MSc - Communications and Information Engineering with Extended Professional Practice

University of Hertfordshire

Undertaking a placement year provides you with the opportunity to place your academic studies in a broader professional context, gain practical experience in an engineering or STEM environment, and strengthen key employability skills. You will develop confidence, industry awareness and a clearer understanding of workplace expectations. The MSc Professional Work Placement module supports you in reflecting on the learning gained during your placement and helps you articulate your experiences, responsibilities, and enhanced skills clearly and effectively when applying for future employment or progressing your career.

This module presents the architecture of the field programmable gate array (FPGA) and introduces applications that are efficient for implementation on reconfigurable platforms. As part of a group, individuals have the responsibility for workstreams towards designing and applying digital signal processing algorithms for specific applications, and evaluates the performance of the system, and of the team. Specialist software and hardware tools are used to simulate and evaluate applications of FPGA-based systems.

This module is designed to enable students to gain advanced understanding of the core concepts of biometrics and the principles of biometric information processing. Learning is supported through lectures and experimental work in key biometric topics.

This module enables students to gain advanced knowledge and understanding of digital modulation and error control techniques. Propagation topics such as fading models and multipath effects with an emphasis on mobile communications, transmission and communications protocols such as 5G cellular radio systems and MIMO transmission are also studied.

This module enables students to gain an advanced understanding of microwave engineering, including the behaviour of microwave signals, transmission lines, and passive components. Students learn about microwave devices and circuits and their applications. The module also covers RF theory. Lab sessions focus on design and analysis of microwave circuits and transmission lines.

This module is designed to provide students with advanced knowledge of applied artificial intelligence in specific subject areas through dedicated lectures, and practical work. Topics covered include machine learning, neural networks, and deep learning and their application to the solution of complex engineering problems.

This module enables students to gain an advanced understanding of data communications via cable, optical fibre and wireless. Additionally, this module also aims to enable students to develop an in-depth knowledge of the industrialised 'Internet of Things' (IoTs) enhanced network coverage and interoperability.

This module enables students to gain systematic understanding of digital signal processing and its applications. The material included in the module ranges from techniques and design methods used in digital signal processing to the architecture of digital signal processors. Students have the opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of fixed-point and floating-point implementations on digital signal processors and how to make appropriate implementation choices. Software tools will be used to simulate some of the applications on digital signal processors.

This module enables students to gain advanced knowledge and understanding of the underlying physical properties of light transmission, propagation and reception in the context of optical communications. Practical sessions provide opportunities to use industry-standard software to implement, simulate and evaluate optical communications systems to reinforce and extend understanding of the supporting theory and its application.

The Masters Project serves as a pivotal integrating component of the programme, aimed at challenging and enhancing critical thinking skills. It offers students the opportunity to synthesise and apply the knowledge and skills gained throughout their postgraduate studies under the mentorship of an academic supervisor. The project typically requires 600 hours of self-driven scholarly work. This effort predominantly involves self-directed independent study, which may encompass a variety of activities such as scheduled sessions, supervisory meetings, literature review, software analysis, and preparation for assessments.

This module supports students in their search and application for a placement via a series of online seminars and material in topics like CV writing, applying for placement, preparing for psychometric test, and developing interview techniques. The module aims to assist students in their placement search, application and to provide a general preparation for successful participation in the workforce.