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Telecommunications MSc

London, Bloomsbury

The world of telecommunications is one of the fastest developing in the areas of science and technology. The Telecommunications MSc at UCL covers various aspects of modern telecommunication systems together with the background necessary to understand such systems, and is continuously updated to reflect the rapid changes in the field.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
£19,300
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£37,500
Duration
1 calendar year
Programme starts
September 2024
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 13 Mar 2024

Applications closed

Applicants who do not require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 13 Mar 2024

Applications closed

This programme is now full and not accepting applications for 2024 entry. Applications for September 2025 will open in October.

Find similar courses still open

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper 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

Students develop a comprehensive understanding of the key technologies, network architectures and systems that make up a modern, telecommunications network. Specific topics include telecommunications systems, communications technologies, network design and planning, data networks and architectures, next generation architecture and business aspects of telecommunications.

Who this course is for

We welcome applications from high-quality graduates of electronic engineering, computer science and other related disciplines and from candidates with appropriate industrial experience.

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

What this course will give you

UCL Electronic & Electrical Engineering is one of the most highly rated electronic engineering departments in the UK. Our research and teaching ethos is based on understanding the fundamentals and working at the forefront of technology development.

This MSc programme is taught by UCL's telecommunications experts with contributions from industrial and government specialists, and is dedicated to the task of training engineers and managers in the telecommunications industry.

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

The Telecommunications MSc programme provides a broad and comprehensive coverage of the technological and scientific foundations of telecommunications networks and services, from the physical layer to the application layer. A strong emphasis is given to mobile and wireless communications and the latest standards in these areas (LTE, WiMAX, IEEE 802 family of standards, etc.). Students study both the theoretical foundations of all related technologies but also carry out extensive practical assignments in several related areas.

I chose this course to advance my career with both business and technical learnings and upskilling focused on the ICT industry.

Headshot of alumni student Naveen Veludevan

Naveen Veludevan

MSc Telecommunications

Read Naveen's story

Employability

On completion of this programme students pursue careers as network or telecommunications engineers, consultants or systems architects in networking technologies.

Networking

The EEE department is conveniently located in the heart of London and has deep industry connections, providing unique and invaluable opportunities to students. We collaborate with world-leading industries across most of our Masters provision. During your time with EEE, you will gain an excellent understanding of applying theory to practice, in the form of guest lectures, invited seminars, site visits and placements as well as our world-renowned academic team bringing their own industry experience to the table.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of formal lectures, laboratory and workshop sessions, seminars, tutorials and project work.

All of the programme lecturers carry out leading research in the subjects they are teaching. Student performance is assessed through unseen written examination, coursework, design exercises and the dissertation.

The number of contact hours per week with academic staff will vary. But as a rough guideline students can expect 12 to 16 contact hours in a typical week, averaged across term, across all activities (lectures, labs, tutorials and workshops). In addition students will generally need to devote a similar amount of time each week to self-directed study (for instance reviewing taught material and completing coursework).

Modules

You will undertake modules and a project dissertation to the value of 180 credits. In particular, you take 6 modules as the basis of your programme (comprising 2 core modules and 4 compulsory modules) and you will also take 3 additional optional modules during the period October to April/May. You will then carry out a project dissertation comprising 18 to 20 weeks of supervised study during the period April/May to September.

Compulsory modules








Optional modules









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.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. 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

Visit us

All open days and events

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Graduate Open Events: Where can a UCL Engineering degree take you - Alumni Perspectives

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Where can a UCL Engineering degree take you? Join us for a panel and Q&A event with UCL Engineering alumni. You'll learn what you can expect from postgraduate study at UCL Engineering and get application advice from previous students! This is an opportunity for all applicants to hear personal experiences of studying with us, but may be most relevant to those applying from the USA, Latin and South America.

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Electronic and Electrical Engineering

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Join us for a special online event to explore UCL’s innovative postgraduate programmes in Electronic and Electrical Engineering. Learn about our diverse Master's courses, including Telecommunications, Integrated Machine Learning, Nanotechnology, and more. Discover how UCL can help you achieve your academic and career goals in fast-developing engineering fields. Ideal for prospective postgraduate students from India.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £19,300
Tuition fees (2024/25) £37,500

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

The students are expected to have their own computer/laptop, in order to carry out independent study and any programming assignments.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

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

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper 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 at graduate level
  • why you want to study Telecommunications at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this programme
  • how you envisage your career path after the MSc.

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.

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.