Date of Revision Date of Previous Revision Programme Specification (2015-16) A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University s Quality Assurance and Enhancement processes as set out in the DASA Policies and Procedures Manual. Programme Title Programme Code MSc Wireless Communications ELE-MSC- WC Criteria for Admissions (Please see General Regulations) UCAS Code Final Award (exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes) N/A JACS Code MSc (exit route PGDip and PGCert) H640 The minimum entry requirement is normally a 2(ii) UK Honours-equivalent first degree in Electrical and/or Electronic Engineering or equivalent degree with significant electronics content. Applicants with non-standard qualifications will be considered on an individual basis. International applicants, or applicants who have not completed their primary or higher degree at an institution where the language of instruction and of assessment is English, will require a recognised English Language qualification equivalent to at least a British Council IELTS qualification scored at a standard of 6.0 (with not less than 5.5 in any component) or equivalent. Mode of Study (Full-time, Part-time, other) Full-Time Type of Programme Single Subject Length of Programme 1 year Total Credits for Programme 180 Awarding Institution/Body Teaching Institution School/Department Framework for Higher Education Qualification Level http://www.qaa.ac.uk/publications/informationan dguidance Queen s University Belfast Queen s University Belfast Electronics Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Level 7 QAA Benchmark Group http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuringstandardsandqualit y/subject-guidance/pages/subject-benchmarkstatements Engineering (Hons)
Collaborative Organisation and form of Collaboration (if applicable) Accreditations (PSRB) ATAS Clearance External Examiner Name: Professor J Soraghan Currently not applicable. Not required N/A Date of next scheduled accreditation visit External Examiner Institution/Organisation University of Strathclyde Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations (Please see General Regulations) Programme Specific Regulations Yes No X (If yes, please state here any exemptions to regulations which have been approved for this programme) Examinations Assessment criteria are linked to the learning outcomes for each module. A range of assessment instruments are used including theoretical and laboratory-based assignments, essays, literature reviews, final exams, etc. Some modules are assessed entirely on coursework and assignments. Exam-based assessment is carried out in May and marks for the taught modules are finalised at the Board of Examiners meeting in June. The pass mark for all taught modules is 50%. The individual research project is assessed in October. Marks will be finalised at the Board of Examiners meeting in November. The pass mark for the individual research project module is 50% and there is no resit. Progression Students on the Master s programme who obtain 120 CATS points in the taught modules are required to undertake an individual research project and submit a dissertation in September. This dissertation must be passed at 50% or more for the award of the MSc. All Master s students must have satisfactorily completed all of the required taught modules (120 CATS points). Awards Postgraduate Master s awards will be made in accordance with the following mark scale: A pass with distinction will be awarded only where an overall average of 70+ is achieved; a mark of 70+ is achieved in the dissertation module and an average of 65+ is achieved in the other modules. 60+ Pass with commendation. 50+ Pass. Below 50 Fail. Students on the Master s programme who have failed to achieve at least 50% in the individual research project and have achieved 120 CATS points will be considered for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma. Normally, students who fail the individual research project will not have the opportunity to resubmit their original project or retake a new project. Students, who have achieved at least 60 CATS points including at least 20 CATS points in a compulsory Wireless Communication module, may opt to be considered for the award of the Postgraduate Certificate. Students with protected characteristics Are students subject to Fitness to Practise N/A No
Regulations (Please see General Regulations) Fitness to Practise programmes are those which permit students to enter a profession which is itself subject to Fitness to Practise rules
Educational Aims of Programme On completion of the programme the student will be able to: Develop intellectual, practical and professional skills of the learner in the critical evaluation, analysis and design of high performance wireless and mobile technologies. Provide the necessary skills, tools and techniques to enable graduates of the programme to embark on careers in the wireless and mobile industries or to undertake research and teaching in the field. Enable students to manage complexity through the use of abstraction and modelling, effective project management, sound research, best practices and standards, appropriate tools, logical reasoning and critical and analytical problem solving skills. Provide students with the skills necessary to evaluate critically, new developments in technology and take advantage of them where appropriate. Provide students with timely exposure to and practical experience in a range of current, emerging, novel and exciting technologies relevant to advanced wireless systems informed by top grade research. Develop high levels of professionalism and high ethical standards in all aspects of work-related activity. Develop transferable skills which relate to literacy, numeracy, computing, team-work, presentations and interactions to prepare graduates for more general employment. Provide opportunity for students undertaking the MSc programme to formulate ideas and concepts independently and to communicate them in a clear and supported manner by carrying out an individual research project. Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills be able to: IC1 IC2 IC3 IC4 IC5 Ability to identify and analyse problems and to develop creative and innovative strategies and solutions for wireless communication technologies. Ability to understand the customer and user needs in designing a solution to satisfy the client s specification. Ability to distinguish between and to critically evaluate various techniques and concepts relative to wireless communication technologies. Ability to apply judgements in different contexts and the ability to work with technical uncertainty. Ability to learn independently, acquire deep understanding on the relevant concepts, to learn new theories, concept, methods etc and to reason critically. IC6 Ability to develop, monitor, interpret results and update a research project. Learning Outcomes: Transferable Skills be able to: TE1 TE2 TE3 TE4 Retrieve information and interpret it. Peform critical evaluation. Develop research, library and report-writing skills. Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. Use information technology effectively. Students intellectual skills are developed through lectures, tutorials, directed reading, problem-solving scenarios, workshops, essays and student presentations. Further opportunity for the development of intellectual skills specifically for the MSc programme is offered by the individual and independent research project work. Transferable and employability skills are developed throughout the teaching and learning programme; through lectures, practical work, the research project, group work, technical reports and presentations. Assessment is made using unseen written examinations, essays, coursework, individual and group presentation exercises, and the extended individual research project (MSc only). Assessment criteria linked to learning outcomes for each module.
TE5 TE6 Use industry-standard software and tools. Manage time, work to deadlines and adjust a personal programme of work on an on-going basis. TE7 Work independently and be self-reliant. TE8 Work as an effective member of a team. TE9 Plan and manage their career. TE10 Appreciate the need for self improvement and professional development. TE11 Work to a professional design brief. Learning Outcomes: Knowledge and Understanding be able to: KU1 KU2 KU3 KU4 KU5 Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of relevant principles, methodologies and analytical methods and modelling for advanced wireless communications Critical problem identification, analysis, design and evaluation of advanced wireless communications. Knowledge and understanding of necessary skills, tools and techniques applicable to advanced wireless communications. Effective project management, sound research, best practices and standards in wireless communication system design, appropriate tools, logical reasoning and critical and analytical problem solving skills Appropriate use and application of new developments in advanced wireless communications. Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific Skills be able to P1 - Apply analytical and numerical techniques to a diversity of engineering problems. P2 - Apply software, hardware and CAD skills to engineering problems. P3 - Prepare descriptive and interpretative technical reports. P4 Use appropriate tools and software to implement a design. P5 Manage the design process and to evaluate outcomes. P6 Manage the design process and to evaluate outcomes. Assessment criteria linked to learning outcomes for each module. Examinations in the taught modules are normally held in April/May. Assessment methods for taught modules include; written examinations; laboratory/workshops; coursework, designs, reports. The pass mark for all taught modules is 50%. Students are normally permitted one further attempt to pass a failed module with the mark used in calculating the final award being capped at 50%. Students who have failed more than two modules, or who have failed a module twice, will normally be required to withdraw from the course. Learning outcomes will differ due to the choice of modules. In particular learning outcomes at the MSc will differ from the PGCert and PGDip due to the existence of the individual research project in the MSc. Individual project skills acquired during the MSc project are specified in Appendix 4. These are skills such as project management, time management and research skills developed during the project. Assessment criteria linked to learning outcomes for each module.
Programme Requirements Module Title Module Code Level/ stage Credits Availability Duration Pre-requisite Assessment S1 S2 Core Option Coursework % Examination % Digital Signal Processing ELE8059 20 X X 24 weeks X 20 80 Wireless Sensor Systems ELE8096 20 X X 24 weeks X 20 80 Wireless Communication ELE8078 Systems 20 X X 24 weeks X 20 80 MEM Devices and Technology ELE8083 20 X X 24 weeks x 20 80 Project ELE8060 60 X X 24 weeks X 100 0 High Frequency Technology ELE8058 and Design 20 X X 24 weeks X 20 80 Smart Grids ELE8080 20 X X 24 weeks X 20 80 Network Security and Monitoring 60 Approved by Director of Education: ELE8093 20 X x 24 weeks X 30 (practical) 10 (Coursework) Print Name: Dr Philip Hanna.. Signature: Philip Hanna Date: 28/05/2015..