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Masters in Communication Engineering
Find postgraduate programs in COMMUNICATION ENGINEERINGCommunication engineering is a growth industry, with up-to-date communication systems being crucial to any economy. There is an increasing global demand for postgraduate engineers with an in-depth understanding of both the theory and practice of communication systems.
There are several excellent postgraduate communication engineering programs available for prospective students to choose from, and it is worth researching your various options in great detail before deciding which course to apply to.
Also, investigate the funding options available to you, since funding specifically tailored to communication engineering is rare, but you may be eligible for some other niche funding opportunities.
Benefits of studying communication engineering
A masters degree in communication engineering can help towards Chartered Engineer status if you study with an accredited university. If you choose an accredited course, you have the reassurance of knowing that the course is recognised as meeting the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC), as laid out by the Engineering Council. This means that you will gain some or even all of the required knowledge and skills should you wish to register as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng). Some employers give preferential attention to graduates with accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is more likely to be internationally recognised.
Postgraduate communication engineering courses
Most postgraduate communication engineering courses are taught full time over 12 months, although part-time options are available at some institutes; furthermore, some universities will allow you to study relevant individual modules in isolation as part of your ongoing professional development.
The focus of postgraduate communication engineering courses varies from university to university, but you can expect to study the various principles of communication systems, in addition to taking a detailed look at optical fibre, satellite and cellular communications, as well as computer networks.
You are also likely to have to complete a project over the course of the year. Many courses also offer the possibility of combining engineering with a business element, enabling the student to gain management skills equivalent to an MBA, but with an industry-specific focus.
Communication engineering study options
Most postgraduate communication engineering programs combine written exams and coursework, but there are some research-only options available – which option is better for you will depend very much on your background and study preference.
For example, an MSc by Research may appeal to those who already have industry experience in communications or whose first degree was specifically in communications; if your first degree was not, for example if you studied physics, computer science or general engineering, you may be unlikely to be eligible to study an MSc by Research.
An MSc by Research could be a good choice if you prefer to set your own timetable and work relatively unsupervised. Your final thesis needs to be of a comparable standard to existing research in your chosen subject and as a consequence, those who choose this route will finish the course with an in-depth understanding of their specific topic, as opposed to the broad tuition a workshop and lecture-based taught MSc in communication engineering offers. This options is likely to provide a more balanced approach across a wide range of modern communications systems. However, an MSc by Research in this field is a good approach for those interested in further academic research beyond their masters degree, since it may be converted to the first year of PhD study if the thesis is well received.
If you are more interested in studying a taught masters degree in this field, there are several options available. For example, Aberystwyth University offers a full-time MSc in Wireless Communications and Radio Frequency Systems Engineering which allows students to explore topics like 5G networks and microwave devices. It also gives the option to study some other interesting modules, including:
- International Strategy and Operations
- Leading and Managing Project
- Programming for Scientists
- Project Management Tools and Techniques
- Quality Engineering and Management
Another taught masters great option is the University of Surrey’s MSc in Satellite Communications Engineering, which can be studied full time over 12 months or part time within five years. On this course, students get the option to learn advanced internet over satellite and tools that could lead to a job at a space agency, research institution, satellite system design and development company, or within satellite manufacturing or telecommunications. With its own 5G/6G Centre, the University of Surrey provides all the tools need to take learning to the next level.
Qualifications needed to study a masters in communication engineering
Entry requirements to study a communication engineering masters degree vary across universities, but as a general rule, if you are hoping to be accepted onto a postgraduate communication engineering program, you will usually need at least a 2:1 UK honours degree (or a recognised international equivalent) in an electrical and electronic engineering discipline. You might be accepted onto a course with a minimum of a 2:2, depending on the course and university – so check with the admissions office of your preferred institution.
Professional experience may also be taken into consideration if you can show an ability to work at a postgraduate level, and some postgraduate communication engineering courses may accept students from other related disciplines, provided they can demonstrate appropriate understandings and aptitudes and are willing to take on extra preparatory work.
You may need to show a familiarity with various mathematical concepts, eg calculus, statistics, complex numbers, etc. and be able to demonstrate a good grasp of the fundamentals of communication engineering, with a focus on signal processing and mathematics. Depending on the course, you may also need strong programming skills, for example, in C++, Java and MATLAB.
Communication engineering careers
Communication engineering is in demand in several sectors, meaning that communication engineers may find themselves working in industry, the commercial arena, engaging in scientific research or even being employed by the military. There are multiple applications for a communication engineering postgraduate qualification in fields ranging from telecommunications right the way through to acoustics.
Career paths for masters graduates include senior engineer roles in electronic design, embedded systems, control systems, telecommunications, power electronics, data science, and more.
Communication engineering salaries
Newly qualified communication engineers can expect to earn £25,000 – £35,000, according to Prospects. However, the more experienced the engineer, the greater the remuneration and postgraduate qualifications can also help in attracting better pay.
More senior engineers generally earn anything between £43,000 and £55,000, with communications engineers in Birmingham topping the list in the UK, according to Indeed, with a whopping £85, 000 per year salary.
All in all, communication engineering salaries for highly experienced engineers can be expected to be in excess of £60,000.
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