Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
MSc Communications
and Signal Processing
2010-2011
Your Degree Programme Director is:
Dr Charalampos Tsimenidis
Contact Details:
If you are unsure about any point raised in this document or have further
queries relating to the Course you should contact your Tutor or the Degree
Programme Director.
CONTENTS
1. Introduction 1
1.1 Course Aims 1
1.1.1 Factual Knowledge 1
1.1.2 Skills and Techniques 2
1.2 Course Objectives 2
2. The Course 3
2.1 Taught Modules 3
2.2 Coursework 4
2.3 Penalties 4
2.4 Additional Support Courses 5
1. Introduction
The Newcastle MSc derives its unique character from the strength of the
Communications and Digital Signal Processing Group, one of the largest of its kind in
the UK. Since its formation in 1980, it has gained a world-wide reputation for high
quality research at the leading edge of communications technology. Research
contracts over the last two years amount to £1.5M and cover a diverse range of
applications in the general areas of telecommunications, digital signal processing,
optoelectronics and satellite engineering. In addition, the Group has many years of
experience in dealing with industrial projects and in running short courses for industry.
Three core modules aim to enhance knowledge in the following key areas:
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3. Advanced Modulation and Coding Techniques:
overview of digital and mobile communication systems, digital modulation;
digital receivers, coding, error correction and information theory.
On successful completion of the course of study you can reasonably expect to have
secured the following learning outcomes:
1. You will possess a sound knowledge of the key subject areas of communication
systems, telecommunications engineering and digital signal processing
techniques. In addition, you should possess in-depth knowledge of your chosen
specialist subject areas. In all subject areas, you should be able to apply your
knowledge to perform elementary analyses and have an appreciation of current
technology and its application.
2. You will have developed the skills of knowledge acquisition so that you might, in
the future, extend your current knowledge through a programme of self directed
study given the appropriate knowledge resources.
3. You will have enhanced your ability to plan, execute and report on a programme
of project work within a closely specified time scale.
4. You should be able to devise experiments and carry them out safely with due
regard for the safety of others.
In addition to the skills described above, you will have developed further your
transferable skills of oral presentation and report writing.
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2. The Course
The programme of study begins annually in mid-September and lasts for a period of 12
months. To successfully complete the MSc programme you are required to take
modules to a total value of 180 credits over three semesters. Taught modules take
place during the first and second semesters with examinations being held in January
and May/June. An individual project is carried out over the full year: background
reading and design work take place during the first and second semesters whilst the
bulk of experimental work and preparation of the dissertation take place during the
summer term.
Compulsory Modules
Optional Modules
In addition to the above compulsory modules you will have to select modules, in
approved combination, to a total value of 30 credits from the following list:
3
Timing of Modules
There are four coursework-based modules; EEE8076, EEE8077 and EEE8092 which
are undertaken during Semester 1 and EEE8091 undertaken in semester 2. EEE8076
covers reconfigurable hardware design using FPGA, while EEE8077 deals with the
simulation of wireless communication links in MATLAB. In contrast, EEE8091
concentrates on the real-time implementation of receiver algorithms on SHARC-based
DSP boards, while EEE8092 focuses on wireless sensor network protocols and
embedded programming using Zigbee-based development boards.
The course works are assessed on the basis of a report and software demonstration.
The reports must be submitted to the School Office at a specified date. Further details
will be provided by the individual Module Leader and the Degree Programme Director.
2.3 Penalties
Penalties will be applied for late submission of coursework reports and written
assignments, more information can be found in the MSc handbook:
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/eece/postgrad/taught/MSc-EECE-General-Handbook-10.pdf
The penalty for plagiarism in any written work is covered in the MSc handbook:
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/eece/postgrad/taught/MSc-EECE-General-Handbook-10.pdf
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2.4 Additional Support Courses