When you think about electrical engineering vs computer engineering, what springs to mind first? Do you think that it’s the same job? Do you think that they overlap? Or do you think that they are completely different fields? The main difference is that Computer engineering is a sub-discipline of electrical engineering.

But let’s find out more about the two:

What is electrical engineering?

Electrical engineering is a broad field that deals with the generation, transmission, and conversion of electric energy. It therefore involves anything from working with electrical circuits in electronic devices to working with electrical installations in buildings and working on power plants.

If I were to be an electrical engineer, what would I be doing?

As an electrical engineer, you could design and develop new electrical systems, solve problems, and test equipment. Depending on your area of specialisation, you could find yourself working with anything from pocket calculators to supercomputers, wiring systems, communication systems, and generators.

What is computer engineering?

Computer engineering is a branch of electrical engineering, and like the name implies, it involves designing, building, and fixing computers and computer components, as well as matching various digital devices to software programs.

If I were to be a computer engineer, what would I be doing?

As a computer engineer, you could specialise in areas such as computer hardware and architecture, IT security, IT communication and networking, or software engineering. Depending on which area of specialisation you choose, you might find yourself designing or improving computer hardware, designing and implementing IT communication systems, or working with software developers to identify hardware that is compatible with specific types of software.

How are the two linked?

Electrical and computer engineering involve the same core subjects. Both electrical engineers and computer engineers are involved in developing, programming, and enhancing electrical circuits, systems, and devices. As mentioned previously, computer engineering is considered to be a sub-discipline of electrical engineering.

Since computing has become so much a part of society, it is hard to separate what an electrical engineer needs to know from what a computer engineer needs to know. But if you are interested in a career in electrical engineering and you would like to study towards a qualification via distance learning, then you will be happy to know that Oxbridge Academy offers the following electrical engineering courses: