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Masters in Electrical Engineering
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Electrical engineering and electronics systems have transformed modern life, with electric cars, smartphones, wireless communication and television just some of the electrical advances that have been turned from ideas into reality, with the field set to continue to evolve and develop.
A Masters in Electrical Engineering will enable you to build on your existing knowledge of the subject, gaining industry knowledge and specializing in particular areas that interest you. Read on to find out more about common Masters in Electrical Engineering degree types, entry requirements, career options and electrical engineering specializations.
Masters in Electrical Engineering courses are likely to be taught through a mix of classroom-based teaching and laboratory work which allows you to apply your knowledge. You’ll research, develop, design and analyze computer and electrical systems, with some modules perhaps overlapping with those you’d find on a Masters in Computer Science course.
Your degree will focus on increasing your technical knowledge and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism, and the growing number of ways in which electricity is used. As well as computer science, electrical engineering courses may overlap with other engineering disciplines, and may be offered alongside electronic engineering. Electronic engineering typically focuses on smaller electronic circuits and components than electrical engineering, which covers larger-scale assembly and distribution of electrical power.
Coursework will focus on challenging you to solve electrical problems and conduct independent research into the latest innovations in the subject. Some programs may include work experience within the industry of up to a year, which may be useful for preparing you for possible electrical engineering jobs following graduation.
Masters in Electrical Engineering courses are typically offered as either MEng (Master of Engineering) or MSc (Master of Science) degrees. The former is actually an integrated master’s degree, allowing you to study your bachelor and master’s degree together in one degree, allowing you to train to become a qualified chartered engineer. However, most electrical engineering degrees are in the MSc format.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements vary between universities, but for an MSc program you will typically need a strong bachelor’s degree in a related subject (a science, mathematics or engineering-related discipline).
Discover the world’s top universities for electrical engineering
The multidisciplinary nature of the subject means there are a wide range of possible electrical engineering specializations – here are some of the most common sub-disciplines that you may wish to specialize in:
Control systems
Control systems are found in many settings in everyday life, such as central heating or navigational systems in cars, and work to measure and ensure the safe physical quantity of speed, temperature or altitude. A specialization in control systems will focus on improving your existing knowledge in mathematical and computer programming, strengthening your knowledge of computer algorithms and taking part in lab work. This specialization closely relates to robotics.
Communications
Focusing on the application of electrical systems on communications and the various ways in which it has been revolutionized, a specialization in communications will include the study of wireless and sensor networks, signal processing techniques, optical communications, stochastic processes, optimization for computer systems, mobile phone communications, satellite communications and coding. You may be able to specialize further in mobile and/or wireless communications.
Power systems
The next of the most common electrical engineering specializations involves the study of the generation, distribution and control of both small- and large-scale power systems. You’ll gain an understanding of the components of power systems and how they interact with each other, as well as considering new technologies and issues such as the reliability, stability, consumption and environmental impact of power systems.
Electromagnetics
Electromagnetics is an ideal specialization for students interested in electrical engineering jobs related to wave propagation, designing antennas, or microwave communications. This specialization will familiarize you with key concepts in electromagnetics such as Maxwell’s equations, Faraday's laws, microprocessors and wave phenomena.
Other electrical engineering specializations include semiconductors, nanoelectronics, electrophysics, microsystems, optics and photonics, signal and image processing, network systems, computer networking, remote sensing and space systems, circuits and Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI).
Discover the world’s top universities for electrical engineering
With a constant demand for electrical engineers in the industry, and a wide range of other sectors in which your skills are sought-after, there are many possible electrical engineering jobs open to you upon graduating.
There is also the opportunity for an increase in earnings with your Masters in Electrical Engineering degree compared to what you have might expect with an undergraduate degree alone – an average US$19,000 annual difference to be exact, according to a report from Georgetown University which found that graduates of a Masters in Electrical Engineering can expect to earn an average of $112,000 a year.
Major industries recruiting electrical engineering graduates include:
Work experience within the industry is ideal for building on your practical understanding of specialized systems and productions, as well as improving your employment prospects. Some electrical engineering courses provide this, but if not it is a good idea to seek work experience during semester breaks.
Here are some of the main electrical engineering jobs you might wish to consider:
Electrical engineer
Electrical engineers design, develop and maintain electrical control systems and/or components through a mixture of technical knowledge and commercial awareness. They work as part of a team of architects, technicians and other engineers on multidisciplinary projects. To be an electrical engineer, you need strong technical knowledge, electrical commercial awareness and an ability to structure your workload to solve problems and multitask. Electrical engineers earn an average of US$97,340 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Aerospace engineer
Your skills would also suit a career as an aerospace or aeronautical engineer, researching, designing, developing, maintaining and testing the performance of civil and military aircraft, as well satellites or space vehicles. They ensure the safety and overall efficiency of aircrafts, as well as working to keep costs down and advance technologies to meet customer’s needs.
IT consultant
If you want to combine an interest in IT with business knowledge, you may consider a career as an IT consultant, in which you’ll work in partnership with clients to advise them on how to effectively use IT software to meet objectives or solve problems.IT consultants can work for various organizations, improving the structure and efficiency of IT systems, and may be involved in sales and business development, as well as technical responsibilities.
Network engineer
Another electrical engineering career involving computers, network engineers (or administrators) are responsible for the installation and maintenance of computer systems in organizations. They aim to ensure the reliability of a high availability network infrastructure that provides maximum performance for its users. To become a network engineer, you of course need strong IT skills, as well as an attention to detail and good communication skills.
Other careers you could explore with your electrical engineering degree include: broadcast engineer, control and instrumentation engineer, systems analyst, management consultant, multimedia programmer, technical author and technical sales engineer.
Read about more engineering careers you could pursue
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