MSc Communications and Information Engineering with Extended Professional Practice
Why choose Herts?
- Industry Accreditation: This course is accredited by IET and meets Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UKSPEC).
- Teaching Excellence: You will be taught by the Engineering Research Group research academics. This group receives funding each year from industry to deliver industry-demand courses.
- Work Placement Opportunities: You have a one-year industry placement option enabling you to gain real-world industrial experience.
Professional Accreditations
This course is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) up to and including the January 2024 intake 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.
About the course
The Extended Professional Practice award provides you with the opportunity of a placement, working in a relevant engineering environment to further develop the knowledge and skills you gain from the taught modules. The placement takes place during the first two semesters of the second year of enrolment, after which you’ll return to complete your MSc Individual Project. It's up to you to secure a suitable placement, although the Careers and Employment service is here to support you throughout the process.
This course enables students to understand the fundamentals of information theory and apply appropriate performance and quality measures to engineer enhanced data communication systems.
Students design state-of-the-art networks using legacy as well as emerging optical and wireless technologies, developing the students’ ability to define and apply appropriate analytic, algorithmic and a mix of simulation and hardware tools for reliable data transfer.
Students will cover subject specific subjects such as Digital Mobile Communication Systems and Optical Communication Technologies alongside cohort taught subjects to develop their management skills and their employability.
The successful postgraduates of the course will acquire the knowledge and understanding, intellectual, practical and transferable skills necessary for the analysis and synthesis of problems in engineering and manufacturing through a combination of experimental, simulation, research methods and case studies. They can expect to gain work in a range of disciplines within a variety of industries from specialist technical roles to positions of management responsibility.
Why choose this course?
During your placement year, you'll gain hands-on industrial experience, applying the skills learned during your studies.
Students who undertake this course will gain knowledge and understanding of the advanced theoretical issues and their practical implementations that underlie recent developments in Communications and Information Engineering.
Students will be able to explore, explain the engineering challenges inherent in a variety of data communication applications.
During your placement year, you'll gain hands-on industrial experience, applying the skills learned during your studies. Supported by the School which has over 25 years' experience of teaching electronic engineering and has established an excellent international reputation in this field.
We offer extensive lab facilities for engineering students, including the latest software packages.
Ranked 7th for engineering and technology in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES, 2024).
What will I study?
The industrial placement award offers the opportunity for you to undertake a period of industrial placement, and so develop your understanding and skills within a professional environment. This award requires the successful completion of at least 30 weeks full-time equivalent placement activity from a maximum of two separate approved placement, neither of which will be normally less than 12 weeks. The Careers and Employment service will actively support you in the placement process, however, the responsibility of securing a suitable placement lies with you. Ultimately, the placement company will select students usually through an interview process.
Our enthusiastic staff is always looking for new ways to enhance your learning experience and over recent years, we have won national awards for our innovative teaching ideas. In addition, our staff are active in research and useful elements of it are reflected on the learning experience.
The Department of Engineering and Computer Science has a reputation for innovation in teaching and learning, where nearly all MSc modules are delivered through a combination of traditional face-to-face teaching and backup tutorial's using the University's StudyNet web based facility. StudyNet allows students to access electronic teaching and learning resources, and conduct electronic discussions with staff and other students.
A heavy emphasis is placed on theory and practice, and the Department of Engineering and Computer Science has a policy of using industrial standard software wherever possible.
Where will I study?
Learn in Spectra, our new state-of-the-art School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science building, now open, featuring interactive learning zones. Access modeling, simulation, and research labs, our Merlin Flight Simulator, automotive workshop (including electric vehicle facility), wind tunnel, welding bay, and controls testing suite.
Benefit from our Academic Support Hub, designed to enhance your employability and academic skills. Connect with industry mentors offering pastoral support, career guidance, and progression opportunities.
Spectra provides collaborative spaces, including workshops, social areas, and meeting rooms. Designed with the University’s net-zero carbon target in mind, it’s part of our commitment to replacing inefficient older sites.
Further course information
| Course fact sheets | |
|---|---|
| MSc Communications and Information Engineering - Extended | Download |
| Programme specifications | |
|---|---|
| MSc Communications and Information Engineering - Extended | Download |
| Additional information | |
|---|---|
Sandwich placement or study abroad year |
n/a |
Applications open to international and EU students |
Yes |