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Telecommunications (IGDP) MSc

London, Bloomsbury

Deepen your understanding of telecommunications technology and its applications on this 5-year Master's, ready to meet the dynamic challenges of today's industry. You'll graduate equipped with the practical experience in modern telecommunications systems needed for leading roles in this rapidly evolving and exciting area.

UK students International students
Study mode
Flexible
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
See Fees Note
Fees for this programme are available on request from the department.
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
See Fees Note
Fees for this programme are available on request from the department.
Duration
Not applicable
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 04 Apr 2025

Applications closed

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 1

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree


This programme is ideal for you, if you are a telecommunications professional seeking to deepen your knowledge and advance your career in this area.

On this programme, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of key technologies, network architectures, and systems that form the backbone of modern telecommunications networks. 

The curriculum covers wide-ranging topics, including telecommunications systems, communications technologies, network design and planning, data networks and architectures, next-generation architecture, and business aspects of telecommunications. 

Taught by renowned faculty members from UCL Electronic and Electrical Engineering, you'll join experts at the forefront of telecommunications research and development. What's more, UCL’s strong industry connections provide you with unique opportunities to engage with leading professionals and organisations. 

This MSc will enhance your technical skill base to design, manage, and innovate in telecommunications, preparing you for leadership roles in this rapidly evolving field. 

Who this course is for

This programme is ideal for you if you have a first degree in  electronic engineering, computer science and a related discipline. We are also keen to receive applications from candidates with appropriate industrial experience. 

We recognise that the formal entry requirements may not be applicable to all applicants from industry; applications will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

This programme offers you the following benefits and opportunities:

  • A postgraduate degree from a top-ranked university. UCL is consistently ranked among the best universities globally (ranked 9th in the latest QS World University Rankings 2025), providing you with a prestigious qualification that is highly regarded by employers worldwide. 
  • Access state-of-the-art laboratories and facilities, enhancing your practical skills and technical knowledge. 
  • Benefit from UCL's strong links with leading industry players, offering networking opportunities, site visits, and guest lectures. 
  • Gain a wide range of skills in telecommunications, network design, and modern communication technologies, preparing you for various career paths. 
  • Enhance your employability with a programme designed to meet the demands of today's dynamic telecommunications industry. 
  • Study and network with renowned academics and experts at UCL Electronic & Electrical Engineering, a Department ranked 5th in the UK (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024). 
  • Study in the world's best city for university students (QS Best Student Cities 2024). UCL’s Bloomsbury campus is in the heart of a London district famous for its cultural and educational institutions.
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme
Making an impact
UCL Portico building with welcome sign between columns.

Case study: Forget WiFi, the future is LiFi

We are developing the world’s first complete visible light communications system

The foundation of your career

Students on this programme benefit from the department's deep industry connections. You'll gain invaluable insights and building a robust professional network through guest lectures, seminars, and industry interactions. 

The IGDP allowed me to deepen my knowledge in areas related to my work and also broaden it to areas I was previously unfamiliar with. The degree has been invaluable to my career progression and has opened up opportunities that were previously unobtainable.

Alumni student Jamie Samuels looking to camera with city skyline in background

Jamie Samuels

MSc Telecommunications (IGDP)

Employability

By the end of this MSc, you'll possess transferable skills essential for roles in telecommunications, network design, and data communication industries. 

This programme, taught by UCL's telecommunications experts and industry specialists, prepares you for diverse opportunities in sectors such as tech firms, innovative startups, and research institutions. 

Graduates are well-equipped to excel in a range of technology-driven environments. For example, graduates from this programme have gone on to roles in companies such as Network Access Associates Ltd and Aurobindo Ltd.

Networking

You’ll have regular opportunities to connect, collaborate and build professional contacts as part of your Master’s.   

  • Benefit from UCL's prime location in the heart of London, offering rich industry connections. 
  • Whether you're advancing your career or transitioning from industry, access unique opportunities through collaborations with world-leading industries. 
  • Participate in guest lectures and invited seminars from top professionals in the field. 
  • Engage in site visits and placements to gain hands-on experience. 
  • Learn from our world-renowned academic team who share their own industry experience with students.

Accreditation

Our MSc programme is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the academic requirement for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to fully comply with the CEng registration academic requirement.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of formal lectures, laboratory and workshop sessions, seminars, tutorials and project work. All programme lecturers carry out leading research in the subjects they teach.

You'lll be assessed through unseen written examination, coursework, design exercises and the dissertation. The dissertation can be completed as part of your day-to-day work. 

Students can expect 12 to 16 contact hours per week, including lectures, labs, tutorials, and workshops. An additional 12 to 16 hours each week should be dedicated to self-directed study, such as reviewing materials and completing coursework.

Modules

You will undertake part-time modules and a project dissertation to the value of 180 credits (15 credits per course, 60 credits for dissertation). You will take 8 modules as the basis of your programme. 

All modules are taught within one week of lectures (6 hours per day for 4 days). A week of self-study is allowed after the module teaching finishes and this is followed by a 3 to 4 hour discussion and tutorial session. Modules are assessed within 2 to 4 weeks of the tutorial session.

You'll then carry out a project dissertation comprises the equivalent of 18 to 20 weeks of supervised study.

Compulsory modules



Optional modules



















Software for Network and Services Design



Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Telecommunications (IGDP).

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Where you'll study

Two students working at desk opposite each other in room filled with computer equipment and wires

UCL Electronic and Electrical Engineering’s facilities feature a variety of test equipment, including soldering stations, microscopes, and reflow ovens. Workstations offer test software, oscilloscopes, waveform generators, and digital multimeters. We provide 3D printers and a benchtop laser cutter for rapid prototyping of mechatronic designs. Our PCB Facility, staffed by experts, produces PCBs like RF, multilayer, and flexible circuits, using CNC machines, electroplating, laser ablation, and etching equipment. The department includes a computer lab and CPU/GPU servers. Research labs feature cleanrooms, nanoscale labs, quantum measurement labs, an anechoic chamber, and photonic and optical communication labs, supporting final-year projects and advanced research.

Find out more

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) See Fees Note
Tuition fees (2025/26) See Fees Note

Fees for this programme are available on request from the department.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

For flexible/modular offer holders a £500 fee deposit will be charged.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

Students are expected to have their own computer/laptop to carry out independent study and any programming assignments.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) awards competitive scholarships for postgraduate study, for details visit www.theiet.org.

Please visit the UCL Electronic and Electrical Engineering Scholarships website for more information on funding.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Telecommunications (IGDP) at graduate level
  • why you want to study Telecommunications (IGDP) at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to the chosen programme
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree.

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Electronic and Electrical Engineering
Electronic and Electrical Engineering

eee-msc-admin@ucl.ac.uk

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.