Microwave and Optical Fibre Communications at Royal Holloway, University of London - UCAS

Course summary

Microwave and optical fibre communication systems enable high-speed communication, used in our everyday life from high-speed home-based internet, smart mobile phones, machine-to-machine communication systems, and ‘Everything Connected’. At Royal Holloway, we are one of the few institutions in the UK with the skills and resources to provide hands-on experience in this area. You’ll join an active, research-focused, postgraduate-only community; a unique microwave photonics and sensors research group. This new masters focuses on the usage of fibre optics and RoF communications in 5G/6G and beyond, as well as in areas such as space and defence. As a student you will:

  • Conduct hands-on experiments using microwave and photonic components and their integration into broadband transmission systems and have the opportunity to see first-hand how Radio Frequency signals are transmitted through fibre optic systems, as we’re one of only a handful of universities with microwave photonics cutting-edge laboratory facilities sponsored by leading defence industry.
  • Develop an understanding of a range of advanced theories, simulation methods, and practical design spectral efficiency techniques applied in industry, providing you with the essential knowledge expertise and skills required to become an Microwave Photonics engineer.
  • Work on industry-funded projects that will be overseen directly by industry-leading specialists in emerging smart communication technologies.
This MSc programme will contribute specialist expertise productively to a multi-specialist development team working on solving modern real-world emerging communication engineering problems, in terms of analysis, design, implementation, testing, and project management. From time to time, we make changes to our courses to improve the student and learning experience, and this is particularly the case as we continue to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. If we make a significant change to your chosen course, we’ll let you know as soon as we can.

Modules

Please visit our website for information on modules: https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/postgraduate/electronic-engineering/microwave-and-optical-fibre-communications/

Assessment method

This MSc consists of eight modules and a dissertation. Teaching follows several different complementary models: face-to-face, online, pre-recorded, workshops, presentations, practical sessions, hands-on experiments labs. Assessments cover a variety of activities: groupwork, presentations, reports, Moodle quizzes, etc. Across the four MScs, examples and industry case-studies are international and cover many different backgrounds. Modules feature built-in formative assessments (eg Moodle quizzes, workshops, presentations) that complement and lead up to summative assessment. Students have a close relationship with their tutors, and with the teaching staff in general, which means they have many opportunities for feedback. They receive oral feedback in workshops, presentations, practical sessions, and labs.


Entry requirements

2:2 Electronic Engineering or related subject Or equivalent from a: Telecoms, Electrical, Electronics or Systems Engineering background.


Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Republic of Ireland £12600 Year 1
EU £22800 Year 1
England £12600 Year 1
Northern Ireland £12600 Year 1
Scotland £12600 Year 1
Wales £12600 Year 1
Channel Islands £12600 Year 1
International £22800 Year 1

Additional fee information

These tuition fees apply to students enrolled on a full-time basis. Students studying on the standard part-time course structure over two years are charged 50% of the full-time applicable fee for each study year. All postgraduate fees are subject to inflationary increases. This means that the overall cost of studying the course via part-time mode is slightly higher than studying it full-time in one year. Royal Holloway's policy is that any increases in fees will not exceed 5% for continuing students. For further information, please see our terms and conditions. Please note that for research courses, we adopt the minimum fee level recommended by the UK Research Councils for the Home tuition fee. Each year, the fee level is adjusted in line with inflation (currently, the measure used is the Treasury GDP deflator). Fees displayed here are therefore subject to change and are usually confirmed in the spring of the year of entry. For more information on the Research Council Indicative Fee please see the RCUK website. The UK Government has confirmed that EU nationals are no longer eligible to pay the same fees as UK students, nor be eligible for funding from the Student Loans Company. This means you will be classified as an international student. At Royal Holloway, we wish to support those students affected by this change in status through this transition. For eligible EU students starting their course with us in September 2023, we will award a fee reduction scholarship equivalent to 30% of the difference between the UK and international fee for your course. This will apply for the duration of your course. Find out more These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2023/24 academic year, and are included as a guide. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included.
Microwave and Optical Fibre Communications at Royal Holloway, University of London - UCAS