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1 Year Pre Masters Programme Leading to MSc in The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Masters (MSc)
Duration:
1 year full-time
Course Content
The programme is operated on a modular basis and consists of two semesters during which students follow a series of taught modules in electrical and electronic engineering and a provision for in-sessional English for students wishing to improve their English.
You will be taught using the latest advances in teaching methods and electronic resources, as well as small-group and individual tuition.
Particular features of the programme include:
- one-to-one tuition with expert members of staff
- teaching informed by active leading-edge researchers
in the field
- innovative and engaging teaching methods
- access to many online resources
- flexibility in course content
All postgraduate students in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering join a lively and thriving postgraduate community.
Students undertake an Electrical or Electronic Engineering Design Project and select a range of modules (certain restrictions apply) from:
Electronic Design, Solid State Devices, VLSI Design, Telecommunication Electronics, Power Networks, Electrical Machines, Energy Conversion for Motor and Generator Drives, Power Electronic Design, Fields Waves and Antennas, Control Systems, Digital Communications, Object Oriented Programming in Java, Communication Systems, Embedded Computer Hardware, Microwave Communications, IT Infrastructure.
In addition students study a business related topic such as Business Accounting or Management Studies.
Students also have the opportunity to select an optional module from science, mathematics, engineering, computer science, law, business, or languages.
Upon successful completion of the first stage students will progress to the full-time MSc programme in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
Course Structure
You will be taught using the latest advances in teaching methods and electronic resources, as well as small-group and individual tuition from both schools.
Most taught modules are assessed by examination and/or written work.
Tutors provide feedback on assignments. Our objective is to help you develop the confidence to work as a professional engineer, at ease with the conventions of both engineering and business disciplines. We aim to prepare you to tackle many areas of commercialisation within Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
Modules
This module takes the form of a laboratory-based project which is performed in groups of either 3 or 4 students. The overall aim of the project is to design, build, test and document a basic switched reluctance motor drive with microcomputer control. The tasks are specifically designed to be open ended. The project exercises and develops skills in analogue electronic design, digital electronic design, real-time software, presentation and group working.
This module takes the form of a laboratory-based project which is performed in groups of 3 or 4 students. The overall aim of the project is to design, build, test and document a basic RF communications system with microcomputer control. The tasks are specifically designed to be open ended. The project exercises and develops skills in analogue electronic design, digital electronic design, real-time software, presentation and group working.
This module covers further topics relevant to the design of analogue circuits including:
- Bipolar Junction Transistor small signal models & single stage amplifier configurations
- MOSFET/JFET small signal models & single stage amplifier configurations
- High-frequency models and the Miller effect
- Biasing using active loads, current mirrors and current sources
- Cascode & cascaded two-stage BJT and MOSFET amplifiers
- Differential pair amplifier
- Two-stage operational amplifier
- Electrical noise models and calculations
This module seeks to develop a detailed understanding of the internal operating mechanisms of semiconductor electronic and opto-electronic devices. The module will focus on devices based on pn junctions (e.g. diodes, bipolar junction transistors) and devices based on MOS capacitors (e.g. memory cells, CCD detectors, MOSFETs). The module will consider how the targeted application for a device impacts upon its design. (For example, signal-mixing diodes, power diodes, light-emitting diodes, laser diodes, photodetectors and solar cells are all based upon the pn diode, but provide very different functionality.) The characteristics required of these devices will be discussed in relation to their incorporation into appropriate electronic systems.
This module provides an in-depth understanding of both full and semi custom CMOS integrated circuit design. It is biased towards electronic systems rather than solid state devices. The module covers:
- CMOS gate DC and transient performance
- CMOS chip fabrication processes
- Analysis of delays in logic gates driving capacitive loads, and their buffering
- VLSI layout design techniques, rules and limitations
- Electrical parameters and measurement of parasitics
- Power dissipation - static and dynamic
- Combinational/Sequential/Peripheral circuit designs
- Custom and semi-custom design styles
- Scaling of integrated circuit dimensions
- Chip yield and economics
- Self-study CAD laboratory exercise with a pre- and post-layout cell design
This module covers the design and analysis of electronic systems used in telecommunications especially radio:
- oscillators
- amplifiers
- PLL
- mixers.
This module provides students with an understanding of power system apparatus and their behaviour under normal and fault conditions. This module covers:
- concept and analysis of load flow
- voltage/current symmetrical components
- computation of fault currents
- economic optimisation
- power-system control and stability
- power system protection
- Power Quality
This module provides students with an understanding of the operational characteristics of common electrical machines (dc, ac induction, ac synchronous and stepping). Both theoretical and practical characteristics are covered. These include:
- Electromagnetic theory applied to electrical machines
- Principles and structure of dc machines - commutation effects
- Principles and structure of induction machines
- Principles and structure of synchronous machines
- Parameterisation for performance prediction
- Machine testing and evaluation
This module provides an understanding of how electrical machines and controlled power converters combine to form variable-speed drive systems meeting the need of motive power applications. This module includes:
- review of ac and dc machines
- power electronic control of machines
- control techniques and system performance
- drive comparison and applications
- performance and cost.
- analysis of typical load systems and specifications
This module provides students with an understanding of the operational principles of power electronic converters and their associated systems. This module covers:
- 3-phase naturally commutated ac-dc/dc-ac converters
- capacitive and inductive smoothing - device ratings
- dc-ac PWM inverters and modulation strategies
- resonant converters
- high power factor utility interface circuits
- power converter topologies for high power (multilevel)
This module enables students to design both analogue and digital controllers for linear single-input single-output systems. Students have access to CAD control design packages for evaluating control design. This module covers:
- design of analogue controllers using Root Locus Method
- closed loop performance and frequency response
- microprocessor implementation
- practical problems in digital control
- design of digital controllers using z-plane techniques
- practice with CAD package.
This module presents and develops the basic analytical, computational and experimental tools used in the study of electromagnetic fields and waves at high frequency. Topics covered include waves on transmission lines, Maxwell's equations and plane electromagnetic wave propagation, power flow, methods for electromagnetic field computation and an introduction to antennas and radar.
This module is an introduction to the operation of modern digital communication systems. Topics covered include:
- communication systems
- information content and channel capacity
- digital modulation techniques
- data compression techniques
- error-correcting and line coding techniques
- digital signal regeneration techniques
- system examples,FAX, Teletext, NICAM and CD technologies.
The Module introduces the Java programming language, and the netBeans IDE as tools to develop applications for devices from mobile phones, to the web. The windows desktop applications of today are being joined and replaced by web based applications, and mobile applications, as the power of these devices continues to increase. Powerful graphics and real time applications are needed which can run in a number of environments. The Write Once Run Many (WORM) ideas behind Java under pin many web based tools. The netBeans IDE, is used for all of the laboratory work,
This module provides an insight into the issues concerned with implementing a practical digital communication system. The module uses digital television as an example of a complex digital system. Topics covered include encoding, dithering and quantization, data compression techniques, data transmission, modulation techniques and the associated technologies.
Architectures for embedded programmable digital electronics; operation of a microcontroller and its programming; assembly language directives and instructions; interfacing of microcontrollers; embedded peripherals and interrupts in microcontrollers; communications for embedded computing; special features of microcontrollers (the above items are based on the PIC16 microcontroller family); various microcontroller families; introduction to larger scale embedded systems.
This module provides an overview of microwave telecommunication systems. Topics cover characteristics of atmosphere and ionosphere, microwaves in free space (the link equation, satellite communications, microwave radio links, remote sensing (RADAR)), microwave waveguides and devices (coaxial cable, microstrip/ striplines, rectangular and circular waveguides, periodic structures and filters), transmission line equivalents of microwave circuits, matrix representation of microwave networks (transfer matrix, scattering matrix) and impedance matching.
The ability to design and implement a complete IT system (networking & systems) for various size organisations.
This module will cover basic concepts and principles of accounting including:
- financial accounting
- stock valuation and depreciation
- preparation and adjustment of trial balance sheet
- cash flow statement
- use of accounting ratios
- manufacturing overheads
- absorption and variable costing
- management accounting.
This module introduces a diverse set of topics that a graduate engineer is likely to encounter upon entering employment. This will equip them with the knowledge to be able to write and assess rudimentary business plans and make informed decisions about product and business development. It includes various models, tools and concepts that are common within the business community including: Belbin’s model of team formation, the appropriate use of PEST and SWOT analysis, the basics of marketing, the product life cycle, technology audits, sources of finance, intellectual property, ethics and product design. The generation of an idea for a new product and its development into a Business Plan serves as both the primary means of assessment and a way of discussing the above topics in a meaningful context.
This module will aim to extend the linguistic and study skills of the students to a level that is adequate for full participation in (a) the foundation year course and (b) undergraduate engineering and science studies.
This module will aim to extend the linguistic and study skills of the students to a level that is adequate for full participation in (a) the foundation year course and (b) undergraduate engineering and science studies.
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