MSc Communications and Signal Processing
Develop an in-depth knowledge of modern information engineering problems and their solutions
Key information
Applications are now closed
Overview
This course will provide you with in-depth knowledge and critical awareness of theoretical and practical solutions to problems at the forefront of communications and the processing of signals.
Communications and signal processing are closely intertwined, and together provide the basis of modern information engineering.
Areas of application include:
- mobile communications (3G/4G/LTE and future 5G), access networks and wireless communication
- Communication networks including broadcast and computing communication networks
- image processing and robotic vision
- audio and video recording
- radar and sonar detection
- biomedical signal processing
- medical imaging
- remote sensing
- array signal processing and beamforming
- space-time communications and processing
Study programme
You study taught modules, both core and optional, in the Autumn and Spring terms (October–April). Modules are taught through a blend of lectures, tutorials and practical laboratories. You will then take written exams on the studied modules between May and June.
You also complete a substantial individual research project, which will be carried out in an area of special interest.
Professional accreditation
This course is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council.
It meets the full academic requirements for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partially meets the academic requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).
Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.
Our accreditation agreement with the Institution of Engineering and Technology is renewed every 5 years, and the current agreement runs between 2019 and 2023.
Structure
This page reflects the latest version of the curriculum for this year of entry. However, this information is subject to change.
The curriculum of this programme is currently being reviewed as part of a College-wide process to introduce a standardised modular structure. As a result, the content and assessment structures of this course may change for this year of entry.
We recommend you check this page before finalising your application and again before accepting your offer. We will update this page as soon as any changes are confirmed by the College.
Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about any changes made.
Page last reviewed on 25 October 2021.
Structure
Core modules
You take all of the core modules below.
Adaptive Signal Processing and Machine Intelligence
Aims to provide in-depth knowledge of the theoretical basis and applicability of modern methods for spectral estimation, algorithms which underlie adaptive signal processing, and machine intelligence techniques such as dimensionality reduction and neural and deep networks. Lecturer: Prof Danilo Mandic.
Advanced Communication Theory
Presents several advanced cutting edge topics which are important for current and future (5G and beyond) multi-antenna wireless communication systems. Lecturer: Prof Thanassis Manikas.
Digital Signal Processing and Digital Filters
This module aims to give a thorough grounding in the design of digital filters and in multirate signal processing techniques. Lecturer: Mr Mike Brookes.
Probability and Stochastic Processes
Provides analytical tools for studying random phenomena in engineering systems. Aims to develop the main ideas of probability theory in a systematic way, study randomly-varying functions of time, and demonstrate how to set up probabilistic models for engineering problems. Lecturer: Dr Cong Ling.
S1 LAB
This laboratory module aims to foster best practice in experimental work, while supporting the lecture modules and giving practical exposure to real systems. It also aims to prepare students for experimental work of the MSc project. Lecturer: Dr Cong Ling.
Optional modules
You choose either four or five* modules from below.
Coding Theory
Covers fundamental knowledge on error correcting codes and finite fields, and to expose the connection between coding theory and other topics. Lecturer: Dr Wei Dai.
Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
Aims to introduce the concepts, basic formulations and applications of pattern recognition. Covers the concept of machine perception and decision surfaces, metrics/distances, and model fitting as basic tools to process and classify data. Lecturers: Dr Krystian Mikolajczyk and Dr Adam Spiers.
Digital Image Processing
Examines the fundamental digital image processing methods that stem from a signal processing approach. Lecturer: Dr Tania Stathaki.
Information Theory
This module is designed to introduce the main concepts of information theory and to demonstrate its implications to communications. Lecturer: Dr Cong Ling.
Network and Web Security
Module run by the Department of Computing. Lecturer: Dr Sergio Maffeis.
Optical Communication
Provides an understanding of the structure, operating principles and underlying physical concepts of optical communication systems, to show the capabilities and restrictions of such systems. Lecturer: Prof Eric Yeatman.
Pattern Recognition
Aims to introduce the concepts, basic formulations and applications of pattern recognition. This module studies feature representation in a vector form, the concept of machine perception and decision surfaces, and metrics/distances, template matching, model fitting, as basic tools to process and classify data. Lecturers: Dr T-K Kim and Dr Krystian Mikolajczyk.
Topics in Large Dimensional Data Processing
The aim of the module is to introduce students to the theory and design of algorithms to acquire and process large dimensional data arising in topics such as finance and internet (e.g. online social networks and twitter data). Lecturer: Dr Wei Dai.
Traffic Theory and Queueing Systems
Provides the opportunity to develop a conceptual framework for modelling and analysing different communication networks (e.g. circuit-switched and packet-switched networks). The module will show, firstly, how to set up such models and, secondly, how to use them in the performance (e.g. QoS) analysis of communication systems. Lecturer: Dr Javier Barria.
Wavelets, Representation Leraning and their Applications
Finding useful information in huge amount of data is as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack. The key insight of wavelet theory is that by finding alternative representations of signals, it is possible to extract their essential information in a fast and effective way. Lecturer: Prof Pier-Luigi Dragotti.
Wireless Communications
An advanced module on wireless communication and communication theory that details the fundamentals of wireless communications from a 4G and beyond perspective. A major focus of the course is on MIMO and multi-user communications at the link and system level. Dr Bruno Clerckx.
* If you choose five optional modules, the four modules in which you achieve the highest mark will be counted toward your final degree grade.
Research project
You will also carry out an individual research project: three months part-time (January–March) and four months full-time (June–September).
The project gives you the opportunity to carry out research that deepens your knowledge of an area in which you have a special interest.
It also develops your report writing, presentation and time management skills.
An academic supervisor will mentor you, and the project is assessed by a written report and poster presentation in September.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods
- Group projects
- Hardware laboratory
- Individual projects
- Industrial placement (optional)
- Lectures and seminars
- Problem solving classes
- Software laboratory
- Tutorial sessions
Aassessment methods
- Coursework software or hardware deliverable
- Individual Research Project
- Reports
- Oral and poster presentations
- Written examinations
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
Entry requirements
Minimum academic requirement
Our minimum requirement is a first-class degree in electrical/electronic engineering, or a related subject with a substantial electrical/electronic engineering component.
The overall degree grade must be at least 75% overall.
International qualifications
We also accept a wide variety of international qualifications.
The academic requirement above is for applicants who hold or who are working towards a UK qualification.
For guidance see our Country Index though please note that the standards listed are the minimum for entry to the College, and not specifically this Department.
If you have any questions about admissions and the standard required for the qualification you hold or are currently studying then please contact the relevant admissions team.
English language requirement (all applicants)
All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.
For admission to this course, you must achieve the higher College requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the English language requirements for postgraduate applicants.
Competence standards
Our competence standards highlight the core skills students should be able to demonstrate by the end of this course.
View the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering's competence standards [pdf]
We believe in providing the widest practicable access to all of our degree programmes and will make reasonable adjustments wherever possible to support your study. For more information, please contact the Department using the contact details below.
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
T: +44 (0)20 7594 3123
E: admit.eee@imperial.ac.uk
How to apply
Making an application
Apply online
All applicants must apply online.
Visit our Admissions website for details on the application process.
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can usually choose up to two courses.
Application fee
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course:
- £80 for taught Master's applications (excluding MBAs)
- £135 for MBA applications
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas or research courses, such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
ATAS certificate
An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.
Further questions?
Find answers to your questions about admissions. Answers cover COVID-19, English language requirements, visas and more.
Tuition fees and funding
The level of tuition fees you pay is based on your fee status, which we assess based on UK government legislation.
Find out more about fees and funding opportunities.
Tuition fees
Home rate of tuition
2022 entry
£15,400
Fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.
Except where otherwise indicated, the fees for students on courses lasting more than one year will increase annually by an amount linked to inflation, including for part-time students on modular programmes. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) value in the April of the calendar year in which the academic session starts e.g. the RPI value in April 2022 will apply to fees for the academic year 2022–2023.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Home fee depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
EU/EEA/Swiss students
The Government has confirmed that EU/EEA/Swiss students who begin a course before the 31 July 2021 will be eligible to pay the same fee as Home students and have access to student finance for the duration of their course, as long as they meet certain requirements which are unchanged from previous years. This includes students who begin the course remotely.
EU/EEA/Swiss students starting a course on or after 1 August 2021 will no longer be eligible for the Home fee rate and so will be charged the Overseas fee. Please note we do not expect this to apply to Irish students or students benefitting from Citizens' rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement respectively. However, we are currently awaiting the formal publication of the amended Fees and Awards regulations.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website has useful information on the conditions you currently need to meet to be entitled to pay tuition fees at the Home rate for study on a higher education course in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand (not the amended regulations which are subject to publication).
Overseas rate of tuition
2022 entry
£35,700
Fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.
Except where otherwise indicated, the fees for students on courses lasting more than one year will increase annually by an amount linked to inflation, including for part-time students on modular programmes. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) value in the April of the calendar year in which the academic session starts e.g. the RPI value in April 2022 will apply to fees for the academic year 2022–2023.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Overseas fee depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
EU/EEA/Swiss students
The Government has confirmed that EU/EEA/Swiss students who begin a course before the 31 July 2021 will be eligible to pay the same fee as Home students and have access to student finance for the duration of their course, as long as they meet certain requirements which are unchanged from previous years. This includes students who begin the course remotely.
EU/EEA/Swiss students starting a course on or after 1 August 2021 will no longer be eligible for the Home fee rate and so will be charged the Overseas fee. Please note we do not expect this to apply to Irish students or students benefitting from Citizens' rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement respectively. However, we are currently awaiting the formal publication of the amended Fees and Awards regulations.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website has useful information on the conditions you currently need to meet to be entitled to pay tuition fees at the Home rate for study on a higher education course in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand (not the amended regulations which are subject to publication).
Postgraduate Master's loan
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For 2022-23 entry, the maximum amount is £11,836. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Scholarships
We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students to support you through your studies. Find out more about our scholarships to see what you might be eligible for.
A number of external organisations also offer awards for Imperial students. Find out more about non-Imperial scholarships.
Accommodation and living costs
Living costs, including accommodation, are not included in your tuition fees.
You can compare costs across our different accommodation options on our Accommodation website.
A rough guide to what you might expect to spend to live in reasonable comfort in London is available on our Fees and Funding website.
Further information
Got a question?
T: +44 (0)20 7594 3123
E: eeepgoffice@imperial.ac.uk
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