Computer Systems Engineering

Computer systems engineering sits at the boundary between computing and electronic engineering, addressing the design and integration of the hardware and software components that together constitute modern computing systems. It is concerned with the physical implementation of computation, from digital circuits and microprocessors through to embedded systems, real-time control, and the complex architectures that power everything from smartphones and autonomous vehicles to data centres and industrial automation. The discipline requires both the abstraction of software design and the physical grounding of electronic engineering.

At Queen Mary University of London, this three-year, full-time degree develops your ability to design the systems behind technological developments while examining how those systems collect, process, and transmit information. You will study digital electronics, computer architecture, operating systems, programming, signal processing, and the theory of computation, developing both the theoretical foundations and the practical skills to work on the hardware-software interface that defines the discipline. Queen Mary is a research-intensive university in the heart of London's technology sector, and the programme benefits from that environment.

The typical entry tariff of 136 points reflects solid academic expectations for a technically demanding engineering degree.

Computer systems engineering graduates work across the electronics, defence, telecommunications, automotive, aerospace, and industrial automation industries in roles that require deep understanding of how computing hardware and software interact. Job titles include embedded systems engineer, hardware engineer, digital design engineer, and systems integration specialist. The breadth of the discipline also makes graduates attractive to software-focused employers who value the hardware understanding that computer systems engineering provides.

Many graduates also go on to postgraduate study in computer engineering, electronic engineering, or a specialist area such as embedded systems, robotics, or digital communications.