Course description
MSc
The growth of wireless communications in the last decade has been phenomenal. This can be seen in the explosive growth in mobile communications and the use of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for short range wireless links. With the development of WiMax and other broadband wireless technologies to support services such as mobile computing, web surfing and mobile TV (DVB-H), the future growth of wireless systems is assured. With this growth, comes great demand for people with skills and knowledge to support every aspect of wireless network provision.
This MSc course has been designed to meet the needs of the telecommunications industry and to equip you with the knowledge and experience to apply to this rapidly expanding field. It will enable you to enhance your professional development and to keep abreast of rapidly changing technology.
The course provides in-depth coverage of established 2G and the developing 3G mobile communication networks. Allied to this is detailed coverage of the rapidly expanding technologies of WiMax, Wi-Fi, and wireless technologies which support developments in fields such as sensor networks and personal area networking. In addition to the taught modules, your extensive project work gives you the opportunity to enhance your career prospects by acquiring in-depth knowledge of a key aspect of wireless communications of interest to you.
Graduates from the programme have the skills and knowledge to pursue careers in telecommunications research and development.
Teaching is based at our new purpose-designed engineering building on the Wheatley Campus.
Course content
The course is structured around three time periods: Semester 1 runs from September to December, Semester 2 from January to May, and the summer period completes the year until the beginning of September.
To qualify for a master's degree you will need to pass five taught modules plus the Research and Study Methods module and the dissertation.
In Semester 1 you must pass:
* Digital Mobile Communication - covers the principles and techniques of digital communications with particular emphasis on its applications in GSM mobile networks. Network infrastructure, communication protocols, multiplexing techniques, signalling, call set-up, data structures, system design and environmental considerations are also covered.
* Wireless Systems - deals with the transmission and system requirements needed to establish wireless links in point to point, mesh and broadcast personal, local and wide area wireless networks.
In Semester 2 you must pass three modules:
* Broadband and Wireless Networks - a study of modern broadband personal, local and wide area wireless networks which incorporates network technology, protocols and implementation. Covers technologies such as WiMax and Wi-Fi and their use in supporting broadband personal computing and video broadcasts.
* High Speed Mobile Communications - examines the technology behind the third generation of mobile communication systems which, apart from voice and message/data communications, offer services such as mobile internet and video. The module covers the network infrastructure, signalling systems and multiplexing technologies.
* Optical and Broadband Communications - teaches the operational design and principles of the individual components in an optical fibre communication system, and examines the performance analysis of complete systems and networks.
Research and Study Methods - designed to underpin work carried out for the taught modules and the dissertation. The module, delivered in a seminar style, will provide you with research skills, planning techniques, progress management and review, and the ability to use ICT support materials. You will be given guidance on the analysis and technical presentation of research material.
Dissertation - involves individual research and development work on a topic closely related to the programme of study. The work may be undertaken in close co-operation with a research, industrial or commercial organisation.
The Research and Study Methods module and the Dissertation are not required for the PGDip or PGCert.
Teaching, learning and assessment
The taught modules include lectures, seminars, library and internet research, and practical design and experimentation. Assessments include coursework exercises, presentations, essays and examinations (maximum 70% for taught modules).
Laboratory facilities include the latest industry standard tools for mobile network analysis and software modelling facilities to enable network design.
Quality
Teaching staff are drawn primarily from the School of Technology and include experienced academic staff and recent recruits from the telecommunications industry. Visiting speakers from business and industry help to maintain relevance to the evolution of the industry.
