Acquire core skills and knowledge of the fundamental principles in electronic engineering with an emphasis on designing and building electronic and opto-electronic systems for applications in modern communications, computing, instrumentation, and sensing.
Teaching team
These are the lecturers who guide you through the subjects and context bespoke to this specialisation. They are part of the greater teaching team who you meet along your journey through the foundational subjects, your chosen electives, and your capstone project.
This specialisation equips students with a blend of engineering skills that every industry expects to have in a graduate. Matthew Adams, CEO - Tekt Industries Pty. Ltd., Australia
Structure
The following table lists the subjects required to achieve the Electronics and Embedded Systems specialisation of the Master of Electrical Engineering degree. The table shows the suggested order of taking the subjects, with start and mid-year entry possible. Based on your bachelor's degree, you may be awarded advanced standing for the subjects grouped under Year 1, or part thereof.
The program shown in the table above is built up of the following parts:
- Sixteen foundational subjects that are core to all specialisations of the degree. The foundational subjects are the eight subjects taken in Year 1 and Year 2 which together provide you with a solid foundation from which to specialise.
- Four core subjects that are bespoke to achieving the chosen specialisation. These subjects build upon the foundations of electrical engineering.
- An individualised capstone project that is an outlet for all the expertise you have developed.
- A subject that focuses on professional skills development.
- Two elective subjects to explore your interests and develop expertise across any of our specialisation areas.
Core subjects
The following explains how the topics covered in these subjects are synchronised to develop your electronics and embedded systems expertise. Electronics and embedded systems is an ever demanding and expanding field of electrical engineering. This specialisation offers an industry faced hardware-oriented learning with a strong anchor in fundamentals. Potential graduate employers include: NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, TSMC, Telstra, Optus, Tekt, Analog Devices, Samsung electronics, Philips, Dell and Apple.
The Electronics and Embedded Systems specialisation prepares students in a systematic manner from learning design concepts all the way to implementing them with a focus on real world applications.
Year 1 subjects lay down a foundation for the specialisation. Digital Systems, Electrical Network Analysis and Design, and Foundations of Electrical Networks provide fundamental concepts used in the design and building of digital circuits, as well as modelling techniques for the analysis and design of electrical and electronic systems. Electrical Device Modelling and Electronic System Implementation provide concepts in electromagnetism, semiconductor materials, quantum electronics, assembly and testing of various simple electronic systems that interact with the real world. Engineering Mathematics, Introduction to Numerical Computing in C and Signals and Systems introduce mathematical methods, high-level languages, and mathematical techniques that underpin the design of telecommunication, signal-processing and automatic control systems.
Year 2 builds on the fundamentals of electronics and embedded systems with project-oriented subjects such as such as Embedded System Design and Electronic Circuit Design, which help form the basis for specialisation subjects in Year 3 such as the trio of Electronic System Design, Semiconductor Devices, and High Speed Electronics, which equip students with semiconductor fundamentals, theory, pn junctions, material and physical properties of semiconductor devices, complex circuit design concepts, design of microprocessor based electronic systems, printed circuit design, microelectronics, chip design and RF electronics. Advanced studies in computer architectures, microprocessors, microcontrollers, operating systems, compilers, software design, multi-processor and multi-core theory and design, including new design methodologies such as chiplet design will be performed through Microprocessor Design Clinic. Students will also get an opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in a year-long project equivalent of two subjects, the Engineering Capstone Project, and further opportunity to broaden their studies through elective subjects.
Capstone project
Core to all specialisations is the year-long capstone project that is completed in teams of 3 or 4. Through the capstone project you and your team develop solutions to an unsolved problem. The project is tailored to your interests, ranging from: research and development projects proposed by our world-class academics; to multi-team projects that partake in international and local competitions; to innovative projects proposed by you. See the handbook entry for further details.
Professional skills
To develop and strengthen the skills necessary to operate as a professional engineer upon graduation, you will take the following subject:
Interdisciplinary Design for Engineers (ENGR90051)
In this subject, students will actively engage in an interdisciplinary, collaborative and project-based learning environment, offering insights into the professional nature of engineering work. Through a real-world project, students will gain hands-on design experience addressing a complex challenge. The project will require students to integrate discipline knowledge and apply professional skills like teamwork and communication.
Elective subjects
To obtain the degree with a specialisation, students must also complete 25 credit points of Electrical Engineering Elective (Group A) subjects (Business specialisation only) or 25 credit points of Electrical Engineering (Group A) or Approved Elective (Group B) subjects (for other specialisations other than Business).
A full list of Electives (Group A) and Approved Electives (Group B) can be found in the handbook entry for the Master of Electrical Engineering.
Master of Electrical Engineering handbook
Sample course plan
See the sample course plans on the University of Melbourne Study page for more details.