United Kingdom job market is expected to need 2.2 million engineers over the next 10 years which means the professionals in the field of engineering are high in demand, suggests the Engineering UK Report 2012.

Throughout the past decade Engineering has stayed a stable industry in the UK. It managed to generate £1.15tn turnover in 2009-10, when most industries were struggling due to recession. Because of massive reach of the industry, most graduates of Engineering and Technology find full time employment in less than six months of graduating with starting salary of £25,000 on average, which is above the national average starting salary for all graduates i.e. £22,364. If that’s not enough reasons to pursue a career in Engineering; engineering graduates are also known to earn over 30% more in their working lifetime as compared to an average graduate, suggests the Engineering UK Report 2012.

There is no doubt that Engineering is a field with high demand in the UK and beyond, but it requires for individuals to have a certain aptitude, interest and knowledge in sciences, technology and numerical subjects.

Entry Requirements

In order for you to be eligible for Bachelors of Engineering (BEng), you will need to prove a certain level of English Language proficiency. You have the options to either take IELTS or TOEFL exams. The requirement of IELTS test for most universities is approximately 7 out of 9 bands. However, it can vary from one university to another.

You will also be asked to fulfil academic requirement based on your O/A-Levels result with numerical and science subjects like Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Some universities will also ask you for a specific grade in these subjects. University you are interested in apply to, should be contacted to find out about the exact requirements.

Study Options

Undergraduate in Electronic Engineering in the UK is a three years degree. You would be required to take up core modules each year and have electives towards the end of the degree, which will allow you to specialise in your area of interest. You will also be required to write a dissertation based on 10,000 – 20,000 words in your final year. The dissertation will be based on a research project that you will be expected to undertake. Remember to pick the right supervisor for your dissertation, as they will overlook and assess all your work. A guide on writing a dissertation is available here.

Some of the modules that you can expect to undertake include Circuits, Communication Systems, Analytical Techniques, Software Engineering, Energy Systems, Quantitative Skills, Research Methods and Digital Media Systems.

By the end of three years you would have achieved Bachelors of Engineering (BEng) degree. If you decide to continue studying for another year, you can achieve the Masters of Engineering (MEng) degree, which will allow you to build on the knowledge and skills you gained in the first three years of the course.

Career Options

Prospects in Electronic Engineering are on a climb all over the world, especially in the UK. The professionals in the field are highly valued by technology oriented organisations. In an organisation you will be involved in developing, management and maintaining of electrical systems.

You can seek job roles in many industries including Defence, Aerospace, Automotive, Marine, Telecommunications, Power Generation, Oil and Gas etc.