Electrical engineering is the study and application of electricity production, transmission and distribution. It is a highly specialised skill which takes years to perfect. With electricity and the need for connectivity forming such an integral part of modern society, electrical engineers continue to increase in value and importance, meaning a degree in the subject can quickly prepare you for a lucrative career path with scope to work across many industries.
Electrical engineers are concerned with the creation and harnessing of electrical power, ensuring an uninterrupted, sufficient and safe supply between people, systems and locations. Given the essential nature of electronics and the ever-growing demand for electrical technology, electrical engineering is often undertaken on vast national and international scales.
Although closely linked, electrical engineers are different from electronic engineers, who specialise in the creation, optimisation and maintenance of electrical devices and technologies. Subjects linked to electrical engineering include aerospace engineering, artificial intelligence, computer science, electronic engineering and mechanical engineering.
Studying electrical engineering abroad at the undergraduate level usually takes three to four years, depending on your study destination, type of degree and study mode. At postgraduate level, an electrical engineering course is typically one to three years long.
Qualifications in electrical engineering can be studied at certificate, diploma, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and even PhD level. You don’t need to be a chartered engineer to secure a job in electrical engineering, but it can help you advance in your career.
If you think you may want to register as a chartered engineer or incorporated engineer in future, you must ensure your course is accredited by the relevant body in the country you wish to practise. For example, the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) in the UK.
Your electrical engineering course will likely be taught as a mixture of lectures, seminars and tutorials alongside laboratory and workshop sessions. Subjects you may cover in your electrical engineering degree include:
1. Electronic circuitry
2. Electrical design
3. Electromagnetic theory
4. Nanotechnology
5. Photonics
6. Physics of electronics
7. Renewable energy
Some electrical engineering specialisations include:
1. Biomedical engineering
2. Communications engineering
3. Computer engineering
4. Control systems engineering
5. Power engineering
To enrol as an international student on an electrical engineering course abroad, you will need to meet basic entry requirements. Whilst these vary between institutions, generally speaking, at the undergraduate level, you will need:
1. Three A-Levels (or equivalent).
2. Grades equivalent to at least ABB at A-Level / International Baccalaureate score of 34 points.
Some universities may ask for specific grades in your maths and science GCSEs (or equivalent qualification), whilst others may require a physics A-Level (or equivalent).
If you are enrolling on a postgraduate electrical engineering degree, you will usually need to have achieved a 2:1 in a relevant undergraduate degree. To study electrical engineering overseas, you will likely also need an overall IELTS score of 6.5 with no band score lower than 6.0.
If you dream of becoming an international student, why not explore the best universities for electrical engineering in the world? According to the QS World University Rankings by subject, these are:
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA)
2. Stanford University (USA)
3. University of California, Berkeley (USA)
4. ETH, Zurich (Switzerland)
5. University of Cambridge (UK)
Have you considered studying electrical engineering in Canada? According to QS World University Rankings by subject, the best Canadian universities for electrical engineering are:
1. University of Toronto
2. University of Waterloo
3. University of British Columbia
How about studying electrical engineering in the UK? The best universities for the subject there, according to the QS World University Rankings by subject, are:
1. University of Cambridge
2. University of Oxford
3. Imperial College London
Electrical engineers are in high demand globally, and according to the US Bureau of Labour and Statistics, employment for electrical engineers is anticipated to grow faster than many other professions over the next decade. As such, a qualification in electrical engineering will give you the scope to work internationally for a competitive salary.
The median salary for an electrical engineer in the USA in 2022, according to the US Bureau of Labour and Statistics, was USD 103,000. Whilst entry-level electrical engineers will likely earn less initially, with additional qualifications and/or experience, your wages will increase. As an electrical engineer, you may work in many sectors, including:
1. Construction
2. Energy/renewable energy
3. Healthcare
4. Manufacturing
5. Robotics
6. Telecommunications
7. Transport
Electrical engineers commonly work in environments such as:
1. Factories
2. Laboratories
3. Office buildings
4. Workshops
Depending on your role, you may also find yourself working remotely and/or moving between job sites regularly.