LM346 – Master of Engineering in Computer and Communications Systems

LM346 Programme of Study

The Master of Engineering in Computer and Communications Systems is a one-year, full-time, taught postgraduate programme, worth 90 ECTS credits. It consists of ten taught modules and a major project that spans the year. Each taught module is worth 6 ECTS credits and the project has a weight of 30 ECTS credits. The course runs over three academic semesters, Autumn, Spring and Summer. Taught material is presented in the Autumn and Spring semesters, and the project is completed in the Summer semester. In each of the Autumn and Spring semesters, a student studies five modules, three of which are compulsory and two of which are “elective“, that is, chosen from a selection of available modules.

The Programme is designed to equip students with a detailed knowledge of software engineering and its application in the field of communications systems.

Interested in broadening your educational journey, check out our open day information video below presented by Head of Department, Prof. Martin Hayes.

Entrance Requirements

The principal entry requirement for either version of the programme is a 2.2 honours (Level 8 – National Qualifications Authority of Ireland) (or better) undergraduate degree in a numerate and relevant discipline. An interview may be part of the admission process.

WHAT TO INCLUDE WITH YOUR APPLICATION:

• Qualification transcripts and/or certificates (including certified English translations if applicable)
• English language qualification(s) (if English is not your first language)
• A one page supporting statement
• A copy of your birth certificate

English Language Requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of either prior successful completion of a degree qualification taught through the medium of English or meet one of the criteria below (no longer than two years prior to application):

Acceptable English Language qualifications include the following:

• Matriculation examinations from European countries where English is presented as a subject and an acceptable level is achieved
• Irish Leaving Certificate English –Ordinary Level Grade D or above
• TOEFL – 580 (paper based) or 90 (internet based)
• IELTS – Minimum score of 6.5 with no less than 6 in any one component.
• English Test for English and Academic Purposes (ETAPP) – Grade C1
• GCE ‘O’ level English Language/GCSE English Language – Grade C or above
• University of Cambridge ESOL –Certificate of Proficiency in English – Grade C / Certificate in Advanced English – Grade A
• GCE Examination Boards – Oxford Delegacy of Local Examinations – Grade C / Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate – School Certificate Pass 1-6 / University of London Entrance and School Examinations Council – School Certificate Pass 1-6

Results in examinations other than those listed above may also be accepted as meeting our English language requirements. Contact the International Education Division for advice.

Career Opportunities
Prospective careers include the design of computer networking hardware and software and the planning, research, design and development of future telecommunications systems.

Fees
The following links illustrate taught postgraduate tuition fees for EU Students and for Non-EU students, https://ulsites.ul.ie/finance/finance-documents-0#fees. As this programme qualifies for a scholarship for Non-EU students, please contact the International Education Division. (Email: int.ed@ul.ie) for further information.

How to apply

You can apply online here or contact Postgraduate Admissions at:

Postgraduate Admissions
Graduate School
University of Limerick
Limerick, Ireland

Tel. +353-61-234377 or 233729

Fax. +353-61-233287

Email: gps@ul.ie

Module Summary Descriptions

C++ Programming

Basic C++. Objects and Classes, Function and Operator Overloading, Inheritance and Polymorphism. Input and Output. Memory Management, Templates, Exception handling. The standard template library. The ANSI/ISO standard development environments: Debuggers, Profilers and Browsers.

Software Engineering

Object Oriented Methodologies (one in detail e.g. OMT/UML). Object Oriented Programming Languages (e.g, Java). Case Study and Project in the area of Software Design for Advanced Communication Systems. Software Reuse.

Multimedia Communications

Provides students with an understanding of applications and networking infrastructures used in communications for data in the form of text, images, audio and video.

Digital Signal Processing

Discrete signals and systems; railings as theoretical samplers; analogue and digital convolution; linearphase, all-pass filters, and minimum-phase filters; windowing techniques; frequency-sampling filters; IIR filters; up-sampling and down-sampling; finite word-length effects; noise topics; correlation principles; adaptive filtering; power spectra and spectral estimation.

Information Theory & Coding

Baseband Digital Communications. Digital Modulation Systems. Multiple Access, TDMA, FDMA and CDMA. Adaptive Equalisation. Fundamentals of Information Theory. Channel Coding.

Real-Time systems

Real Time Systems: Definitions and application examples. Programming language features for real-time support for concurrency, synchronisation, hard-scheduling etc. Features to define a real-time operating system. Design Approaches. Design and Modelling using Petri Nets. State Machines and Real-time temporal logic. Real-Time Program Study of formal techniques for real-time systems. Case Study.

Communication & Security Protocols

Introduces students to security services and cryptographic protocols used for information and system security, in areas such as wireless networks, e-commerce and the Internet. Provides an understanding of security protocol design techniques and formal methods for evaluation of the reliability of security protocols.

Digital Control

Review of classical control; classical design techniques; digital control systems; direct design; multivariable designing; implementation of digital controllers; system identification, robust and optimal control.

Digital Communications

Communication theory; digital signal processing; signal formatting for baseband systems; modulation and demodulation techniques; multiple access as opposed to multiplexing techniques; transmission medium; synchronization for digital systems; adaptive equalization.

Host & Network Security

Introduction to security attack and defence techniques. Students will be aware of the major attacks on information in computer networks and how to plan for the deployment of secure architectures and security management tools. The student will be able to advise on security criteria and vulnerabilities and will be able to design a secure operating network and analyse its vulnerabilities.

Master Of Engineering Project 1 – Project Identification

The project is a significant engineering task, involving research, design and implementation related to a selected problem in a selected area. Projects are normally undertaken individually by students, although group project work is also allowed.

This module aims to raise awareness of the following features and functions of academic writing: critical thinking; the planning process of a research project; analysing publications related to the research area, brainstorming; outlining, writing an abstract; writing the outline of a research project; presenting arguments; describing graphs/tables; interpreting data.

Master Of Engineering Project 2 – Project Design & Implementation

The project is a significant engineering task, involving research, design and implementation related to a selected problem in a selected area. Projects are normally undertaken individually by students, although group project work is also allowed. Each project student (or project group) works under the supervision of an academic staff member who is responsible for the overall direction of the project. The project definition, including goals, methodologies and expected deliverables will be documented and formally approved by the course leader and academic supervisor prior to the commencement of the work. Each student is required to submit a formal project report/paper on the outcomes of the work.