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

Things to consider when choosing a career or considering further study after studying an electrical and electronic engineering degree

Electrical and electronic engineering and robotics hero image

Knowledge and skills

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.

Career options

15 months after graduating*

95% of graduates in work or further study

85% 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.

*Data is from the Graduate Outcomes Surveys covering the three years of 2019/20 – 2021/22. 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.

Researching your career options

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 an Electrical degree?

Target Jobs – What can I do with an 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

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)

Employment opportunities

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.

Digital Electronics Design Engineer
Graduate Antenna Engineer
Graduate Electrical Design Engineer
Group Head of Engineering and Quality

Project Leader
Research Engineer – Embedded Systems
Senior Robotics Technician
Test Equipment Design Engineer

Employers

Babcock International
Collins Aerospace
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
Dyson
Hoare Lea
KPMG
Leonardo UK
M Subs Ltd

Marlborough Communications Ltd
Network Rail
RINA
Synopsys
Three (H3G)
Valeport
Vanilla Electronics

Things to consider when choosing a career or considering further study after studying an electrical and electronic engineering degree

Discover employment and further study opportunities that you could consider once you graduate with an electrical and electronic engineering degree, and learn how you can stand out to graduate employers.
We encourage you to:

undertake career planning and research
build your networks, meet employees and graduates
gain essential work experience during your course
attend career fairs and events
continually develop your skills and knowledge
get involved with relevant clubs and societies
visit the Careers Service for advice.

Further study

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

Careers Service support

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.

Connect with graduates

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’
select ‘Alumni’
filter the results by subject, sector, company or location.

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

Other advice and guidance

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.