Take a look back in history and you will see that almost all innovations were somehow made possible by means of electrical engineering.
Our field ranges from digital computing power and wireless communication devices to robots, autonomous vehicles, nano-electronics and medical equipment. In the time ahead it will continue to broaden and expand: much of what now appears to be science fiction will become reality in a few years, thanks in no small part to innovations in electrical engineering. In this bachelor’s you will acquire the basic knowledge and skills needed to create solutions that can change the world.
Modules Electrical Engineering
During this three-year Bachelor's in Electric Engineering, you will follow twelve modules: four modules per year. Each module covers a theme and brings together all the main aspects of your studies: theory and practice, research and solution design, self-study and teamwork.
Overview modules
- Year 1EC
- Module 1 | Electronics, Sensors & Actuators15
This introduction module gives you a general overview of the field of electrical engineering. It teaches you the basics, from electronics, electrical networks, signal theory, electronic instrumentation, system design and programming to electronic hardware, as well as providing you with the corresponding mathematical foundation. You will learn to develop sensors to find out more about the parameters you are dealing with. Your team project will involve electrical measurements on humans, for example in sports or in healthcare. This could mean measuring match endurance, or quantifying responses to certain materials for early detection of illnesses. In this module you will follow courses like Circuit Analysis 1, Calculus 1 and do a project about Sensors & Actuators.
- Module 2 | Electric Circuits15
Your aim in this module is to learn various ways to analyse, design and apply electrical networks comprised of sources, resistors, capacitors, inductors and much more. You will also learn about the mathematics (calculus) necessary to perform these analyses. Your project will focus on designing a circuit to feed the (energy) output of a solar cell into the power grid, addressing the question of how to use a solar cell efficiently. In this module you will follow courses like Circuit Analysis 2 Calculus 2, Programming in C, and you will complete a project about Power electronics.
- Module 3 | Electronics15
Let's talk electronics! Building on the knowledge you gained in the first two modules, you will learn everything you need to build an audio amplifier. Next to this, you will also get acquainted with low-frequency electronics, electrostatics, and magnetostatics. This module’s mathematical component teaches you about vector calculus, which you will need for the electronics project in this module.
- module 4 | Wireless Transmission15
In this module you will learn to design analogue circuits and to extend them to systems with feedback in order to create stable circuits and oscillators. Next to this, you will learn all about high frequency electronics. In the final project of the module, you will design and test a wireless transmitter system together with an electromagnetic antenna. This will allow you to send and receive radio frequency signals. The best system wins a fun prize! The mathematics in this module is linear algebra, which is very important throughout your entire studies.
- Year 2EC
- Module 5 | Computer Systems15
This module presents you with the basics for the analysis and design of combinational and sequential logic, like representation of numbers, operations on binary numbers, basic gates, combinatorial and sequential circuits, state machines and programmable logic. You will be working as part of a multidisciplinary team to tackle a real-world problem together with students from Technical Computer Science, among others. You will discover how programming (computer science) and interfacing (electrical engineering) are combined in the embedded system. You will study the basic principles of the components of a processor system and how they interconnect. The mathematical section of the module, differential and difference equations, will prepare you for module 6. In this module you will follow courses like Computer Architecture and Organisation, Digital Hardware and Continuous Linear Systems.
- Module 6 | Systems & Control15
This module offers an introduction to linear dynamic systems and signals, and introduces you to methods including differential and difference equations, state description, convolution and integral transformations. The descriptions it provides extend to systems functioning in other domains, such as mechanical or thermal systems. In your team project, you and your team mates will design and develop a mechatronic system: a mini Segway that has to navigate a prefixed track. This module will equip you with the basics of signal theory, which you will look at more closely in module 8. In this module you will follow courses like Engineering System Dynamics, Control Engineering an do a project about System & Control.
- Module 7 | Elective15
Module 7 is an elective module with two options:
Device Physics: In this module you will get familiar with the physics necessary to understand and design components for electric and electronic systems, including sensors and other transducers. The course covers quantum mechanics, transducers, accelerometers, solar cells, transistors, elementary optics and solid state devices as used in microelectronics. You will be offered a choice of different projects. In this module you will follow courses like Semiconductor Devices, Single Electron Transistor and Micromechanical Devices.
Network Systems: In this module you will explore communications networks and their applications, and engage in detailed discussion of computer and component hardware and software. The central theme of this module is the Internet. In this module you will follow courses like Network Systems and Programming 2.
- Module 8 | Signal processing & Communications15
Have you ever wondered about the technology behind a phone call? In this module you will learn how to represent information as a signal to allow transmission, reception and processing. You will be taught how to describe signal properties and how the choice of a suitable signal is influenced by: 1) the type of information, 2) properties of the transmission medium, 3) required performance, 4) hardware considerations, such as complexity and power consumption, and 5) possible coexistence with other systems. In this module you will follow courses like Communication systems, Digital Signal Processing and Probability Theory.
- Year 3EC
- Modules 9&10 | Electives30
Modules 9&10 are elective modules, these are your options:
Research: immerse yourself in a research project such as Lab-on-a-chip, Cyber Physical Systems or participate in one of our student teams.
Pre-master’s: Do a pre-master’s to prepare for a master’s other than Electrical Engineering.
Free electives: take subjects from our Bachelor’s in, amongst others, Applied Physics or Mechanical Engineering. See all minors
Go abroad: spend half a year (two modules or one semester) studying at a university abroad.
Get your second-degree teaching qualification: do you want to teach after completing this programme? Use your minor to obtain your second degree teaching qualification. This allows you to work as a teacher at high-school level. Note: this minor is in Dutch.
- Module 11 | Electronic System Design15
In this module you will apply the knowledge you acquired in previous modules as you engage in a major design project. Working on this assignment together with a large group of fellow students, you will break the problem down into sub-functions and sub-problems. Naturally, you will have to discuss the preconditions with each other, so that all of the different partial solutions can be merged into a single, total design at the end. In this module we will also consider the non-technical conditions related to your design, such as user-friendliness and social or ethical aspects.
- Module 12 | Bachelor's Assignment15
You carry out your final bachelor's assignment under the supervision of one of the chairs within the departments of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science: microsystems, semiconductor physics, robotics, telecom, Artificial Intelligence, integrated circuit design/architecture, nano-electronics or biomedical applications. You can gear your choice of topic towards preparing for a master’s specialisation or programme. You work together with researchers from the chosen field as you research and develop technical applications – for example, a new connection, a new sensor/sensor system, or a control system for a surgical robot.
You are to conclude your third year by writing a thesis, which you will have to defend before a research committee. If you pass this test, the Bachelor of Science degree will be yours. You can find more information regarding the graduation assignment.
First time at university
As a first-year student, you will face a lot of new experiences. We’d like to explain a few of them to you.
- You complete modules
During your three-year bachelor's programme, you will take 12 modules (4 modules per year). Each module, you will address a theme that is hot in society, business or industry. This theme will bring together all the components of your study: theory and practice, research, designing solutions, self-study and teamwork.
A fixed part of every module is the team project, in which you and your teammates apply the knowledge you have acquired to a current challenge and design a workable solution. This learning method is part of the Twente Education Model (TOM): an innovative approach to studying that you will only find at the University of Twente.
- Study credits – how do they work?
Student workload at Dutch universities is expressed in EC, also named ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System), which is widely used throughout the European Union. In the Netherlands, each credit represents 28 hours of work. You need to acquire 60 credits each year.
Your programme assigns fixed numbers of hours to each assignment, project report or exam. In the first year, you need to get at least 45 out of 60 points to be able to continue to the second year.
- Did you get 45 EC or more? Then you can enter the second year
Our aim is to get you in the right place as soon as possible, which is why we use the principle of a binding recommendation. You will receive a positive recommendation if you have obtained 45 or more of the 60 EC in the first year. A negative recommendation is binding and means you have to leave the programme. Under certain circumstances, we may give you a positive recommendation despite a low score. For example, if we are confident that you are in the right place.
Do personal circumstances such as illness or problems interfere with your study performance? Student Affairs Coaching & Counselling (SACC) is there to support you.