Self-test: Is a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering right for me?
Analysis of the activities of electrical engineers FH
What does the day-to-day work of electrical engineers FH look like?
Electrical engineers work in engineering offices, industrial and service companies. Their tasks and areas of work are as varied as the possible specializations in their studies. What all areas of work have in common are project management tasks, professional and personnel management tasks and technical consulting and support tasks.
In communications engineering and communication technologies, electrical engineers work, for example, on mobile communications, radar and aviation radio, high-frequency technology, networks such as fiber optic networks, wireless data transmission or the processing of transmitted data.
Those who specialize entirely in wireless transmission technologies design applications and services such as satellite navigation, cashless payment options or Bluetooth devices and interfaces.
The field of energy systems deals with the possibilities of generating, storing and distributing electricity. For example, electrical engineers work on improving photovoltaics, conduct research in the field of electromobility or develop more efficient storage media for electrical energy.
Embedded systems refers to the hardware, software and communication capabilities found in virtually all devices in modern life.
In the industrial environment, electrical engineers work on control systems, industrial communication networks and electrical drive systems for vehicles of all kinds. From the automation of entire production lines to the development and programming of robots, they can use their knowledge to develop solutions in which cameras, sensors and numerical controls combine to form an intelligent whole.
In microelectronics, the focus is on the development and design of integrated circuits and in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), applications such as voice assistance systems, self-driving cars, digital diagnostic systems in medicine or fully automated traffic guidance systems are developed and programmed.
According to the job advertisements, the tasks are distributed roughly as follows:
| Developing, designing and dimensioning circuits, electronic components, assemblies, machines, devices and systems | approx. 20% of the time |
| Project leadership and project management in development, maintenance and investment projects | approx. 10% of the time |
| Preparation of analyses, functional specifications, technical specifications, documentation, production documents and electrical diagrams | approx. 20% of the time |
| Internal and external collaboration, information management, training, technical support for customers, sales and management | approx. 15% of the time |
| Assembly, commissioning, maintenance, servicing, further development, quality assurance, troubleshooting | approx. 15% of the time |
| Prototypes, test setups, functional models, simulations, measurements, test procedures, type tests | approx. 10% of the time |
| Management tasks, technical responsibility, budgeting | approx. 10% of the time |
The distribution of tasks can vary greatly depending on the job profile and type of company.
What is usually required in job advertisements for electrical engineers?
- Completed studies in electrical engineering at a university of applied sciences or ETH
- Several years of professional experience in the relevant environment and field of activity of the position
- High level of IT competence and knowledge of the software and tools used
- Project experience
- Good written and spoken German and English skills
- You appreciate working in a team and are happy to take on responsibility
- High quality standards, thorough and careful working methods
- High level of initiative and commitment
- Strong entrepreneurial thinking
Question 1:
Would I like to work as an electrical engineer?
Yes, if you like the actual job, the industry basically suits you. Then the next question is whether this degree course is just right for you.
If individual aspects of the job description do not appeal to you, find out more about the possible areas of specialization. Perhaps you can concentrate on the areas that appeal to you. You can obtain documents about the course here: {#courseLink#}
If you do not like all the activities in the description, you may want to consider other degree programs. You will find possible alternatives in the answer to question 2.
Who is the "Electrical Engineering Bachelor FH" course suitable for?
Target group:
- People with a keen interest in electrical engineering, IT, digitalization, etc.
- Professionals with a technical apprenticeship qualification and a vocational baccalaureate
- High school graduates or graduates from other disciplines who would like to enter the field of electrical engineering
Personal requirements:
- Mathematical and technical aptitude
- Interest in technical development
- Very good analytical skills and abstract thinking ability
- Quick comprehension as well as networked, process-oriented thinking and acting
- High degree of independence and initiative
Important features such as duration, costs and content of the "Electrical Engineering Bachelor FH" degree program are described here:
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Question 2:
Are you generally interested in this course?
If you have already answered "yes" to question 1, then this degree program seems to fit your expectations.
If you would like to study, but do not like the job description in question 1 or only like it in part, you should try to find out whether there are other jobs with this training that would suit you better.
If you like this course but not the job description, you could also find out about a subsequent Master's course. And see whether the career opportunities afterwards would suit you.
If you like the descriptions of the engineering activities in question 1 but not the subject area and degree course in electrical engineering, you can take a look at the following degree courses to see if you can find something that better suits your interests:
If you like engineering training better than working with electricity:
- Automotive Engineering Bachelor FH
- Aviation Bachelor FH
- Renewable Energy and Environmental Engineering Bachelor FH
- Computer Science Bachelor FH
- Mechatronics Bachelor FH
- Medical Informatics Bachelor FH
- Microtechnology and Medical Technology Bachelor FH
- Photonics Bachelor FH
- Systems Engineering Bachelor FH
- Environmental Engineering Bachelor FH
If, on the other hand, you are more interested in electrical engineering than engineering, or if you do not wish to study at a university of applied sciences, you will find some suggestions for possible alternatives here:
- Electrical Project Manager (BP)
- Electrician (HFP)
- Automation (HF)
- Electronics (HF)
- Electrical engineering (HF)
- Energy technology (HF)
- Building automation technician (HF)
- Building IT specialist (HF)
- ICT Systems Engineering (HF)
- IT Service Engineer (HF)
- Systems engineering (HF)
- IT technician specializing in ICT system and network technology (HF)
- Telematics (HF)
- NDS-HF Building Informatics (HF)
- NDS-HF Network Engineering (HF)
Requirements for admission to the Bachelor's degree program
- Federal certificate of proficiency with technical or commercial vocational baccalaureate
- Or gymnasiale Matura
- Admission may be possible with another higher vocational education qualification; the decision lies with the course management
Question 3:
Do I meet the requirements?
If you meet the requirements, you can register for the course at the next possible date.
If you do not meet the admission requirements because you have an apprenticeship qualification without a vocational baccalaureate, it is best to find out about your options from a provider of vocational baccalaureate courses. You can find some schools on Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch under Berufsmaturität. Alternatively, you can use the self-test to find out what it would mean for you to complete the vocational baccalaureate. Self-test"Vocational baccalaureate"
And if a technical or commercial vocational baccalaureate is not possible with the profession you have learned, ask the university of applied sciences about the possibility of a preliminary course or admission course. This may allow you to catch up on the math and technical subjects you have missed.
If you do not have a Swiss school-leaving or apprenticeship qualification, but have a comparable foreign diploma, it is best to enquire directly at the university of applied sciences about your options. You can find the contact details here: {#courseLink#}
Financing your studies and living expenses
The semester fees for the Bachelor's degree course in Electrical Engineering are around CHF 800. The course can be completed in different ways: as a full-time course, part-time or with integrated internships. Depending on the chosen study model and place of study, the impact on the cost of living and loss of salary varies greatly. In all cases, however, your living costs should be reasonably secure for the duration of your studies and enable you to concentrate sufficiently on your studies and attend classes regularly.
Question 4:
Are you able to finance around CHF 800 per semester plus accommodation and living expenses?
If you have marked "Yes", this seems to be a good time for you to study for a Bachelor's degree.
Have you already checked whether you are eligible for a scholarship and how much you would receive?If not, you will find information here.
And take a look at the study models offered by various universities of applied sciences. You may be able to extend the duration of your studies and reduce your workload a little.
And if all this is not possible, there are banks and credit institutions that grant educational loans.
Time and effort for classroom teaching and own learning achievements
The course lasts three years full-time and four to five years part-time. The time required for classroom teaching, project and group work is 35 to 65 hours per week (the time required depends, among other things, on how much group and project work is completed during the semester or in the semester break).
Question 5:
Will I be able to cope with the time and effort required for classroom teaching and project work?
If it seems even very easy for you, you can look for a more intensive study model that you can complete in a shorter time.
If you are short of time, look for courses that can be completed alongside your job and extend over a longer period of time. And if that's still not enough, you should check whether you can create more freedom for yourself in another way. Perhaps someone close to you can take on certain tasks for you for the limited period of your training?
Conclusion
Can I manage this course and graduate?
Electrical engineering is one of the engineering degree courses that place high demands on mathematics. If you have a solid educational background, such as a technical vocational baccalaureate or a baccalaureate in the natural sciences, you should be able to complete the course with the appropriate commitment.
The course comprises six semesters, each lasting 14 weeks. Teaching is mainly carried out in lectures, group lessons, exercises and laboratory practicals. The course is divided into modules that form a self-contained learning unit lasting one semester and a grade is awarded for each module.
After the first year of study, students receive clear feedback on their level of education in the form of an assessment. Passing this assessment is a prerequisite for admission to the main study program.
The course concludes with a Bachelor's thesis.
Question 6:
Am I confident that I can pass the course, the assessment exams and the Bachelor's thesis?
If you are confident that you can pass this qualification, the most you can do is consider whether you would like to achieve even better results using suitable learning and working methods or whether you would like to achieve the same results with less effort.
If you are unsure because you come from a completely different background or have not been entirely successful with math and science subjects so far, find out about the possibilities of a preliminary math course.
If you can't imagine working in groups or find it difficult to write term papers and project work, it may help you to know that many others feel the same way. You will receive guidance and support during your studies. And if you still feel very unsure, attend an information event or a visit day at the school. This will give you an impression and you can address your questions directly to the head of degree program.
If you have intense exam anxiety, you could look for another course of study that can be spread over a longer period of time in a part-time model.
Receive course or training documents from suitable schools immediately
Under {#CourseLink#} you will find an overview of schools that offer Bachelor's degree programs in electrical engineering. You can request detailed documents with just one click and usually receive them directly by e-mail. You can also use the area search to find providers in your immediate vicinity.
Conclusion:
Before you apply for a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, you should be convinced that you really enjoy working with computers, electricity and electrical devices. You should also be enthusiastic about the content of the course. If you are unsure about these questions, you should consider which other degree courses are also an option for you. You have received several suggestions in the individual evaluations of your answers.
If you do not meet the admission requirements because you have an apprenticeship qualification without a vocational baccalaureate, it is best to find out about your options from one of the providers of vocational baccalaureate courses. You can find some schools on Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch under Berufsmaturität. And if a technical or commercial vocational baccalaureate is not possible with the profession you have learned, ask the university of applied sciences about the possibility of an admission course. This may allow you to catch up on the math and technical subjects you have not studied.
Financing a degree course is not always easy. Several thousand francs have to be raised over 3-4 years to cover living expenses, tuition fees and possibly accommodation at the place of study. If your private financing options are not sufficient and you are unable to obtain a scholarship, you can also try to obtain educational grants from a foundation. If this is not enough to finance your further education alone, it is sometimes possible to obtain a loan from a private source. Some banks and credit institutions also offer educational loans. A good argument for financing further education is the relatively quick amortization of costs through wage increases. Do the following calculation: How much would a wage increase of 10% per year amount to? How many years would you need to recoup the costs of the course? How much more will you earn over your entire working life as a result of this pay rise? In most cases, this is a six-figure sum, which confirms that training or further education is the best personal investment there is.
The time required for full-time study should not be underestimated. Going out, vacations and spontaneous wellness weekends often fall by the wayside. However, this time usually passes relatively quickly. The prospect of better job opportunities and more pay should be motivation enough to get through this time. It often helps to organize yourself into study groups. It also makes sense to stick with it right from the start and schedule fixed study times. Good learning effects can be achieved by creating summaries and mind maps. Flashcard systems help with memorization. There are many tools and ideas to make learning easier. You can obtain the guide "The personal learning strategy" free of charge if you register with a school via Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch.
If you have doubts about whether you will pass the final exam, you can expect that every school has an interest in ensuring that as many of your students as possible pass the final exams. Talk to your head teacher or course leader and ask about support options. But with good motivation, perseverance and hard work, it is generally possible to pass these exams. If you suffer from exam anxiety, good preparation, various practical tips, therapeutic treatments or, in severe cases, even medication can help. You can obtain the guide "Overcoming exam anxiety" if you register with a school via Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch. Here you will also findsuitable providerson the subject of test anxiety.
The benefits of further training are usually measured in terms of a higher salary, more challenging tasks or promotions. This presupposes that you make an effort to change your professional position accordingly and, if necessary, are able to assert your demands. If you have already experienced that this is not always so easy for you, you could also check whether personal job coaching could be of benefit to you in addition to further training.
Now it's up to you to decide. If in doubt, seek personal advice from a school or external advice center. If you order course materials from a school via www.ausbildung-weiterbildung.ch, you will receive a free educational or school consultation worth CHF 150.00 on request.
You can find a list of providers here: {#courseLink#}
We wish you all the best in your professional and private lives and a bright and exciting future!
The team of Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch
Linda, deine Weiterbildungsfinderin