Telecommunications engineering is a combination of electrical engineering and computer science. It provides a thorough understanding of modern and future communication systems. This programme offers the opportunity to develop relevant skills necessary to be at the forefront of the ever-expanding and highly sought-after Telecommunications sector emerging with fresh technologies.
Our specialised course blends practice with theory that will equip the students with the skills and knowledge required to design, develop and deploy the next generation wireless communication systems. Our strong links with industry have allowed us to develop a practically focused course, which is essential to the needs of the rapidly changing telecommunications industry.
This course provides a thorough understanding of modern and future communication systems and offers the opportunity to develop relevant practical and theoretical knowledge necessary to be at the forefront of the rapidly evolving telecommunications sector where the demand for skilled graduates is very high. The course is also taught by field experts who are research active and known for their work and contributions to the discipline and ensures our courses remain innovative. A number of students who join this programme contribute to the existing research of the programme team.
We are an official Cisco Academy and Huawei Academy licensed to provide certification training and equipped with the latest industry-standard equipment. We have also recently opened the London Digital Twin Centre, have our own 5G & IoT research group and have also undertaken notable research in areas such as MIMO, LTE-A, 5G, and Disaster Communication Networks, etc.
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The programme consists of five compulsory modules that are taught over two semesters which introduce key concepts of digital communication systems, wireless communications architectures, intelligent/smart environments and traditional network design principles
The modules will be taught in different formats combining delivery methods like interactive lectures, seminars, laboratory sessions and workshops.
As well as developing technical skills, you will also focus on the non-engineering aspects of telecoms engineering, such as policy and management, and professional, social, ethical, legal and global issues. You'll explore routing, internetworking, usability, clustering and IP addressing as well as modulation and demodulation techniques, channel coding and decoding, fibre-optic communications and multiuser communication systems. You will also use MATLAB and Simulink to simulate remote environments where connectivity is difficult. Access to campus-based facilities will depend on Covid-19 related restrictions in place at the time. In some instances remote access to campus facilities or equivalent online facilities may be used instead.
In addition to an in-depth understanding of this subject, you will gain the ability to use mathematical and statistical tools to evaluate networks and assess their performance. You'll be equipped with the knowledge about data networks and digital transmission systems, in particular their design, construction, testing, management, programming and usability. You will also be able to develop commercially viable network applications, understand threats to security, and implement protective measures.
You'll be able to deepen your theoretical knowledge and develop extensive analytical and problem-solving skills, with the opportunity to give presentations, take part in group work and discussions; aiding in preparing to be part of a developing team. The individual postgraduate project brings the best out of the individual’s capabilities, thus providing employability skills.
You'll gain a comprehensive and advanced understanding of digital communication techniques for data and voice within communication systems. You'll be introduced to a detailed coverage of source coding, channel coding, baseband and bandpass digital modulation and demodulation techniques, detection theory and error analysis, spread spectrum signals and multiuser communications, wireless fading channels, channel equalization techniques, and advanced topics in multiple antenna array, 5G/6G enabling technologies. These topics will equip you with the knowledge, skills and ability to understand, compare and critically evaluate the advantages and limitations of modern digital techniques within communication systems and wireless technologies. You'll also be able to learn and apply analytical skills to perform system performance analysis with practical observations through simulation and laboratory experiences.
The aim of this module is to provide you with a comprehensive technical foundation of the mobile communication systems and wireless network architectures and services. You'll learn topics like, fundamental aspects of signals, concept of cellular systems and the evolution towards next generation networks, other wireless technology systems and networks, mobility aspects in wireless communications and recent advancements such as millimetre wave multi-gigabit wireless networks.
Throughout this module you will learn how to evaluate a network situation and identify the most important aspects to monitor and analyse. You will be introduced to a methodological approach to network design and the concepts of network modelling, analysis and simulation. At the end of the module you will have developed an appreciation of the design and development simulation software as appropriate models to evaluate the pure performance and availability, as well as the performability, of computer networks.
This module covers the principles and foundations of network security. It aims at providing you with the knowledge of security issues, technologies, algorithms and protocols used in securing computer networks and associated systems. It will also provide an understanding of possible security breaches, security risk analysis and mechanisms to protect computer and network communication systems.
This module aims to introduce you to the paradigms of intelligence based networked systems and in particular Internet of Things (IoT), both theoretically and practically. You'll be introduced to the technology and architectures that create IoT and enables intelligent habitation, intelligent building control, smart vehicle technology and industrial processes.
You'll learn to provide a critical overview of the research methods and tools required for the planning and management of a dissertation project. You'll aid in formulation of a research problem and identifying literature, in addition to conducting research project in well-equipped laboratory facilities for the simulation and analysis of wireless and mobile communications technology. The project will enable you to demonstrate a personal commitment to professional standards and develop expertise in the planning and execution of extensive research investigation in a specialised area of Wireless Communications and Networks. This module will prepare you for future employment in the Telecommunications sector at an advanced technical level.
See the course specification for more information:
Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.
We are regularly reviewing and updating our programmes to ensure you have the best learning experience. We are taking what we have learnt during the pandemic and enhancing our teaching methods with new and innovative ways of learning.
We aim to model a wide range of teaching strategies and approaches on the course which you can adapt to your own setting.
As well as developing your practical skills in laboratory sessions, you’ll attend interactive lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, where you’ll deepen your theoretical knowledge, work on activities and case studies, and develop your analytical and problem-solving skills.
You will do research and design work, produce written reports, give presentations and take part in group discussions and group work, supplementing all this with your own independent study.
This programme’s modules will be assessed via in-class tests, practical assignments that include laboratory work, and coursework including reports, presentations and class discussions. Some assessed work will be group work. Students will receive regular feedback on the submitted work, including the assessed coursework and exams.
For the Postgraduate Telecommunications Project, the student will be expected to plan, conduct and produce a piece of original research work relevant to the industry which could take the form of designing new algorithms, protocols or framework for wireless/mobile systems. The student will be assessed through a written thesis and a viva-voce.
We are regularly reviewing and updating our programmes to ensure you have the best learning experience. We are taking what we have learned during the pandemic and enhancing our teaching methods with new and innovative ways of learning.
We are currently reviewing our approach to teaching and learning for 2023 entry and beyond. We've learned a lot about how to give you a quality education - we aim to combine the best of our pre-pandemic teaching and learning with access to online learning and digital resources which put you more in charge of when and how you study. We will keep you updated on this throughout the application process.
Your timetable will be built around on campus sessions using our professional facilities, i.e., most sessions will be live in-person on campus learning. There will be online sessions for some activities where we know being virtual will add value. We’ll use technology to enhance all of your learning and give you access to online resources to use in your own time.
The table below gives you an idea of what learning looks like across a typical week. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on campus sessions.
Learning structure: typical hourly breakdown in 2023/24 | ||
Live in-person on campus learning | Contact hours per week, per level: | 12 hours |
Live online learning | Average hours per week, per level: | 0 hours |
This information is likely to change slightly for 2024/25 entry as our plans evolve. You'll receive full information on your teaching before you start your course.
Definitions of terms
Support
You have a strong support network available to you to make sure you develop all the necessary academic skills you need to do well on your course.
Our support services will be delivered online and on campus and you have access to a range of different resources so you can get the help you need, whether you’re studying at home or have the opportunity to come to campus.
You have access to one to one and group sessions for personal learning and academic support from our library and IT teams, and our network of learning experts. Our teams will also be here to offer financial advice, and personal wellbeing, mental health and disability support.
This course provides you with the opportunity to develop the skills and personal qualities required to support your career profile in the telecommunications field. Well qualified telecoms engineering graduates are in high demand and as a graduate, you will be able to pursue careers involving in:
Students will also be ideally placed to explore a variety of roles such as Wireless Professional (LTE-A/5G/6G), Smart Monitoring Graduate Engineer (IoT), Technology Analyst, Application Analyst, Technical Support Engineer/Consulting Engineer or Software Engineer. The majority of our graduates are in roles directly related to their studies and working in programming, telecommunications engineering, and network management. Equally, graduate students may wish to pursue a career in academia or do further research.
Our graduates have gone onto achieve many successes since leaving Middlesex and a number have even started working for such companies as:
It is anticipated that a senior networking engineer can earn around £45-50k per year and further experienced engineers can earn more than £65k per year.
Professor Huan Nguyen is an Associate Professor in Communication and Networks with vast experience in state-of-the-art Disaster Recovery Networks and Machine-type communications in 5G.
Dr Purav Shah is a Senior Lecturer in Communication and Networks with experience in Internet of Things (IoT) and M2M solutions and Software Defined Networking (SDN).
Stefan Mihai
MSc Telecommunications Engineering MSc graduate and Financial Consultant at Deloitte
Roughly two years ago, I made the decision to apply for the MSc Telecommunications Engineering at Middlesex University, after thoroughly researching postgraduate programmes across the United Kingdom and several other countries in the European Union. My decision was motivated by a number of things I deemed important and, looking back, I can confidently say I made the right choice.
After I started studying here, I came to realise that the modules were very well-balanced between theory and practice. The focus was placed on building skills that the industry found attractive in new graduates, such as research skills, critical thinking, teamwork, solid mathematical concepts, good presentation and public speaking abilities, and many more. In my course, I found the courage to take on big projects and bring them to completion with the support of my colleagues and my professors.
In fact, one of my best moments during this course was when I published two papers that were based on coursework projects in the Mobile Communications and Broadband Technologies and Fibre Optics modules, respectively. During the MSc Telecommunications Engineering programme, I discovered a passion for research and development, I developed good teamwork skills, and most importantly, I gained a solid understanding of the field of telecommunications. Consequently, I am now pursuing a PhD degree at Middlesex University, while still working in collaboration with some of the professors I had met during my Masters.
We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.
Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.
Start: September 2024
Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Code: PGG42G
Start: January 2024, September 2024
Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Code: PGG404
