A global revolution has taken place in mobile and satellite communications. The resulting growth in mobile and satellite communications industries has created a high demand for graduates with expertise in the key areas of digital, mobile and satellite communications and networking.
We are committed to delivering the best Masters course in Mobile, Wireless and Satellite Communications in the United Kingdom and to leverage a rich blend of scholarship, teaching, industry and research in pursuit of that goal.
With significant input from industry, our MSc Mobile and Satellite Communications produces highly competent graduates who can fill key positions and play leading roles in shaping this rapidly evolving field of communication technologies in the 5G era and beyond.
By graduation, you will be well-equipped to develop new engineering applications for the next generation of communication systems.
2021/22 update: Blended learning approach for USW courses.
[Update excludes online-only courses].
The wellbeing and health and safety of our students and staff is paramount to us. We are committed to delivering all of our courses and services as safely as possible. Due to the pandemic, the methods and activities adopted for the coming year may differ from those previously published and may be subject to further change through the course of your study if such change is necessary due to public health concerns, health and safety guidance or in response to Government Guidelines. USW is committed to providing you with a fantastic student experience and a wealth of support, and you can hear how students have benefitted from this approach here: Learn more about blended learning.
What you will study?
Your studies will include advances in antennas and propagation, digital transmission, satellite communications, mobile communications, satellite networks, wireless applications, digital signal processing and product innovation.
All this is enriched with seminars by industry experts and a period of supervised major project work which gives you the opportunity to hone your skills in a chosen application area.
You will also learn to use the latest engineering design tools, including the Systems ToolKit (STK) used by NASA for planning space missions, and MATLAB/SIMULINK which is widely used in industry.
You will study the following modules:
- Wireless Communication Systems
- Satellite Communications
- Digital Communication Systems
- Applied Digital Signal Processing
- Optoelectronic Devices for Telecommunications
- Product Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- MSc Major Project
Teaching
You will be taught through lectures, tutorials and workshops involving hands-on systems modelling and simulations using state-of-the-art hardware and software facilities. Students will also engage in supervised research supported by full access to world-class online and library facilities.
The full-time route is delivered in three major blocks. Six taught modules are completed during two teaching blocks featuring 12 contact hours per week followed by a 16-week major research project. The full-time course duration is about 14 months. If you study part-time then you will complete the course in two to three years.
Part-time study involves completing three modules in each of the first two years and a major research project in the final year. The use of block-mode delivery in this way allows flexible entry and exit, and also enables practicing engineers to attend a single module as a short course.
Assessment
Each of the six taught modules is typically assessed through 40% coursework and 60% closed-book examination. The major project is assessed through presentation to a panel of examiners, viva and written report.
Course details
Facilities
A state-of-the-art University library gives you access to most of the world’s leading publications. Other major facilities include a Cisco Academy networking laboratory, a Wireless Communications laboratory including a 1-65 GHz anechoic chamber and a satellite communication earth station, and a Communication Systems simulation laboratory equipped with PCs running the latest versions of MATLAB, SIMULINK, STK and other software.
In addition, we have recently opened a Calypto lab, which has software licences and support for the Catapult C toolset. This is used to develop advanced electronic products, such as the next generation of smart phones, more quickly and cost-effectively and to help engineers overcome design challenges in the increasingly complex world of board and chip design. The lab is sponsored by Calypto Design Systems Inc, a leader in electronic design automation. We are one of only four UK universities and 60 universities globally that have been granted permission to use the software worth £1.9m.
The new Renesas Embedded Systems lab comprises 25 new high-end terminals running cutting edge tools. The facility was designed in collaboration with Renesas, the world’s leading supplier of microcontrollers, whose sponsorship helps ensure that students are always working with the latest technologies and development tools.
