Overview

This short course/CPD module introduces you to the technologies involved in the design and construction of transport networks (wireless, copper and optical) and the applications areas in which they're used.

You'll study the physical fundamentals of the generation, guided transmission, amplification and reception of light.

You'll also look at design consideration and techniques used in radio networks, the principles of digital transmission and the role of optics and wireless in both access and core networks.

Who this course is for

The department's courses/CPD modules are aimed at those working in the telecommunications industry such as researchers, engineers, IT professionals and managers. 

They're particularly suited to graduates in electronic and electrical engineering, physics, communications engineering and computer science who want to further their knowledge on a particular topic, or work towards a Master's degree. 

You don't need any pre-requisite qualifications to take this course.

Course content

The following areas will be covered during the course:

• Principles of digital transmission
• Optical fibre principles
• Principles of photon generation and reception
• Optical amplification and wavelength division multiplexing
• Design of optical links
• Optical networking
• Radio propagation
• Radio system concepts
• Microwave transmission systems

Dates, assessment and certificates

Classes will be held from 2pm to 6pm on Thursdays over 8 weeks.

Teaching will take place in person with some materials available online.

The course is assessed by exam.

If you complete the course but not the exam, you'll receive a certificate of attendance.

If you take and pass the exam you'll get a certificate stating this, which includes your pass level.

Benefits of UCL's Electronics and Electrical Engineering CPD courses

You can take this course as a standalone (one-off) course/module, or accumulate it towards an Master's degree (up to two standalone modules can be transferred towards the flexible Master's degree).

Benefits to employees
The programme offers the opportunity for professional people working in the telecommunications industry to develop their career, be able to respond to changes in their environment, and learn while they earn. It's also designed to give you the opportunity of working towards an MSc qualification from an academic institution whose quality is recognised world-wide.

Benefits to employers
Our flexible CPD courses enhance staff motivation and assists in the recruitment and retention of high-quality staff. It enables your company to keep ahead of the competition by tapping into world-leading research, and to profit from UCL's world class Telecommunications and Business expertise.

View the full range of related courses available.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, you should be able to:

• describe the elements that compose a broadband link (copper, fibre or wireless) and their basic operation in technical terms
• be proficient in the mathematical tools required to perform basic system design
• design and model a simple point to point network for all type of channels considering linear impairments
• fully understand the topologies, design techniques and system requirements of optical receivers
• calculate the noise and bandwidth behaviour of different optical receiver preamplifier designs
• choose an appropriate receiver preamplifier design for a particular application contrasting system and user requirements, design and implementation complexity, performance and cost
• appreciate the role of optical and wireless links in the construction of communications networks

Course team

Dr Cyril Renaud (Module Manager)

Cyril joined UCL in 2002 as a research fellow after completing his PhD at the Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton. His current research interests are in the optoelectronics system and devices for the generation of frequencies in a range comprised between radio signal and optical signal. He also investigates their potential application in domains such as communication, sensing, security, spectroscopy or medical imaging.

Dr David Selviah

David studied at Trinity College, Cambridge University and Christchurch, Oxford University gaining his Master's in Theoretical Physics and PhD in Photonic Engineering. He designed, fabricated in a clean room and characterised novel RF devices for pulse compression radar and secure communications at the industrial company Plessey (now Oclaro). He's a Reader in Optical Devices, Interconnects, Algorithms and Systems with over 250 publications and represents the UK on international standards committees. His research includes design of novel distributed feedback lasers integrated with silicon photonics for data centre multi-terabit switches, 3D light detection and ranging, LIDAR, data processing on parallel cloud computer clusters, signal processing, image processing and pattern recognition.

Course information last modified: 22 Sep 2023, 23:42