Embedded Systems Engineering MSc (Eng)

The huge growth of processing power, now available in small power-efficient packages, has fuelled the digital revolution, which has touched all sectors of the economy. The Embedded Systems Engineering masters course is practically-oriented in the area of electronics design and applications and is distinctive in that it provides a strong digital technology core backup up with applications-led modules.

You may study applications as diverse as medical electronics and e-health, and a substantial element of practical work will give you confidence with software and digital hardware implementations using microcontrollers, FPGA, DSP devices and general system-on-chip methodology.

Course highlights

• Our courses are shaped by our world-leading research, such as the ultrasonic embedded systems research led by Professor Steve Freear, where they are currently developing ultrasound systems for better imaging and cancer treatment.

• During your studies, you will access specialist facilities and laboratories.

• There are lots of opportunities for you to work alongside our academics and get involved in the research happening in the School.

• Small groups and examples classes are used to support the teaching, so you get regular feedback from the academic staff helping you solve any problems that you might have with a particular topic.

Programme team

The Programme is led by Professor Steven Freear. He teaches digital signal processing, VLSI and embedded systems design, and hardware description languages at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Professor Freear formed the Ultrasound and Embedded Systems Group, specializing in both industrial and biomedical research. His main research interest is concerned with advanced analog and digital signal processing and efficient embedded systems design.

Specialist facilities

Our School is an exciting and stimulating environment where you will learn from leading researchers in specialist teaching facilities with high-quality test and measurement equipment. These include our Keysight Technologies Electronics Laboratory and Arm Embedded Systems Laboratory. During your final project, you will be able to work in the NXP Electronics Project Laboratory.

Depending on your project topic, you may also get to work in our specialist research laboratories.

Find out more about our facilities.

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Accreditation

The MSc is 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 comply with full CEng registration requirements.

Accreditation is the assurance that a university course meets the quality standards established by the profession for which it prepares its students. For this course, these are the quality standards set by the IET.

The masters programme is built around a set of core modules that will develop your knowledge and skills areas such as digital signal processing and embedded microprocessor systems. A substantial element of practical work will give you confidence with software and digital hardware implementations using microcontrollers, FPGA, DSP devices and general system-on-chip methodology. Specialist modules provide an opportunity to study topics such as medical electronics and e-health, data communications and network security, or the principles of digital wireless communications.

The focal point of the degree course is your individual project. Your supervisor will help you to select a project that is right for you, in an area that interests and motivates you. This may give you the chance to work as an integral part of one of our active research institutes, focusing on a specialist topic of your choice and using the appropriate research methods. This is your chance to make your own contribution to science. The project will equip you with the independent research and critical thinking skills that you will draw on throughout your future career.

Want to find out more about your modules?

Take a look at the Embedded Systems Engineering module descriptions for more detail on what you will study.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Embedded Systems Engineering MSc (Eng) in the course catalogue

Modules

Year 1

Learning and teaching

Our groundbreaking research feeds directly into teaching, and you’ll have regular contact with staff who are at the forefront of their disciplines. You will have regular contact with them through lectures, laboratory sessions, seminars, examples classes, tutorials and project meetings.

Independent study is also important to the programme. You will develop your problem-solving and research skills as well as your subject knowledge while studying the modules taught modules and undertaking your project work.

Our Virtual Learning Environment will help to support your studies: it’s a central place where you can find all the information and resources for the School, your programme and your modules.

You can also benefit from support to develop your academic skills, within the curriculum and through online resources, workshops, one-to-one appointments and drop-in sessions.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

You will be assessed using a range of techniques including mini-projects, case studies, technical reports, presentations, in-class tests and coursework assignments.

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in electronic/electrical engineering, computing or a related subject. Applicants should have high marks in relevant modules such as programming using C, C++, Java or a similar high-level language.

A bachelor degree with a first class (hons) in mechatronics, physics, physical sciences or mathematics.

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For more information please contact the Admissions Team.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component.. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Engineering (6 weeks) and Language for Science: Engineering (10 weeks). 

We are now offering online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals.  To find out more, read Online Academic English pre-sessional (10 weeks) and Online Academic English pre-sessional (6 weeks).

Read about differences between our online and on-campus summer pre-sessionals.

If you need to study for longer than 10 weeks, read more about our postgraduate pre-sessional English course.

How to apply

Application deadlines

We operate a staged admissions process for this course with selection deadlines throughout the year.

If you do not receive an offer in a particular round, you will either be notified that your application has been unsuccessful, or we will carry your application forward to be considered in the next round.

Please see our How to Apply page for full details and the application deadlines for each stage.

Apply

This link takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy 2022

Fees

• UK: £11,500 (total)
• International: £25,750 (total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Part-time fees
Fees for part-time courses are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

A degree from Leeds and the experience you'll gain here will give you the edge to find the career you want. Your course will give you the experience and knowledge that employers are looking for to help you secure a graduate job.

University of Leeds students are among the top five most targeted by top employers according to The Graduate Market 2022, High Fliers Research.

On completing this masters course, you’ll be well equipped with skills and knowledge to design solutions to complex problems, and carry out extended engineering projects, considering a range of societal, user and commercial factors, and industry standards, and showing originality and creativity in the design process.

Embedded systems are ubiquitous in engineering and graduates are likely to find employment in a wide and diverse range of industries including: communications, automotive, transport, construction, industrial, automation, energy and environmental monitoring.

Examples of recent graduate destinations include:

• Arm

• BT

• Cisco Systems

• Driver and Vehical Standards Agency (DVSA)

• Hyperdrive Innovation Ltd

• Imagination Technologies

• Openreach

• Zethon

This masters degree course is also an excellent base from which to pursue a PhD and possibly an academic career.

Read profiles of our alumni to find out more about where some of our graduates are working.

Careers support

At Leeds we help you to prepare for your future from day one. Our Leeds for Life initiative is designed to help you develop and demonstrate the skills and experience you need for when you graduate. We will help you to access opportunities across the University and record your key achievements, so you are able to articulate them clearly and confidently.

You will have access to the wide range of careers resources and support from your Careers Service. You will have the chance to attend industry presentations, book appointments with qualified careers consultants and take part in employability workshops and webinars. Our careers fairs provide further opportunities to explore your career options with some of the UKs leading employers.

You will also have full access to the University’s Careers Centre, which is one of the largest in the country.

Our annual STEM Careers Fairs provide further opportunities to explore your career options with some of the UKs leading employers.

There are also plenty of exciting ways you can volunteer during your time at Leeds. Find out more at the Leeds University Union website.

Working on a project is one of the most satisfying elements of this course. It allows you to apply what you’ve learned to a piece of research focusing on a real-world problem, and it can be used to explore and develop your specific interests.

Recent projects have included:

• Agricultural Monitoring System

• Wearable ECG Monitor

• Sonic imager

• Internet-of-Things Smart Home