MSc Wireless & Microwave Communication Engineering
Cardiff, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
GBP 28,200 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for overseas | for home: £11,950
Key Summary
About: This MSc teaches wireless, microwave and radio‑frequency engineering, micro‑ and nano‑technology and optoelectronics. You’ll study advanced CAD, measurement and characterization, fabrication and test, non‑linear RF design and advanced communication systems, with lab work and a major individual research project. It’s IET‑accredited and offered full‑time (one year) or part‑time (three years).
Career Outcomes: Graduates enter industry or research, with many joining organizations including Infineon and Huawei. You could work as an RF/microwave engineer, wireless or communications engineer, test and measurement or R&D engineer, technical consultant, or pursue a PhD. Career opportunities span telecoms, semiconductors, medical microwave applications and defense sectors.
This course aims to provide you with key, advanced-level knowledge and skills that will allow you to succeed in the rapidly growing wireless and microwave communication industry. You will also develop research skills and other related abilities, enhancing your general engineering competency, and employability, and providing you with an excellent platform for career development, whether that be within industry or academic research.
More specifically, the programme aims to:
- Develop expertise in new and evolving areas of microwave engineering including mobile communications and medical applications of microwaves
- Focus on areas including advanced computer-aided design (CAD), measurement and characterisation and communication systems engineering
- Cover laboratory work and advanced engineering management alongside modules in radio frequency engineering, advanced fabrication and test, advanced communication systems and non-linear RF design and concepts
- Provide you with expertise in the areas of micro and nano-technology and optoelectronics
Why Study this Course
This degree aims to produce specialists with essential expertise in electronic and microwave engineering and to develop an awareness of the rapidly growing application space for these technologies.
Flexible Course
This degree programme is available on a one-year full-time basis or on a three-year part-time basis.
Research Project
Students will complete a major individual research project where they will apply project-specific engineering principles.
Strong Research Focus
You will learn in a research-led teaching institution, with the opportunity to undertake your project in a successful, research-based environment with access to high-quality facilities to support your work.
Engaging Culture
There is an open and engaging culture between our students and our research-active staff, who are actively involved in the design and delivery of this course.
Professional Accreditation
Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng-accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to fully meet the CEng registration educational requirements.
The course is presented as a one-year full-time Masters level programme and is also available as a part-time scheme run over two years. The programme is presented in two stages: In Part 1 students follow two semesters of taught modules to the value of 120 credits. Part 2 consists of a Dissertation or research project module worth 60 credits.
Core Modules for Year One
- Software Tools and Simulation
- RF Circuits Design and CAD
- Research Study
- Advanced Communication Systems
- HF and RF Engineering
- Advanced CAD, Fabrication and Test
- Microwave and Millimetre-Wave Integrated Circuit Design and Technology
- Micro- and Nano-engineering
- Dissertation (Electronic)
Optional Modules for Year One
- High-Frequency Device Physics and Design
- VLSI Design
- High Frequency Electronic Materials
- Optoelectronics
- High Frequency Power Amplifiers
How Will I Be Assessed?
The course is assessed through examinations, written coursework, and a final individual project report.
Achievement of learning outcomes in the majority of modules is assessed by a combination of coursework assignments, plus University examinations set in January and May. Examinations count for 60%–70% of assessments in Stage 1 of the programme, depending on the options chosen, the remainder being largely project work and elements of coursework.
What Skills Will I Practise and Develop?
On completing the course you will have developed key skills which can be applied to a variety of industrial and academic working environments. You will have gained learning skills including:
- Understanding of the application of Wireless and Microwave Communication Engineering to the design, implementation and management of systems that are able to collect, manipulate, interpret, synthesise, present and report data
- The ability to select an appropriate IT-based system development tool for a given task. Examples of applicable tools include those deployed within current research into microwave and radio frequency systems, electromagnetic applications, communication systems and software engineering
- The ability to undertake detailed device-level design and characterisation of communications system components based upon an in-depth understanding of the major issues surrounding architecture and structures
- An appreciation of the stages involved in the realisation of a key wireless microwave communications sub-system - including characterisation and measurement, modelling, computer-aided design, optimisation, fabrication and test
- An understanding of the hardware and software infrastructures used in the development of computer networks - including an appreciation of relevant industry standards and the use of current software tools associated with the widening role of internet-based communication
- The ability to communicate your own ideas, research findings, underlying principles and theories effectively by oral, written and practical means
- The ability to work effectively in a team and as an individual
We are committed to investing up to a total of £500,000 in this high-value competitive scholarship scheme to support UK students who are planning to start an eligible Master’s programme in 2024/25.
Each Scholarship is worth £3,000 and will be awarded a tuition fee discount.
Eligibility
UK students are eligible to apply for the Scholarship. You normally need to have achieved at least a 2.1 or equivalent in your first degree to be eligible. You need to submit an application to study at Cardiff University and be made an offer to study before your fee status can be confirmed.
Career prospects are generally excellent with graduating students following paths either into research or related industry.
If you are interested in working in industry, many of our graduating MSc students achieve excellent employment opportunities in organisations including Infineon, Huawei, Cambridge Silicon Radio, Vodafone and International Rectifier.
In terms of research, Cardiff University has many electrical, electronic and microwave-related research areas that require PhD students, and this MSc will provide you with an excellent platform if this is your chosen career path.
How Will I Be Taught?
A wide range of teaching styles are used to deliver the diverse material forming the curriculum of the programme. You will attend lectures and take part in lab and tutorial-based study during the Autumn and Spring semesters. During the summer you will undertake an individual research project.
At the beginning of Stage 2, you will be allocated a project supervisor. Dissertation topics are normally chosen from a range of project titles proposed by academic staff in consultation with industrial partners, usually in areas of current research or industrial interest. You will also be encouraged to put forward your own project ideas.