"Electrical engineers are playing a leading role in the green energy transition, determining how to convert solar or wind energy into electricity, as well as how to store electricity in batteries."
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Imagine a field where your work could span from the tiniest nanoscale devices to vast power grids.
Electrical engineering is at the heart of almost every technological advance and will continue guide innovation in the decades ahead – making it an incredibly exciting and dynamic area to study and work in.

What is electrical engineering and what do electrical engineers do?
Electrical engineering spans everything to do with electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. That includes designing and managing electrical systems, which encompasses power generation and distribution, as well as the electronic and communication systems that make up the fabric of modern life.
Think of today’s electric cars, which have more than 100 microprocessors and several kilometres worth of cables and electric wiring for the electrical systems, sensors, lights, communication and other components.
Electrical engineers are involved in all facets of the design, building and testing of all the electronics housed within electric vehicles. And they are also needed to design the power systems that generate, transmit and distribute the electricity required to charge the car’s battery.
Starting at the small scale, electrical engineers are involved in the design, building and testing of semiconductors and microsystems. Moving up along the product chain, they are also involved at the device level, working on circuit boards, cell phones and computers, as well as any product that requires electricity in its operations, including household appliances, automated machinery, wind turbines, MRI machines, elevators, HVAC systems…the list goes on!

Our entire electricity system depends on electrical engineers, who work in power generation, electrical power distribution and everything needed to generate and distribute electrical power.
Electrical engineers are playing a leading role the green energy transition, determining how to convert solar or wind energy into electricity, as well as how to store electricity in batteries.
“Because electrical engineering touches so many areas, it offers opportunities to specialize in certain areas, which themselves are often separate engineering disciplines,” says Dr. Sudip Shekhar, a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “Robotics, for example, is a mix of mechanical and electrical engineering. Biomedical engineering brings electronics, sensors and controls to biological systems. Electrical engineering is one of the most broad fields and can be a great foundational place to start if you are interested in pursuing these or other specializations.”
Many electrical engineers are also involved in developing simulation models to test alternatives and explore solutions.
They might develop simulation models of how electrical circuits behave in different scenarios or how they can communicate with each other, or develop models of the electrical power grid to help decision-makers ensure the system is reliable and has the capacity to meet users’ needs for electricity.
What’s it like to study electrical engineering at UBC?
“Being an electrical engineer requires multiple skills,” says Dr. Shekhar.
“It helps to be good in math, to have a broad systems-level focus, enjoy hands-on work and be comfortable with abstract thinking.”

UBC’s Electrical Engineering program trains students to develop these skills through a foundational curriculum where they will learn essential skills and gain the broad base of knowledge needed to succeed. The department places a strong emphasis on project-based learning, which are also great opportunities to interact with and get to know your instructors.
Electrical Engineering at Okanagan Campus
Electrical Engineering at Vancouver Campus
In later years, students can choose electives to explore areas of interest. Co-op work terms and capstone projects are other ways to gain experience in different areas of electrical engineering practice.
