University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2019/20 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Engineering > Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering > Communications (PhD) > Specification
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Programme code | 4EENG013R |
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Programme type | Postgraduate Research Degree |
Programme director(s) |
Simon Armour
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Faculty | Faculty of Engineering |
School/department | Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering |
Teaching institution | |
Awarding institution | |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 1 years (full time) |
Educational aims of the programme
This programme prepares students for in-depth PhD level study in the field of Communication Engineering, as well as providing an exit point at the end of year 1 if needed. The taught programme will draw from our established MSc programmes in Wireless Communication and Signal Processing Systems, Communication Networks and Signal Processing (CSSP), and Image and Video Communications and Signal Processing, as well as Advanced Computing and Advanced Microelectronic Systems Engineering (AMSE) delivered by Electrical & Electronic Engineering (EE Eng) and Computer Science (CS), with additional M-level units from Mathematics. The strength and depth of the School of Mathematics means that local expertise in important topics such as random matrix theory, graphical models, dynamical systems and optimisation will be available to underpin PhD research in Communications Engineering following on from this 1 year MSc, thus providing the necessary mathematical rigour to design and analyse modern communication systems at PhD level.
The programme structure offers flexibility for students entering from varying backgrounds, allowing for some tailoring of the content on an individual basis. It will therefore accommodate those wishing to re-orientate their career trajectory or companies needing to retrain staff, thus substantially increasing the potential recruitment base. All students will undertake a multidisciplinary Group Project organised across two or more departments. This will be strongly application focused and facilitated by our industrial partners. Students will typically evaluate the trade-offs in and design a communication system, covering aspects from baseband to transceiver. This will provide further insight into the multiple domains within the communications arena and act as a precursor to research project selection. Students will also embark on a solo mini-research project after the taught course examinations (see below) selected from an extensive list jointly compiled by some 40 academics associated with the Centre and our industrial partners. This will include both industrially focused technical challenges and highly innovative blue-skies studies bridging science and engineering. In many cases the mini-project will lead directly to the core PhD research topic within the CDT for Communications; however students will have the opportunity to change topics as well as to suggest their own project area. At the end of year 1, a student conference will be held to bring the cohort together and enable students to share results from their mini research projects with colleagues and industrial partners
Taught modules will be subject to coursework and examination at during and/or at the end of the teaching blocks in which they are taught. An overall average mark of 60% will be used as the normal progression criteria into year 2 of the PhD programme to ensure high quality PhD projects in years 2-4. As previously highlighted, this MSc provides an exit route at the end of year 1, where those needing to curtail their studies early may be awarded an MSc in Communications Engineering instead of continuing onto the PhD programme.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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1 & 3 are acquired through lectures and taught laboratory activities, mainly in the first semester. 2 & 3 are acquired mainly in the second semester through lectures, and the research project. 4 is acquired through the research project. 5 is acquired through taught laboratories and the research project |
Methods of Assessment | |
Assessment comprises a combination of unseen written examinations (1-3), together with assessed coursework (1-5) in the form of laboratory experiment write-ups (1-3), computer-based tests (1-3), presentations (2,3), oral examinations (1 [some subjects]), and project dissertations (2-4). |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Intellectual skills are developed through the teaching and learning programme outlined above. Analysis and problem-solving skills are further developed through examples sheets or by textbook problems. Experimental, research, and design skills are further developed through coursework activities, laboratory experiments, and the research project. Individual feedback is given to students on all work produced. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Analysis and problem-solving skills are assessed through unseen written examinations and through computer-based tests. Experimental, research, and design skills are assessed through laboratory experiment write-ups, coursework reports, computer-based tests and project dissertations. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Practical skills are developed through the teaching and learning programme outlined above. Practical experimental skills (1-3) are developed through laboratory experiments and project work. Skill 4 is taught through lectures and developed through laboratory and project activities. Skill 5 is developed through the solo research project. Skills 6 and 7 are taught and developed through lectures, coursework exercises, and project work. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Practical skills are assessed through laboratory experiment write-ups, computer-based tests and project dissertations. |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Certificate |
Evidence of appropriate understanding of Communications Engineering across a limited range of areas and units. |
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Level M/7 - Postgraduate Diploma |
As for the Certificate, but displaying a broader and deeper level of understanding of Communications Engineering across the full range of units assessed. |
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Masters |
As for the Diploma, plus additionally evidence of:
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The intended learning outcome mapping document shows which mandatory units contribute towards each programme intended learning outcome.
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the postgraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/postgraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
Email address: cdt-communications@bristol.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)117 954 5395
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Enterprise | EENGM8892 | 10 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Communications CDT Group Project | EENGM8890 | 20 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Communications CDT Individual Research Project | EENGM0012 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Communication Systems (M) | EENGM2100 | 10 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Students taking the Communications graduate pathway must take the following units: | ||||
Numerical Methods in Matlab | EMAT20920 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Students taking the Mathematics graduate pathway must take the following units: | ||||
Mobile Communications (M) | EENGM2500 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Networking Protocol Principles (M) | EENGM0007 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Digital Filters and Spectral Analysis (M) | EENGM1400 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Students who are not taking the Communications or Mathematics pathways must take the following units: | ||||
Digital Filters and Spectral Analysis (M) | EENGM1400 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Networking Protocol Principles (M) | EENGM0007 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Mobile Communications (M) | EENGM2500 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Numerical Methods in Matlab | EMAT20920 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Choose remaining options from the list below to make a total of 180 credit points, with no more than 20 credits below Masters level i.e. units with an 'M' in the code: | ||||
Human-Computer Interaction | COMS21301 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Optical Networks | EENGM0003 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Networking Protocol Principles (M) | EENGM0007 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Data Center Networking | EENGM0008 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Networked Systems and Applications | EENGM0009 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Statistical Signal and Image Processing | EENGM0016 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Digital Filters and Spectral Analysis (M) | EENGM1400 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Speech and Audio Processing | EENGM1411 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Coding Theory (M) | EENGM2010 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Mobile Communications (M) | EENGM2500 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Advanced Mobile Radio Techniques | EENGM2510 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Image and Video Coding | EENGM4021 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Digital Signal Processing Systems | EENGM4100 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Advanced Networks | EENGM4211 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Broadband Wireless Communications | EENGM4221 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Antennas | EENGM0024 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Radio Frequency Engineering (M) | EENGM6500 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Dynamics of Networks | EMATM0008 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Uncertainty Modelling for Intelligent Systems | EMATM1120 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | EMAT31530 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Scientific Computing | EMAT30008 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Numerical Methods in Matlab | EMAT20920 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Complex Networks 4 | MATHM6201 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Bayesian Modelling | MATH30015 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Random Matrix Theory | MATH30016 | 10 | Optional | TB-2C |
120 |
The assessment of the taught component of a doctoral degree is governed by the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and is assessed separately from the research project. Progression to the research project may be dependent on the successful completion of the taught component - please refer to the relevant handbook for the structure of the particular programme.
The pass mark set by the University for any level 7(M) unit is 50 out of 100.
It may be possible to exit the programme with a taught award. For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Research Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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