Computer Engineering with Industrial Studies and Foundation Year

Computer engineering is concerned with the design and construction of computing systems, from the hardware architectures that underpin modern processors to the software that controls how those systems behave. It is a discipline that sits at the boundary between electronic engineering and computer science, and it asks how physical components and logical structures can be combined to produce systems that are fast, reliable, power-efficient and capable of performing complex tasks. This six-year full-time programme at the University of Southampton incorporates both a foundation year, which builds the mathematical and scientific foundations required for advanced engineering study, and an industrial studies component that integrates professional experience within the degree.

You will develop expertise in designing and building computer systems, engaging with topics such as digital electronics, computer architecture, embedded systems, signal processing and software engineering. The programme takes a master's-level approach, giving you depth of knowledge as well as breadth, and you will develop the ability to approach complex design problems with both theoretical rigour and practical competence. The industrial studies component gives you the opportunity to apply your learning in a professional context, developing the workplace skills and commercial awareness that employers in the technology sector consistently look for.

A typical entry tariff of 136 points reflects the programme's accessibility to students from a range of backgrounds, and the foundation year ensures that all students are genuinely prepared for the technical demands that follow.

Graduates go on to work in roles spanning hardware design, embedded systems development, systems architecture, computer networks, robotics and autonomous systems. The technology sector's demand for people who can work across the hardware-software boundary is strong and growing, particularly as connected and intelligent devices become embedded in infrastructure, transport, healthcare and consumer products. Postgraduate study and research offer further pathways for those with ambitions in academia or advanced technical development.