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Engineering Degree

Electrical Engineer

Design and develop electrical systems, from power networks and renewable grids to microchips and control systems.

A day in the life

Draw circuit diagrams, run simulations, prototype hardware, test safety standards, and work with software teams on embedded systems.

Typical route

Helpful A-levels

Physics + Maths

Typical qualification and training

  • Electrical or Electronic Engineering degree
  • Engineering graduate scheme or degree apprenticeship

These are common routes, not compulsory subject combinations. Entry requirements vary between universities, training schemes and employers, so always check the current provider requirements.

Indicative UK salary

Starter
£26,000-£32,000
Experienced
£40,000-£58,000
Senior
£70,000+

Power, renewables and semiconductor sectors often pay at the higher end.

Salary range checked against Prospects.ac.uk: Electrical Engineer.

UK employers

  • National Grid
  • Siemens
  • Arm
  • Rolls-Royce

Worldwide employers

  • Tesla
  • Intel
  • Siemens (global)
  • Schneider Electric

Useful route links

These links are good starting points for courses, apprenticeships, graduate routes and professional training. They open the official or specialist sites rather than another summary page.

UCAS course search: electrical engineering Compare degree prospectuses, entry requirements, open days and course structures. ucas.com Engineering apprenticeships Search current engineering apprenticeship and degree apprenticeship vacancies. findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk UCAS Physics and astronomy courses Search UK undergraduate physics, astrophysics and related degree options. ucas.com Prospects: what can I do with a physics degree? Independent overview of careers that physics graduates enter. prospects.ac.uk Find an apprenticeship on GOV.UK Search current apprenticeship and degree apprenticeship vacancies in England. gov.uk

Key skills

Renewable Energy Engineer

Design, install and improve systems that generate power from wind, solar, tidal and other low-carbon sources.

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Software Engineer

Design, build and maintain the software that runs devices, services and scientific instruments.

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Spacecraft Engineer

Design, build and test satellites, probes and spacecraft systems that operate in extreme environments.

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Sources and further reading

External links open in a new tab.

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