Engineering Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications

What do electrical engineers do?

Engineering students behind laptop

Harness the Power of Electricity

Electrical engineers create, design and manage electricity to help power the world. They are problem-solvers who study and apply the physics and mathematics of electricity, electromagnetism and electronics to both large- and small-scale systems to process information and transmit energy. Electrical engineers work with all kinds of electronic devices which transform society, from the smallest pocket devices to large power stations and supercomputers.

At UNSW School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications, we help our students learn through a combination of design and lab work. This mix of theory and practical application helps students visualise concepts and apply their ideas in real-life situations. Students learn to do what an electrical engineer does day-to-day: analyse and diagnose a problem and develop an innovative solution.

Electrical Engineering Industries

Electrical engineers mostly work with large-scale electrical systems such as motor control and power generation and transmission. They use a diverse range of technologies, from the lighting and wiring of buildings, to design of household appliances, telecommunication systems, electrical power stations and satellite communications. In the emerging field of microelectronics, electrical engineers design or develop electrical systems and circuits in computers and mobile devices.

Graduates however aren’t just limited to these industries. Our degrees are structured in ways that encourage analytical thinking, help master time management and ensure students are technically proficient. Because of this, electrical engineers from UNSW are in high demand even in areas such as:

  • Renewable energy
  • Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies
  • Mobile networking
  • Banking
  • Finance
  • Arts
  • Management
  • Consulting

Full-time workers earn higher than the average earnings per week in Australia, with a starting salary of $65k per annum.

Alumni Profiles

There is no limit to where you can apply your skills. Our graduates have followed varied career paths with the Department of Defence, Energy Australia, Cochlear and global management consulting firms.

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Examples of Electrical Engineering Designs

Electrical engineers are at the forefront of diverse, exciting new fields of technology including:

  • Robots, which are comprised of sensors, actuators, microprocessors and feedback control systems
  • Space projects such as deep space communications, robust control systems, extra-terrestrial GPS for navigation and positioning, power generation and storage networks and imaging systems
  • Tablet or smartphone design
  • Sophisticated medical technology including CT, MRI and PET imaging machines, ECG and blood pressure monitors