2024/25 entry
BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year (BSc (Hons) )
Why study Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year at Liverpool John Moores University?
- Excellent student support from academic tutors and student mentors, including a three-day field activity to get to know fellow and tutors
- Design-led engineering curriculum emphasises developing understanding through application, with Level 4 and 5 students taking part in two week-long design projects supplied by industrial partners
- Teaching is supported by well-equipped laboratories and workshops with state-of-the-art software and excellent technical support
- To be Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the programme features regular contributions from professional engineers and industrial visits
- Our thriving Student Autosport Society competes successfully in the Formula Student competition and electrical engineering students play a key role in developing the control systems that are crucial to the teams success
About your course
The BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year at Liverpool John Moores University is the ideal course if you are interested in this subject but lack the necessary qualifications to study it at degree level.
Additional course costs:
There are no additional costs for field trips, company visits or software. Only the normal costs such as calculators, notepads and similar are required.
Electrical and electronic engineers are also involved in the ongoing development and production of a diverse range of products, and so companies supplying anything from bread to jet engines, from mobile phones to banking services will need their skills.
Level 4 of this BEng (Hons) course covers core engineering principles and technologies such as mathematics, electrical engineering, electronics and instrumentation, microprocessors and programming. You will also spend time completing structured design projects, which will help develop your engineering and management skills. In the second year there is greater emphasis on the application of the core principles through design.
Electronics and microprocessors are taught in the context of designing and controlling engineering systems and the mathematics course provides the essential skills to enable you to design control strategies, and supports the more mathematical modules of the programme.
During your course, you will undertake projects that both structured and less structured allowing you more freedom to design your own solutions to problems. This is supported by seminars in commercial project development, which will teach you some of the key skills needed to plan and manage a project..
The last year of the programme covers the core themes of electronics, electrical power and management and you will undertake a major individual project with an academic supervisor.
"My time at LJMU has been both challenging and intriguing. Being at a university that gives you the best tools to succeed has only further increased my appetite to achieve my goals."
Professional accreditation/links
Professional accreditation is to be provided by the Institution of Engineering and Technology: www.theiet.org/
LJMU's policy is to ensure that MEng and BEng engineering degrees are accredited by the relevant UK professional engineering institution and provide the educational base for graduates to gain Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
Accredited MEng degrees enable graduates to gain CEng status without further study, while accredited BEng degrees will require a further period of study after graduation.
If you have demonstrated consistently strong performance by the end of Level 5, you may be offered the opportunity to transfer to the MEng programme.
Gaining professional status will be of considerable benefit to you in your future career especially if you join a multinational company and/or need to have your qualification recognised overseas.
Fees and funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- access to programme-appropriate software
- library and student IT support
- free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.
Employability
Graduates from this BEng (Hons) Foundation Year programme have found employment as professional engineers across all sectors.
Electrical and electronic engineers make up one of the largest branches of engineering professionals. They are employed in almost every sector of economic activity including: the utilities in power generation and distribution, telecommunications, and water; all areas of manufacturing including aerospace, automotive, electrical and electronic equipment; research and development; technical services, technical sales, consultancies and government agencies.
Graduate engineering roles include: project engineer leading and managing technical teams; product development engineer developing electrical/electronic products and systems; power systems engineer designing managing and maintaining power distribution networks; process engineer developing and maintaining manufacturing processes.
Examples of recent employers include: Siemens Plc, British Nuclear Fuels Limited, Jaguar, Aero Engine Controls (Rolls Royce-Goodrich), Ministry of Defence, E & I Engineering Ltd and the National Grid.
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU's in-house recruitment service, and we also offer fully funded Discovery Internships.
One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones and we offer a year-round programme of events, including themed careers and employability workshops, employer events and recruitment fairs. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.
A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU's Careers, Employability and Start-up Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.
Go abroad
LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes. If you wanted to go abroad for a shorter amount of time, you could attend one of our 1-4 week long summer schools.
Our Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects or unpaid placements anywhere in the world. With all of these opportunities at your feet, why wouldn’t you take up the chance to go abroad?
Find out more about the opportunities we have available via our Instagram @ljmuglobalopps or email us at: goabroad@ljmu.ac.uk.
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What you will study on this degree
Please see guidance below on core and option modules for further information on what you will study.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Level 3
Core modules
Engineering and Technology Practice
20 credits
This module aims to introduce the student to some of the academic and practical skills that will support their progression in an engineering and technology focused higher education environment.
Additional Foundation Physics
20 credits
The aim of this module is to provide basic knowledge of mechanics, thermodynamics, materials, fields and electronics for those who have not studied A-level physics to be able to study an engineering or technology degree.
Algorithms and Computing
10 credits
This module aims to provide an introduction to technical computing and the application of computers in the implementation of simple algorithms.
Foundation Mathematics for Engineering and Technology 1
20 credits
This module aims to provide you with the mathematical knowledge, understanding and skills which are required to use mathematics as an analytical tool in engineering and technology subjects.
Foundation Mathematics for Engineering and Technology 2
20 credits
This module aims to build upon the material covered in Mathematics 1 by exploring more advanced topics in Mathematics. This includes an introduction to elementary techniques in Calculus.
Introductory Foundation Physics
20 credits
The aim of this module is to provide basic knowledge of electricity mechanics, materials and waves for those who have not studied A-level physics to be able to study an engineering or technology degree.
Programming for Engineers
10 credits
Level 4
Core modules
Engineering Mathematics 1a
10 credits
This module provides a foundation in engineering mathematics for its application to the solution of engineering problems.
Engineering Mathematics 1b
10 credits
This module provides a foundation in engineering mathematics for its application to the solution of engineering problems. It is a continuation of Engineering Mathematics 1a.
Digital Electronics
20 credits
This module provides an introduction to Boolean Logic and the operation of combinational and sequential digital logic circuits.
Software Development for Embedded Systems
20 credits
The module provides an overview of the operation of modern microprocessors/microcontrollers and the mechanisms used to represent and process information. It will also help you design and implement applications written in both low level and high level languages.
Engineering Circuit Analysis
20 credits
This module aims to enhance your knowledge and understanding of the essential mathematics underpinning electrical and electronic engineering. It also aims to develop your intellectual abilities in selecting and applying appropriate circuit analysis techniques for analysing various electrical and electronic circuits. It introduces passive electronic components and helps to understand their operating characteristics. It also gives an introduction to the operating principles of single-phase transformers and electronic filters.
Analogue Electronics
20 credits
This module will provide an introduction to diodes, transistors, small-signal equivalent circuits and the use of operational amplifiers.
Professional Practice and the Environment
20 credits
The module aims to enhance your knowledge and understanding of electrical and electronic circuits by completing a set of practical experiments. It will help you gain experience in practical design of electronic circuits including prototyping, PCB design and manufacture. It will help you develop professional practical skills, undertake experimental laboratory work, analyse and critically evaluate technical issues, present and document ideas and results and develop your ability in data manipulation and sorting. It will also help you to develop a personal development plan and understand the impact that engineering has on the environment.
Level 5
Core modules
Local Communications Systems and Applications
20 credits
Upon completion of this module, you will be able to review the communications options available to interconnect hardware elements and justify a selection to resolve a problem.
Embedded Systems Programming and Applications in the Environment
20 credits
The module aims to broaden your knowledge and understanding of digital circuit design and examines modern microcontroller architectures and the interface requirements to external systems. It also aims to provide you with practical skills necessary to design, analyse and implement electronic circuits controlled by microcontrollers and finite state machines for real life applications in environment.
Electric machines, power systems and clean energy
20 credits
This module intends to introduce the three-phase power system and transmission lines and to enhance your knowledge and understanding of the broad scientific and technological principles underpinning operation of rotating electrical machinery and transformers. It aims to develop your understanding of the steady-state operating principles of single-phase, three-phase transformers, DC and AC rotating machines. It will rehearse your practical skills in the use of mathematical methods for modelling and analysing electric machines and power systems. It will also introduce the use of electric machines in clean energy applications such as hydro power plants, pumped storage systems and wind farms.
Linear Electronics Design and the Environment
10 credits
The module aims to broaden your knowledge and understanding of linear electronic circuit design, and also provides you with practical skills necessary to design, analyse and simulate circuits regarding processing environmental signals.
Instrumentation and Control Engineering
20 credits
This module develops your understanding of components and the principles of control systems, basic design and analysis techniques, and practice some control applications.
Professional Practice Integrative Project
20 credits
This module enables you to develop the skills required to practice as a professional engineer. This module provides a broad range of experiences with an emphasis upon the systematic thinking, planning and execution required of engineers in a modern professional environment. You will be required to design build and test an electronic product to a given specification. The product will incorporate elements covered elsewhere on the course, including analogue electronics and a programmable device such as a microcontroller, a motor and sensors.
Advanced Mathematics
10 credits
This module provides a foundation in engineering mathematics for application to the solution of engineering problems.
Optional Modules
Sandwich Year - Electrical and Electronic Engineering
120 credits
The aim is to provide students with an extended period of work experience at an approved partner that will complement their programme of study at LJMU. This will give students the opportunity to develop professional skills relevant to their programme of study as well as the attitude and behaviours necessary for employment in a diverse and changing environment. This extended placement forms a key part of a sandwich degree. All placements need to be assessed and approved prior to commencement in line with the LJMU Placement Learning Code of Practice. The Code of Practice requires students to conduct themselves in a professional and responsible manner during the placement - failure to do so may lead to the placement being terminated prematurely. Placements are normally for one calendar year on a full-time basis. Split placements of a shorter duration may be permissible. There is an expectation that a minimum of 1200 hours will be spent in the workplace.
Study Year Abroad - Electrical and Electronic Engineering
120 credits
The aim is to provide students with an additional year of study at an approved overseas partner that will complement their programme at LJMU. This is an additional year of full-time study at an approved higher education institution. The modules to be studied must be agreed in advance, and must be appropriate for the student's programme of study. Assuming successful completion of this year, mark-bearing credit will be awarded by the Faculty Recognition Group. The grade conversion scale to be used will be made available in advance of the year abroad.
Level 6
Core modules
Signals and Systems with Real World Applications
10 credits
This module intends to provide you with a good appreciation of the mathematical concepts necessary to apply digital signal and image processing algorithms to a range of engineering problems.
Power Electronics and Energy Efficient Drives
20 credits
This module develops your understanding of switch mode operation of power semiconductors, their application in power electronics converters, and demonstrates application of converters in DC and AC motor drive applications obtaining energy efficient drives.
Engineering Project
40 credits
The project aims to provide you with a supervised but student led learning activity in a relevant area of engineering or technology. It aims to develop the academic, technical and organisational skills required to undertake a substantial individual engineering project from specification to conclusion.
Engineering Management
10 credits
This module is designed to develop the core management techniques required in modern industry.
Optional Modules
Automation and IoT
20 credits
The module aims to develop your knowledge and practical understanding of automation and IoT for industrial processes and applications.
Further Electronic Design
20 credits
This module intends to provide you with a good appreciation of the mathematical concepts necessary to apply digital signal and image processing algorithms to a range of engineering problems.
Process Control and Applications
20 credits
This module helps to appreciate the problems associated with the design of closed-loop control of process systems. It also helps to understand the principles of cascade, feedforward and ratio control. It further helps to analyse non-linear process systems, systems containing large dead-time and coupled multi-loop systems.
Teaching and work-related learning
Excellent facilities and learning resources
We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.
Teaching is via a combination of lectures supported by small-group tutorials, plus seminars, design and building projects, online activities and laboratory work. During Levels 4 and 5, formal teaching will account for around 18-20 hours per week, and you will be expected to spend approximately 30-32 hours in private study.
As you progress through the course, independent study becomes more important and so the proportion of private study time increases to around 39 hours per week.
Work-related Learning
This course offers an invaluable opportunity to undertake an industrial placement after your second year. This experience cannot be underestimated as it will give you a chance to put into practice what you have learnt in the first two years, enhance your skills and provide a taste of what its really like to work in the industry. It will also give you a head start when you come to negotiate your way around the competitive job market.
Support and guidance
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
Embarking on any degree course can be daunting, and so to help you get to know your tutors and fellow students, we organise a three-day field trip to the Blue Peris Mountain Centre in Wales in your first year. Undoubtedly you will need academic and personal support at times during your course, and for this reason you will be allocated a personal tutor with whom you can discuss course-related issues, work on a personal development plan and set your own targets.
Assessment
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
Assessment is usually via a combination of exams and coursework, and sometimes by a portfolio of work, depending on the subject. A final year project gives you the chance to work independently and contributes considerably to your final mark. Your tutors will give prompt and constructive feedback via Canvas (our virtual learning environment), face-to-face or in writing. This will help you to identify your strengths as well as the areas where you may need to put in more work.
Course tutors
Our staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning
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Facilities
What you can expect from your School
This programme is delivered in the Byrom Street complex of LJMUs City Campus. Here you'll find high quality lecture theatres, meeting and seminar rooms plus social spaces and a large café. The Avril Robarts Library is just minutes away on Tithebarn Street.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Grades/points required from qualifications: CCD-CCC (88-96)
Qualification requirements
GCSEs and equivalents
Grade 4 or grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics/ Numeracy.
GCSE Equivalences accepted:
• Key Skills Level 2 in English/Maths
• NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
• Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
• Higher Diploma in Maths/English
• Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
• Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
A levels
CCD-CCC
BTECs
Extended Diploma: MMM (96)
Access awards
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
Pass overall with a minimum of 88 points.
International Baccalaureate
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
OCR Cambridge Technical
Extended Diploma: MMM (96)
Irish awards
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
T levels
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.
You need to obtain the required UCAS points from a related subject area.
International requirements
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IELTS
6.0 overall with no component below 5.5, taken within two years of the course start date.
https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/courses/international-entry-requirements
Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
Application and selection
Securing your place at LJMU
UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.
We are looking for students who are keen to learn new skills and develop those they already possess. We want students with the ability to: be creative with ideas and concepts, moderate their creativity with logic, be enthusiastic and thirsty for knowledge, communicate effectively and confidently and understand and adapt to a wide range of issues connected with the subject.
It is also important that students are able to manage time and tasks effectively as an individual and as part of a team, use appropriate sources to find and organise information and select and critically evaluate information in order to analyse problems. If you would like to develop these skills further, have a strong interest in this subject area and want to work effectively within it, then this is the course for you.
International applications will be considered in line with UK qualifications.
The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.