in all engineering disciplines, thereby supporting their journey through Higher Education and into their professional life with the intention of maximising their employability. Skills development in the following areas will be addressed: problem solving; personal development; professional development; career planning; basic engineering design; introductory project management; communication; working in inclusive teams; health and safety; security.
- Engineering Systems and Energy 2
Aims: To provide a grounding in concepts of measurement and uncertainty; to provide knowledge about applied physics relations that govern engineering systems within their boundaries and via their variables of interaction; to establish ability to define system boundaries and apply relevant simple models.
- Engineering Systems and Energy 1
Aims: To provide a grounding in concepts of measurement and uncertainty; to provide knowledge about applied physics relations that govern engineering systems within their boundaries and via their variables of interaction; to establish ability to define system boundaries and apply relevant simple models.
- Engineering Mechanics - Statics
Aims: To provide a grounding in the fundamental principles of engineering mechanics; to provide knowledge and understanding of Newton’s laws and their application for the solution of static problems; to provide experience and confidence in problem-solving.
- Electronic Devices and Systems
Aim: To develop students’ understanding of the contemporary electronic and computer engineering professions, and their understanding of what being a Chartered Engineer involves. This includes developing student’s expertise in both understanding and designing basic analogue and digital electronic systems.
- Digital Devices and Systems
Aim: To develop students’ understanding of the contemporary electronic and computer engineering professions, and their understanding of what being a Chartered Engineer involves. This includes developing student’s expertise in understanding and designing basic digital electronic systems.
Compulsory
- Communication SystemsThis module aims to introduce the principles of electronic analogue and digital communication systems. Students will develop ability to analyse basic communication systems and the ability to design basic hardware.
- Electrical Engineering and SustainabilityThis module will study the basic principles and the sustainability of renewable energy systems, and to learn about integrating them into conventional energy systems.
- Electronic SystemsThis module aims to provide an appreciation and understanding of the theory and operation of electronic circuit design with consideration to single and multi-device sub-circuits, frequency response characteristics, feedback, stability, and efficiency, and to develop a design and evaluate practical skills in electronics on a design project.
- Microcontroller Group Design ProjectThis module aims to reinforce and develop microcontroller based engineering design, personal and transferable skills appropriate to students' scheme of studies.
- Professional Practices and Business for EngineersThis module aims to develop understanding of the business aspects of engineering enterprise and the provision of value through enterprise operations, and to enhance student preparedness for work placement and employment.
- Signals and SystemsThis module aims to teach the mathematical tools for the understanding of continuous-time and discrete-time signals and systems in both the time and frequency domains.
- Microcontroller Principles
Aims: To develop an understanding of computer architecture from an engineering perspective; to develop the underlying knowledge and skills appropriate to today’s systems and interfacing, including the study of microcontroller system design, circuits and transducers to which the microcontroller must interface, and the embedded system programming in assembly.
- Digital Systems Design
Aim: To develop an understanding of digital systems from a hardware implementation perspective; to develop students’ appreciation of fundamental algorithms, roles, limitations of CAD tools used in digital systems design and their limitations; to give a practical insight into the design, implementation and testing of digital systems.
Compulsory
- Advanced ElectronicsThis module aims to present more advanced concepts, methods and techniques to analyse and design electronic systems for various aspects of applications appropriate to BEng students.
- Individual ProjectThe project aims to provide students with the opportunity to design, execute, report and demonstrate a substantial individual project in a professional manner, and to further develop their communication, planning, time management, research and development skills and initiative.
- Digital Communication SystemsThis module aims to develop the underlying knowledge and skills appropriate to today’s digital communication systems including introduction to standardised systems.
- Engineering Management and Quality Engineering
The module aims to develop understanding of managing key processes and projects in engineering with a specific focus on principles/ techniques for managing the quality of Engineering systems.
Optional
- Artificial Intelligence SystemsThis module aims to introduce the key concepts of intelligent processing systems and skills required to develop intelligent software applications. Students will gain hands-on experiences through learning, applying and implementing intelligent systems.
- Embedded SystemsThis module aims to illustrate and develop an understanding of the various engineering, scientific and economic tradeoffs necessary in the design and implementation of embedded systems, and to provide familiarity and experience with a range of architectural techniques, design methodologies and their applications and suitability for some embedded systems such as FPGAs.
- Robotics and Control SystemsThis module aims to provide a systematic understanding of analysis and design of linear time-invariant systems using frequency domain and time domain methods for both continuous-time and discrete-time systems.
- Sustainable Electrical Energy SystemsThis module aims to provide a systematic understanding of different sustainable energy technologies and power system operations.
- Applied Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Aim: To develop knowledge and skills in developing and applying artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, techniques, and methodologies.
This course can be studied undefined undefined, starting in undefined.
This course has a placement option. Find out more about work placements available.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Read more about the structure of undergraduate degrees at Brunel.
Careers and your future
Graduates from Brunel University London earn £2,900 more than the median salary across the university sector.*
An electronic and electrical engineering degree from Brunel will give you the design, analytical and creative skills to play a leading role in the dynamic and rapidly expanding technological industries.
Opting for the year in industry during your engineering degree often leads to an offer of an electronic engineering job from your placement company.
Brunel’s closeness to the highest concentration of the UK’s information engineering and telecommunications industry – in London and along the M4 corridor – means our placement and careers network is second to none.
Our graduates have gone on to work for high-profile multinational organisations including IBM, Intel, Microsoft, National Grid and Siemens.
Electronic and electrical engineering offers varied careers paths in a fast-growing professional field. A degree in electronic and electrical engineering will set you up with the knowledge and skills to work at the forefront of all the major areas of electronic engineering.
*Longitudinal Employment Outcomes 2023
UK entry requirements
2025/26 entry
- GCE A-level AAB-BBB including Maths and one of the following subjects; Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Geology, Environmental Science, Environment Studies, Computer Science, Electronics or Design and Technology (Use of Maths, Mathematical Studies, Critical Thinking and General Studies not accepted).
- BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF) DDD in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, with Distinctions in Further Mathematics for Technicians and Further Mechanical or Further Electronic/Electrical Principles modules.
- BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (RQF) DDD in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, with Distinctions in Engineering Principles and Calculus to Solve Engineering Problems.
- BTEC Level 3 Diploma (QCF)/BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (RQF) DD in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, with Distinction in Further Mechanical or Further Electrical Principles (QCF); Engineering Principles & Calculus to Solve Engineering Problems (RQF), AND A-Level Maths at grade B.
- BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma (QCF)/BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (RQF) D in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, with A-Levels grades BB to include Grade B in Maths and Grade B in one of the following subjects; Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Geology, Environmental Science, Environment Studies, Computer Science, Electronics or Design and Technology.
- International Baccalaureate Diploma 30 points, including 5 in Higher Level Maths (Analysis and Approaches) and Higher Level 5 in one of the following subjects; Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, Geography, or Design Technology. GCSE English equivalent SL 5 or HL 4 and Mathematics SL 4 or HL 4.
- Obtain a minimum of 120 UCAS tariff points in the Access to HE Diploma in Engineering or Engineering Science and Maths with 45 credits at Level 3. All Maths and Science units must be Distinctions at level 3.
- T levels : For subjects accepted and grade requirements please contact the admissions office. Please note, A-level Maths will be needed alongside T levels in order to be considered for entry.
For Engineering with Integrated Foundation Year progression requirements, see the course page.
Five GCSEs to include grade C or grade 4 in English Language and Maths.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants as well as our full GCSE requirements and accepted equivalencies in place of GCSEs.
Brunel University London is committed to raising the aspirations of our applicants and students. We will fully review your UCAS application and, where we’re able to offer a place, this will be personalised to you based on your application and education journey.
If you are unable to meet the direct entry criteria above, you are invited to apply for a foundation course in Engineering at Brunel Pathway College. When you successfully pass the foundation year, you can progress on to the Electronic and Electrical Engineering BEng.
EU and International entry requirements
English language requirements
- IELTS: 6 (min 5.5 in all areas)
- Pearson: 59 (59 in all sub scores)
- BrunELT: 58% (min 55% in all areas)
- TOEFL: 77 (min R18, L17, S20, W17)
You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.
Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.
Fees and funding
2024/25 entry
UK
£9,250 full-time
£1,385 placement year
International
£23,615 full-time
£1,385 placement year
Full time international students may benefit from a £2,000 fee waiver from the Dean's International Scholarship for Electronic and Electrical Engineering. Full details of how it is awarded can be found here.
Fees quoted are per year and may be subject to an annual increase. Home undergraduate student fees are regulated and are currently capped at £9,250 per year; any changes will be subject to changes in government policy. International fees will increase annually, by no more than 5% or RPI (Retail Price Index), whichever is the greater.
More information on any additional course-related costs.
See our fees and funding page for full details of undergraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.
Please refer to the scholarships pages to view discounts available to eligible EU undergraduate applicants.
Teaching and learning
For new students - Level 4:
The Engineering Year 1 is common to all disciplines during term 1 (Chemical; Civil; Electronic and Electrical; Mechanical; Automotive and Aerospace Engineering), providing a broad educational base and opportunities for cross-disciplinary study. While much of the teaching will remain common to all disciplines during term 2, there will also be some opportunity for discipline-specific teaching activities. The BEng Computer Systems Engineering programme shares most modules with Engineering Year 1.
Lectures will be delivered using a variety of different methods. Some will be delivered live online or on-campus, while others will be pre-recorded and made available online for students to access prior to engaging in interactive in-person tutorials on campus. Some on-campus live lectures will be simultaneously livestreamed; all live lectures, whether delivered online or on-campus, will be recorded and made available for students to review after each lecture has taken place.
All lecture-based modules will be supported by regular (in most cases, weekly) tutorials or seminars that will all be held on campus, allowing students to work with both staff and other students on the practical application of what has been discussed during lectures.
Laboratory classes will be held on campus. You will have the opportunity to perform experiments and other hands-on practical activities in the College’s labs and workshop spaces. Small group project work will also be carried out in person on campus, supported by regular on-campus interactive discussion sessions (workshops).
You will need to come onto campus on most days to participate in all the teaching activities that make up the Engineering Year 1.
The online digital assessment platform will be used for submitting written coursework. All exams will be run in-person on campus. Other forms of assessment, such as presentations, are also expected to be run on campus.
For returning and new students at Levels 5, 6 and 7:
All lecture-based modules will be held on campus, allowing you to work with both staff and other students on practical applications.
All laboratory classes will be held on campus. You will have the opportunity to perform experiments and other hands-on practical activities in the College’s labs and workshop spaces. Small group project work will also be carried out in person on campus, supported by regular on-campus interactive discussion sessions (workshops).
You will need to come onto campus on most days to participate in all the teaching activities
The online digital assessment platform will be used for submitting written coursework. All exams will be run in-person on campus. Other forms of assessment, such as presentations, are also expected to be run on campus.
Access to a laptop or desktop PC is required for joining online activities, completing coursework and digital exams, and a minimum specification can be found here.
We have computers available across campus for your use and laptop loan schemes to support you through your studies. You can find out more here.
Our electronic and electrical engineering degrees are delivered by an expert team of multidisciplinary academic staff. Their teaching is research-led, so the newest technologies are fed into the course.
Study will combine lectures, seminars, small group tutorials, laboratory and workshop sessions, computer programming, self-study and project work.
Assessment and feedback
Your progress will be assessed via coursework assignments, presentations, technical and laboratory reports, exams and the final year major individual project.