What can you do with an electrical and electronic engineering degree?

Your degree will develop your subject-specific knowledge in areas such as electrical and electronics, power, communications and microprocessors. A strong emphasis on learning by doing means that you will spend a good deal of your time engaged in individual and group project work and in the laboratory. In addition to your specialist skills and knowledge, you will therefore develop valuable transferrable skills including:

• Complex problem-solving skills and an innovative but methodical approach.
• Pragmatism and practicality to turn a concept into reality.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills as a result of writing technical reports and presenting to diverse audiences which range from fellow students to industry professionals.
• Time management and an ability to prioritise and plan work effectively within the laboratory and when managing an engineering project from its inception to the final realisation.
• A professional approach and ability to work to an ethical code of conduct.

15 months after graduating*

of graduates in work or further study

100% of graduates agreed that their current activity is meaningful

100% of graduates said their degree was a formal requirement for their job or gave them an advantage

Electrical and Electronic Engineering graduates are in high demand in a range of industries including (but not limited to):

• Aerospace
• Automotive
• Construction
• Defence
• Electronics
• IT industry
• Manufacturing and fast-moving consumer goods
• Marine
• Materials and metals
• Power generation
• Rail
• Utilities

The links below, provided by Prospects will give you an insight into just some of the occupations that you can consider with this versatile qualification.

• Acoustic consultant
• Aerospace engineer
• Broadcast engineer
• Clinical technologist
• Control and instrumentation engineer
• Design engineer
• Electrical engineer
• Electronics engineer
• Machine learning engineer
• Nuclear engineer
• Project manager
• Software engineer
• Sound engineer
• Technical author

Below is a snapshot of what some of University of Plymouth Electrical and Electronic Engineering graduates told us they were doing 15 months after graduation. For some graduates, these roles served as stepping-stones by providing relevant work experience.

• Commissioning Engineer
• Controls Engineer
• Design Engineer
• Development Engineer
• Digital Signal Processing Engineer
• Electric Systems Support Manager
• Electrical Associate Design Engineer
• Electronics Engineer
• Graduate Engineer
• Graduate Wireless Engineer
• Manufacturing Quality Engineer
• Opto-Electronics Technician
• Power Electronic Engineer
• Product Engineer
• Production Engineer
• Software Engineer
• Technical Officer of PCCW
• Vehicle Integration Engineer

Employers

• AECOM
• Allen and Heath
• Apple
• Applied Automation
• BAE Systems
• Babcock International
• Broadcom
• Bryden Wood Limited
• Colas Rail
• Dyson ltd
• Earthing Risk Management
• EDF Energy
• European Space Agency
• Fluor
• Frazer-Nash Consultancy
• Hoarelea
• Horiba Mira
• HR Smith
• Hulley & Kirkwood Consulting Engineers
• Invertek Drives Ltd
• Isomet UK ltd
• Jaguar Land Rover
• Marine Guard
• Oclaro Technology
• Paper Converting Machine Company
• PCCW Solution Ltd
• Peak Analysis and Automation
• Power Naturally
• Pulse Power and Measurement
• Renishaw
• Rexquote
• Schneider Electric
• Science and Technology Facilities Council
• Smartone Macau
• Synatel Instrumentation
• Triumph Motorcycles Limited
• Ultra Electronics
• UTC Aerospace Systems
• Western Power Distribution

*Data is from the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18. Graduates were surveyed 15 months after graduating. Data displayed is for 195 UK-domiciled, first degree, full-time graduates who are working, studying or looking for work.

To find out more about your career options both Prospects and TargetJobs can provide you with initial information to help you get started with your research. Both of these careers sites are updated regularly and provide unbiased information and advice for students and graduates as well as the latest graduate job vacancies. You could start by exploring:

Prospects – What can I do with Electrical and Electronic Engineering degree?

Target Jobs – What can I do with Electrical degree?

Target Jobs – What can I do with Electronic degree?

Sector-specific careers information and job vacancies

In addition to the broad information provided by Prospects, you could also go into a little more detail using these more subject-specific sites.

Careers in Aerospace

Gradcracker – STEM focussed jobs board

Institute of Engineering and Technology 

Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology

TARGETjobs comprehensive guide to engineering sectors and recruitment

The Engineer 

Equality and Diversity in engineering

Association of Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers

Equal Engineers

Women’s Engineering Society (WES) 

Women into Science, Engineering and Constructions (WISE) 

Should you find that you need or want to continue your studies to postgraduate level, the University of Plymouth offers postgraduate study options that might be of interest to you, depending on your interests, development needs and career aspirations:

• MSc Advanced Engineering Design
• MSc Marine Renewable Energy

The following websites provide an excellent starting point for your exploration but you may also find it helpful to talk through your options with a Careers Consultant who can also support you with the application process.

It is also worth investigating what further study options the University has to offer as you may find the perfect course for yourself in an institution you already know. There are also sometimes financial benefits of staying on such as a fee discount to Alumni, find out your funding options here.

Accessing support from the Careers Service couldn’t be easier; come along to the Careers Service Helpdesk in the Student Hub or access our 24/7 online resources. There is a wide range of support available from skills workshops to events, placements and internships advice, 1-2-1 appointments and help getting started with LinkedIn.

Our bite-sized Accelerate workshops can give your career the boost it needs and topics include:

• effective career planning
• job hunting techniques
• finding part-time work
• CVs and interviews
• mastering LinkedIn

Workshops are delivered by the Careers Service, however they are also an opportunity to learn from your peers, share experiences and ask questions. Visit myCareer to see the full range of activities and to book your place.

Build your network and job sector knowledge using LinkedIn’s alumni tool. This will allow you to see the career journeys of graduates from your programme, the qualifications they completed, the skills they developed and employers they worked for. You can then ‘connect’ with people of interest.

• Search LinkedIn for ‘University of Plymouth’
• click on ‘Alumni’
• filter the results by subject, sector, company or location.

For more information about the alumni tool click on LinkedIn alumni tool guide. If you are looking for help to set up or learn how to make the most out of your LinkedIn profile, click on the LinkedIn guide for students or come to one of our workshops.

Work experience

Work experience will provide a major boost to your employability when you graduate as well as giving you a real insight into what to expect from different occupations and industries. You will develop your confidence and professional skills while meeting colleagues who may assist with your career development.

Many organisations offer placement years and shorter internships or you could work part-time around your studies or approach organisations speculatively directly to negotiate short periods of work experience. Gradcracker advertises opportunities with larger organisations and can give you an early indication idea of what might be available to you.

The University of Plymouth Students’ Union also offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities and there are many organisations within the not-for-profit sector who could benefit from your skills and expertise and volunteering generally will help to build your employability skills, confidence and make a real impact on your CV. 

Clubs and societies    

Involvement with clubs and societies shows employers you are engaged and seek out opportunities to develop and try new experiences. These activities also help to improve teamwork, communication and leadership skills. Committee members develop organisational and diplomacy skills having gained experience of meetings, handling funds, and society promotion

You may choose to join a society that is specifically linked to computing such as CompSoc or take the opportunity to explore the huge range of clubs, societies and sports, all of which can help you to broaden your horizons, develop new interests and build your confidence.

Tutor and academic support

Your tutors and other academic staff will also support your career development, having had experience in industry and academia, so do approach them for advice and insights into careers you are considering. They will also be writing references for you when you graduate so establishing a positive relationship with them is invaluable.