Masters Degrees (Signal Processing)

This programme provides graduates and working professionals with a broad training in signal processing and communications. It is suitable for recent graduates who wish to develop the specialist knowledge and skills relevant to this industry and is also suitable as advanced study in preparation for research work in an academic or industrial environment or in a specialist consultancy organisation.

Engineers or other professionals wishing to participate in the MSc programme may do so on a part-time basis.

Our students gain a thorough understanding of theoretical foundations as well as advanced topics at the cutting edge of research in signal processing and communications, including compressive sensing, deep neural networks, wireless communication theory, and numerical Bayesian methods.

The MSc project provides a good opportunity for students to work on state-of-the-art research problems in signal processing and communications.

Programme structure

This programme is run over 12 months, with two semesters of taught courses followed by a research project leading to a masters thesis.

Semester 1 courses

• Discrete-Time Signal Analysis
• Digital Communication Fundamentals
• Probability, Estimation Theory and Random Signals (PETARS)
• Image Processing
• Digital Signal Processing Laboratory

Semester 2 courses

• Adaptive Signal Processing
• Advanced Coding Techniques
• Advanced Wireless Communication
• Array Processing Methods and MIMO Systems
• Advanced Concepts in Signal Processing
• Pre-dissertation project preparation and report

Career opportunities

With our excellent employability record and internationally respected reputation, the University of Edinburgh is a reliable choice for developing your engineering career.

This programme will appeal to graduates who wish to pursue a career in an industry such as communications, radar, medical imaging or anywhere else signal processing is applied.

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Digital signal processing (DSP) is at the core of the communications revolution. Research is constantly being carried out to develop new DSP algorithms, allowing mobile broadband services, ‘Internet of Things’ applications and other technologies to be delivered to a growing number of users.

This programme will give you a thorough understanding of different aspects of DSP and as it relates to the communications landscape, as well as specialist knowledge from your choice of optional modules.

Our DSP lab will give you hands-on experience using the DSP technology that can be found in computers, cellular phones, GPS and other technologies, and you’ll learn from expert researchers at the forefront of their fields.

You’ll also benefit from specialist industrial lectures, allowing you to relate the theoretical and design aspects of communications and signal processing to practical problems and real-world constraints.

School Facilities

Our School is an exciting and stimulating environment where you’ll learn from leading researchers in specialist facilities. These include our Keysight Technologies wireless communications lab, as well as labs for embedded systems, power electronics and drives, ultrasound and bioelectronics.

There’s also a Terahertz photonics lab, class 100 semiconductor cleanroom, traffic generators and analysers, FPGA development tools, sensor network test beds. We have facilities for electron-beam lithography and ceramic circuit fabrication – and a III-V semiconductor molecular beam epitaxy facility. The Faculty is also home to the £4.3 million EPSRC National Facility for Innovative Robotic Systems, set to make us a world leader in robot design and construction.

Course content

Throughout the year you’ll study a set of core modules that give you an in-depth understanding of DSP, wireless communications, different optical communications networks and the complex issues around network security. If you don’t have any experience of c-programming you’ll also take a module that develops these skills; alternatively, you can choose between this module and another on software development.

You’ll also select optional modules that are tailored to your own interests or career plans – you could focus on embedded microprocessor systems, high-speed internet architecture or other topics. To build your understanding of the global electronics industry, you’ll also complete a dissertation. This could take the form of a business, manufacturing or outsourcing plan, a proposal for research funding or an essay on a specific aspect of the industry.

Over the summer months you’ll also work on your research project. This gives you the chance to work as an integral part of one of our active research groups, focusing on a specialist topic in computer science and selecting the appropriate research methods.

Want to find out more about your modules?

Take a look at the Communications and Signal Processing module descriptions for more detail on what you will study.

Course structure

Compulsory modules

• Industry Dissertation 15 credits
• Wireless Communications Systems Design 15 credits
• Digital Signal Processing for Communications 15 credits
• Digital Wireless Communications Principles 15 credits
• Optical Communications Networks 15 credits
• Data Communications and Network Security 15 credits
• Main Project 45 credits

Optional modules

• Cellular Mobile Communication Systems 15 credits
• High Speed Internet Architecture 15 credits
• FPGA Design for System-on-Chip 15 credits
• Embedded Microprocessor System Design 15 credits
• Programming 15 credits
• Software Development 15 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Communications and Signal Processing MSc(Eng) in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

Our groundbreaking research feeds directly into teaching, and you’ll have regular contact with staff who are at the forefront of their disciplines. You’ll have regular contact with them through lectures, seminars, tutorials, small group work and project meetings. Independent study is also important to the programme, as you develop your problem-solving and research skills as well as your subject knowledge.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed using a range of techniques including case studies, technical reports, presentations, in-class tests, assignments and exams. Optional modules may also use alternative assessment methods.

Projects

The research project is one of the most satisfying elements of this course. It allows you to apply what you’ve learned to a piece of research focusing on a real-world problem, and it can be used to explore and develop your specific interests.

Recent projects on the MSc in Communications and Signal Processing include:

• Powerline communications for smart grid
• Quantum key distribution over passive optical networks
• Physical layer security using artificial noise
• An energy-saving robot mobility diversity algorithm for wireless communications
• Analysis and processing of physiological data from a smart watch to monitor health
• Evaluation of wireless sensor networks for civil engineering applications
• Cooperative wireless communications over fading channels
• Carrier frequency offset compensation in OFDM for IEEE 802.11
• Underlay spectrum access strategy in cognitive radio
• Spectrum sensing for cognitive radio

Career opportunities

On completing this course, you will have obtained the skills that will lead to employment in any area of the communications/signal processing industry including optical networking, DSP design and implementation, cellular mobile, RF planning, broadband systems and general communications research and development.

Graduates from our School have gone on to work for organisations such as the National Grid, Ericsson Telecommunications, Cisco Systems, AECOM, Deep Sea Electronics, Huawei, Intel Corp., the Technology and Strategy Board and many more.

This course is also an excellent base from which to pursue a PhD and possibly an academic career.

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Image and signal processing affect our daily lives in an ever-increasing way. Participate in designing this fascinating technology and shape IT‘s future function in business and society. Today‘s networked devices for image and signal generation provide a historically unmatched volume of raw data for automated decision making and control systems. The demands are high: How can we design new tools and software in order to best distil useful information? A lot of interesting research and development projects in the private and the public sectors are calling for your expertise. Alternatively, this degree will open career tracks in universities and research labs.

The international Joint Degree Master Programme„Applied Image and Signal Processing“ is conducted in English. The standard period of study is four semesters. The full program is worth a total of 120 points according to the ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System). The academic degree of „Master of Science in Engineering“ (MSc) will be awarded upon successful completion of the programme.

From Theory to Practice (Curriculum)

The first semester is devoted to a concise study of the theoretical basis, the mathematical models and the algorithms used in image and signal processing. The second semester additionally focuses on geometric modelling, audio processing and digital media formats. Starting with the third semester, specific application scenarios are discussed and corresponding technologies are investigated in a number of elective courses.

Choose your Elective Courses

The elective courses comprise medical imaging, platform specific signal processing, data science, biometric systems, media security, computational geometry and machine learning.

Apply your Scientific Knowledge

In the third semester, students also start research on their master thesis and acquire profound IT-project management skills. The fourth semester is dedicated to the completion of the master thesis. An accompanying master seminar provides a forum for presenting and defending one‘s approach to a solution and the results obtained, i.e., for scientific discourse with faculty and peers.

Modules & Competences 

This Joint Degree Master Programme is designed to provide students with an in-depth professional and scientific training. Based on appropriate prior bachelor studies, this programme offers a thorough technical training in conjunction with research-driven teaching. It will make the participants familiar with introductory and advanced-level topics in the fields of image and signal processing, their formal and methodical basics, and with diverse fields of application. The sound knowledge and skills acquired in this programme qualify the alumni for diverse practical challenges in their professional work and empower them to contribute to future innovations in image and signal processing. A master thesis serves as a documentary proof of the student‘s ability to tackle scientific problems successfully on his or her own and to come up with a result that is correct with regards to contents and methodology. Furthermore the publication of Master Thesis is intended. Thus, this programme also paves the road to subsequent work in science and technology.

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This course equips you with the theory and practice necessary to begin a career as a design or development engineer in communications and signal processing. You will also develop transferable skills in research and knowledge acquisition.

Highlights of the course include:
-Unparalleled coverage of all major disciplines in communications engineering and signal analysis methodology
-The comprehensive treatment of advanced communication systems from theoretical and practical approaches
-Innovative educational techniques designed to equip you with practical knowledge
-Design skills and research methodologies

On completing the course, many students progress into employment as design and development engineers in telecommunications and digital signal processing areas or onto a higher research degree.

Our Communications and Signal Processing MSc derives its uniqueness from research strengths in communications and digital signal processing in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. All course lecturers have a world-wide reputation for high quality research at the leading edge of the subject. They have many years of experience with industrial projects and in running short courses for industry.

Research projects cover a range of applications in areas of:
-Wireless networks
-Future generation communication technologies
-Error control coding
-Digital signal and image processing
-Biometrics identification and authentication

Accreditation

The course is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and Engineering Council, and therefore provides a good foundation for professional registration.

Facilities

The School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering has a suite of world-class research and teaching laboratories. These have the latest electronic instruments and computer aided design software for Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and Field-programmable gate array (FPGA) devices.

The facilities are among the most advanced of their type. This enables us to join the global race to develop ambient intelligence systems involving tiny sensors and computing devices embedded in much of what we use.

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Audiovisual experiences are key drivers, not just for entertainment but also for business, security and technology development. Video accounts for around 80 per cent of all internet traffic and some mobile network operators have predicted that wireless traffic will double every year for the next 10 years - driven primarily by video. Visual information processing also plays a major role underpinning other industries such as healthcare, security, robotics and autonomous systems.

This challenging, one-year taught Master’s degree covers a range of advanced topics drawn from the field of multimedia signal processing and communications. The programme covers the properties and limitations of modern communication channels and networks, alongside the coding and compression methods required for efficient and reliable wired and wireless audio-visual transmission. It provides students with an excellent opportunity to acquire the necessary skills to enter careers in one of the most dynamic and exciting fields in ICT.

The programme builds on the research strengths of the Visual Information Laboratory and the Communication Systems and Networks Group within the Faculty of Engineering at Bristol. Both groups are highly regarded for combining fundamental research with strong industrial collaboration and their innovative research has resulted in ground-breaking technology in the areas of image and video analysis, coding and communications. Both groups also offer extensive, state-of-the-art research facilities.

This MSc provides in-depth training in design, analysis and management skills relevant to the theory and practice of the communication networks industry. The programme is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology until 2018, and is one of only a handful of accredited programmes in this field in the UK.

Programme structure

Your course will cover the following core subjects:
Semester One (50 credits)
-Coding theory
-Communication systems
-Digital filters and spectral analysis
-Mobile communications
-Networking protocol principles

Semester Two (70 credits)
-Digital signal processing systems
-Speech and audio processing
-Optimum signal processing
-Biomedical imaging
-Image and video coding
-Engineering research skills

Research project
You will complete a substantial research project, starting during Semester Two and completed during the summer. This may be based at the University or with industrial partners.

Careers

This one-year MSc programme covers all aspects of current and future image and video communications and associated signal processing technologies. It will prepare you for a diverse range of exciting careers, not only in the communications field, but also in other areas such as management consultancy, project management, finance and government agencies.

Our graduates have gone on to have rewarding careers in some of the leading multinational communications companies, such as Huawei, China Telecom, Toshiba, China Mobile and Intel. Some graduates follow a more research-oriented career path with a number of students going on to study for PhDs at leading universities.

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The MSc in Telecommunications with Digital Signal Processing aims to produce postgraduates with an advanced understanding of communication systems with special emphasis on the application of digital signal processing, which supports and pervades all modern communication systems. It makes extensive use of MATLAB and Simulink simulation tools to design digital filters that perform noise reduction, signal shaping and channel modelling. Adaptive filters, matched filters, reception and detection algorithms essential for digital communications are also modelled and tested.

Course structure

Each MSc course consists of three learning modules (40 credits each) plus an individual project (60 credits). Each learning module consists of a short course of lectures and initial hands-on experience. This is followed by a period of independent study supported by a series of tutorials. During this time you complete an Independent Learning Package (ILP). The ILP is matched to the learning outcomes of the module. It can be either a large project or a series of small tasks depending on the needs of each module. Credits for each module are awarded following the submission of a completed ILP and its successful defence in a viva voce examination. This form of assessment develops your communication and personal skills and is highly relevant to the workplace. Overall, each learning module comprises approximately 400 hours of study.

The project counts for one third of the course and involves undertaking a substantial research or product development project. For part-time students, this can be linked to their employment. It is undertaken in two phases. In the first part, the project subject area is researched and a workplan developed. The second part involves the main research and development activity. In all, the project requires approximately 600 hours of work.

Further flexibility is provided within the structure of the courses in that you can study related topic areas by taking modules from other courses as options (pre-requisite knowledge and skills permitting).

Prior to starting your course, you are sent a Course Information and Preparation Pack which provides information to give you a flying start.

MSc Telecommunications Suite of Courses

The MSc Telecommunications has three distinct pathways:
-Digital Signal Processing
-Satellite and Broadband Communications
-Wireless Technologies

The demand for engineers in both wide-area and local-area communication systems is currently flourishing and is expected to grow for the foreseeable future. These three pathways offer both recent engineering graduates and industry-based engineers access to in-depth skills for closely related aspects of the communications discipline.

The course structure is quite flexible, affording industry-based students an opportunity to attend and accumulate module credits over an extended period of time. It also simultaneously serves the full-time student cohort which generally progresses through the MSc pathway in a single calendar year.

The MSc programmes are short course based and feature assessment through sequentially submitted result portfolios for the work packages, ie the ILPs. These are assigned immediately upon each short course module where the students are able to concentrate their study efforts just on the most recently-taught subject material. This greatly promotes efficient focused learning. The individual oral examination administered for each ILP furnishes valuable experience in oral defence, and frees students from written examination burdens.

The technical tasks undertaken in ILPs, along with the required major project, thoroughly exercise the concepts covered in the course modules and give scope for originality and industry-relevant study. Team-working activities encouraged within modules, along with the all-oral individual examination regimen employed in this Telecommunications MSc Suite, have proven solidly beneficial in refining the communication and employability-enhancing skills that are strongly valued by industry.

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Why this course?

This full-time course covers the theoretical and practical aspects of communications theory and networks, fundamental control technology and digital signal processing (DSP). All these topics are critical to the information and communications age.

You’ll gain an advanced knowledge of the principles of the communications, control and DSP domains. You’ll also develop an understanding of the current and future developments and technologies within these three disciplines.

Along with full accreditation from the Institution for Engineering and Technology (IET), this course will enable you to capitalise on job opportunities across a range of sectors including:
- control
- telecommunications
- signal processing
- electronics
- IT user companies

EDF Energy, Siemens and Texas Instruments are just some of the multinationals where our graduates have secured positions.

See the website https://www.strath.ac.uk/courses/postgraduatetaught/communicationscontroldigitalsignalprocessing/

You’ll study

You’ll take two semesters of compulsory and optional taught classes. These are followed by a three-month research project in your chosen area. Opportunities exist to do the project through the department's competitive MSc industrial internships.

The internships are offered in collaboration with selected department industry partners including Selex ES, ScottishPower, SmarterGridSolutions. You'll address real-world engineering challenges facing the partner, with site visits, access and provision of relevant technical data and/or facilities provided, along with an industry mentor and academic supervisor.

Facilities

We’ve a wide range of excellent teaching spaces including interactive classrooms and brand new state-of-the-art laboratories equipped with the latest technologies including:
- White Space Communications Facility
- Hyperspectral Imaging Centre
- DG Smith Radio Frequency Laboratory

You’ll have access to our IT facilities including web based resources, wireless internet and free email. There’s an IT support team to help with all your needs.

Accreditation

The course is fully accredited by the professional body, the Institution for Engineering and Technology (IET).
This programme also fulfils the educational requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer when presented with a CEng accredited Bachelors programme or equivalent.

Pre-Masters preparation course

The Pre-Masters Programme is a preparation course for international students (non EU/UK) who do not meet the entry requirements for a Masters degree at the University of Strathclyde. The Pre-Masters programme provides progression to a number of degree options
To find out more about the courses and opportunities on offer visit isc.strath.ac.uk or call today on +44 (0) 1273 339333 and discuss your education future. You can also complete the online application form. To ask a question please fill in the enquiry form and talk to one of our multi-lingual Student Enrolment Advisers today.

Learning & teaching

We use a blend of teaching and learning methods including interactive lectures, problem-solving tutorials and practical project-based laboratories. Our technical and experimental officers are available to support and guide you on individual subject material.
Each module comprises approximately five hours of direct teaching per week. To enhance your understanding of the technical and theoretical topics covered in these, you're expected to undertake a further five to six hours of self-study, using our web-based virtual learning environment (MyPlace), research journals and library facilities.
The teaching and learning methods used ensure you'll develop not only technical engineering expertise but also communications, project management and leadership skills.

- Industry engagement
Interaction with industry is provided through our internships, teaching seminars and networking events. The department delivers monthly seminars to support students’ learning and career development.
Xilinx, Texas Instruments, MathWorks, and Selex ES are just a few examples of the industry partners you can engage with during your course.

Assessment

A variety of assessment techniques are used throughout the course. You'll complete at least six modules. Each module has a combination of written assignments, individual and group reports, oral presentations, practical lab work and, where appropriate, an end-of-term exam.

Assessment of the summer research project consists of four elements, with individual criteria:
1. Interim report (10%, 1,500 to 3,000 words) – The purpose of this report is to provide a mechanism for supervisors to provide valuable feedback on the project’s objectives and direction.

2. Poster Presentation (15%) – A vital skill of an engineer is the ability to describe their work to others and respond to requests for information. The poster presentation is designed to give you an opportunity to practise that.

3. Final report (55%) – This assesses the communication of project objectives and context, accuracy and relevant of background material, description of practical work and results, depth and soundness of discussion and conclusions, level of engineering achievement and the quality of the report’s presentation.

4. Conduct (20%) - Independent study, project and time management are key features of university learning. The level of your initiative & independent thinking and technical understanding are assessed through project meetings with your supervisor and your written logbooks.

Careers

By concentrating on three distinct disciplines, this course enables you to capitalise on job opportunities across a range of sectors including control, telecommunications, signal processing, electronics and IT user companies. Globalisation of the communications, electronic & digital sectors means if graduates wish to work abroad, this course provides an ideal passport to anywhere in the world.
Almost all of our graduates secure jobs by the time they have completed their course. They have gained professional and technical occupations with international companies such as Samsung, MathsWorks, Nokia and Texas Instruments, as well as joining Wolfson Microelectronics, Seles ES and Linn Products in the UK.
Increasingly, graduates of this course also play leading roles in the power and renewable energy sectors, supporting data analytics, information transmission and security for organisations such as EDF Energy, Siemens & Petrofac Engineering.

Where are they now?

87.5% of our graduates are in work or further study.*

Job titles include:
- Graduate controls engineer
- Graduate software engineer
- Lecturer
- Plant controls graduate

Employers include:
- FTDI
- MacDonald Humfrey (Automation)
- Mehran University of Engineering
- Vestas

*Based on the results of the national Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey (2010/11 and 2011/12)

Find information on Scholarships here http://www.strath.ac.uk/engineering/electronicelectricalengineering/ourscholarships/.

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This MSc covers a range of advanced topics drawn from wireless communications and communications-related signal processing, including associated enabling technologies. It provides an excellent opportunity to develop the skills required for careers in some of the most dynamic fields in wireless communications.

This programme builds on the internationally recognised research strengths of the Communications Systems and Networks group within the Smart Internet Lab. This group conducts pioneering research in a number of key fundamental and experimental work areas, including spatial channel measurements and predictions, information theory, advanced wireless access (cellular and WLAN) and RF technologies. The group has well-equipped laboratories with state-of-the-art test and measurement equipment and first-class computational facilities.

The MSc provides in-depth training in design, analysis and management skills relevant to the theory and practice of the wireless communications industry. This degree is accredited by the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) until 2018, and is one of only a handful of accredited programmes in this field in the UK.

Programme structure

Your course will cover the following core subjects:
Semester One (60 credits)
-Coding theory
-Radio frequency engineering
-Communication systems
-Mobile communications
-Networking protocol principles
-Digital filters and spectral analysis

Semester Two (60 credits)
-Advanced mobile radio techniques
-Antennas and electromagnetic compatibility
-Broadband wireless communications
-Digital signal processing systems
-Engineering research skills
-Research project (60 credits)

You will carry out a substantial research project, starting during Semester Two and completing during the summer. This may be based at the University or with industrial partners.

Careers

This is a challenging one-year taught Master’s degree, covering all aspects of current and future wireless communication systems and associated signal processing technologies. It will prepare you for a diverse range of exciting careers - not only in the communications field, but also in other areas such as management consultancy, project management, finance and government agencies.

Our graduates have gone on to have rewarding careers in some of the leading multinational communications companies, such as Huawei, China Telecom, Toshiba, China Mobile and Intel. Some graduates follow a more research-oriented career path, with a number of students going on to study for PhDs at leading universities.

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Course Summary

This programme is structured around topics in systems and signal processing, with specialisms in control and systems theory, image processing and machine learning. Skills developed are sought after by industry (biotech, financial services, systems engineering, medical imaging, etc) and the academic research community. The modules have a high mathematical content and much of the material is computationally based, developing strong transferable skills in algorithmic development and programming.

Modules

Semester one: Signal Processing; Control System Design; Machine Learning; Computer Vision

Semester two: Advanced Systems and Signal Processing; Digital Control System Design; Applied Control Systems; Biological Inspired Robotics; Advanced Computer Vision; Image Processing; Advanced Machine Learning; Computational Finance; Computational Biology; Biometrics

Visit our website for further information...

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This programme provides students with a challenging range of advanced topics drawn from optical communications systems and devices, and optics-related signal processing, including associated enabling technologies. It provides an excellent opportunity to acquire the skills needed for a career in the most dynamic fields in optical communications.

This programme builds on the internationally-recognised research strengths of the Photonics and High Performance Networks research groups within the Smart Internet Lab. Optical fibre communications form the backbone of all land-based communications and is the only viable means to support today's global information systems. Research at Bristol is contributing to the ever-increasing requirement for bandwidth and flexibility through research into optical switching technology, wavelength conversion, high-speed modulation, data regeneration and novel semiconductor lasers.

There are two taught units related to optical communications: Optical Networks and Data Centre Networks. Optical Networks focuses on Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) networks, Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) networks including SDH/SONET and OTN, optical frequency division multiplexed networks, and optical sub-wavelength switched networks. Data Centre Networks focuses on networks for cloud computing, cloud-based networking, grid computing and e-science.

The group at Bristol is a world leader in the new field of quantum photonics, with key successes in developing photonic crystal fibre light sources, quantum secured optical communications and novel quantum gate technologies.

The programme is accredited by Institute of Engineering and Technology until 2018, one of only a handful of accredited programmes in the UK.

Programme structure

Your programme will cover the following core subjects:

Semester one (50 credits)
-Communication systems
-Digital filters and spectral analysis
-Mobile communications
-Networking protocol principles
-Optoelectronic devices and systems

Semester two (70 credits)
-Advanced optoelectronic devices
-Data centre networking
-Advanced networks
-Engineering research skills
-Optical communications systems and data networks
-Optical networks

Research project (60 credits)
A substantial research project is initiated during the second teaching block and completed during the summer. This may be based at the University or with industrial partners.

Careers

This one-year MSc programme gives you a world-class education in all aspects of current and future optical communication systems, along with associated signal processing technologies. It will prepare you for a diverse range of exciting careers - not only in the communications field, but also in other areas such as management consultancy, project management, finance and government agencies.

Our graduates have gone on to have rewarding careers in some of the leading multinational communications companies, such as Huawei, China Telecom, Toshiba, China Mobile and Intel. Some graduates follow a more research-oriented career path with a number of students going on to study for PhDs at leading universities.

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This course encourages students to develop in-depth knowledge and critical awareness of theoretical, as well as practical, solutions to problems at the forefront of the communication and processing of signals.

Communications and signal processing are closely intertwined, and together provide the basis of modern information engineering. Areas of application include:

3G/4G/LTE wireless networks
broadcast and computer communication
robotic vision
audio and video recording
radar and sonar detection
biomedical signal processing
computer vision
medical imaging
remote sensing

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This course provides a thorough, methodical and wide-ranging education in digital signal and image processing. The Degree course offers both core taught modules and a substantial individual research project.

Teaching and learning

The course contains both compulsory core taught modules and a substantial individual research project. Four taught modules are delivered in the first semester from September to January, and four taught modules are delivered in the second semester from February to June. Each taught unit is assessed by coursework or laboratory report, with written examinations in January and June.
You will conduct your dissertation project work during summer and submit your final dissertation in September.

Course unit details

Typical course units include:
-Signals and data capture engineering
-Digital image processing
-Digital Communications engineering
-Sensing and transduction
-Digital image engineering
-Tomography engineering and applications

Career opportunities

Digital signals are part of almost every aspect of 21st technology. If you take this course, you will become expert in this area and expose yourself to a world of opportunity respecting careers. You will, for example, be able to perform biomedical signal processing, audio/visual/multimedia engineering, digital waveform synthesis and medical, industrial and military image processing. You will be able to work in the fields of imaging, medical physics, aerospace, telecommunications systems development, mechatronics, robotics, remote sensing and nondestructive testing. Your skills will be highly sought after in organisations that develop systems for these and many related state-of the art disciplines.

This course will not only make you very employable; it will be a very fulfilling and enriching experience.

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This is a challenging one-year taught Master’s degree programme that provides students with a range of advanced topics drawn from communication networks (fixed and wireless) and related signal-processing, including associated enabling technologies. It provides an excellent opportunity to develop the skills needed for careers in some of the most dynamic fields in communication networks.

This programme builds on the internationally recognised research strengths of the Communications Systems and Networks, High Performance Networks and Photonics research groups within the Smart Internet Lab. The groups conduct pioneering research in a number of key areas, including network architectures, cross-layer interaction, high-speed optical communications and advanced wireless access.

There are two taught units related to optical communications: Optical Networks and Data Centre Networks. Optical Networks will focus on Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) networks, Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) networks including SDH/SONET and OTN, optical frequency division multiplexed networks, and optical sub-wavelength switched networks. Data Centre Networks will focus on networks for cloud computing, cloud-based networking, grid-computing and e-science. There is a further networking unit: Networked Systems and Applications, which provides a top-down study of networking system support for distributed applications, from classical web and email to telemetry for the Internet of Things.

The programme is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology until 2018, one of only a handful of accredited programmes in this field in the UK.

Programme structure

Your course will cover the following core subjects:

Semester One (40 credits)
-Communication systems
-Digital filters and spectral analysis
-Mobile communications
-Networking protocol principles

Semester Two (80 credits)
-Data centre networking
-Advanced networks
-Broadband wireless communications
-Networked systems and applications
-Engineering research skills
-Optical communications systems and data networks
-Optical networks

Project (60 credits)
You will carry out a substantial research project, starting during Semester Two and completed during the summer. This may be based at the University or with industrial partners.

Careers

This one-year MSc programme gives you a world-class education in all aspects of current and future communication networks and signal processing. It will prepare you for a diverse range of exciting careers - not only in the communications field, but also in other areas such as management consultancy, project management, finance and government agencies.

Our graduates have gone on to have rewarding careers in some of the leading multinational communications companies, such as Huawei, China Telecom, Toshiba, China Mobile and Intel. Some graduates follow a more research-oriented career path, with a number of students going on to study for PhDs at leading universities.

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Modern information systems continue to transform and progress the ease with which information can be accessed across the globe and to underpin the digital society and economy.

They depend fundamentally on digital systems of communication, and this programme provides thorough coverage of the speciality to meet the high and increasing demand for digital communications engineers who can manage and develop the technologies of today’s data-driven lifestyle.

This programme is aimed at recent engineering, physics and computer science graduates and/or those with a number of years industry experience in the communications industry, who wish to acquire in-depth knowledge of this key specialism in order to progress their careers.

Core study areas include fundamentals of digital signal processing and information theory and coding, and a research project.

Optional study areas include communication networks, personal radio communications, communication channels, digital signal processing for software defined radio, multimedia over networks, mobile network technologies and intelligent signal processing.

See the website http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/programmes/departments/eese/digital-communication-systems/

Programme modules

Compulsory Modules:
Semester 1
- Fundamentals of Digital Signal Processing
- Information Theory and Coding

Semester 2
- Research project
- Advanced individual project

Optional Modules:
Semester 1
- Communication Networks
- Personal Radio Communications
- Communication Channels

Semester 2
- Digital Signal Processing for Software Defined Radio
- Communication Network Security and e-Commerce
- Mobile Network Technologies
- Intelligent Signal Processing

How you will learn

The course is designed to give both deep understanding of the core technologies which underpin the industry and which are driving the latest advances in performance and capability. It allows you to develop your personal interests via a range of specialised optional modules. The individual research project is often undertaken as part of the School’s internationally respected research portfolio.

- Assessment
Examinations are held in January and May, with coursework and group work throughout the programme. The individual research project is assessed by written report and viva voce in September.

Facilities

Students on the programme have access to laboratories, industry standard software and hardware including equipment provided by Texas Instruments. There is a range of anechoic chambers including the largest microwave chamber at any UK university.

Careers and further study

Job opportunities include both senior technical and managerial activities in the fields of communications engineering including high speed digital design, communication systems engineering, software/firmware engineering, algorithm development and signal processing engineering.

Why choose electronic, electrical and systems engineering at Loughborough?

We develop and nurture the world’s top engineering talent to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex world. All of our Masters programmes are accredited by one or more of the following professional bodies: the IET, IMechE, InstMC, Royal Aeronautical Society and the Energy Institute.

We carefully integrate our research and education programmes in order to support the technical and commercial needs of society and to extend the boundaries of current knowledge.

Consequently, our graduates are highly sought after by industry and commerce worldwide, and our programmes are consistently ranked as excellent in student surveys, including the National Student Survey, and independent assessments.

- Facilities
Our facilities are flexible and serve to enable our research and teaching as well as modest preproduction testing for industry.
Our extensive laboratories allow you the opportunity to gain crucial practical skills and experience in some of the latest electrical and electronic experimental facilities and using industry standard software.

- Research
We are passionate about our research and continually strive to strengthen and stimulate our portfolio. We have traditionally built our expertise around the themes of communications, energy and systems, critical areas where technology and engineering impact on modern life.

- Career prospects
90% of our graduates were in employment and/or further study six months after graduating. They go on to work with companies such as Accenture, BAE Systems, E.ON, ESB International, Hewlett Packard, Mitsubishi, Renewable Energy Systems Ltd, Rolls Royce and Siemens AG.

Find out how to apply here http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/programmes/departments/eese/digital-communication-systems/

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Research profile

The Institute for Digital Communications (IDCOM) is the UK's leading research institute in signal processing and communications and is home to the Li-Fi research and development centre. We have three major centres of activity; signal processing, communications systems and tomographic imaging. Our programme of research delivers world leading research in signal and image processing and communications from fundamental theoretical and algorithmic work through to its translation to specific audio, imaging, radar/sonar, and communications applications.

The Institute has excellent research facilities, including state-of-the-art computing systems and laboratories for agile tomography, and audio signal processing, as well as the Li-Fi research and development centre for visible light communications. Internationally recognised for our research on communications systems and signal processing, we offer research topics including: green radio; visible light communications; cognitive radio; compressive sensing; distributed sensor signal processing; and agile tomography.

IDCOM holds the only UK Research Council platform award in sensor signal processing, in collaboration with the joint research institute in signal and image processing and Heriot-Watt University, recognising our world leading research status.

Training and support

The development of transferable skills is a vital part of postgraduate training and a vibrant, interdisciplinary training programme is offered to all research students by the University’s Institute for Academic Development (IAD). The programme concentrates on the professional development of postgraduates, providing courses directly linked to postgraduate study.

Courses run by the IAD are free and have been designed to be as flexible as possible so that you can tailor the content and timing to your own requirements.

Our researchers are strongly encouraged to present their research at conferences and in journal during the course of their PhD.

Every year, the Graduate School organises a Postgraduate Research Conference to showcase the research carried out by students across the Research Institutes

Our researchers are also encouraged and supported to attend transferable skills courses provided by organisations such as the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

Facilities

The Institute has excellent research facilities, including state-of-the-art computing systems and laboratories for usability engineering, audio signal processing and visible light communications.

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