ObjectivesIn recent times, digital technology and computing have revolutionised the way we access and enjoy information, whether it is for business or personal use, or entertainment. The delivery of multimedia content to consumers relies on many layers of sophisticated signal engineering that can process images, video, speech and audio. The availability of all these kinds of data for computer analysis has led to many advances in capabilities for automatically retrieving and interpreting the information through the application of so-called intelligent systems. This programme offers an opportunity to learn about these rapidly developing systems and processes, thus providing a route for anyone wishing to have a career in this exciting and interesting area.
Entry requirementsThe programmes are intended for good honours graduates of mathematics, computing, physical sciences and engineering disciplines. Our normal entry level is a minimum of a Lower Second or equivalent; however, with industrial experience, we can be flexible in our entry requirements.
Academic titleMSc/PGDip in Multimedia Technology and Systems
Course descriptionIn this programme, the first two semesters expose the students to taught material in the form of lectures, assignments and laboratory exercises.
The summer dissertation projects have strong industrial relevance by drawing on EU- or industry-funded research and development carried out in the Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing in various applications areas, including 3D broadcast production, biometrics, video archive restoration, security and surveillance systems, image and video database retrieval, speech recognition, machine audio perception, biomedical image processing, and robotics.
There are also opportunities for conducting the project work at collaborating academic institutions in the EU under the Socrates programme.
Successful students graduating from this programme can expect to find employment in a diverse range of media-related and advanced technology industries. The demand for such graduate engineers reflects the UK's status as a world leader in the media production business, with music and film post-production and games development recognised internationally and second only in size to the USA.
Our location is perfectly placed to benefit from the high concentration in London and the South East of companies involved in media production, broadcast, post-production, games, defence systems, biometric and surveillance systems, and computer vision, and the presence of major international consumer electronics companies.
Focusing on technology and systems, this programme has core modules that cover fundamentals of how to represent speech, audio, image and video information digitally, including processing, coding and compression techniques.
An important aspect involves the software architecture of such processes, which is complemented by options to study in greater detail communications systems and audiovisual technology.
Programme length
12 months full-time, up to 48 months part-time