What can I do with a degree
in Electrical and Electronic Engineering?
Electrical and
Electronic Engineering.
Planning your career
Choosing a career involves more than just
finding out what is open to you. Knowledge
about yourself is central to the process. It’s
worth looking at your personal goals, abilities,
values, interests, and skills to relate study and
career options to you. The suggestions here are
only an aid to this decision-making process.
Most employers look for generic skills such as
leadership, communication skills, interpersonal
skills, customer-focus and the ability to work
in and contribute to a team. Some of these are
developed during your degree, while others have
been developed through extra-curricular activity
such as sports, community, or cultural groups.
As more and more employers are developing
jobs that are particular to their own
environment, it is more difficult to provide a
definitive list of possible career options. The
ones that follow are illustrative rather than
exhaustive. Some career opportunities may
require graduate or postgraduate study or
additional work experience.
Some career paths and degrees have
recommended pathways from school.
To download the ‘Best Preparation for
University’ information sheet go to
www.canterbury.ac.nz/liaison/best_prep.shtml
ENGINEERING
What is Electrical and
Electronic Engineering?
Electrical and electronic engineering involves
the generation, storage and use of electricity,
and also the transmission and transformation
of information using computers and
communication networks. Electrical and
electronic engineers create and design new
electrical, electronic and computer products,
and also analyse, manage and redesign
existing systems.
Electrical and electronic engineers have played a
major role in the development of technological
advances such as personal computing, electric
heating and lighting, nationwide electrical
power, mobile phones, digital television,
fly-by-wire aircraft, medical imaging systems,
hybrid cars, and robotic space exploration.
‘Electrical and electronic
engineering involves the
generation, storage and
use of electricity, and
also the transmission
and transformation
of information using
computers and
communications networks.’
What skills have our
graduates gained?
Through their Electrical and Electronic
Engineering degree, graduates develop a
valuable set of skills that are transferable to a
range of careers, including:
• Technical knowledge of electronic and
electrical systems
• Analytical and problem solving skills
• Practical application of engineering
technology and science
• Creativity and innovation
• Logical and quantitative thinking
• Coping with rapid technological changes.
ENGINEERING
Where have our
graduates been
employed?
Electrical and Electronic Engineering graduates
are well prepared to join the technological
revolution, with a wide range of career options.
Graduates are found in a wide range of industries
including telecommunications, electric power,
nanotechnology, renewable/power engineering,
communications and biomedical engineering.
For more examples of employers who recruit
UC students and graduates go to
www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers
For more information about UC student and
graduate opportunities, go to UC CareerHub:
www.careerhub.canterbury.ac.nz
What jobs and activities
do our graduates do?
Robotics technician
Graduates with this degree are employed in
a range of jobs including electronic design
engineer, energy consultant and power
supply engineer.
• Servicing and maintaining robotic functioning
Some of the jobs listed may require further
study at postgraduate level. Postgraduate
study can contribute to your employability.
It enables you to extend your knowledge and
skills, indicates your motivation and ability to
persevere at a high level academically and can
make you more competitive in the job market.
Postgraduate study may be a prerequisite for
certain jobs.
• Works in teams to design and produce robots
• Tests robotic operations and processes
Research engineer
• Investigates, develops and evaluates new
systems and equipment in the electronics
industry
• Makes recommendations in order to
resolve problems
• Supports general organisation operations
Teacher
• Prepares and delivers instructional activities
What professional
bodies and organisations
do our students and
graduates link to?
As they progress in their studies and into a
career, our students and graduates often join
professional bodies specific to their area of
interest. These organisations offer graduates the
opportunity to network and collaborate with
others within the same community.
Other relevant organisations are also listed.
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers (www.ieee.org)
• Institution of Professional Engineers
New Zealand (www.ipenz.org.nz)
Electrical engineer
• Maintains up-to-date and relevant electronics
knowledge and information
• Designs systems to generate, distribute and
manage electricity
• Observes and evaluates performance in order
to provide feedback
• Writes reports and develops instructional
manuals
Electro-mechanical engineer
• The Association of Consulting Engineers
New Zealand Inc. (www.acenz.org.nz)
• Uses electrical and electronic knowledge to
design and develop mechanical systems
• Electrical Workers Registration Board
(www.ewrb.govt.nz)
• Prepares reports and presentations
Social media networks, such as LinkedIn
(including LinkedIn groups), Facebook and
Twitter can provide avenues for students and
graduates to keep up-to-date with current
industry knowledge and 'best practice',
networking opportunities, industry-related
events and job vacancies.
• Tests electricity systems and resolves
any problems
Power engineer
• Plans and develops power systems in order to
supply power
• Tests and maintains these power systems
• Ensures system specifications are operational
and safe
Micro/Nanoelectronic Engineer
• Researches alternative sources of power
• Develops microscale and nanoscale sensors
and actuators
Computer software engineer
• Designs electronic circuits to interface devices
• Develops and evaluates computer software/
programs
• Integrates devices into products
• Develops new software programs for products
that are yet to be released
• Organises software development projects
Computer hardware engineer
• Plans, constructs and installs the physical
components of computer systems
• Researches and tests hardware components
• Considers the economic costs of hardware
components to end users
Biomedical engineer
Entrepreneurship and innovation are
increasingly becoming an important part of the
world of work and should be considered as a
career option. For more information about UC
student innovation & entrepreneurship, related
internships, scholarships, courses and activities
go to www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers
For further information on job titles, please see
the latest UC Graduate Destinations Survey
(www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers)
For additional graduate destination information
go to www.graduatecareers.com.au or
www.prospects.ac.uk
• Works in collaboration with medical staff
• Designs and develops biotechnical products
and equipment
• Researches and tests products
• Electricity Engineers' Association
(www.eea.co.nz)
What further study can I
do after my degree?
It is possible to study at postgraduate and
graduate level in subjects both directly and
indirectly related to your degree. For a list of
postgraduate and graduate study options,
go to www.canterbury.ac.nz/courses
Some postgraduate study is highly
recommended and should be considered by
students seeking a professional career in the
electrical engineering industry. This may take
place within the framework of a masters or
postgraduate diploma programme and will
consist of at least one year of concentrated
study. A PhD degree is a prerequisite for anyone
seeking an academic career and may attract
students interested in pursuing a major piece of
individual research.
Carefully consider your motivation for study,
how it fits in with your long-term career
plans and whether it is likely to enhance your
employment prospects.
ENGINEERING
Yiwei Hu
‘I am currently doing a multidisciplinary
research project, exploring opportunities to
apply advanced communication technologies on
future electrical grids to achieve better resiliency
and reliability. The collaborations between these
two fields are just emerging and it will fill gaps
between these two important industries in
New Zealand in the future. This research offers
me an opportunity to build a unique type
of knowledge.’
Coming all the way from his home country China
to study at UC was a decision that Yiwei found to
be a huge benefit to his passion for Engineering.
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Master of Engineering in Mechanical
Engineering
Studying towards a PhD in Electrical and
Electronic Engineering
Contract Researcher, Tait Communications
Yiwei’s current PhD research at Tait
Communications is something he hopes will
pave the way for future electrical engineering
technologies. His project is a joint program
between the Wireless Research Centre, NZi3 and
the Electrical Engineering Department at UC,
and he has received the Callaghan Research and
Development Student Fellowship scholarship in
recognition for his work.
‘The initial cause was the high quality education
of Engineering at UC I heard from many people.
Before I made my decision, I came here for
a short visit. I was attracted by the campus
here: large sports fields, fantastic facilities and
friendly people. Everything here reminds me of
the university life I have always been expecting.
I finally decided to study here.’
After completing his undergraduate degree,
Yiwei set his sights toward practical applications,
and worked with wheelchair company Dynamic
Controls developing a wireless control system for
power wheelchairs as his master’s project.
He also worked in Tait Communications creating
a new algorithm for wireless communications.
‘As an engineer, the most exciting job is to solve
real-world problems, to improve people’s life
quality and shape the future world,’ he says.
‘Becoming a solution engineer is my career goal
and I still have lots to learn to achieve this goal.’
‘As an engineer, the most
exciting job is to solve
real-world problems…’
‘I have been working in wireless communication
fields since I graduated from UC. This PhD
project offers a great opportunity to apply my
knowledge to some real world applications. With
support from the industry, it is quite possible to
build prototypes and even products in the future
to demonstrate the research outcomes. This
sounds very inspiring and exciting to me.
‘In this project, participants from both
academics and the industry work together and
share their expertise and experience. This opens
my mind to think from multiple perspectives,
and leads me to improve my skills in problemsolving, decision-making and communication.’
Yiwei emphasises that practical work is the
more important aspect to Engineering and a
skill not to be taken lightly, for those thinking of
studying Engineering that may be put off by the
theory work.
‘For engineering, the ultimate goal is to apply
practical knowledge in the different fields.
This capability of practical application will be a
significant advantage for engineering students
in their future professional careers.’
Yiwei particularly enjoys how his PhD can
contribute to real world needs directly through
the industry.
More information
Department of Electrical
and Computer Engineering
Telephone: +64 3 364 2264
www.elec.canterbury.ac.nz
Careers, Internships & Employment
Student Liaison
Telephone: +64 3 364 3310
Email: careers@canterbury.ac.nz
www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers
University of Canterbury, Christchurch
Telephone: +64 3 364 2993
Email: liaison@canterbury.ac.nz
www.canterbury.ac.nz/liaison
Careers, Internships & Employment offers
intending and current students and recent
graduates a wide range of services, including
individual career guidance, seminars,
career resources, and student and graduate
employment opportunities.
www.careerhub.canterbury.ac.nz
ENGINEERING
Student Liaison provides intending students
with information about the university system in
general and the courses, qualifications, support
and facilities at the University of Canterbury.
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