UG Prospectus 2025

94 Course Structure Teachingmethods include conventional lectures, extensive tutorials (particularly in Year 1), laboratory exercises and projects. Through these youwill develop the ability tomodel and analyse the dynamics of awide range of technological systems, as well as learn a creative and innovative approach to problemsolving.  The curriculumof Years 1, 2 and 3 and the coremodules in Year 4 are common to all ECE students. At the end of Year 3 you may opt to follow the IntegratedMasters route if you achieve aminimumH2.2 classification based on the average performance in Years 1, 2 and 3. In Year 4 (and optional Year 5 for the IntegratedMasters), you select amajor option and gain relevant skills through major-specificmodules and an individual undergraduate project. The options for majors reflect modern trends in electronic and computer engineering and research priorities within the School of Electronic Engineering. Currently the course offers the following 4majors, whichwewill adapt over time so that our graduates always have themost relevant and up- to-date technology and expertise:  Major inNanotechnology and Photonics – This specialismwill help youmaster electronic and photonic devices at the molecular and atomic level and develop the knowledge required to produce functional electronic and photonic devices of nanometre dimensions Major inAdvancedDataNetworks – This specialism focuses on devices communicating to devices at high speed, for example optical networks and high-speedwireless technologies. It underpins research on next-generation networks that support evolving demands fromdevices and applications Major inDigital Interaction – Themajor focuses on the interaction between humans and devices, as well as the communication of devices with the broader world. Notable modules includeHuman-Computer Interface Technology, WebApplication Development, and Image Processing Major in the Internet of Things (IoT) – The IoT has the potential to profoundly transform theman-made environment we live in. The IoT’s transformative power lies in its ability to connect and gather data from various objects and environments, enabling smarter decision-making, automation, and improved efficiency across sectors. Thismajor prepares you to do research andwork in this rapidly growing area Youwill have the opportunity to do an individual major-relevant capstone project in Year 4 (or in Year 5 for the IntegratedMasters). Your project will allow you towork in a specialist area of your choosing and to apply the electronic and computer engineering skills that youwill have acquired. You can demonstrate your innovative capabilities, capacity for independent learning, and technical expertise. All final year students in the Faculty of Engineering andComputing have the opportunity to showcase their final year projects to interested employers at the end of their final semester. It also allows potential employers to see the high standard and the broad range of development work you have carried out on the course. This display is very popular with industry partners and drawsmany prospective employers keen to hireDCUgraduates. In addition to the traditional engineering focus onmathematics and design, a strong software and programming theme runs through our ECE course. In this you will learn about, C, C++, Java, embedded systems, Linux andWindows operating systems, data structures and algorithms, hardware description language, object- oriented programming and, in 2 of the Year 4majors, web application development. This thematic strength reflects an enduring need in industry for software specialists who have a strong knowledge base in electronics, systems, signal processing and hardware interfacing. INTRAWork Placement In Year 3 youwill undertake a 6month paidwork placement (INTRA), giving you a unique opportunity to enhance your CV, increase your employability and apply your knowledge and skills in the real world, putting you at the top of the employabilitymarket. This is usually with a business in Ireland, but opportunities may arise abroad or in some cases you may be placed in a research positionwithin DCU. Some of the biggest companies in theworld offer INTRAplacements to our ECE students, includingGoogle, Intel, IBM, Microsoft and Philips. Other recent INTRA employers with a global reach include Accenture, AOL, AnalogDevices, Cisco, Bypress Semiconductors Ireland, Deloitte and Touche, Mastercard, Synopsys, SAP Ireland, Tektronix Communications, Xilinx and Xerox. Relevant paidwork experience can give you a big advantage when you are seeking a position as a graduate engineer. For more information, please visit dcu.ie/intra. BEng andMEng in Electronic and Computer Engineering Gain the knowledge and skills to be at the heart of innovation