Computer and Communication Systems Engineering: University of Birmingham

Degree: BEng/MEng
Address: Electronic, Electrical & Computer Engineering, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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Duration: 3 years for BEng, 4 years for MEng
Telephone: +44 (0) 121 414 5630
Fax: +44 (0) 121 414 4291
E-mail
Website: http://www.eee.bham.ac.uk
Scholarship and Grants: http://www.eng.bham.ac.uk/study/undergrad/scholarships.shtml

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Courses available

Computer Systems Engineering BEng/MEng
UCAS code: H602
Communication Systems Engineering BEng/MEng
UCAS code: H621
Computer and Communication Systems Engineering BEng/MEng
UCAS code: HH66
Electronic and Software Engineering BEng/MEng
UCAS code: GH66
Computer Systems Engineering with Business Management BEng/MEng
UCAS code: H1NC
Communication Systems Engineering with Business Management BEng/MEng
UCAS code: H640

Communications systems such as the internet, mobile phones and digital TV have revolutionised the lives of businesses and individuals. These systems will continue to evolve at an astonishing pace in the 21st century.

Their social lives, education and health are enhanced by continuing advances in communications, data compression and wireless connectivity. These degree programmes equip you to play a part in the future of these technologies. You learn about levels of design ranging from individual sub-systems through to the organisation and control of large-scale systems such as networked, computer-based communication technologies. These degrees are ideal for students who have a keen interest in modern electronic technologies and their applications.

Internationally, Electronic and Electrical Engineering at Birmingham is a highly ranked department, having scored a maximum 24 points for teaching quality in the last Teaching Quality Assessment and a score of 5 (maximum is 5* or 6) for research in the last Research Assessment Exercise. The department is housed in a newly refurbished building with dedicated, state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities.

First and second years

You study computer programming languages, networks, microprocessors, electronics and systems engineering. Depending on your specialisation, you also cover computer systems, communications systems, computer speech and vision, or signal processing techniques. You also have the option to study a foreign language or a variety of modules outside your main discipline.

Third and fourth years

You study your chosen specialist options in greater depth, and undertake a major individual project. In the third year of the MEng programmes, you also undertake a group project, as a member of a team of seven to ten students.

Year abroad

A year abroad is available, but only in the third year of a four-year MEng programme, and provided it is taken at an approved overseas university.

Year in industry

A year-long industrial placement is also available; this adds a year to the duration of your degree and can lead to the award of a Certificate in Industrial Studies.

Electronic and Software Engineering Joint Honours

Electronic and Software Engineering (GH66) is a Joint Honours course with Computer Science. This degree is taught jointly by the Department of Electronic, Electrical and Computer Engineering and the School of Computer Science. Students spend half their time in each department for the duration of the degree. You cover subjects such as analogue and digital electronic circuits and systems in Electronic, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and modules in programming and software engineering in Computer Science. The final-year individual project can be taken in either department.

Teaching and assessment

The course modules are taught through lectures, corresponding to approximately 13% of the student’s time during term-time; tutorial problem classes taking approximately 3% of the student’s time; and laboratory and/or project work taking approximately 27% of the student’s time. The remaining 57% of the student’s time is devoted to private study, which includes examination revision time.

The course modules are assessed through a mixture of written examinations (approximately 55% of the overall assessment), laboratory work (35%) and continuously assessed coursework (approximately 10%). These percentages change dramatically throughout the years of a degree; during the earlier years the course modules are directed more through lectures, and in the later years the final-year project work dominates.

Career opportunities

These programmes prepare you for a career in the telecommunications and computing industries, where demand for Birmingham graduates is extremely high.

Entry requirements

Number of A levels required: 3
Typical offers: BBB for BEng; AAB for MEng
Required subjects and grades: Mathematics A level grade B and at least one physical science A level
General Studies: not normally accepted as one of the three A levels, but a good performance may be taken into account if you marginally fail to meet the conditions of the offer
International Baccalaureate Diploma: 32–36 points including both Mathematics and at least one physical science at HL

Other qualifications are considered – see the entry requirements section for full details

Additional information

H1NC and H640 incorporate the Business Management Minor – a co-ordinated suite of modules delivered by the Birmingham Business School, occupying one-third of each year.
An industrial placement is also available.
A Foundation Year is also available.
Programme description booklets are available via uga-eece@bham.ac.uk

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