Electrical and electronic engineers are driving innovations that address some of the world’s most critical challenges, from advancing renewable energy solutions to shaping the future of smart cities and automation. This MSc in Electronic and Electrical Engineering advances your technical expertise and practical experience to excel in these fields and helps you achieve engineering chartership.
Our general engineering ethos and broad range of modules mean that your learning is inter-disciplinary. Although you are specialising in electronic and electrical engineering, you will benefit from working with other engineers which is often a requirement of working in industry and greatly enhances your attractiveness to future employers.
Who is this programme for?
Those with a first degree in electronic, electrical or both engineering disciplines, but also applicable to students with physics or computer science degrees.
Looking ahead to employability
You’ll graduate with a wide range of transferable skills, including creative problem-solving, project management, and the confidence to apply both practical and technical knowledge in a rapidly evolving industry. These skills are gained through:
Working on industry-linked projects, collaborating with other engineers and presenting your findings
A focus on practical work in our state-of-the-art labs. You could be designing and building RF filters; using the chip arm to balance a ball on a vibrating beam; or using LabVIEW to monitor and stabilise temperatures
Honing your experience of using professional software like Microwave Office; programming the ARM CortexM0+ microprocessor, taking microwave measurements using network analysers; or interfacing using LabVIEW
Understanding industry relevant design choices, like cost, manufacturability, legal, environmental and end use aspects.
What to expect
This MSc in Electronic and Electrical Engineering offers a flexible, specialised pathway into the industry, with core modules covering cutting-edge technologies like electrical power system modelling and simulation; design and application of intelligent control systems; the principles of advanced embedded systems; high frequency electronics focusing on RF and mm-wave circuit design.
We offer a range of optional modules where you can specialise in areas that interest you. This is a great opportunity to explore areas of engineering that may not have been covered in your first degree such as machine learning or interfacing and integrating where you learn about visual programming using LabView.
Your dissertation project will take place within one of our world-leading research groups.
At the end of your Master’s degree you will have the tools and techniques needed for a successful career in electronic and electrical engineering, alongside an advanced understanding of real-world applications in sectors like aerospace, telecommunications, and energy.
Three things our engineering students would like you to know
Access to fantastic kit We have mm-wave and THz fabrication and measurement labs, a range of robots, nuclear test shielded areas with high power RF sources, scanning electron microscope and a wave power test lab with wave tank
Industry links and project management skills Get hands-on experience working on real-world industry challenges. Our group projects go beyond technical design, helping you develop the teamwork and communication skills that today’s employers demand from engineering professionals.
Interdisciplinary learning Engineering is evolving, and so is our approach. At Lancaster, our modules are designed to reflect the interdisciplinary nature of modern engineering. You'll collaborate with students from different specialisms, like electrical and mechanical engineering, giving you a well-rounded, versatile education.
2:2 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in a related engineering discipline with a significant amount of both digital and analogue electronics content, which may include some communications, electrical engineering, computer systems and physics courses.
We may also consider non-standard applicants when accompanied by significant experience in a relevant technical field. For UK applicants, a HND together with appropriate practical experience may also be acceptable. Please contact us for further information.
If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.
Additional Requirements
Relevant work experience in any practicing Engineering position requiring the application of technical skills is desirable but not essential.
English Language Requirements
We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.
We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications.
Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master’s pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master’s degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.
Course structure
You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.
Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.
Core
core modules accordion
In this module, students will become familiar with both hardware and software aspects of ARM Cortex M microcontrollers. They will learn the distinctive features of embedded systems and their design procedure, as well as how to programme a microcontroller using ARM assembly language and embedded C.
Throughout the module, students undertake several hands-on, practical exercises as well as a group design project. This will allow them to demonstrate their understanding of the fundamental concepts of embedded systems and become familiar with hardware architecture and instruction sets. They will also learn to identify and use Keil IDE capabilities effectively for debugging and programming an ARM microcontroller.
Students will acquire the fundamentals of design strategy, debugging and structural efficiency required to be a skilled microcontroller engineer. Familiarity with the architecture and programming of this microcontroller is of increasing importance for graduates with electrical and electronics degrees.
Students will be able to demonstrate a good understanding of the architecture and programming of the KL025Z board and ARM CortexM0+ microcontroller; use web-based aids for programming these MCUs; and be able to choose a particular device, integrate it into a system, and write working programmes.
The technical projects tackled during this module are varied and in most cases obtained from local companies who have a genuine engineering problem, design or development requirement. They can vary from research-orientated investigations of new methods or techniques to solution of shop-floor problems to improve productivity.
Projects are approximately eighteen-weeks in length and may be either selected from a ‘pool’ or self-proposed. Part-time students may undertake a project linked to their company subject to approval. Students are assigned an academic supervisor from the university and primary contact from the company.
During the project, students should assess the needs of an organisation and consider the required approach to delivering change; define a technical problem and critically appraise the nature of this problem; and finally identify various methodologies that could be appropriate for this problem situation and a sound project plan to implement them. From the initial ‘scoping’ to the final ‘closeout’ meeting the emphasis is on applying the skills learnt during the course to self-manage the project, identify and meet the requirements of all stakeholder and deliver a technically sound solution.
By the end of the module, postgraduates will have demonstrated the skills of independent learning and the ability for constructive critical reflection that is essential for continuing professional development.
This course provides students with comprehensive knowledge and understanding of electrical power system control, modelling and simulation. It develops understanding of scientific principles and methodology of power control, load flow, transient performance and distribution generation systems. Finally, it provides the opportunity to students to use their knowledge and understanding to design inverters to connect PV panels / wind turbines to the grid.
This module focuses on design methods for distributed circuits. Students will develop an understanding of RF transmission line theory by considering impedance matching, S-parameters, and Smith charts, as well as RF measurements and detection. They will also explore high frequency circuit design, which includes RF amplifier and filter design, noise calculations, and applications of RF components.
There is a strong practical element to the module that involves students using Microwave Office to build and test a microwave amplifier. This provides students with practical skills in high frequency electronics and related fields.
In completing these tasks, students will develop an understanding of the impact, importance and application of high frequency electronics in the field of communications, remote control and wireless interface.
By the end of this module, students will be able to design RF circuits using analytical techniques and computational design software including filters and amplifiers; design impedance matching networks; and understand high frequency distributed circuits.
Pre-requisites of this module include BSc degree level understanding of AC Theory.
Projects are obtained from local companies who have a genuine engineering problem, design or development requirement. The three-week project commences with a team and project assignment and briefing lecture. Each team then meets their company and is assigned an industrial contact and academic supervisor for the project. Communication with the company and academic supervisor for most of the project is at the discretion of the team. The modules ends with a presentation session to which the company and all academic project supervisors are invited.
This module gives the opportunity to apply the technical, problem analysis and project management skills learned in earlier modules to a real industrial environment.
Gaining professional experience solving problems in the industry can greatly increase the employability of postgraduates. Students can also forge useful connections within the industry during their communication with the company.
During the project, students will learn how to structure a technical problem; assess the technologies required to meet the requirements using available literature and resources; work creatively to develop possible solutions; and apply multidisciplinary scientific and engineering skills to assess the technical validity of those solutions.
This module is only available to full time MSc students.
The design and application of intelligent control systems, with a focus on modern algorithmic computer-aided design methods, is what students will be introduced to during this module. Starting from the well-known proportional-integral algorithm, essential concepts such as digital and optimal control will be familiarised using straightforward algebra and block diagrams.
The module addresses the needs of students across the engineering discipline who would like to advance their knowledge of automatic control and optimisation, with the lectures being supported by practical worked-examples based on recent research into robotics, mechatronic and environmental systems, among other areas.
Students shall also be taught statistical modelling concepts that have a wide ranging application for control, signal processing and forecasting, with applications beyond engineering into health and medicine, economics, etc.
The concept of state variable feedback is utilised as a unifying framework for generalised digital control system design. This approach provides a relatively gentle learning curve, from which potentially difficult topics, such as optimal, stochastic and multivariable control, can be introduced and assimilated in an interesting and straightforward manner. The module also aims to develop an appreciation of the constraints under which industrial applications of control operate, and to introduce the computational tools needed for designing these control systems.
Major global companies across the engineering discipline, including automotive and communications companies, have positions for graduates with a control engineering background. This module is also very useful for those who wish to work with robotics and autonomous systems.
Ultimately, students will come to understand various hierarchical architectures of intelligent control. They will also be able to design optimal model-based control systems and design and evaluate system performance for practical applications.
This module introduces students to the recent advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cutting-edge deep learning methods. Students will learn how to examine the technologies that apply to various aspects of engineering, such as searching and planning algorithms, supervised learning, unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning, deep neural networks, convolution neural networks, recurrent neural networks, and generative adversarial network.
The module aims to equip students with key knowledge and understanding of their application in industrial robots, smart manufacturing, predictive maintenance, design optimisation and digital twin. Students will also learn how to implement the machine learning algorithms by practicing this in our labs, keeping the legal, social and ethical considerations in mind when applying machine learning technologies.
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to demonstrate the impact of emerging machine learning technologies by understanding the underlying principles of machine learning, typical algorithms, and deep learning methods. Students will be able to analyse real-world problems, such as design optimisation, manufacturing process optimisation, fault diagnosis and prognosis, and be able to design machine learning models to solve them.
There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.
Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.
College fees
Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small College Membership Fee which supports the running of college events and activities. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.
For students starting in 2025, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses.
Computer equipment and internet access
To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.
The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.
For most taught postgraduate applications there is a non-refundable application fee of £40. We cannot consider applications until this fee has been paid, as advised on our online secure payment system. There is no application fee for postgraduate research applications.
For some of our courses you will need to pay a deposit to accept your offer and secure your place. We will let you know in your offer letter if a deposit is required and you will be given a deadline date when this is due to be paid.
The fee that you pay will depend on whether you are considered to be a home or international student. Read more about how we assign your fee status.
If you are studying on a programme of more than one year’s duration, tuition fees are reviewed annually and are not fixed for the duration of your studies. Read more about fees in subsequent years.
Scholarships and bursaries
You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status and course. You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.
Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.
The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.
The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.
More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.
Our Students’ Charter
We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.
