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:

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:

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

 

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

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.

Below is a snapshot of what some University of Plymouth electrical and electronic engineering graduates told us they were doing 15 months after graduation. For some graduates, these jobs serve as stepping stones to professional posts by providing relevant workplace experience. 

*Data is from the Graduate Outcomes Surveys covering the three years of 2018/19 – 2020/21. Graduates were surveyed 15 months after graduating. Data displayed is for UK-domiciled, first degree, full-time graduates who are working, studying or looking for work.

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: 

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.

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:

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.

For more information about the alumni tool select the 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, select the LinkedIn guide for students or come to one of our workshops.

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. 

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.