Undergraduate degree programmes in ECS

Our undergraduate degree programmes are distinctive, stimulating, and challenging. Because ECS combines electronics, computer science, and electrical engineering, you will find that you have a better chance of following your interests and being able to experience greater specialization in your chosen programme. This is one of the reasons why our graduates are in demand.

You can find out more about ECS by following the links at the top of the page. Detailed information, including full syllabus and module content, for all our courses is available below.

We offer three-year undergraduate Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Engineering, and four-year Masters degree programmes which cover the entire spectrum:

Computer Science

Our world relies on computers and computer systems. Every area of our lives, from medicine and healthcare to industrial applications, global trade, transport, communications, entertainment, and security is dependent on computing technology. Continuing advances in the World Wide Web, digital and wireless communications, and new mobile and pervasive devices constantly increase the role of computer systems in our lives.

We will ensure that as a student here you will have a thorough grounding in a wide range of technologies, platforms, and coding languages. We provide really outstanding facilities in our labs, and teaching which is based on the latest research to ensure that at the end of your programme you skills will be highly valued by leading employers.

During your programme – either the three-year BSc or the four-year MEng - you will explore the essential development tools available to the software architect: programming languages, development environments and modelling tools for specification, analysis and design of software systems. Students also learn the latest methodologies in capturing requirements, structuring applications and data and achieving thorough program testing.

Software Engineering

The dependability of software is of critical importance to society as a whole. Failures in software systems are enormously costly, not only to developers, but also to the users of such systems, as well as the users and providers of services that depend on them. In safety-critical systems such as transport, medicine, and manufacturing, it is imperative that software is dependable, functionally correct, and secure.

Software Engineering involves the study and delivery of systematic techniques for developing, testing, operating and maintaining software and software systems, and provides the technical understanding and rigour necessary to understand systems fully and ensure they are resilient and sustainable.

On these programmes you will develop your skills in programming, software design, analysis, quality assurance, and project management and study a range of specialist modules such as critical systems, web development, advanced databases, and scripting languages.

How do the courses differ?

The Computer Science and Software Engineering degrees share identical modules in the first two years, which cover the fundamental areas of the subject. The core courses emphasise programming and the software tools and techniques useful to a modern engineer. The second year concentrates on practical work, enhancing fluency in the core programming languages: Java, C and C++. In the third year (and for MEng the fourth year) Computer Science students choose from a range of optional modules that cover cutting edge technologies, theories and practices. Software Engineers also choose their options from this list, but focus more on the engineering disciplines needed to build robust scalable software in a variety of different contexts.

You may transfer between courses up to the end of your second year, depending on your preference and performance.

BSc/BEng or MEng?

The first two years of the courses are identical and lay the foundation for more specialized training in the third and fourth years. In the third year of the BSc/BEng you choose from options such as Multimedia Systems, Knowledge Technologies, Advanced Computer Networks, Hypertext and Web Technologies (Computer Science); or Scripting Languages, e-Business Techniques, Critical Systems, and Quality Assurance and Project Management (Software Engineering). You will also have an individual project, working with one of our research groups and using their sophisticated equipment. The third year of the MEng is broadly similar to the BEng but with some restrictions on options choices. During your fourth year you will have additional options which will be taken to a research level of understanding by staff who are acknowledged experts in their field. The MEng also includes group design and individual project work, and students are encouraged to take work placements during summer vacations to gain industrial experience.

Our Computer Science MEng degrees are designed to cover the educational requirements for students who wish to become a Chartered Engineer through a professional accrediting body such as the BCS or IET.

Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineering concerns anything that involves electrical power, from the electromagnetics of superconducting systems to the principles of power generation and transmission. Our programmes are broad, based on solid physics and mathematics, and include many different elements that complement traditional power engineering. It is this combination of breadth, fundamentals and applications that gives these courses their strength. You will be taught by staff with up-to-date knowledge of industrial problems so that theory is illustrated with understanding derived from practical experience.

Southampton is one of the three UK universities selected as founding partners in the IET Power Academy, and you will have access to one of the most attractive sponsorship schemes currently available, providing benefits that range from specially designed vacation work and national summer seminars to a generous bursary and tuition fee payment package. Whatever your aspirations, there is no doubt that the job opportunities for electrical engineers are excellent, and the latest statistics show excellent employment prospects for our graduates.

BEng or MEng?

The first two years of the courses are identical and lay the foundation for more specialized training in the third and fourth years. In the third year of the BEng you choose options such as High Voltage Engineering, and Industrial Electrostatics, depending on your own preferences. You will also have an individual project, working with one of our research groups and using their sophisticated equipment. The third year of the MEng is broadly similar to the BEng but with some restrictions on options choices. During your fourth year you will have additional options which will be taken to a research level of understanding by staff who are acknowledged experts in their field. The MEng also includes group design and individual project work, and students are encouraged to take work placements during summer vacations to gain industrial experience.

MEng degrees are designed to cover the educational requirements for students who wish to become a Chartered Engineer through a professional accrediting body such as the BCS or IET.

Electromechanical Engineering

As electrification of our world continues, many engineering applications today harness the ability to convert electrical power into mechanical motion and vice versa, from the humble motor to robots and electric vehicles.

Electromechanical Engineering at Southampton delivers the skills needed to bring these two forces together effectively. This programme is concerned with systems ranging from micromachines to powerful industrial robots, relying on mechanical elements, electrical power, sensing and control to produce an effective device.

The programme has been specifically designed to meet the increasing demand from industry for engineers with cross-disciplinary skills, particularly in the fields of robotics, flexible manufacturing, electromechanical power systems and electrical power transmission and distribution systems. It includes knowledge of electrical-electronic apparatus, circuitry, instrumentation, computer programming, electrical machines and manufacturing processes.

BEng or MEng?

The first two years of the courses are identical and lay the foundation for more specialized training in the third and fourth years. In the third year of the BEng you choose options such as Electrical Machine Dynamics or Robotics, depending on your own preferences. You will also have an individual project, working with one of our research groups and using their sophisticated equipment. The third year of the MEng is broadly similar to the BEng but with some restrictions on options choices. During your fourth year you will have additional options which will be taken to a research level of understanding by staff who are acknowledged experts in their field. The MEng also includes group design and individual project work, and students are encouraged to take work placements during summer vacations to gain industrial experience.

MEng degrees are designed to cover the educational requirements for students who wish to become a Chartered Engineer through a professional accrediting body such as the BCS or IET.

Electronic Engineering

Southampton has an unrivalled reputation in electronics and our graduates are employed worldwide in highly prestigious positions.

Electronics is everywhere – from your mobile phone to your electronic notebook. But also in transport systems (cars have banks of microcomputers that look after the monitoring of the vehicle from brake wear to engine performance), display systems, in medicine and the biological sciences, and as devices become smaller they can also be implanted in human systems (us!) to monitor our health and keep us alive.

On our Electronic Engineering courses you will become involved in all aspects of designing modern electronic systems building on your knowledge and understanding through a mixture of theory with practical demonstrations, laboratory work, group coursework, a challenging personal project, personal development and fun.

ECS is a founder member of the UK Electronic Skills Foundation which offers generous scholarships and support to students undertaking Electronics degrees.

BEng or MEng?

The first two years of the courses are identical and lay the foundation for more specialized training in the third and fourth years. In the third year of the BEng you choose options such as Image Processing, Machine Learning, or Nanotechnology, depending on your own preferences. You will also have an individual project, working with one of our research groups and using their sophisticated equipment. The third year of the MEng is broadly similar to the BEng but with some restrictions on options choices. During your fourth year you will have additional options which will be taken to a research level of understanding by staff who are acknowledged experts in their field. The MEng also includes group design and individual project work, and students are encouraged to take work placements during summer vacations to gain industrial experience.

MEng degrees are designed to cover the educational requirements for students who wish to become a Chartered Engineer through a professional accrediting body such as the BCS or IET.

Information Technology in Organisations

Information technology is critical to the success of organisations in all sectors. It is essential to government and public sector agencies in transport, health, and education; it enhances the way we learn in school, college, university and in our private lives, and it has become an essential component in assisting people whose circumstances are not optimal, for example assistive technology, health monitoring at home, and the electronic patient record.

At work IT is essential for the success of businesses from the sole trader to the big multinationals whose data warehousing capabilities can profile the spending patterns of towns or cities.

These distinctive degree programmes are designed to provide you with a unique perspective and to prepare you for a career as a flexible IT professional. You will be taught by a team with many years’ experience of delivering high-quality computing courses to a broad range of students. We emphasize discussion, analysis, and reflection on technical practice, and use a variety of teaching methods to achieve this, including team-building and management-related activities.

Final-year options include Enterprise Web Development, Universal Design, Intelligent Agents, and Rich Internet Applications.