Studies & Degrees in Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering Study Programs
Electrical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. It covers the generation, transmission and use of electrical power, and the design of the equipment that depends on it. Electrical engineers design, develop and test systems such as electric motors, power generation equipment, communications systems, and radar and navigation systems. The neighbouring field of electronic engineering concentrates on the components and circuits inside electronic products. Many universities teach the two together.
The first years of a degree are heavy on mathematics and physics. Students then take circuit theory, electrical machines, power systems, power electronics, control and digital systems, with laboratory work throughout. Later courses may specialise in renewable energy, smart grids, electric drives or high-voltage installations.
Qualifications and levels
The standard entry qualification is a bachelor's degree. Its length and name depend on the country.
- Europe (ECTS). One full year of study equals 60 ECTS credits. A bachelor's degree has 180 or 240 ECTS credits, and a master's degree usually 90 or 120.
- Spain. The bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits and takes four years. Master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 credits. A Grado en Ingeniería Eléctrica that qualifies for the regulated profession of Ingeniero Técnico Industrial follows a national order: 60 credits of basic sciences, 60 credits common to industrial engineering, 48 credits of electrical technology and a final project of 12 credits. The electrical block covers the design of electrical machines, low, medium and high voltage installations, power lines, power electronics, power plants and renewable energy.
- United Kingdom. At the University of Southampton, for example, a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) takes three years and an integrated Master of Engineering (MEng) four. Its BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology on behalf of the Engineering Council. It meets part of the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
- United States. The usual degree is a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE), offered for example by Purdue University. Programmes, not universities, are accredited by ABET, which describes its accreditation as quality assurance and not as a ranking. Experienced engineers may obtain a Professional Engineering (PE) licence. State licensure typically requires an engineering degree, a pass in the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam and several years of relevant work experience.
- Master's and doctorate. A master's degree allows specialisation, and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that some employers prefer it.
Where to study it
Our directory lists 275 active schools that teach electrical engineering. The United States has the most (91), followed by Spain (23), the United Kingdom (17), Brazil (13), Canada (10), Germany (8), China (6) and Chile (5).
In Spain the degree is taught mainly in Spanish, sometimes with an English track. The Universidad de Oviedo, for example, teaches its Grado en Ingeniería Eléctrica at the Escuela Politécnica de Ingeniería de Gijón in Spanish and English, with a bilingual itinerary. The degree has 240 ECTS credits over four years, 80 places, and three specialisations: industrial electrical installations and drives, renewable energy and smart grids, and electric power systems. The Universidad de Cádiz is another Spanish university in the directory for this subject.
Programmes in the United States and the United Kingdom are taught in English. Examples in the directory include Purdue University, The Ohio State University, the University of Michigan and Stanford University in the United States, and the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom.
Admission everywhere rests on mathematics and physics. Southampton's contextual offer, for instance, asks for A-level mathematics at grade A plus physics, electronics, further mathematics or computer science. When you compare programmes, check four things: the language of instruction, whether the degree is accredited or gives access to a regulated profession in the country where you want to work, the laboratory and internship opportunities, and the specialisations on offer.
Careers
Electrical engineers work for engineering consultancies, power utilities, manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment, the transport and aerospace industries, and research centres.
For the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that electrical engineers held about 199,700 jobs in 2025. The largest employers were engineering services (22%) and electric power generation, transmission and distribution (10%). Overall employment of electrical and electronics engineers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 16,300 openings a year. The bureau links this growth to work on consumer electronics, solar arrays and semiconductors, among other areas. Figures for other countries differ.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between electrical and electronic engineering?
Electrical engineering deals mainly with power: generating, transmitting and using electricity in machines and installations. Electronic engineering deals with the components and circuits of electronic products. Many universities combine both in one degree.
How long does an electrical engineering degree take?
It depends on the country. In Spain the grado takes four years and 240 ECTS credits. At the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom, a BEng takes three years and an MEng four.
Which school subjects do I need?
Mathematics and physics. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics recommends algebra, trigonometry and calculus at school, and UK universities such as Southampton require A-level mathematics.
Does it matter whether a programme is accredited?
Yes, if you want a professional title. In the United Kingdom an accredited degree counts towards registration as a Chartered Engineer, and in Spain the degree must follow the national order to give access to the profession of Ingeniero Técnico Industrial. Ask each school what recognition its qualification has.