Electronic Engineering with International Year One

This is an undergraduate degree programme with a fully embedded International Year One. In the first year of the programme students will develop their English language, academic skills and subject knowledge. Alongside Academic English and Study Skills for Engineers, students will study a number of engineering modules, in line with those studied by other first year undergraduate Engineering students; some of these will be studied alongside other first year students in CEMPs.  In the following year, students move to CEMPs and join the second year of their Electronic Engineering degree programme.

The Electronics Engineering programmes at Exeter are amongst a family of undergraduate programmes in engineering where we take a broad approach to the subject. Starting with a core first year and building on commonalities with other engineering disciplines we deliver a unique teaching style based on the pillars of analysis, design and sustainability.  In a fast-changing world we introduce advanced methodologies in analogue and digital electronics, digital signal processing, telecommunication systems, and microprocessor and microcontroller technologies.  Professional practice–led learning, delivered through credit-bearing work placements, industry-focussed modules and individual and team projects, spans the entire programme and ensures that our graduates are industry–ready.

The BEng in Electronic Engineering with International Year One programme aims to provide international students with additional support to meet the linguistic and academic requirements for progression to the second year of the degree course at Exeter and to provide the technical, communication and personal skills needed both in your further studies and throughout your professional career.

The BEng degree programme is designed to deliver all of the required learning outcomes as set out in UK-SPEC for a bachelors degree, and hence contributes towards graduates becoming professionally qualified engineers in the UK, with international recognition.  This programme is accredited as: 1. fully satisfying the educational base for an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and 2. partially satisfying the educational base for a Chartered Engineer (CEng). A programme of accredited further learning will be required to complete the educational base for CEng. Graduates may apply for IEng or CEng registration through membership of an appropriate Professional Engineering Institution following an assessment of their subsequent professional development and experience.

Engineering programmes at the University of Exeter are based on a philosophy of having a common general engineering first year focusing on fundamentals and subsequently specialized teaching in a particular discipline by staff who have expertise in that particular field.

Higher level modules (including projects) are based on research-led teaching methods building upon the expertise of the electronic engineering academic staff.

The programme aims to enable students to become:

(a)  flexible engineering graduates equipped to work effectively within engineering design and practice contributing specialist skills, demonstrating an awareness of the context within which they work, and taking responsibility for their own personal and professional development;

(b)  graduates who need only to complete an appropriate period of further study or matching section to be educationally qualified to become chartered engineers within the appropriate sector of industry.

(c)  aware of the environmental, economic, social and sustainability issues that are an integral part of the professional engineer's role in society;

(d)  able to work well in multi-disciplinary groups with experience of communication, organization, planning and logistics.

Through this programme, students will be provided with learning opportunities to match their abilities and aspirations, personal academic and pastoral support throughout their university career, appropriate methods of teaching and assessment and a programme of study that they find demanding, interesting and intellectually stimulating, while allowing them to enjoy other aspects of university life. The College will also seek to promote the role of industry and engineering institutions and the benefits that they can provide to undergraduates e.g. through links with the industrial club and student membership of the engineering institutions. 

The BEng Electronic Engineering with International Year One programme is a 3 year programme of study at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level 6 (as confirmed against the FHEQ). This programme is divided into 3 ‘Stages’. Each Stage is normally equivalent to an academic year.  The programme is also divided into units of study called ‘modules’ which are assigned a number of ‘credits’. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with 1 credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work.

The first stage of the programme will be taught by INTO University of Exeter with the subsequent stages being taught by The College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Science (CEMPS) at Exeter.

Interim Awards

If you do not complete the programme, you may be able to exit with a lower qualification. If you have achieved 120 credits, you may be awarded a Certificate of Higher Education, and if you achieve 240 credits, where at least 90 credits are at level 2 or above, you may be awarded a Diploma of Higher Education.

The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme. Details of the modules currently offered may be obtained from the CEMPS or INTO webistes:

https://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/emps/studentinfo/subjects/engineering/programmes/

http://www.exeter.ac.uk/international/into/current_students/

Credit

The programme consists of 360 credits with 120 credits taken at each stage. Normally not more than 75 credits would be allowed in any one term. In total, students normally take no more than 150 credits at level 1, and must take at least 90 credits at level 3.

The pass mark for award of credit in an individual module is 40%.

Progression

Progression to the second stage requires students achieve a mark of at least 50% over the 90 academic credits and 65% in INT1101.

Condonement

This programme is accredited by a PSRB under licence from the Engineering Council. Therefore, the latest Engineering Council regulations on condonement apply to this programme. Please find further details in the TQA Manual here: http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/specialprovisionsforprogrammeswithaccreditationlicencedbytheengineeringcouncil/

Assessment and Awards

UG Programmes: Assessment at stage one does not contribute to the summative classification of the award. The award will normally be based on the degree mark formed from the credit weighted average marks for stages 2 and 3 combined in the ratio 1:2 respectively.

Classification

The marking of modules and the classification of awards broadly corresponds to the following marks:

Undergraduate Degrees                                        

Class I    70% +                                                       

Class II   Division I 60-69%                                        

Class II   Division II 50-59%                                       

Class III  40-49%

Full details of assessment regulations for UG programmes can be found in the Teaching Quality Assurance Manual (TQA) on the University of Exeter website.  Generic marking criteria are also published here.

Please see the Teaching and Quality Assurance Manual for further guidance.

Personal and Academic tutoring: It is University policy that all Colleges should have in place a system of academic and personal tutors. The role of academic tutors is to support you on individual modules; the role of personal tutors is to provide you with advice and support for the duration of the programme and extends to providing you with details of how to obtain support and guidance on personal difficulties such as accommodation, financial difficulties and sickness. You can also make an appointment to see individual teaching staff.

Information Technology (IT) Services provide a wide range of services throughout the Exeter campuses including open access computer rooms, some of which are available 24 hours, 7 days a week. Help may be obtained through the Helpdesk, and most study bedrooms in halls and flats are linked to the University's campus network.

Additionally, the College has its own dedicated IT support staff, helpdesk and computer facilities which are linked to the wider network, but which also provide access to some specialised software packages.  Email is an important channel of communication between staff and students in the College and an extensive range of web-based information (https://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/emps/ ) is maintained for the use of students, including a comprehensive and annually revised student handbook.

The Harrison Learning Resource Centre is generally open during building open hours. The Centre is available for quiet study, with four separate rooms that can be booked for meetings and group work. Amongst its facilities, the Learning Resource Centre has a number of desks, four meeting rooms with large LCD screens, and free use of a photocopier. Also available are core set texts from your module reading lists, and undergraduate and MSc projects from the past two years. Online Module study resources provide materials for modules that you are registered for, in addition to some useful subject and IT resources. Generic study support resources, library and research skills, past exam papers, and the 'Academic Honesty and Plagiarism' module are also available through the student portal (http://vle.exeter.ac.uk).

In addition to the centrally provided services detailed above, INTO University of Exeter also provides

• Its own computer suites, printing facilities and AccessAbility.
• One–to-one language tutorials to support subject assignments.
• Dedicated support for applications for further study.
• Dedicated on-line resources on ELE for each programme and module
• Language counsellors who speak a range of languages and who provide pastoral care and can communicate in the student's own native language.
• A social programme specifically for INTO University of Exeter students

With regard to specific learning difficulties, depending on the needs, we put in place a support package.  We have a member of staff trained in dyslexia diagnosis and support. We also liaise with AccessAbility, who can provide information and resources. Some examples of support are:

• One-to-one tuition for specific learning difficulties
• Mentors for students with mental health problems
• Diagnostic tests for specific learning difficulties
• Guides, readers or scribes
• Access to Braille versions of text
• Sign language interpreters
• Note takers
• Technical needs assessments (also for Disabled Students’ Allowance (UK nationals only))
• Extra time allowance where necessary, for example, for exams. 

However, for International Students there are likely to be cost implications for some of these support elements. 

Student/Staff Liaison Committee enables students & staff to jointly participate in the management and review of the teaching and learning provision.

All applications are considered individually on merit. The University is committed to an equal opportunities policy with respect to gender, age, race, sexual orientation and/or disability when dealing with applications. It is also committed to widening access to higher education to students from a diverse range of backgrounds and experience.

Candidates must satisfy the general admissions requirements of the University of Exeter.

For entry to the BEng Electronic Engineering with International Year One, academic entry requirements are:

Mathematics – levels to be determined on a country-by-country basis, broadly equivalent to a C grade at A-level (360 guided learning hours).

A second 'hard science' must have also been studied e.g. Biology, Chemistry, Further/Additional Mathematics and/or Physics.

English IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in all sub-skills (or equivalent).

The grade range is satisfactory completion of A-levels or equivalent, a recognised foundation programme or first year of an overseas university programme. Country-specific entry qualifications can be obtained from INTO Admissions.

Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.

The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice.  See the University's TQA Manual for details.

Certain programmes are subject to accreditation and/or review by professional and statutory regulatory bodies (PSRBs).

The BEng Electronic Engineering with International Year One is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) as: 1. fully satisfying the educational base for an Incorporated Engineer (IEng). 2. partially satisfying the educational base for a Chartered Engineer (CEng). A programme of accredited further learning will be required to complete the educational base for CEng. See http://www.theiet.org for further information.

Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC).

Accreditation is awarded for a maximum of 5 years under each assessment exercise. The dates applicable to the current accreditation of this degree programme can be viewed on the Engineering Council list of accredited degrees: www.engc.org.uk/acad