BEng (Hons)
Communication Systems
A route to Chartered Engineer (CEng) status
Course Overview
Why take this course?
Without communication systems there would be no mobile phones, internet, TV or radio. Communication systems are vital to our modern society for business, personal life, entertainment and leisure. Many of us could not imagine life without such commodities.
On this course you’ll gain a hands-on introduction to communications and cover a range of topics such as analogue, digital and programmable electronics.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Analyse high-frequency signals or measure antennas in our anechoic chamber
- Experiment with our range of control applications – from helicopter development kits to walking robots
- Put learning into practice by doing a paid work placement, either in the UK or overseas
What opportunities might it lead to?
This course is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), meeting the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). It will lead to eventual Chartered Engineer (CEng) status with further study. It’s a great first step to becoming a professional engineer.
Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:
- professional electronics
- telecommunications
- terrestrial and satellite broadcasting
- project management
The labs are well equipped and maintained, plus the lab technicians are extremely helpful.
Paul Harris, engineering student
Key Facts
- UCAS Course Code:
- H645
- Duration
- 3 years full time, 4 years sandwich with work placement
- Entry
260-300 points to include 160 points from a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent, including Mathematics plus Science or Technology subjects.
Other qualifications- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £8,750 p/a*
International full-time students: £11,900 p/a*
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- technology.admissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 2555 - Department
- School of Engineering
Subject:
Engineering
Find out what our students say about studying at Portsmouth, including:
- Hands-on opportunities to gain practical experience by solving real-world problems
- Approachable and passionate lecturers with industrial experience
- Excellent facilities and good employment prospects
Visit us at our open day
Wed 10 Jul
Structure & Teaching
Year one
In the first year of this degree you’ll cover a range of topics including analogue circuits, digital systems and data communications. You’ll also benefit throughout the course from hands-on experience due to the project-based learning approach on many units relating to analogue and digital electronics.
Core units in this year include:
- Writing and Research in the Workplace
- Mathematical Principles
- Engineering Sciences
- Introduction to Algorithms and Programming
- Introduction to Analogue Circuits
- Principles of Digital Systems
Year two
Broaden your knowledge gained in the first year. You’ll study further mathematics and engineering science, digital communications, networks and control systems.
Core units in this year include:
- Data Networks and Protocols
- Analogue and Digital Communications
- Network Simulation and Design Techniques
- Analogue Analysis and Design
- Engineering Mathematics
- Group Design Project
- Control Systems Analysis
Year three*
In your final year you will cover solid electronics, manufacturing and systems development. There is also a range of topics for you to tailor your studies as well as practical project work.
Options to choose from in this year include:
- Transmission Techniques and Broadcasting
- Digital Signal Processing
- Network Security and Reliability
- Multidisciplinary Group Project
- Advanced Electronic Systems
- VHDL and FPGA Systems
- Control Systems Design
- Analytical Management Techniques
*This course is also available as a 4-year sandwich (work placement)
Teaching and Assessment
We aim to help you quickly settle and enjoy your studies. You will be taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials (personal and academic), laboratory and project work, CAE system activity and open access study. The course has a strong practical emphasis and we pride ourselves on working at the leading-edge of technology and learning practices.
How are you assessed?
A range of assessment methods encourages a deeper understanding of engineering and allows you to develop your skills. Here’s how we assess your work:
- written examinations
- coursework
- practical tests
- project work
- presentations
Visit us open day
Facilities & Features
Laboratories
We offer you a range of well-equipped labs
Maths Café
The Maths Café - drop in any time and get one-to-one help
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information
Laboratories
We offer you a range of labs such as the Analogue Electronics and Control Engineering Laboratory and the Telecommunications and Signal Processing Laboratory. From Digital Signal Processing (DSP) kits to walking robots, all are well-equipped with industry-standard experimental and computational facilities.
Maths Café
Drop in any time and get one-to-one help with that tricky maths or stats problem. With handouts on key topics to take away and computer aided learning packages, we can get the problem solved and help you improve your numeracy skills.
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
This course puts you in an excellent position to start a career as a professional engineer. Not only does it meet the requirements of the major engineering graduate programmes, it gives you the chance to sample the workplace with a year-long industrial placement. Placement employers may even offer a sponsorship for your remaining years of study, a job offer on graduation, or both.
The problem-solving and analytical abilities of electronic engineers are very attractive to research, financial and commercial organisations.
Roles our graduates have taken on include:
- broadcasting engineer
- application engineer
Work experience
Taking a placement year in industry could be one of the best decisions you make and, more often than not, it leads to further opportunities after graduation. Our Student Placement & Employability Centre (SPEC) not only helps you to arrange your placement but acts as a source of information and guidance throughout the recruitment process and beyond. We help on anything and everything related to your employability as well as assisting you in securing other types of work experience.
Here is an example of a role a student secured for their placement:
- Assistant Site Test Engineer at Prysmian
Career planning
6.04 minutes
Finding a job is a competitive business, but the statistics show that 89 per cent of our 2011graduates went into employment, further study or training within six months of finishing their degrees.
To make sure you take the right steps on your career path, we’re here to give you help, support and advice throughout your study. Even after you’ve graduated, we continue to give you support for up to five years.
Employers tell us that they want graduates to be able to demonstrate certain skills when they come out of university. Our courses take account of this. We make sure we prepare you for employment through work-related learning, projects, placements and working in simulated environments that are designed to prepare you for the working world.
Open Day
Our next open day is Wed 10 July
VISIT US! Have a look around and get a feel for what it’s like to live and study here. We’ll be on hand to talk to you about your course interests and show you all of our amazing facilities. You’ll also get to meet tutors and other students…
Application, Fees and Funding — find out more