Course Overview

The Master of Engineering (ME) at University of Galway is part of an integrated (Bachelors + Masters) 4+1 programme of study, meeting the European Framework Standards for engineering accreditation. Successfully completing this (level 9) ME course, as part of an accredited 4+1 structure, will allow you to achieve the educational requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status upon graduation.

The ME programme on its own is a 60 ECTS one academic year course of study. Graduates with an honours degree in a cognate Engineering discipline may be eligible to take the ME. This will be of interest to graduates who wish to study more advanced topics in their core engineering discipline. Applicants wishing to use the ME programme as part of their CEng certification should be aware that professional accreditation is assessed by the Engineering Councils on the basis of the aggregate periods of study (Level 8 + Level 9), and not on the Masters year alone. Candidates need to satisfy themselves that their undergraduate (Level 8) degree meets the relevant standards.

This degree programme is ideally suited to graduates of Level 8 BE degrees in Electrical / Electronic Engineering (or equivalent) who want to advance their engineering knowledge towards a career in industry or research based on electrical / electronic applications. The programme consists of 60 ECTS credits divided into three areas: advanced technologies in Electrical & Electronic Engineering (20–25 ECTS); transferrable skills for employment in industry and/or a research career (15–20 ECTS); and technology development through an Electrical & Electronic Engineering project and thesis. In order to provide graduates with flexibility to direct their careers in different sectors, project topics are available in the following technology areas:

  • Embedded Systems Design;
  • Signal Processing & Communications;
  • Power Electronics & Energy Conversion
  • Biomedical, Biometrics and Bio-inspired Electronics.

This full-time programme is at Level 9 in the Irish qualifications system and it has been designed to meet the educational requirements necessary for progression to Chartered Engineer status with Engineers Ireland. Recognition of the ME at Level 9 will apply for students who enter the programme with an accredited Level 8 Bachelors degree in Electrical / Electronic Engineering. Applicants wishing to use the ME programme as part of their Chartered CEng certification (who are not BE graduates from University of Galway) should be aware that professional accreditation is assessed by the Engineering Councils on the basis of the aggregate periods of study (Level 8 + Level 9), and not on the Masters year alone. Therefore candidates need to satisfy themselves that their undergraduate (Level 8) degree meets the relevant standards for Chartered Engineer status. Accreditation for the programme will be sought after the first cohort of graduates emerges from the programme.

Scholarships available
Find out about our Postgraduate Scholarships here.

Applications and Selections

Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System

Who Teaches this Course

The majority of lecturers on this course are from the core Electrical and Electronic Engineering discipline.  Additional lecturing support will be provided by expert practitioners from industry and by staff from disciplines that are cognate to Electrical and Electronic Engineering. (Electrical and Electronic Engineering staff includes Professor Gerard Hurley.)
researcher
Prof Gearóid Ó Laighin
BE, MEng, PhD
Established Professor of Electronic Engineering
Engineering Building
NUI Galway
University Road
Galway
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researcher
Dr. Edward Jones
B.E., PH.D.
PERSONAL PROFESSOR
Electrical & Electronic Eng
Room 3044
Engineering Building
NUI Galway
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researcher
Dr. Peter Corcoran
B.A., B.A.I., Ph.D.
Professor
Electrical & Electronic Eng
Room 3041
Engineering Building
NUI Galway
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researcher
Prof John Breslin
Research Leader
Unit for Social Semantics
Data Science Institute
IDA Business Park
NUI Galway
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Requirements and Assessment

You will take a number of taught modules (40 ECTS), and these will be examined at end-of-semester examinations in December and April and/or through assignments and continuous assessment. The individual project will run throughout the year, with a final submission date at the end of May. You will select a project in Electrical and Electronic Engineering on a state-of-the-art topic covered by our research priorities.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Entry to the programme is open to individuals who have Second Class Honours in a Level 8 degree in a related discipline from a recognised university or third-level college. Factors taken into account in determining admission include the specific content of the undergraduate degree, the applicant’s performance and the availability of places.

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

9 months, full-time

Next start date

September 2024

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

20

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date

Please refer to offer rounds/closing dates website

NFQ level

9

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

60

Award

CAO

Course code

MENG-MEEE

Course Outline

The ME has three primary elements: (i) advanced core modules in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, (ii) an individual capstone project, and (iii) modules on transferrable skills and personal development.

The core Electrical and Electronic Engineering 5-credit advanced technical modules will be in topics covered by our research priorities of:

  • Embedded Systems Design
  • Signal Processing & Communications
  • Power Electronics & Energy Conversion
  • Biomedical, Biometrics and Bio-inspired Electronics

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits
You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module
An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject
Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional
A module you may choose to study.
Required
A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject
A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester
Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 1 (60 Credits)

Optional CE463: Computational Methods in Energy Systems Engineering - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional CT561: Systems Modelling and Simulation - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional EE502: Bioinstrumentation Design - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional EE5123: RF Technologies for Medical Devices - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional EE5126: UX Design for Wearable Electronics - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional EE5116: Mobile Device Technologies - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional EE451: System on Chip Design I - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional EE4101: Mobile Networks: Architecture and Services - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional EE445: Digital Signal Processing - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional AY872: Financial Management I - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional ME521: Research Methods for Engineers - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional ME432: Technology Innovation & Entrepreneurship - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional IE446: Project Management - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional IE450: Lean Systems - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional CT511: Databases - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional ME4105: Safety Engineering - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional BSS2103: Introduction to Sustainability 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional EE452: System on Chip Design II - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional EE5103: Digital Control Systems for Automation and Robotics (Level 9) - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required EE550: Electrical and Electronic Engineering Project/Thesis - 20 Credits - Semester 1
Optional CT549: SmartGrid - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Optional EE5127: Internet of Things Systems Design - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Optional EE5124: Bioinstrumentation Design 2 - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Optional EE448: Power Electronics - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Optional ME3104: Introduction to Regulatory Affairs in Manufacturing - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Optional ME572: Human Reliability - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Optional EE5104: Embedded Machine Vision - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Optional EE551: Embedded Image Processing - 5 Credits - Semester 2

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

University of Galway has a long tradition of providing a high quality accredited bachelor degree (BE) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and in Electronic and Computer Engineering. The new programme builds on this experience and the ME in Electrical and Electronic Engineering will see University of Galway educate a new generation of electrical and electronic engineers to even higher standards. Since 2013, the ME degree has been required to satisfy the educational requirements for progression to Chartered Engineer status. Graduates of the programme will be capable of working in any branch of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, including consultancy and contracting. As a programme that is targeted for accreditation, it will have international recognition at Level 9 through the Washington Accord.

This programme is offered within the new €40m Engineering Building, a14,200 square metre, modern, energy-efficient facility, and the largest School of Engineering in the country. The building is equipped with an extensive range of high-tech electrical and electronic engineering laboratory facilities which have been designed for teaching and research. The programme will be delivered by staff members who are world leaders in terms of research and industry interaction in the areas of power electronics, biomedical electronics and signal processing.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€6,390 p.a. (including levy) 2024/25

Fees: Tuition

€6,250 p.a. 2024/25

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. 2024/25

Fees: Non EU

€27,000 p.a. (€27,140 including levy) 2024/25


Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant – please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,000 towards your tuition (2024/25).  You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee.  A P1 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.

Postgraduate fee breakdown = Tuition (EU or NON EU) + Student levy as outlined above.

Note to non-EU students: learn about the 24-month Stayback Visa here

Find out More

Mary Costello
T: +353 91 492 728
E: mary.costello@universityofgalway.ie
www.eee.@universityofgalway.ie 


What Our Graduates Say

Áine

Áine Mellin |   Graduate

Choosing the Masters course in Electrical and Electronic Engineering has been one of the best decisions I have made. After completing a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, it was nice have the opportunity to gain knowledge in another area of the engineering field. I really liked how much choice there was in terms of modules for students to choose from and found the small class size for most modules very engaging. The lecturers and staff were extremely helpful and understanding throughout the year. I was able to apply the new knowledge I gained throughout the year to my thesis, where I undertook the analysis and improvement of the Geec's (Galway Energy Efficient Car) electrical systems. I particularly enjoyed the practical and hands-on elements of the course, as it helped me to better understand the lecture material and see it in a physical sense. I would highly recommend anyone with an interest in Electrical and Electronic Engineering that has experience in a related field considers this course. It is a great way to broaden your knowledge and further your career in Engineering.
Radko

Radko Vykukal |   ME Electrical and Electronic Engineering graduate

Choosing the Masters program in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, after completing my Bachelors degree has been a beneficial step for my career. It has equipped me with state of art theoretical and practical knowledge and working principles of electrical hardware and systems used in combination with electro-mechanical devices and actuators for real-world applications. As a result, I have been able to apply my skills and knowledge to my thesis project, which focused on investigating the relative benefits of powering personalised energy-efficient automotive vehicles using an AC drive against a DC drive system. I particularly enjoyed the practical aspect of the course, hosted in modern and highly equipped facilities. I found the lecturers and technical staff highly approachable and supportive, with a drive to provide the best knowledge and experience for students. I would highly recommend this course to anyone from a related engineering field, seeking alternative postgraduate options, to enhance their career prospects. Flexibility of the course allows individuals to pursue a path of their own interest, with the content of the course being interesting and very much obtainable.
David

David Mcnamara |   Graduate

Completing the Masters's program in Electrical and Electronic Engineering has been a beneficial next step in my electronic engineering career. The academic modules are very interesting and have a range of modules to choose from, with the variety of technical modules and non-technical modules, there is a great mixture. The main areas I found of interest included Embedded Systems Design, Signal Processing & Communications, Power Electronics, Biomedical, Biometrics and Bio-inspired Electronics. It has equipped me with state of the art theoretical and practical knowledge and working principles of electronic hardware and software used in combination for real-world applications. As a result, I have been able to apply these skills and knowledge to my thesis project, which focused on investigating the advantages of using inductive coupling to monitor abdominal aortic aneurysms after EVAR. I found the lecturers highly approachable and supportive, with a drive to provide the best knowledge and experience for each student. I would highly recommend this course to anyone from a related engineering field to enhance their career prospects.
Geethika

Geethika Presanna Kumar |   Graduate

I joined the National University of Ireland, Galway, in 2021 to pursue a Master’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Though I had joined in the midst of the pandemic, most of my lectures were in-person, and I truly appreciate the precautions that were taken on-campus. The course was well-structured and had a series of continuous assessments. The course provided me with a choice to select some optional modules and a core module that dealt with the project. I could select modules that would align with my aspirations. The course has equipped me with a good balance of technical and transferrable skills. The academic staff was very supportive. Something that I absolutely love about NUI Galway is its beautiful campus. Take a walk to Galway Cathedral, and we get to see so many friendly faces around. It has become my happy place.

International Scholarships

Postgraduate Scholarships