In October 1946 Eric Zepler returned to the Department of Physics at Southampton University College, with the title of Lecturer in Telecommunications. Prof A M Taylor was now Head of Department, and there were 5 other Lecturers (including Wally Punnett) and two Assistant Lecturers.

Eric Zepler had become a Member of the British Institution of Radio Engineers (M Brit IRE). This Institution brought together professional engineers who worked in the relatively new discipline of radio engineering. Members of the older Institution of Electrical Engineers were mostly engaged in electrical power engineering.

Eric Zepler and Wally Punnett planned, and prepared for, the launch of a new postgraduate course leading to a Diploma in Electronics, Telecommunications and Radio Engineering in the Faculty of Science. That course started in October 1947, with five students. At the same time, the new Department of Electronics, Telecommunications and Radio Engineering was launched, with Zepler and Punnett being the only academic staff. Eric Zepler was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1948 and to a Chair of Electronics in 1949. Also in 1949 the titles of the Department and of the diploma course were shortened to Electronics.

The postgraduate diploma course, which lasted for 3 terms, was like an MSc course nowadays. It soon became well-known nationally and internationally, and it attracted many able graduates having degrees in physics, engineering and related subjects.

In 1952 the University College in Southampton, which had previously prepared students for degrees awarded by London University, became an independent university. From then on, new students were registered for degrees and diplomas of the University of Southampton.