Year 1

In your first year you will take courses in mathematics and study engineering fundamentals including computing, analogue and digital electronics and electrical engineering. These courses will form a solid foundation for development later in the degree programme and are supported by individual and group project and laboratory work. The music component includes recording and studio skills, plus either general musicianship or performance (subject to audition at the start of the year).

Year 2

During the second year, you will study core engineering subjects of analogue and digital electronics, electrical circuits, computer architecture, a design project and mathematics, together with audiovisual composition, Max MSP programming, and one other music option.

Years 3

In your third year you will continue the pattern of a mix of electronics (two-thirds) and music (one-third) topics, including systems design, communication systems, control, real-time systems, electromagnetic compatibility, mathematics, sonic arts and a music option. These courses are augmented with project work.

Years 4 and 5

The main route to becoming a fully chartered engineer is through the MEng degree, which usually takes five years. The BEng degree remains popular and can normally be completed in four years. To become a fully chartered engineer with a BEng degree requires further study after graduation, which can be done part-time from work.

Your selection for BEng or MEng depends on your progress record in your first three years.

On the MEng programme your choice of technical options is the same as that of the BEng degree but instead of an extended individual project you carry out a team project combined with a course in project management. You may also choose an appropriate European language course. In fifth year you will complete a six-month project and then take further technical subjects (including a course in advanced electronics system design) and management subjects.

If you are an accomplished performer, you may be admitted to the performance options of the programme.

If you are admitted into the MEng route you will have the opportunity to take part in a multidisciplinary integrated system design project. You will work in teams alongside students of other engineering disciplines.

There is a final-year MEng degree option to concentrate on a comprehensive management course supported by many manufacturing companies in Scotland.

As an MEng student you will complete a six-month research and development project in an international company or research lab, in fifth year. If you have chosen to study a European language you may be assigned to a host organisation in Europe – students choosing this option are considerably prized by future employers.

Graduates are fully qualified electronics and electrical engineers with particular skills in music technology. This means that the degree is far more prestigious than a vocational qualification in audio recording and production and you will have the option of seeking employment in both the highly competitive world of the recording and broadcasting industries, and also the much broader field of employment offered by the electronics industry as a whole. The diversity of jobs is illustrated by the fact that our graduates have found employment ranging from designing Intel processors to investigating wind and wave power with Natural Power Consultants.