Would you like to pursue a career in electrical and electronic engineering? We lay out five fantastic reasons to study a degree in this fascinating subject.
Updated: 16 Apr 2025
Electricity is one of our most valued technologies and is used in an incredible number of applications which our world relies heavily upon. Electrical engineering is concerned with the infrastructure of electricity, which includes the large-scale production, transmission and distribution of electrical power, as well as electrical systems in vehicles. Electronic engineering is centred around the design and maintenance of much smaller electronic devices and circuitry.
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Regardless of the scale you are working at, as an electrical or electronic engineer there are a number of hard and soft skills which you will likely need to know, and many of these will be developed during your undergraduate studies. You’ll learn to manage and repair electrical systems, have expert knowledge of electrical wiring and components, strong mathematical skills and be fluent in software such as AutoCAD, Matlab and AutoDesk.
In order to thrive in a professional environment, you’ll also develop transferable skills such as critical thinking, time-management, and interpersonal skills which will enable you to work as part of a team.
With so many industries, systems, and products relying on electricity to function, there’s a huge range of job types for someone with a background in electrical and electronic engineering. These can include engineer roles in fields such as aerospace, design, sound, networks, nuclear, broadcast, power, automation, and many more current and emerging sectors.
With your skills gained on an eletrical engineering courses, you can also find work as a consultant or technician in a variety of areas, for example CAD, special effects, information technology, fabrication and machining.
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Some of the topics which are likely to be included in an electrical and electronic engineering degree include electromagnetic fields, circuitry analysis, system design, computer programming, analogue electrics, digital signal processing, wireless transmission, and motors, sensors, and actuators.
Needless to say, there are far more topics which can be studied, as electrical engineering is a subject with a far-reaching impact for several industries. This is only a taste of what you'll end up studying on one of these courses.
There are electrical and electronic engineering degrees at most universities in the UK that offer a comprehensive selection of STEM courses. According to Complete University Guide, the three top ranked courses in the UK are at:
The top three universities based on for student satisfaction are:
If you like figuring out how things work, then electrical and electronic engineering could be a career pathway you can really get stuck into. It’s an endlessly useful field to hold expertise in, either for professional or personal reasons.
Remember, there are many hobbies which involve electrical engineering, from remote control aircraft to audio equipment, robotics and home automation, and if you’re already involved in any of these types of activity, then you might just be able to turn your passion into a profession.
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