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MSc Communications and Information Engineering

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.
  • Employment Prospects: Graduates work as Communications Systems Engineers, Network and Communications Engineers for organisations including Transport for London, Network Rail, and the Institution of Engineering and Technology.
  • Entry requirements and key information

    The entry requirements will typically be a minimum of a 2(ii) Honours degree in Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering or a closely related discipline.

    In addition, candidates should have been exposed to relevant material at undergraduate level to sufficient depth to enable them to benefit from their chosen MSc programme.

    International qualifications will be considered on the basis of their equivalence to UK qualifications, typically guided by a resource such as the National Academic Recognition Information centre (NARIC). Candidates will be required to demonstrate a suitable level of proficiency in written and spoken English. An IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent) would typically be required from candidates whose first language is not English. Candidates who do not satisfy these requirements will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

    If you do not have the required level of English for entry, our academic English courses can help you to achieve this level.

    Institution code

    		 H36

    School of study

    		 School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science

    Course length
  • Full Time, 1 Years
    		•

    Location
  • University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield
    		•
  • Employability

    Careers

    Communications engineers prepare and maintain communications systems and the marketplace increasingly relies on highly advanced communications systems, so communications engineering is a valued field. Careers may be sought in telecommunications or related fields that use computer networking and satellite, digital TV, Internet or radio technology.

    Graduates may therefore expect employment across a very wide range of engineering companies.

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.

Accredited Programme RGB

About the course

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?

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.

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?

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.

  • Level 7
    ModuleCreditsCompulsory/optional
    Advanced Reconfigurable Systems Design15 CreditsCompulsory
    Biometric Systems15 CreditsCompulsory
    Mobile Communication Systems15 CreditsCompulsory
    Radio Frequency and Microwave Engineering15 CreditsCompulsory
    Artificial Intelligence and Applications15 CreditsCompulsory
    Broadband and Wireless Networking15 CreditsCompulsory
    Digital Signal Processing and Applications15 CreditsCompulsory
    Optical Communication Technologies15 CreditsCompulsory
    MSc Individual Project (Electronics)60 CreditsCompulsory

    • Further course information

    Course fact sheets
    MSc Communications and Information Engineering (Revised 2024) Download
    Programme specifications
    MSc Communications and Information Engineering (Revised 2024) Download
    Additional information

    Sandwich placement or study abroad year

    n/a

    Applications open to international and EU students

    		 Yes

    Student experience

    At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible. We offer a range of support services including; student wellbeing, academic support, accommodation and childcare to ensure that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying and having fun.

    Find out about how we support our students

    You can also read our student blogs to find out about life at Herts.