Program Overview

Programme: BEng Electrical Engineering

The BEng Electrical Engineering programme is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in electrical engineering, covering a wide range of topics including circuit analysis, electronics, power systems, control systems, and communication systems.

Programme Information

All fields of study of the BEng degree have been accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), and comply with the academic requirements for registration as a professional engineer. The programmes are designed in accordance with the outcomes-based model as required by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

Learning Outcomes

A graduate in engineering should be able to apply the following skills on an advanced level:

• Engineering problem solving
• Application of specialist and fundamental knowledge, with specific reference to mathematics, basic sciences and engineering sciences
• Engineering design and synthesis
• Investigation, experimentation and data analysis
• Engineering methods, skills, tools and information technology
• Professional and general communication
• Awareness and knowledge of the impact of engineering activity on society and the physical environment
• Work in teams and in multidisciplinary environments
• An awareness and ability for lifelong learning
• An awareness and knowledge of principles of professional ethics and practice
• Awareness and knowledge of engineering management principles and economic decision-making

Learning Contents

Six essential knowledge areas are included in the syllabi of the programmes:

1. Mathematics, including numerical methods and statistics (13%)
2. Basic sciences: the natural sciences essential to the programme (15%)
3. Engineering sciences (40%)
4. Engineering design and synthesis (16%)
5. Computing and information technology (5%)
6. Complementary studies: communication, economy, management, innovation, environmental impact, ethics, engineering practice (11%)

Admission Requirements

The following persons will be considered for admission:

• Candidates who are in possession of a certificate that is deemed by the University to be equivalent to the required National Senior Certificate (NSC) with university endorsement
• Candidates who are graduates from another tertiary institution or have been granted the status of a graduate of such an institution
• Candidates who are graduates of another faculty at the University of Pretoria

Minimum Requirements

• Achievement level: English Home Language or English First Additional Language: NSC/IEB: 5, AS Level: C
• Achievement level: Mathematics: NSC/IEB: >65%, AS Level: C
• Achievement level: Physical Sciences: NSC/IEB: >65%, AS Level: C
• APS: 33

ENGAGE Programme Minimum Requirements

• Achievement level: English Home Language or English First Additional Language: NSC/IEB: 5, AS Level: C
• Achievement level: Mathematics: NSC/IEB: 5, AS Level: C
• Achievement level: Physical Sciences: NSC/IEB: 5, AS Level: C
• APS: 30

Other Programme-Specific Information

With a few exceptions, most modules offered at the School of Engineering are semester modules having credit values of either 8 or 16.

Promotion to Next Study Year

Promotion to the second semester of the first year and to the second year of study:

1. A new first-year student who has failed in all the prescribed modules of the programme at the end of the first semester, is excluded from studies in the School of Engineering.
2. A student who complies with all the requirements of the first year of study, is promoted to the second year of study.

Pass with Distinction

A student graduates with distinction if:

1. no module of the third or fourth year of study of the four year programme or of the fourth or fifth year of the ENGAGE programme was repeated and a weighted average of at least 75% was obtained in one year in all the modules of the final year of study
2. the degree programme was completed within the prescribed four years for the four year programme and within the prescribed five years of the ENGAGE programme

Core Modules

The programme consists of various core modules, including:

• UPO 112: Academic orientation 112
• CHM 171: General chemistry 171
• EBN 122: Electricity and electronics 122
• FSK 176: Physics 176
• HAS 110: Humanities and social sciences 110
• HAS 120: Humanities and social sciences 120
• MGC 110: Graphical communication 110
• NMC 113: Materials science 113
• SWK 122: Statics 122
• WTW 158: Calculus 158
• WTW 164: Mathematics 164

Minimum Credits

The minimum credits required for each year of study are:

• First year: 144
• Second year: 148
• Third year: 148
• Fourth year: 152

Final Year

In the final year, students are required to complete a research project and a practical training module. The research project entails the individual completion of an engineering project from concept to delivery, while the practical training module provides students with practice-orientated experience at any institution of their choice.

Conclusion

The BEng Electrical Engineering programme at the University of Pretoria is a comprehensive and accredited programme that provides students with a wide range of skills and knowledge in electrical engineering. The programme is designed to meet the academic requirements for registration as a professional engineer and is accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa.