Purpose

This major covers stages 2 and 3 of the BE (Bachelor of Engineering) degree programmes in Electronic Engineering and in Electrical Engineering.  The two programmes diverge in stage 4: see majors NES2 and NES3.  Stage 1 is common to all the BE degree programmes, and is covered by the major NUS1. Students in this major can choose to graduate with the BSc (Bachelor of Science) degree in Engineering Science after completing stage 3.  This can lead to an ME (Master of Engineering) degree in some area of specialisation.

BE Electronic Engineering

The BE degree in Electronic Engineering is intended to produce graduates who can work as professional engineers across the broad spectrum of electronic engineering.  With this in mind, the programme develops the design and problem-solving skills that are essential in a professional engineer, and equips graduates with a good knowledge of a wide range of electronics technology.  The programme also provides a strong understanding of the fundamental principles on which the technology is based, so that graduates will be able to adapt to future technologies and perhaps develop some of those technologies during their professional careers. Individual modules within the programme are designed and delivered by academic staff with expertise in the relevant areas. 

The methods of teaching and assessment vary, to suit the needs of the different subjects.  Most modules include traditional lectures and a written exam at the end of the semester.  Many modules also have a laboratory component, allowing students to experience the practical side of electronic engineering.  Assignments provide design and problem-solving challenges, and also form part of the assessment.  In the final year, a substantial project draws together many of the separate strands of learning, with an emphasis on independent learning, technical design and analysis, and communication skills.

This BE programme is accredited by Engineers Ireland, partially satisfying the educational requirements for Chartered Engineer.

BE Electrical Engineering

The BE degree in Electrical Engineering is intended to produce graduates who can work as professional engineers across the broad spectrum of electrical engineering, including renewable generation, power electronics, integrated energy systems and smart grid initiatives.  The programme is designed to provide students with a strong understanding of the fundamental principles, analytical techniques and technologies involved, while also developing their design and problem-solving skills.  Subsequently, as graduates, they will be able to adapt to the rapidly changing fields of modern sustainable power systems, smart grid applications and power electronics technologies, and perhaps inspire and develop some of the future technologies that will be developed during their professional careers.

Individual modules are taught by a strong cohort of experienced and internationally recognised academic staff (forming part of the world-leading Electricity Research Centre for the integration of renewables into power systems), with expertise in all the core areas of Electrical Engineering.  Teaching methods and assessment procedures vary across the programme to suit the wide range of subjects made offered.  There is a strong laboratory component, allowing students to experience the practical aspects of electrical engineering, while assignments provide design and problem-solving challenges.  In the final year, a substantial project draws together many of the separate strands of learning, with an emphasis on independent learning, technical design & analysis, and communication skills.

This BE programme is accredited by Engineers Ireland, partially satisfying the educational requirements for Chartered Engineer.

BSc Engineering Science

The BSc degree in Engineering Science provides an alternative to the traditional BE degree, based on the first three years of the BE programme.  Graduates should have a strong understanding of the fundamental scientific and mathematical principles on which electrical and electronic engineering are based, as well as a good knowledge of the relevant engineering technology and the necessary design and problem-solving skills.

Individual modules within the programme are designed and delivered by academic staff with expertise in the relevant areas.  The methods of teaching and assessment vary, to suit the needs of the different subjects.  Most modules include traditional lectures and a written exam at the end of the semester.  Many modules also have a laboratory component, allowing students to experience the practical side of electronic engineering.  Assignments provide design and problem-solving challenges, and also form part of the assessment.

The BSc programme is not accredited, as it is not intended to be a professional qualification in engineering.

1 - Graduates should have good knowledge and understanding of a range of electrical and electronic technology and the underlying mathematics and science, and be able to apply this to real-world problems.
2 - Graduates should be able to analyse and model an electrical or electronic system, identify problems and solve those problems.
3 - Graduates should be able to design an electrical or electronic system to meet a given specification.
4 - Graduates should be able to design an algorithm to solve a given problem, and write a program to implement that algorithm
5 - Graduates should be able to acquire knowledge by investigation or experiment.
6 - Graduates should be able to write a technical report on a topic related to electrical or electronic engineering, and present the results of their work.

This stream is for students studying either electrical engineering or electronic engineering - further specialisation comes later.

Electrical engineers work with electricity and magnetic fields to design electrical machines, either to generate electrical energy or to convert electrical energy to some other form. The scale can vary from a conversion rate of a few watt (W) in a small robot, to 10s of kW in an industrial machine or an electric vehicle, or 100s of MW in an electrical power station or a wind turbine. Electrical engineers are also concerned with controlling those electrical machines, either individually or as an entire interconnected electricity grid, and with storing electrical energy.

Electronic engineers also use energy in electrical form, but usually in much smaller quantities and for different purposes - mostly to represent information, either for computing, communication or entertainment. Some electronic engineers design the micro-electronic circuits that are at the heart of computers and all other electronic devices, while others design those devices (hardware and software), or design networks to connect those devices and move information between them.

As in all branches of engineering, design and problem solving are key skills. As a professional engineer, you will be expected to solve problems that you have never seen before, or to design something completely new - maybe starting with an abstract idea and turning it into a product or a system that works safely and reliably, and does something useful for people.

The first year of study is common to all the UCD engineering degree programmes. This stream is one of the choices available to students at end of that year. It can lead towards either electrical engineering or electronic engineering, depending on the options chosen.

In second year (Stage 2), the curriculum is the same for both electrical engineering and electronic engineering, as the fundamental principles are the same in both areas.
In third year (Stage 3), some of the modules are shared, but students have to choose two option modules and start to specialise in either electrical engineering or electronic engineering.

At the end of Stage 3, students can choose to continue towards the Bachelor of Engineering (BE) degree in electrical engineering (see NES3) or the BE in electronic engineering (see NES2). At this point, students can aslo choose to graduate with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in engineering science, or, if eligible, to transfer into one of the ME degree programmes in UCD.

As part of your degree programme, you can apply to spend a year or a trimester studying abroad. There are student exchange opportunities in Europe under the Erasmus programme, and in other parts of the world under various other exchange agreements.

You could be involved in projects that make a difference to the world, e.g. harnessing new sources of energy or developing advanced digital technologies. Exciting opportunities exist in areas such as designing new means of communication or the next generation of multimedia devices, studying the human brain, working with electrical power systems or developing new imaging techniques.

You can also pursue graduate study internationally or as part of a UCD Master’s degree, e.g. ME in Electronic & Computer Engineering, ME in Electrical Power Engineering, ME in Biomedical Engineering, ME in Engineering with Business or ME in Optical Engineering.

Professional Work Experience (PWE) is incorporated in the ME programmes. Six- to eight-month internships (the majority of which are paid) have included the following employers: Accenture, Analog Devices, Eiratech Robotics, EirGrid, ESB, Intel, Mainstream Renewable Power, Workday, and Xilinx.

UCD Engineering and Architecture Programme Office,
Engineering and Materials Science Centre,
Belfield,
Dublin 4
Tel: +353 1 716 1868
Email: eng.arch@ucd.ie
Web: www.ucd.ie/engineer

Stage 2 Electronic and Electrical Engineering has 9 core modules. You must choose one option module from group A in the spring trimester. You must also choose one elective module in the autumn trimester and one in the spring trimester. These electives can be chosen from the option modules (group A or group B) or from anywhere in the University.

Stage 3 Electronic and Electrical Engineering has 8 core modules. You must choose two Option Modules from group A - this choice will determine your path towards Electrical Engineering or towards Electronic Engineering. You must also choose one Elective Module in the autumn trimester and one in the spring trimester. These electives can be chosen from the option modules (group A or group B) or from anywhere in the University.

Module ID	Module Title	Trimester	Credits
Stage 2 Core Modules
EEEN20010	Computer Engineering	Autumn	5
EEEN20020	Electrical and Electronic Circuits	Autumn	5
EEEN20050	Digital Electronics: from gate to system	Autumn	5
EEEN20070	Solid State Devices	Autumn	5
MATH20290	Multivariable Calculus for Eng	Autumn	5
EEEN20030	Electromagnetic Fields	Spring	5
EEEN20040	Electronic Circuits	Spring	5
EEEN20090	Electrical Energy Systems	Spring	5
STAT20060	Statistics & Probability	Spring	5
Stage 2 Core Modules
Stage 2 Options - A)MIN1OF: Select at least one option module from this group:
EEEN20060	Communication Systems	Spring	5
MEEN20030	Applied Dynamics I	Spring	5
Stage 2 Options - A)MIN1OF: Select at least one option module from this group:
Stage 2 Options - B)MIN0OF: Choose two elective modules from this list, or from option group A, or from anywhere in the University.
SCI20020	Introduction to Project Management and Leadership	Autumn and Spring (separate)	5
IA20010	Creative Thinking & Innovation	Autumn&Spring&Summer(separate)	5
COMP20200	UNIX Programming	Spring	5
Stage 2 Options - B)MIN0OF: Choose two elective modules from this list, or from option group A, or from anywhere in the University.
Stage 3 Core Modules
ACM30030	Multivariable Calculus Eng II	Autumn	5
COMP20080	Computer Science for Engineers II	Autumn	5
EEEN30020	Circuit Theory	Autumn	5
EEEN30110	Signals and Systems	Autumn	5
EEEN30030	Electromagnetic Waves	Spring	5
EEEN30050	Signal Processing: Theory and Applications	Spring	5
EEEN30120	Analogue Electronics	Spring	5
EEEN30150	Modelling and Simulation	Spring	5
Stage 3 Core Modules
Stage 3 Options - A)MIN2OF: Select at least two option modules from this list. If you wish to continue to the BE in Electronic Engineering or the ME in Electronic and Computer Engineering, you must select EEEN30060 Communication Theory and EEEN30190 Digital System Design. If you wish to continue to the BE in Electrical Engineering or the ME in Electrical Power Engineering, you must select EEEN30070 Power Systems Engineering and EEEN30090 Electrical Machines.
EEEN30090	Electrical Machines	Autumn	5
EEEN30190	Digital System Design	Autumn	5
EEEN30060	Communication Theory	Spring	5
EEEN30070	Power System Engineering	Spring	5
Stage 3 Options - A)MIN2OF: Select at least two option modules from this list. If you wish to continue to the BE in Electronic Engineering or the ME in Electronic and Computer Engineering, you must select EEEN30060 Communication Theory and EEEN30190 Digital System Design. If you wish to continue to the BE in Electrical Engineering or the ME in Electrical Power Engineering, you must select EEEN30070 Power Systems Engineering and EEEN30090 Electrical Machines.
Stage 3 Options - B)MIN0OF: Choose two elective modules from this list, or from option group A, or from anywhere in the University. MEEN30140 Professional Engineering (Finance) is recommended if you wish to enter the ME in Engineering with Business.
COMP30040	Networks and Internet Systems	Autumn	5
EEEN30160	Biomedical Signal Processing	Autumn	5
MEEN30100	Engineering Thermodynamics II	Autumn	5
SCI20020	Introduction to Project Management and Leadership	Autumn and Spring (separate)	5
COMP20180	Intro to Operating Systems	Spring	5
MEEN30140	Professional Engineering (Finance)	Spring	5
Stage 3 Options - B)MIN0OF: Choose two elective modules from this list, or from option group A, or from anywhere in the University. MEEN30140 Professional Engineering (Finance) is recommended if you wish to enter the ME in Engineering with Business.

		Award		GPA
Programme	Module Weightings	Rule Description	Description
BHENG001	Stage 4 - 70.00% Stage 3 - 30.00%	Standard Honours Award	First Class Honours	3.68	4.20
			Second Class Honours, Grade 1	3.08	3.67
			Second Class Honours, Grade 2	2.48	3.07
			Pass	2.00	2.47