Study

Our courses

The Institute for Communication Systems is part of a larger School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering offering a number of undergraduate and postgraduate taught courses as well as PhD research. Specific courses with content relating to communications, involving the engagement in research conducted within the institute are detailed as follows with links to investigate coming to study with us.

Taught postgraduate courses in communication systems

There are three taught postgraduate master degrees offered focusing on communication systems from different angles as follows, with links to find out everything about them in depth and to apply to study:

• Intelligent Communication Systems and Networks MSc – Artificial intelligence exists in many sectors, including telecommunications, in modern day where experts are needed to bring these skills together. This course focuses on exactly that purpose covering machine learning together with communication networks providing other optional areas of learning important to the sector including radio frequency engineering and security.
• Satellite Communications Engineering MSc – The University has a rich history of research and teaching in satellite and space systems, while the institute is one of few places in the world with ongoing research and teaching interests in satellite communications. Therefore, this course is specifically focused to the growing industry in non-terrestrial communications covering key components including satellite orbits, radio frequency systems, security and networking.
• Electronic Engineering MSc – This MSc programme covers a wide range of modules available within the school enabling a student to shape their specialism. This includes popular options to combine communication networks together with radio frequency engineering, firmware programming, energy or artificial intelligence.

Undergraduate programmes relating to communication systems

Students at undergraduate level are recommended to study for our BEng or MEng Electronic Engineering degree programme. This course begins with and builds on from the essential foundations at undergraduate level including electronic circuits, digital systems, electromagnetism, software and mathematics. Beyond this students may engage in a professional training year and progress to specialise in areas relating to communications including radio frequency engineering, firmware programming, artificial intelligence and communication networks.

Postgraduate research 

There are two ways to pursue postgraduate research within the institute towards a PhD qualification:

• Information and Communication Systems PhD – This is a standard PhD programme where a postgraduate researcher will typically apply and if offered a place it would be with a specific supervisor team within a research are of their interest. Research topics are negotiated at the application stage. 
• Centre for Doctoral Training on Future Open Secure Networks (FORT) – The Institute is home to the Centre for Doctoral Training which is a PhD programme including a training element and collaboration with Queens University Belfast. The objective of the CDT is to form experts combining artificial intelligence, communication networks an cyber security to form future resilient open secure networks. Please refer to FORT’s website for full details.