Why this course?
This full-time course will cover the practical, theoretical and technological aspects of 5G Communications Systems as they evolve over the coming years.
You’ll gain expert knowledge of the latest technologies that will drive the next mobile, wireless and communications revolution, and evolve our current 4G environment to 5G communications enabled systems. Applications will cover robotics & autonomous systems, UAVs, immersive systems and augmented realities, health monitoring, cyber-integrated systems, and smart grids. Data handling of the expected 50 billion IoT (internet of things) devices coming on-line to monitor traffic, weather, environment, smart agriculture, and even when your fridge runs out of milk, will also be explored.
5G will provide greater capacity, improved reliability, support at higher rates of mobility, and wider geographical coverage, at even higher data speeds and throughput and many new services and facilities.
On the course you will engage with experts and specialists whose integrated knowledge will enable you to gain the skills, knowledge and expertise to be part of the definition of the next generation of mobile and wireless communications. These will include:
- Mobile & Wireless Standards (such as LTE, 802.11x,)
- Software Defined Radio (SDR)
- Software Defined Networking (SDN) Systems
- Internet of Things (IoT) Wireless Communications
- Big Data & Information Management
- Security & Cybersecurity systems
- Spectrum Access, & Dynamic Spectrum
- 5G Hardware Systems Design – FPGA & Microcontrollers
- Advanced DSP/Comms Systems; eg Massive MIMO
- Augmented Reality & Advanced Multimedia Systems
What you’ll study
There are two semesters of compulsory and optional taught classes, followed by a three month summer research project working in a core area of 5G Communications system design, either in the Department or with an industry partner via an internship.
Facilities for research projects are extensive and these will allow you to choose to work on projects in a wide variety of areas such as physical and MAC layers (e.g. Advanced LTE) from IoT, cybersecurity, dynamic spectrum, massive-MIMO, low latency communications, or in applications such as smart agriculture, environment monitoring, computer vision, communicating radar, satellite systems, automotive, driver-less cars and of course some application domains yet to be established with the advent of 5G!
Facilities
We have an extensive set of teaching spaces and learning environments alongside a dedicated Masters Project and Study Environment for self-study and group working.
We work closely with a number of industry partners, and our state-of-the-art facilities include wireless and mobile radio hardware and software, FPGA and SDR systems, supported by companies including EE, Vodafone, Xilinx, Cisco, MathWorks, British Telecom, Intel, Lime Microsystems , Analog Devices and many smaller companies and organisations. Our research laboratories include our Signal Processing Design Lab; Image and Vision Processing Lab; White Space Radio Testbed, IoT Test Facility, RF anechoic room, and so on.
Course content
Compulsory classes
(September to May)
Information Transmission & Security
The aim of this class is to develop an understanding of the principles by which information can transmitted with varying levels of security and the techniques by which communication systems can be analysed and designed.
Digital Signal Processing Principles
This class covers the fundamentals of discrete time convolution, correlation, transform methods, time frequency signal representation, downsampling/upsampling and digital filters that are core to state of the art machine learning and deep learning architectures. The class has an integral Matlab based laboratory set of tasks that students are required to undertake.
5G Communications Networks
The objective of this class is to provide an understanding of the principles and key transport technologies which underpin 5G communications networks and architectures while giving an insight to the technical and strategic challenges associated with the provision of a Quality of Service (QoS)-based integrated future-network platform.
Assignment & Professional Studies
The aim of this class is to provide you with support for your general academic and professional development.
You'll undertake an advanced investigation of an electronic or electrical engineering topic of your choice, to enhance your learning, and develop presentation and communication skills.
Elective classes
Choose at least two from this list
Advanced Digital Signal Processing Principles
The objective of this class is to ensure you develop the necessary skills that will allow you to analyse, design, implement and simulate advanced DSP techniques and algorithms for a variety of communications and general engineering problems.
Image & Video Processing
This class will provide an introduction to the techniques relevant to digital images and video. This includes techniques both to process images and video and also to efficiently compress and communicate them.
The class will give you a comprehensive understanding of various image and video processing and coding standards. You'll also study some key applications of these standards.
Software Engineering
This class will introduce you to the software engineering process through the development and application of C++ programming skills. You'll become competent in specifying, designing and developing software and in writing and testing programs of moderate complexity.
Embedded Systems Design
This class provides hands-on experience in translating Digital Signal Processing concepts into real-time embedded systems applications.
Through a combination of lectures, up-to-date technical discussions and hardware programming, you'll learn to design and implement real-time embedded systems through familiarisation with Digital Signal Processors and FPGAs.
MSc Research Project / Internship
The aim of the research project is to provide you with an opportunity to bring your knowledge and skills together and deploy them in a significant practical investigation, using relevant engineering literature, and where relevant, initial experiments or simulations.
Summer (June to September)
Learning & teaching
We use a blend of teaching and learning methods including interactive lectures, on-line video lectures, problem-solving tutorials and practical project-based laboratories. Our extensive teaching and project facilities include state-of-the-art Software Defined Radio laboratories, IoT and networking capabilities, Computer Vision laboratories, alongside satellite and sensor equipment.
Each module comprises approximately five hours engagement per week. Some classes are presented in traditional lecture-tutorial-lab style, and we also offer a number of “flipped learning” classes whereby lectures are delivered through complete on-line video sets, with complementary in-class discussion and review seminars held each week to discuss relevant topics and subject matter.
To enhance your understanding, you are 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 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.
British Telecom, Vodafone, Everything-Everywhere, Xilinx, Cisco, Texas Instruments, MathWorks, NXP/Qualcomm and Selex ES are just a few examples of the industry partners working with Strathclyde at this time, and you have the opportunity to engage with them during your studies.
Assessment
A variety of assessment techniques are used throughout the course. You'll complete 120 credits of taught 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:
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Entry requirements
A first or good second-class UK Honours degree or equivalent overseas qualification in electronic, electrical or communications engineering, or a related physical sciences subject from a recognised academic institution.
Candidates whose first language is not English or who have not undertaken their undergraduate course in the UK must possess a recent UKVI-recognised English qualification.
Pre-Masters preparation course
The Pre-Masters Programme is a preparation course held at the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre, for international students (non EU/UK) who do not meet the academic entry
requirements for a Masters degree at University of Strathclyde. The Pre-Masters programme
provides progression to a number of degree options.
Upon successful completion, you will be able to progress to this degree course at the
University of Strathclyde.
Fees & funding
2019/20
All fees quoted are for full-time courses and per academic year unless stated otherwise.
Scotland/EU
Rest of UK
International
How can I fund my course?
Scholarship search
Students are eligible for a range of scholarships offered by the department, University and external organisations. View our Electronic & Electrical Engineering Scholarships brochure for more information.
Faculty of Engineering Excellence Scholarship (FEES) for International Students
If you're applying for an MSc course you'll be eligible to apply for a Faculty of Engineering Excellence Scholarship offering up to £3,000 towards your tuition fees.
The scholarship is available for application to all self-funded, new international (non-EU) fee paying students holding an offer of study for an MSc programme in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Strathclyde. Please note you must have an offer of study for a full-time course at Strathclyde before applying.
You must start your full-time MSc programme at Strathclyde in the coming academic year (2019-20).
Scottish and non-UK EU postgraduate students
Scottish and non-UK EU postgraduate students may be able to apply for support from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). The support is in the form of a tuition fee loan and for eligible students, a living cost loan. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from England
Students ordinarily resident in England may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance England. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from Wales
Students ordinarily resident in Wales may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance Wales. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from Northern Ireland
Postgraduate students who are ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland may be able to apply for support from Student Finance Northern Ireland. The support is a tuition fee loan of up to £5,500. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
International students
We have a large range of scholarships available to help you fund your studies. Check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Please note
The fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year. Find out more about fees.
Careers
As communications now impacts on virtually all areas of society, commerce and business, job opportunities are excellent, and you will be equipped for employment across a range of sectors including mobile/wireless, IT, defence, and big data.
Professional and technical occupations with international companies such as Samsung, Xilinx, British Telecom, MathsWorks, Nokia and Texas Instruments, as well as local companies such as Cirrus Logic, Leonardo, and Stream, are available.
Globalisation of the communications sector and the evolution of many countries to 5G means if graduates wish to work abroad, this course provides an ideal passport to anywhere in the world.
Job titles include:
- wireless communications engineer
- wireless mobility engineer
- graduate controls engineer
Apply
Applications should be made online by selecting the correct 'Apply' button.
You will need to supply various documents to support your application. These include:
- a copy of your degree certificate and relevant transcripts
- proof of your English language proficiency (if English is not your first language or if you have not already studied for a degree that was taught in English)
- references from two academic sources
- a copy of the photo page from your passport - this is only required if you are an international students who requires a visa to enter the UK
All UK, EU and international direct applicants should use the first 'Apply' option. Applicants on Joint Education Programmes from the department’s strategic partner – Northeast Electric Power University (NEEPU) should select the second 'Apply' option.
5G Advanced Communications
Qualification: MSc, Start date: Sep 2020, Mode of delivery: attendance, full-time
5G Advanced Communications - NEEPU
Qualification: MSc, Start date: Sep 2020, Mode of delivery: attendance, full-time
5G Advanced Communications - BUCT
Qualification: MSc, Start date: Sep 2020, Mode of delivery: attendance, full-time
