Electronic Engineering
From revolutionary approaches in spacecraft design and ingenious communications systems to nanostructures with incredible properties and the manipulation of light itself, our research in electronic engineering is at the most exciting edge of technological innovation.
Research programme
Taught programmes
Research Environment
Through consistent investment stemming from our deep commitment to world-class, sustainable research programmes, the Department of Electronic Engineering has built up impressive infrastructure to support all its activities.
We boast state-of-the-art facilities in many areas, including:
- Clean-rooms for the development of nanotechnology
- Ground-station for the monitoring of satellites
- EPSRC national centre for ion implantation and ion-beam applications
- Supercomputers for advanced mathematical modelling
- Centre for sound and image recording
- Multimedia laboratories
- RF and wireless test facilities
- Full support from dedicated teams of technical and IT support staff
The interdisciplinary nature of much of our work encourages us to constantly explore new opportunities to cross boundaries, providing our postgraduate researchers with truly world-class opportunities.
Key Research Areas
Advanced Technology Institute
- Ion Beam centre
- Nanoelectronics centre
- Photonics
- Theory and Computation
Centre for Communication Systems Research
- Air Interface
- Radio Access Systems Optimisation
- Cognitive Networks and Future Internet
- Security
- Semantic Web and Service Platforms
Centre for Vision Speech and Signal Processing
- 3D Video
- 3D Spatial Audio
- Biometrics
- Blind Source Separation
- Coding and Transmission
- Facial Analysis
- Human Motion Analysis
- Media Adaptation
- Media Networking
- Medical Imaging Analysis
- Quality of Experience
- Sign and Gesture Analysis
- Speech and Audio Analysis
- Surveillance
- Video and Audio Retrieval
- Interfaces/Visual Interaction
Surrey Space Centre
- Antenna and RF Systems
- Astrodynamics
- Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence
- Control Systems
- Onboard Data Handling
- Environments and Instrumentation
- Propulsion
- Robotics
Research centres and groups
Advanced Technology Institute
- Ion Beam centre
- Nanoelectronics centre
- Photonics
- Theory and Computation
Centre for Communication Systems Research (CCSR)
- Air interface - covering a wide range of fundamental and applied research including: advanced modulation and coding, estimation, direction and synchronisation techniques, multi-user information theory, antenna and propagation.
- Radio Access System Optimisation - this focuses on different aspects of system-level efficiently in emerging wireless networks. This includes different topics: radio resource management (distributed and centralised), self-organising radio access, coverage, capacity, energy efficiency optimisation, multi-cell cooperation, interference management, advanced radio access architectures
- Cognitive Networks and Future Internet - encompassing networking and network management technologies. These include both evolutionary and revolutionary designs of self-functionalities (for example, self-organisation, self-optimisation, self-healing, self-protection and self-configuration) in the next generation of communication networks, and also new architectures, protocols and mechanisms for the future internet.
- Semantic Web and Service Platforms - the research is focused on novel solutions relating to data processing for applications, networks and services. With the increase in bandwidth and capabilities on communication networks and mobile platforms, more applications and services are developed, adapted and deployed by service providers and users in different application domains. Discovery and utilisation of these services, and also creating stable and at the same time flexible platforms for often heterogeneous components which construct these networks, has been the main focus of the research community in recent years.
Centre for Vision Speech and Signal Processing
- 3D Video
- 3D Spatial Audio
- Biometrics
- Blind Source Separation
- Coding and Transmission
- Facial Analysis
- Human Motion Analysis
- Media Adaptation
- Media Networking
- Medical Imaging – a wide range of biomedical imaging research projects are carried out, encompassing research at all stages of the imaging chain, from the technology of image acquisition, reconstruction and image correction through to statistical image analysis and display. Biomedical imaging is fundamentally an interdisciplinary activity, involving collaboration with major clinical and biomedical partners at some of the country’s leading hospitals and biomedical companies.
- Quality of Experience
- Sign and Gesture Analysis
- Speech and Audio Analysis
- Surveillance
- Video and Audio Retrieval
- Interfaces/Visual Interaction
Surrey Space Centre
- Antenna and RF Systems
- Astrodynamics
- Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence
- Control Systems
- Onboard Data Handling
- Environments and Instrumentation
- Propulsion
- Robotics
Research Academics
Career Development
All our programmes and degrees are accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).
Examples of positions achieved by our students after earning their postgraduate qualification with us:
- Aircom – RF Testing Engineer
- Ericsson – Core Network Supply Engineer
- DSTL – RF Engineer
- University of Surrey – Research and Development Engineer
- University of Surrey – Research Fellow
- Alexandra Institute – Head of Research Group
- European Space Operations Centre – Flight Dynamics Engineer
- The Foundry – Head of Research
- National Biometrics Research Laboratory, China – Director
- OmniPerception – Technical Director
- Czech Technical University – Professor of Computer Vision
- West Virginia University – Research Professor
Links with Industry
We have very strong working relationships with industry and other stakeholders, which provide substantial income for research. Our links with industry include Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, Astrium, Sony, Vodafone, Telefonica, Thales, BBC Centre of Excellence in Audio Engineering and many more.
It was critically important that the institution had a centre that focused on my particular area of interest.
Charles Malleson
MSc in Multimedia Technology and Systems (2010/2011), PhD in Electronic Engineering (2011–14)
After graduating from the University of Pretoria with a BEng (cum laude), I wanted to specialise by doing a Masters in my area of interest. After a year in industry, I came to the University of Surrey to do an MSc in Multimedia Technology and Systems.
Upon completion of my MSc I was able to embark upon a sponsored PhD at Surrey’s Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing (CVSSP). My PhD research is contributing to a European Union project in which the University is one of nine members.
It was critically important that the institution had a centre that focused on my particular area of interest. This narrowed the search down to only a few universities, with Surrey the obvious choice in the end.
Finding my work or study engaging and getting along well with my colleagues are the most important factors to me. Doing my PhD at Surrey, I look forward to going into work in the mornings.
Surrey has lived up to my expectations. The engineering research centre is well aligned with my area of interest. I find that I am in a stimulating environment where I am able to reach my full academic potential and contribute to knowledge in the field, while making time for the other aspects of student life.
With an attractive and leafy campus, the University has a great location in the town of Guildford. Having grown up in the countryside, I enjoy Guildford’s scenic surroundings, yet the town has all the facilities of a city and is close to London.