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Computer Systems Engineering BEng

This project-led course using industry-standard design and build technology will give you the specialist skills for a career designing the computer systems that shape how we live
Code
HP50
Start
September 2024
Duration
3 years full-time
4 years with placement
Attendance
Full-time
Fees
£9,250 (UK)*
£16,600 (INT)*
Course leader
Dr Ramona Trestian

Why choose Computer Systems Engineering BEng Honours at Middlesex?

From social media to business, smartphones to smart homes – computer systems engineering has a visible impact on every area of modern life.

Working alongside our team of industry experts in high-tech labs, you’ll learn the specialist skills and knowledge to design, develop and manage the computer systems which shape the way we live.

Collaborating closely in teams, you will develop confident communication skills, and problem-solving skills required to develop projects quickly within an agile and fast-paced industry.

We have strong links with industry giants like Cisco, Festo and Siemens. This means the best facilities and guest speakers presenting real-world problems and hands-on solutions. Our north London location gives you access to industry contacts. And you can develop your professional skills with a year-long, paid work experience placement as part of a four-year study option.

You’ll also get support from our Student Learning and Graduate Academic Assistants, who have experience in your subject area.

What you will gain

Our degree opens up career opportunities wherever digital, mobile or network systems are used.

You will gain experience in many areas including wireless and digital design, network design, network planning, mobile internet applications and services development.

This course will also help you develop the confident interpersonal and communication skills, problem-solving and teamwork skills required by the industry.

Our graduates leave fully equipped with the technical and analytical skills they need to secure jobs in this growing field. They go on to careers with global companies in wireless and digital design, network implementation, network planning and more.

Our staff are are experts. Dr. Purav Shah won the Huawei ICT Academy Best Instructor Award 2021-22.

A team of three third-year BEng Computer Systems Engineering students and their tutor, Dr. Purav Shah, won second place worldwide at the Huawei IoT and Networking Competition, 2020.

The BEng EE programme runs on our Dubai campus as well. So on this course you could transfer to our Dubai campus and study aboard.

We have over 145 years of experience delivering professional, creative and technical education that prepares students – like you – for success in global careers, so find out more today.

What you will learn

You'll cover a wide range of topics which demonstrate the diversity of roles within this growing area. From software to hardware development, apps to IoT, computer architecture and networks.

You will develop your skills with plenty of hands-on practice in our Cisco, Xilinx, and mobile communication labs. And you'll also have access to observation control rooms and test areas in the computer lab.

You'll work on projects which will build into a professional portfolio of work throughout your degree. You will also attend regular guest lectures and project feedback from industry professionals, with the option of spending a year on industry placement.

You will also be encouraged to enter prestigious engineering competitions which will enhance your experience and career prospects.

You will also have the opportunity to work on ongoing research projects with the London Digital Twin Research Centre through group projects, final-year projects or summer internship, This is an exciting opportunity for students to engage in cutting-edge research projects that link with the industry as well as with our international partners in India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Egypt.

Visit the London Digital Twin Research Centre.


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This course combines skills and knowledge from the areas of computer science and electronic engineering by introducing you to the design, implementation and maintenance of software and hardware components of modern computing systems as well as networks of intelligent devices.

It reflects the importance of developments in computer systems engineering, by providing a strong foundation in science, technology and application development, principles, and the development of practical skills in key areas needed by the industry.

This course content covers three main areas:

  • Theoretical knowledge skills – a solid background in the theories and principles of computing, mathematics, science and engineering
  • Building practical skills – applying these theories and principles in solving real-world technical engineering problems that reflect industry-practice
  • Project-led learning – working on your own projects and tasks which will stimulate your creativity and help you develop skills such as project management, decision-making, communication, team working, and critical thinking.

Year 1

We will equip you with the fundamental of computing and electronic engineering as well as the mathematics for engineers delivered through practical applications.

You'll make use of different programming environments to solve problems and you'll work in groups to deliver projects against specifications with reference to industrial practice.

Year 2

Year 2 builds on the skills gained in Year 1 and will introduce topics to help you develop an understanding of the process of moving from prototype design to product creation.

Working in groups, you'll be tackling specific management functions appropriate to professional working practices, continuing the professional development of team working attitudes and skills to complete a project which addresses one or more elements of a major issue of current concern.

Topics such as digital systems design as well as advanced techniques of signal processing and interpretation will be introduced, using concepts and abstractions central to the development of computing systems.

Year 3

Year 3 offers you the opportunity to undertake a major self-directed engineering project using the knowledge and skills learnt throughout the course. You will also learn the principles underpinning real-time hardware and software.

The focus is on structured design principles and techniques that yield, cost-effective, ad hoc, and testable systems whose development typically involves the integration of custom hardware, software or hardware interfaces, IP devices or peripherals, one or more processors, and software.

Modules

  • Year 1

    • Computing and Electronic Engineering Skills and Projects 1 (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of digital electronics and develop knowledge and understanding of a range of modelling and prototyping processes and techniques to successfully complete the final project. Students will learn a range of practical skills, and techniques required to construct digital electronic circuits successfully and to use a range of tools to accomplish this. The projects will require you to develop and use a variety of problem-solving skills and to utilise knowledge gained from other taught modules.

    • Fundamentals of Electronics and Communication Engineering (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module aims to provide a comprehensive overview and in-depth understanding of the principles and theories employed in electronics and communications. It places electronics and communication principles in a realistic context showing the benefits and the challenges that everyday electronic engineers face in real life.

    • Programming Paradigms for Physical Computing and Internet of Things (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module introduces fundamental computational concepts and programming constructs and uses of a range of widely used programming languages. The module will expose you to problem solving through programming and introduce you to a selection of hardware. You'll make use of different programming environments to solve problems that were introduced in the other modules.

    • Practical Applications of Mathematics for Engineering (30 credits) - Compulsory

      The module aims to provide you with the mathematical knowledge and tools to model and understand particular problems in engineering, and to interpret these results to provide information relevant to designs and decisions you will make as engineers.

  • Year 2

    • Computer Systems Engineering Projects 2 (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills required to carry out computing and engineering projects that address one or more elements of a major issue of current concern with reference to industrial practice. You'll develop an understanding of the process of moving from modelling and simulation to prototyping. You'll gain experience of working in groups by taking on a specific management function appropriate to professional working practice.

    • Engineering Software Development (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module aims to provide you with understanding of the process of developing software using various programming languages and hardware components. You'll be familiarised with the state of the art phased process of software development. The module will introduce you to technical and non-technical aspects of software development process that will allow them to successfully take project from requirements stage, through design to a fully working product.

    • Digital System Design (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module aims to introduce the digital systems design using concepts and abstractions central to the development of computing systems. The module will be introduced using VHDL (hardware description language), in which the designs can be implemented and tested. Development often requires knowledge and understanding of digital logic building blocks, hardware description language (VHDL), development tools similar to the ones used in the industry; this module provides you with the essential concepts for that purpose.

    • Signal Processing and Communications (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module will introduce students to advanced techniques of signal processing and interpretation as well as the applications of signal processing in wireless communications.

  • Sandwich Year

    • Industrial Placement (120 credits) - Compulsory for TKSW only

      The aim of this module is to strengthen, extend and apply the knowledge, skills and experiences you have gained from your programme in the context of a working environment, and to complement, stimulate, reinforce and encourage the development of discipline-specific technical knowledge, and your transferable skills.

  • Year 3

    • System-on-Chip Design and Implementation (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module aims to introduce you to the design and implementation of systems typically having potentially complex concurrent behaviour, stringent timing requirements, and significant communication requirements in a single field programmable gate array (FPGA) chip. The principles underpinning of real-time hardware and software are also addressed and deployed. The focus is on structured design principles and techniques that yield, cost-effective, ad hoc and testable systems whose development typically involves the integration of custom hardware, software or hardware interfaces, IP devices or peripherals, one or more processors, and software.

    • Internetworking Systems and Development (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module aims to provide an in-depth knowledge of internetworking systems along with their principles and theories applied in practical network design and development. It will teach you how to evaluate a network situation and to help them to identify the most important network aspects that need to be monitored and analysed. You'll design and develop simulation software as appropriate models to evaluate the pure performance and availability, as well as performability of the internetworking systems.

    • Major Project (60 credits) - Compulsory

      This module provides you with the opportunity to undertake a major piece of self-directed computing and engineering project using the knowledge and skills learnt throughout the programme. You're expected to provide a significant personal contribution to all phases of the engineering design and development process, appropriate to the goals of your programme.

To find out more about this course, please download the Computer Systems Engineering BEng specification (PDF).

We review our courses regularly to improve your experience and graduate prospects so modules may be subject to change.

  1. Teaching and independent learning
  2. coursework and assessment

Facilities

Our state-of-the-art Ritterman Building facility will give you access to high-quality specialist digital and wireless laboratories equipped with industry-standard software, hardware and tools.

Our fully equipped, state-of-the-art labs give you access to digital, high-end networks, cloud computing, processing and developmental resources. Our labs are equipped with Cisco units, Blade servers, industry-standard telecom equipment and high-end simulation software.

Student plugging wires into a wall of computer equipment

Student support

We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health and disability support.

Additional needs

We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.

Wellness

Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.

Work while you study

Our Unitemps Middlesex branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above.

Financial support

You can apply for scholarships and bursaries and our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.

We have also reduced the costs of studying with free laptop loans, free learning resources and discounts to save money on everyday things. Check out our guide to student life on a budget.

How can the Computer Systems Engineering BEng support your career?

Our Computer Systems Engineering graduates have excellent career prospects across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

Careers range from computing systems or associated industries such as computer design, wireless networking, design automation, robotics, embedded systems, machine intelligence etc. within the UK, as well as to Europe and the overseas market.

Graduate Job Roles

  • Software engineer
  • Hardware engineer
  • Network engineer
  • Security engineer
  • Systems engineer
  • Embedded systems engineer
  • Test engineer
  • Project manager
  • Business analyst
  • Product manager

Graduate Employers

Our graduates have followed a wide range of career paths, some of them are currently working for companies such as:

  • McLaren Automotive
  • GoMedia Services Ltd.
  • Imagine Software Ltd.
  • MarQuest Ltd
  • Innovery S.p.A
  • CDW

To support you during your studies, you are encouraged to develop a commercial approach to engineering and communication systems through projects with industrial partners and industrial placements.

You will undertake contextual studies into the nature and contexts of the profession. By interacting with a variety of guest lecturers with professional backgrounds from both academia and industry you will begin to build your own professional networks.

Transferable skills

  • Strong problem-solving skills
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team
  • Ability to learn new technologies quickly
  • Strong analytical and logical thinking skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Ability to work under pressure.

Employability support

Our employability service can help you to develop your employability skills and create a career entry plan. We provide workshops, events and one-to-one support with job hunting, CVs, covering letters, interviews and networking. We also support you in securing part-time work, placements, internships, and volunteering opportunities, and offer an enterprise support service for those looking to start their own business.

MDXworks will launch you into the world of work from the beginning of your course, with placements, projects and networking opportunities through our 1000+ links with industry and big-name employers in London and globally.

Our dedicated lifetime career support, like our business start-up support programme and funding for entrepreneurs, has been recognized with the following awards:

The top 20 UK universities for business leaders and entrepreneurs – Business Money, 2023 
A top 10 university for producing CEOs  – Novuana, 2023

MDXcelerator Student Start-Up Support

Want to be your own boss? You'll have the chance to pitch your business to gain mentoring and grants of up to £15,000.

Global network

You’ll study with students from 122 countries who’ll hopefully become part of your global network. And after you graduate, we'll still support you through our alumni network to help you progress in your chosen career.

Work placements

Placements and internships greatly improve graduate employment prospects, and those who take part achieve excellent academic results through applying their learning in a professional setting.

This course provides an optional placement year where students can further enhance their skills by working in the industry. On placement, you will be given the opportunity to put your academic studies into practice to enhance your employment prospects after graduation.

You can also opt to extend this degree course by a year (without paying additional tuition fees) and spend your third year doing a paid work placement of between 36 and 48 weeks, which we will help you to find. This is very much encouraged as it helps you build a significant portfolio of work and a good CV ready for an exciting career.

Our specialist employability service and north London location ensure that every year our students and graduates gain placement opportunities.

  1. UK entry
  2. International entry
  3. How to apply

The fees below are for the 2024/25 academic year.

UK students1

Full-time: £9,250

Part-time: £77 per taught credit

International students2

Full-time students: £16,600

Part-time students: £138 per taught credit

Additional costs

The following study tools are included in your fees:

  • Free access to the resources, learning materials and software you need to succeed on your course
  • Free laptop loans for up to 24 hours
  • Free printing for academic paperwork
  • Free online training with LinkedIn Learning.

Scholarships and bursaries

To help make uni affordable, we do everything we can to support you including our:

  • MDX Excellence Scholarship offers grants of up to £2,000 per year for UK students
  • Regional or International Merit Awards which reward International students with up to £2,000 towards course fees
  • Our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.

Find out more about undergraduate funding and all of our scholarships and bursaries.

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase undergraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.

Dr Ramona Trestian
Senior Lecturer

Dr Trestian is a Senior Lecturer in Wireless Communications and Networks with significant contribution to the area of optimisation in 5G networks. Her special interests are in the areas of Quality of Experience, Machine Learning and Optimisation of Wireless Networks.

Professor Huan Nguyen
Professor

Professor Huan Nguyen is a Professor in Digital Communications and Networks with a vast experience in state-of-the-art Digital Twin Modelling, Disaster Recovery Communication Networks and Machine-type communications in 5G.

Dr Purav Shah
Senior Lecturer

Dr Purav Shah is a Senior Lecturer in Wireless Communications and Networks with experience in Internet of Things (IoT) and M2M solutions and Software Defined Networking (SDN).

  • Connor Adam M. Hayler

    BEng Computer Systems Engineering year 3 (2020)

    What attracted me to the course was the mix of the hardware with the software, I had a couple friends who had gone and studied computer science at other universities and although this piqued my interest it wasn't quite the full picture.

    I remember looking around at different courses Middlesex University offered but also other universities and this course resonated with me the most due to the nice mix of modules. Upon my visit to Middlesex University the facilities were so much nicer and better than other universities I visited and that is really what won me over.

    My best and probably the most memorable time through the course was when my teacher decided to get me to come in front of everyone and go through the problems on the board explaining it to everyone. Although not much, this really made that topic stick in my head

  • Andrea Philomena Pereira

    BEng Computer Systems Engineering graduate (2023)

    When I think about an engineer, I picture a person whose life is a scientific adventure of the unknown and a creation of things that are yet to be. Computer Systems Engineering – programming and building hardware and software, my real passion in an academic field I thrive for. Middlesex University was my Dexter's laboratory to experiment, grow, and develop this passion into a career.

    The phenomenal professors, engaging modules; covering the fundamentals of engineering maths, digital systems and system-on-chip design, internetworking systems, software engineering, and engineering project management, along with the state-of-the-art laboratories equipped with the latest technology to gear a connected curriculum driven by industry standards have propelled me to grow both as a person and a student and be industry ready. The course offered me an expansive taster menu for hardware and software with challenging and engaging coursework to supplement my learning.

    I had the opportunity to work on various practical industry 6.0 projects on Digital Twin and Open-RAN while joining Middlesex University's London Digital Twin Research Centre. The high-tech labs and supportive professors at MDX made Middlesex University stand out to me from the others. The icing on the cake for me was being awarded the best female engineering student award in the 2023 Class.

    As a female engineering graduate, I am thrilled to have pursued a degree within a faculty so driven to extract the hidden potential within me. A huge thank you to Middlesex University for all the endeavours and experiences gained while pursuing a degree in the CSE field.


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.

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