Computer Systems Engineering with an Industrial Placement Year
Entry requirements
A level
including Maths and a science subject (science subjects include Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronics, Engineering, Further Maths, Physics, or Technology)
Access to HE Diploma
Award of Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 39 at Distinction (to include Maths and Science/Engineering), and 6 at Merit
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
with 6 in Higher Level Maths and a science subject (science subjects include Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronics, Engineering, Further Maths, Physics, or Technology)
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
including Maths and a science subject (science subjects include Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronics, Engineering, Further Maths, Physics, or Technology)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
in Engineering or Applied Science + A in A Level Maths
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
in Engineering or Applied Science + A in A Level Maths
Scottish Advanced Higher
in Maths and a science subject + AAABB in Scottish Highers (science subjects include Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronics, Engineering, Further Maths, Physics, or Technology)
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)
+ AA in Maths and a science subject at A Level (science subjects include Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronics, Engineering, Further Maths, Physics, or Technology)
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
This five-year MEng course will develop your engineering skills in computer software and hardware. The key difference between this and a computer science degree is the focus on engineering systems: electromechanical design, robotics and computer programming for embedded systems. You'll also carry out an industrial placement to enhance your employability.
Modules are informed by our world-leading research and designed with input from our industry partners, so you'll have the best start for your career. You'll use industry-standard equipment and learn about state-of-the-art applications in infrastructure, medicine and aviation.
Our courses share a common first year. You'll study subjects that are fundamental to computer systems such as mathematics, computing, control, electronics, software and embedded systems.
In the first year, you'll learn how to control robotic systems and you will work as part of a team to design, analyse and test robots, autonomous vehicles and other complex electro-mechanical systems.
In your second year, core modules cover subjects such as programming (including C++, Python and Java), mathematics and data modelling, signals, systems and communications.
You'll apply your skills to a practical project, where you'll design a system using 3D CAD tools. You'll then build the system in our iForge makerspace. This innovative facility gives you access to 3D printers, laser cutters and more.
In your third year, specialist modules cover topics ranging from intelligent systems, machine learning and digital signal processing to system design and cybersecurity. You can tailor your degree to suit your interests with optional modules.
Your fourth year will be spent on your industry placement. This will put your academic study into context, as you gain work experience and improve your employability prospects.
The highlight of your final year is an advanced project. Working individually with one of our world-leading academics, you’ll deepen your technical knowledge and develop your expertise in a range of engineering techniques and skills such as project management and communication. You'll also study real-time embedded systems while choosing from advanced topics such as deep learning, agent-based modelling and multi-agent systems and cybersecurity.
You can also choose to study a year abroad.
The content of this course is under review and there might be some changes before you start. We'll publish an up-to-date course description soon.
This course is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), the Institute of Measurement and Control and the Engineering Council UK.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
University of Sheffield
Automatic Control and Systems Engineering
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Electrical and electronic engineering
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Electrical and electronic engineering
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
This is one of the more popular areas to study engineering and there is not quite such a serious shortage of electrical engineers as there is of other engineering subjects - but there's still plenty of demand. The most common jobs are in telecommunications, electrical and electronic engineering, but there is some crossover with the computing industry, so many graduates start work in IT and computing jobs. At the moment, there's a particular demand for electrical engineers in the electronics, and the car and aerospace industries, and also in defence, and salaries can vary across the country depending on the industry you start in. Bear in mind that a lot of courses are four years long, and lead to an MEng qualification — this is necessary if you want to become a Chartered Engineer.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Electrical and electronic engineering
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£27k
£33k
£35k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Explore these similar courses...
This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Course location and department:
This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
Have a question about this info? Learn more here