Engineering

Electrical engineering is the discipline concerned with the generation, transmission, and application of electrical energy and the design of the electronic systems that underpin almost every aspect of modern technology. From the power grids that light cities and run factories to the microchips inside smartphones and the algorithms controlling autonomous vehicles, electrical engineering is foundational to the technological infrastructure of contemporary life. The discipline encompasses power systems, electronics, communications, control engineering, signal processing, and increasingly the interface between hardware and software in complex embedded and networked systems.

At the University of Durham, you will study electrical engineering over four years, with the programme including a sandwich year with a work placement and a year abroad. This extended structure gives you professional experience in industry and the opportunity to study or work in an international context, both of which are significant advantages in a discipline that is genuinely global. The programme builds systematically from core principles in mathematics, physics, and circuit theory through to more advanced topics in power electronics, electromagnetics, control systems, digital signal processing, and communications engineering.

Laboratory work and design projects are central throughout, developing your practical skills and your ability to apply theoretical knowledge to engineering problems. The work placement gives you the experience of working as an engineer in a professional environment before you complete your degree.

Graduates in electrical engineering are in consistent demand across a wide range of industries and roles. Energy, including the rapidly growing renewables sector covering wind, solar, and grid-scale storage, is a major employer, as are telecommunications, defence, aerospace, automotive technology, and consumer electronics. Roles in systems engineering, power electronics, embedded software, and control engineering are all open to graduates with this background.

The degree also provides a strong foundation for work in consultancy, project management, and technical leadership. Many graduates pursue chartered engineer status through the Institution of Engineering and Technology or the Institution of Electrical Engineers. Postgraduate study in specialist areas such as power systems, communications, or machine learning applied to signal processing is an option for those who want to deepen their technical expertise.