Communications and Signal Processing MSc (Eng)

Digital signal processing (DSP) is at the core of the communications revolution. Research is constantly being carried out to develop new DSP algorithms, allowing mobile broadband services, ‘Internet of Things’ applications and other technologies to be delivered to a growing number of users. Statistical signal processing is also fundamental to all aspects of the parallel robotics revolution, including sensing, localisation and the now ubiquitous discipline of machine learning.

This programme will give you a thorough introduction to the communications landscape, giving you an in-depth understanding of DSP, wireless communications, optical communications networks and the complex issues around network security. You can also study specialist modules such as embedded microprocessors or FPGA System-on-Chip.

Course highlights

• Our courses are shaped by our world-leading research in areas such as Communications networks and systems, Smart energy systems and Wireless communications.

• 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 Dr Des McLernon. His research interests are broadly within the domain of signal processing for wireless communications. His current research project includes “On the Multiple Access and Coding Problems in Massive IoT”, which is funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) – a joint research collaboration between the University of Leeds, Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU) and the University of Manchester.

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.

Throughout the year you’ll study a set of core modules that will give you an in-depth understanding of DSP, wireless and optical communications systems and network security.

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 Communications and Signal Processing 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 Communications and Signal Processing 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, communications engineering, computing or a related subject. Applicants should have high marks in relevant modules such as communications and digital signal processing.

A bachelor degree with a first class (hons) in 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.

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 will have obtained the skills that will lead to employment in any area of the communications/signal processing industry including optical networking, DSP design and implementation, cellular mobile, RF planning, broadband systems and general communications research and development.

Examples of recent graduate destinations include:

• National Grid

• Apple

• Ericsson Telecommunications

• Arm

• Imagination Technologies

• Cisco Systems

• AECOM

• Deep Sea Electronics

• Huawei

• Intel Corporation

• The Technology and Strategy Board

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:

• Powerline communications for smart grid

• Quantum key distribution over passive optical networks

• Physical layer security using artificial noise

• An energy-saving robot mobility diversity algorithm for wireless communications

• Analysis and processing of physiological data from a smart watch to monitor health

• Evaluation of wireless sensor networks for civil engineering applications

• Cooperative wireless communications over fading channels

• Carrier frequency offset compensation in OFDM for IEEE 802.11

• Underlay spectrum access strategy in cognitive radio

• Compressive sensing for channel estimation in massive MIMO

• Deep learning for intrusion detection in software defined networks

• Device-to-device communications in 5G