Communication Networks Engineering

Description

The evolution of wireless communication systems and networks in recent years has been explosive. This is a global phenomenon, which presently is outstripping the ability of commercial organisations to recruit personnel equipped with the necessary blend of technical and managerial skills to initiate and manage the introduction of the new emerging technologies in networks and wireless systems.

The effect of this current trend has been a growing overlap of the network and communication industries, from component fabrication to system integration. Another result is the development of integrated systems that transmit and process all types of data and information.

This course aims to:

• produce graduates equipped with comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the subject, its underlying principles and ability to apply them to complex engineering problems;
• equip graduates with analytical skills, design skills, and transferable skills for demanding employment in the field of communication networks engineering and related topics, requiring the exercise of leadership, initiative, personal responsibility and decision making in complex and unpredictable situations;
• endow graduates with the independent ability required for continuing professional development and acquiring new skills at a high level;
• provide new areas of teaching in response to the needs of industry and community.

Detailed Course Facts

• EUR 3857 Year (EEA)
• EUR 13793 Year (Non-EEA)

Home: Full-time £3,290; Overseas: Full-time £11,765

• English

Course Content

Typical Modules (Subject to Change)

Level 1 Core

• Principles of Communications
• Devices and Circuits
• Computers and Digital Systems
• Engineering Mathematics
• Programming and Software Design
• Level 1 Workshop

Level 2 Core

• Law, Business and Enterprise for Engineers
• Object Oriented Systems and Software Design
• Wireless Communications
• Signals and Communication Systems
• Maths for Communications Engineering
• Communications Workshop

Level 3 Core

• Reconfigurable Computing for Communications
• Digital Communications Systems
• Network Design and Advanced Security
• Intelligent Communications and Network Optimisation
• Final Project / Dissertation

Level 4 Core (MEng route only)

• Wireless Network Technologies
• Advanced Mobile Systems
• Advanced Digital Communications
• Research Methods and Case Study
• Group Project

Option Modules

• Network Design and Management
• Computer Networks
• Data Communications
• Network Computing
• Optical Communications
• Satellite Communications
• Wireless Communications Security
• Digital Broadcast Communications

Teaching and Learning

Our philosophy

The ethos of the School of Engineering and Design stems from the initial formation of the University as a technological institution in the mid-1960s. Until very recently, all students on the mechanical engineering degree programmes were sandwich students.
This is still the preferred option, although the increase in student numbers in the last few years has unfortunately not been matched by an equivalent increase in industrial placements available. Also, some students prefer to proceed with a straight-through academic programme.

In addition to its teaching programmes, we maintain an active research environment, having achieved a Grade 4 in our last research assessment exercise.

Hours

In Level 1 contact between students and academic staff is relatively high at 17 hours per week to assist you to adjust from school/college to university life. As the course progresses the number of contact hours is steadily reduced as you undertake more project-based work.

How will I be taught?Lectures

These provide a broad overview of the main concepts and ideas you need to understand and give you a framework on which to expand your knowledge by private study.

Laboratories

A staff to student ratio of 1:6 is normal here. Practicals are generally three-hour sessions in which you can practice your observational and analytical skills, and develop a deeper understanding of theoretical concepts.

Design Studios

In a studio you will work on group projects with guidance from members of staff. You may be required to design and produce an artefact or develop a solution to an engineering problem. These sessions allow you to develop your intellectual ability and practice your teamwork skills.

One-to-one

On registration for the course you will be given a personal tutor whose role is to be available to provide academic and pastoral support during your time at university.
You will get one-to-one supervision on all Level 3/4 project work.

Assessment

Level 1 does not count towards your final degree mark but you have to pass this year to continue with the course. Students wishing to transfer from the BEng to the MEng must achieve at least 60% at Level 2.

Several methods of assessment are employed on the course. There are written examinations at the end of each term but work is also continuously assessed throughout. You will undertake projects, assignments, essays, laboratory work and short tests.

Project work is commonplace and is usually completed in groups to imitate the everyday experience in an engineering firm where specialists must pool their talents to design a solution to some problem.

In this situation you can develop your management and leadership skills and ensure that all members of the group deliver their best. Group members share the mark gained, so it is up to each individual to get the most out of everyone else.

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6 CAE score : 60(Grade C) TOEFL paper-based test score : 550 TOEFL iBT® test : 79

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

BEng

UCAS Tariff - 300 points, from:

• GCE A and AS-level Tariff points typically from 3 A-levels together with either 1 AS-level or Extended Project Qualification (typical offer BCC, including Grade B in Maths and Grade C in a Science or Engineering subject at A-level, plus a C in either an AS or EPQ). General Studies not accepted; Critical Thinking accepted as 4th AS-level only.
• Irish Tariff points from 5 subjects, including Grade B in Maths and Grade C in a Science or Engineering subject.
• Scottish Tariff points from 3 Advanced Highers, including Grade B in Maths and Grade C in a Science or Engineering subject, plus 1 Higher.
• Advanced Diploma Tariff points in Engineering, including the Specialist Unit in Maths for Engineers plus 1 AS-level for Additional and Specialist Learning.
• BTEC ND DDM, including Distinction in a Maths module and Merit in either Electrical or Electronic Principles. BTECs are welcomed in a variety of related subjects - please contact the Admissions Tutor for details.
• IB Diploma 31 points, including 5 points in Maths (excluding Maths Studies) at Standard Level and in a Science subject at Higher Level.
• Foundations of engineering courses For Brunel Foundations of Engineering progression requirements, see the course page. For external foundation courses, please contact the Admissions Tutor.
• Access: Pass in an Engineering, Computing or Science subject, with an average of Merits in all units, including Merit in Maths at Level 3. All others considered on an individual basis.

For all of the above, 5 GCSEs or equivalent at Grade C or above are also required, to include English and Maths.

All applicants are required to attend an interview before a formal offer is made.

MEng

UCAS Tariff - 370 points, from:

• GCE A and AS-level Tariff points typically from 3 A-levels together with either 1 AS-level or Extended Project Qualification (typical offer ABB, including Grade B in Maths and in a Science or Engineering subject, plus a B in either an AS or EPQ). General Studies not accepted; Critical Thinking accepted as 4th AS-level only.
• Irish Tariff points from 5 subjects, including Grade B in Maths and in a Science or Engineering subject.
• Scottish Tariff points from 3 Advanced Highers, including Grade B in Maths and in a Science or Engineering subject, plus 1 Higher.
• Advanced Diploma Tariff points in Engineering, including the Specialist Unit in Maths for Engineers plus 1 AS-level for Additional and Specialist Learning.
• BTEC ND DDD including Distinction in a Maths module and in either Electrical or Electronic Principles, together with either 1 AS-level or Extended Project Qualification. BTECs are welcomed in a variety of related subjects. Please contact the Admissions Tutor for details.
• IB Diploma 34 points, including 6 points in Maths (excluding Maths Studies) at Standard Level and in a Science subject at Higher Level.
• Foundations of engineering courses For Brunel Foundations of Engineering progression requirements, see the course page. For external foundation courses, please contact the Admissions Tutor.

For all of the above, 5 GCSEs or equivalent at Grade C or above are also required, to include English and Maths.

All applicants are required to attend an interview before a formal offer is made.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than Brunel University.

Funding

Brunel offers bursaries and scholarships to a wide range of students from different backgrounds and with different talents.

Please note that all information on this page is valid for 2010 entry only. 2011 entry information will be added as soon as it is available.

Brunel Bursaries

A Brunel bursary is a non-repayable sum of money awarded by the University to supplement the Government´s Maintenance Grant. It is designed for undergraduate students from lower-income households.

For 2010 entry, Brunel offers:

• £1,000 per year of study to all undergraduate students entitled to receive a full Maintenance Grant;
• £500 a year to undergraduate students eligible for a partial Maintenance Grant and whose annual household income is between £25,001 and £35,000.

Bursaries are paid automatically to eligible students, in termly instalments - you do not need to make a specific application, but you must indicate on your UCAS form that you consent to financial information being shared with the University.

Brunel Academic Scholarships

Four Scholarship schemes are currently available to new full-time undergraduates at Brunel. Applicants cannot receive more than one Scholarship - you will be awarded the most financially beneficial Scholarship for which you are eligible.

Regional Partnership and Alumni Scholarships

Please note that details and rates are subject to change for 2011 entry.

Brunel's Regional Partnership Scholarships are non-repayable cash awards of up to £3,000, paid each year to up to 25 undergraduate students on the basis of high academic achievement. Brunel Alumni Scholarships (funded by alumni donations) are non-repayable* cash awards of £6,000, paid each year on the same basis as Regional Partnership Scholarships to the five applicants who achieve the highest number of UCAS tariff points.

Eligible students for both Scholarships must have attended a maintained school or college (not an independent or private school) in one of the six boroughs with whom the University operates Widening Participation partnerships - Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow.

You must also meet one or more of the following under-represented criteria:

• You have a disability, including dyslexia (ie you are eligible to apply for the Disabled Student´s Allowance at the time of scholarship allocation in the August of your year of entry);
• You are a care-leaver (ie you have been in care for a minimum of 13 weeks including at the time of your 16th birthday and have declared this on your UCAS form);
• You come from a low-income or low socio-economic background (ie you are entitled to a full Government Maintenance Grant or Special Support grant).

Students who meet the above criteria and who achieve a minimum of 360 UCAS tariff points will be considered for a Regional Partnership Scholarship of up to £3,000 per year or an Alumni Scholarship of £6,000 per year. All applicants attending a partnership school or college who make Brunel their firm choice will be invited to complete an online application in the spring of their year of entry. Only those students who complete the application will be considered for a scholarship.

Brunel Urban Scholarships

Brunel Urban Scholarships are non-repayable cash awards of up to £3,000 per year for students who have attended the Urban Scholars programme at Brunel University for a minimum of two years, who achieve academic excellence and who meet the criteria for obtaining UK fee and maintenance support. Details are sent directly to eligible students.

Brunel Mathematics Scholarships

The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers up to 10 scholarships annually for UK students admitted to one of the undergraduate Mathematics degree programmes (Mathematics, Financial Mathematics, Mathematics and Computing, Mathematics with Computer Science, Mathematical and Management Studies or Mathematics and Statistics with Management). To qualify for a scholarship, students must achieve at least grades AAB at A-level, with grade A in Mathematics or Further Mathematics. Students who achieve 35 points from the International Baccalaureate Diploma, including grade 7 in Higher Level Mathematics, will also be eligible.

Successful applicants will receive £500 in each year of study (except in a placement year), subject to the recipient maintaining at least an upper second class honours standard of academic performance.

Brunel International Scholarships

Scholarships are available to all full international fee paying students who have an offer for a place in the first year of a full-time course at Brunel.

Extra-curricular scholarships and awards

Music Awards

A number of awards are made each year to singers and instrumentalists from any part of the University who are not studying music performance as part of their academic course. Recipients may have all or part of the cost of their music tuition covered while they are studying at Brunel. The University Arts Centre administers the awards through an annual audition system, and you can apply once you have received an offer from Brunel.

The number of awards made each year will vary according to the standard of the applicants and how many students are currently holding full and partial awards, but there will be no fewer than four new awards made each academic year.

Sports Scholarships

The Brunel Sports Scholarship, supported in part by the Borough Road Scholarship Fund, is designed to benefit elite performance athletes by supporting their academic study and sporting commitments simultaneously. The package includes a financial award, free use of our world-class sports facilities and assistance with competition expenses.

Anyone who has fulfilled the conditions of a course and subsequently been given a confirmed place at Brunel can apply, and all applicants must be able to demonstrate sporting achievement at Junior International level or equivalent in one of the 20 Sport England Priority Sports.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).