Communications Engineering MSc/PG Dip/PG Cert

About the course

The importance of multimedia systems is rapidly growing due to the increasing popularity of interactive digital media in the home and workplace. Applications include internet TV, video on demand, video telephony, video conferencing, voice over IP, digital cinema and 3D video. Multimedia technologies are expected to become one of the most active areas of innovation and development. There has been tremendous growth in this area, and there is no sign that this is slowing down.

Through exposure to advanced concepts in several areas relevant to multimedia communications, you will improve your understanding of the capabilities and potential applications of relevant state-of-the-art technologies. You will gain hands-on experience through practical sessions using different tools to enhance your ability to apply advanced concepts.

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Key facts

UKPASS course code: H64071

Duration: One year full-time (with optional one year placement available), three years part-time

Start Date: September

Entry and admission criteria

You should have the equivalent of a British Honours degree (2:2 minimum) in a relevant subject.

We are happy to consider equivalent qualifications from anywhere in the world.

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent when you start the course is essential. English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council accredited Centre for English Language Learning|, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

If you have no formal academic qualifications but do have extensive industry experience we will consider your application on an individual basis.

If you feel you would like to talk to us about your qualifications before submitting an application please do not hesitate to call or email using the contact details below.

Teaching and assessment

Includes formal lectures covering the different concepts, analysis skills and design methodologies that are relevant to communications engineering. Most of the modules will have a laboratory component where you will be able to experiment to gain a more in-depth understanding of the theory covered in lectures. You will also be expected to undertake independent study and research to support individual assignments and your dissertation. Assessment will be based on exams, projects, presentations and written reports.

Course modules

First semester (September to January)

• Programming and Software Engineering – A programming approach to software engineering is used with an emphasis on the development of practical programming skills. In addition, the principles of object-oriented programming are discussed.
• Digital Signal Processing considers methods for processing digital signals in the time and frequency domains and their applications in the communication of signals such as audio and speech.
• Data Networks explains the principles, protocols, services and standards used for data communication and internet networking.
• Multimedia Communications explains the principles, algorithms, techniques and standards used in lossless and lossy multimedia compression. It also presents the methods used to address quality of service and experience requirements for real-time multimedia transmission over best-effort networks.

Second semester (February to May)

• Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is the study of how one electronic system or device interferes with another, how this can be measured and how both the victim and the threat can be better designed to minimise both the level of interference and the response of the victim. This module studies EMC phenomena, their causes, electronic design mitigation and basic EMC measurement.
• Mobile Wireless Communications gives an advanced coverage of the principles and techniques used in mobile wireless communications. It focuses on 2.5G and 3G packet-switched systems and describes the state-of-the-art in industry and research.
• Research Methods introduces and develops the concepts, organisational structure and deliverables of a research project. It prepares you for the completion of the dissertation in the third semester.
• Embedded Systems explores the basic aspects of C programming for embedded systems, interrupts, shared-data problem, the use of sub-routines/co-routines/semaphores and real-time operating systems. The principles of assembly language programming are also introduced and compared with the C programming of microcontrollers.

Third semester (June to September)

You will complete a dissertation on a topic in communications engineering. An important aspect of the project is that the selected topics will be either sponsored by industry or linked to industry-relevant problems.

Academic expertise

The course has achieved accreditation by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) to CEng level for the full five year period. The Multimedia Communications and Signal Processing Group| develops techniques to enhance the ubiquitous access to information any time, any place, anywhere. The expertise of the group covers data networks, multimedia communications, error control coding, image and video compression, and pattern recognition.

Graduate careers

By emphasising the practical computing and electronics skills needed to use current technology, graduates are in a strong position for employment in a variety of industries where software and hardware engineers with this knowledge base are in high demand. These include:

• Telecommunications
• Entertainment
• Medicine
• Defence

Fees and funding

Annual Tuition Fees for Higher Education Courses from 1st September 2013 to 31st August 2014.

Full-time UK/EU Postgraduate Courses Standard Fees £4,200 Postgraduate Placement Year Fee £650 Students Equivalent or Lower Qualification Status* £5,000 Overseas
Postgraduate Courses Standard Fees £12,200 Postgraduate Placement Year Fee £750 Part-time (where available) Part-time fees are charged on a credit basis, you will need to complete 180 credits over the course of an MSc programme. 15 Credits £350 Students Equivalent or Lower Qualification Status* 15 Credits
£420 Continuation Fee** £150

For more information please take a look at our Funding| section.

* ELQ Student definition - If you are a Home or EU status student and you already have a qualification at or above the level of the programme you wish to study from any country you will be considered as an Equivalent or Lower Qualification (ELQ) student. In 2008 the UK Government decided to stop funding universities for student in this situation and therefore the following fees will apply £5,000. Students from outside the EU are not affected by the policy.

** A fee that is charged on a periodic basis where PG or Research students need to extend their registration to complete the course.

Scholarships

Are you a DMU Alumni? Receive up to £2000 off your Tuition Fees*

As part of the University’s on-going commitment to enhance the personal and career development of graduates, we are pleased to announce that from this September the University will be introducing The Faculty of Technology Alumni Scholarship| which will allow graduates to receive up to £2000 off tuition fees* for Postgraduate study.