BEng (Hons) Communication Engineering (BEng/ComE H620)

The Degree Programme

Electronic Communications is recognised as the worlds largest and fastest growing industry. Today's communication engineers are concerned with the application of high technology solutions to society's problems, to generate change for the benefit of all. To optimise the use of our planet's resources, there is a need for things to be more efficient, reliable and safer. Tomorrow's engineers must continue to innovate and pioneer in a creative way and communicate their knowledge with clarity and understanding. Society has high expectations of professional engineers, our degree courses will help you on your way to meeting these expectations.

At School or College you may have built small control circuits as part of project work, or perhaps "tinkered" with radios as a hobby. You will almost certainly have "hacked" away at the computer. In choosing you degree course you will find a vast, almost bewildering range of titles, some of which will mean more to you than others. The parallel disciplines of Communication, Computer, Electrical, Electronic and Robotic Engineering all share a common core of fundamental knowledge on which the more specialist topics are based. Therefore we have made the first and second years of our BEng (Hons) degree courses common.

Today, Engineering involves close collaboration and communication with Engineers from other disciplines, indeed almost all major projects depend for their success on effective teamwork. Studying with students from parallel pathways will benefit you by broadening your horizons, helping your understanding and increasing your communication skills. In addition to developing existing interests you may acquire new ones and decide that you would like to change pathway. The flexible structure means that you can do this right up to the beginning of your final year of studies. In fact many students change their pathway as a result of a positive experience during their sandwich placement year.

Pathway Descriptor

Communication Engineering

The world wide reputation of this course is based on nearly thirty years of providing graduate Communication Engineers to the profession. Today there is an increasing demand for graduates in this field as society becomes more and more dependant on fast, reliable communication systems. The explosion in mobile communications, linked to the growth of satellite systems has resulted in exciting career opportunities un-thought of even ten years ago. Both wired and wireless systems are expanding as more and more "traffic" carries the encoded data of this "information age." There is almost a technological revolution happening as the "digital environment" provides visual, interactive accessibility via the internet and digital television. Home shopping, banking, video conferencing, telecommuting all rely on advanced communication technologies. The specialist final year options in this pathway provide the first step to this growing range of career choices. See our entry under studentprofiles

Course Details

BEng(Hons) courses are three years full time or for most students without previous industrial experience, four years sandwich, the third year being spent in industry. The title of the degree award depends on your choice of final year options.

Academic Year

Small group tutorials support all lectures providing opportunity for interactive feedback between students and tutors. Laboratory work provides "learning by doing" opportunities. Project work, often linked to real industrial problems is a recurring feature of the course. Students are encouraged to acquire communication skills required for effective team work by doing small group projects. Independent learning and creative design skills are developed by individual project work.

Click here for Entry requirement

BEng (Hons) Communication Engineering
Stage 1
Autumn Semester
Spring Semester
Module
Exam
Course Work
Module
Exam
Course Work
Mathematics I
50
50
Mathematics II
70
30
Electrical Principles I
50
50
Electrical Principles II
70
30
Design as a Generic Tool  
100
Analogue Circuit Design
50
50
Analogue Electronics
50
50
Digital Circuit Design
50
50
Digital Electronics
50
50
Communications System Design
50
50
Computer Systems & Software I  
100
Business Studies
70
30
Stage 2
Autumn Semester
Spring Semester
Module
Exam
Course Work
Module
Exam
Course Work
Mathematics III
80
20
Mathematics IV
80
20
Electrical & Communication Principles
80
20
Digital Communications
80
20
Industrial Control & Interface Design
50
50
Software Engineering & High Level Programming
50
50
Microprocessor System Design
50
50
Design Project  
50
Radio Frequency Circuit Design
50
50
Network Systems
70
30
Business Dynamics  
100
Control Systems
70
30
Stage 3
Linked Modules Examined at the end of the Spring Semester
Autumn Semester
Spring Semester
Module
Exam
Course Work
Module
Exam
Course Work
Microwave Engineering, Antennas & Propagation     Microwave Engineering, Antennas & Propagation
80
20
Digital Communications & Signal Processing     Digital Communications & Signal Processing
80
20
Network Architectures and Design     Network Architectures and Design
80
20
Mobile, Personal & Satellite Communications     Mobile, Personal & Satellite Communications
80
20
Individual Project (double module)     Individual Project  
100
      Operations Management
70
30

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE). After an appropriate period in industry, in a post of suitable responsibility, graduates with a first or second class honours degree may apply to become Chartered Engineers and use the letters C.Eng. MIEE.

Outstanding Educational Opportunities

  • Industrial support for undergraduate project work.
  • Industrial placements available across Europe and in Japan.
  • Final year sponsorship from placement company often available.
  • Modern management and business practice integrated into the course.
  • Modern, well equipped laboratories.
  • State of the art equipment and software.

Information

For all admissions enquiries and application information contact:-


Dr Peter White
Senior Admissions Tutor
Department of Communication & Electronic Engineering
University of Plymouth
Drake Circus
Plymouth PL4 8AA

E-mail:P.White@plymouth.ac.uk
Tel: 01752 232594/232607
Fax: 01752 232583
Mobile: 0468 670297(evenings and weekends)