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Telecommunications MRes

London, Bloomsbury

This is the programme information for 2026/27 entry

If you require details of the previous year's programme, Telecommunications MRes (2025/26), click here

UK students International students

Study mode

Full-time

UK tuition fees (2026/27)

£21,500

Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)

£42,700

Duration

1 calendar year

Programme starts

September 2026

Applications accepted

Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

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 course 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.

If you are intending to apply for a time-limited visa to complete your UCL studies (e.g. Student visa, Skilled worker visa, PBS dependant visa etc.) you may be required to obtain ATAS clearance. This will be confirmed to you if you obtain an offer of a place. Please note that ATAS processing times can take up to six months, so we recommend you consider these timelines when submitting your application to UCL.

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

Get ahead in telecommunications with our one-year MRes programme. Ideal for aspiring telecom engineers and managers, this course offers in-depth study of modern telecommunication systems and essential industry knowledge.

Engage with the latest research and collaborate with leading academics and industry experts. As one of the UK's top-rated electronic engineering research departments, we boast a legacy of innovation and Nobel laureates, including Professor Sir Ambrose Fleming and Professor Charles Kao, whose groundbreaking work in optical fibres began at UCL.

Gain advanced insights into broadband network architecture and components. The curriculum covers telecommunications systems, communications technologies, network design, data networks, and next-generation architectures.

Develop advanced technical and analytical skills, complete a significant research project, and receive robust career support. This degree equips you with the expertise to navigate and lead in the fast-paced telecommunications sector.

Who this course is for

The MRes is designed for high-calibre candidates wishing to pursue a research career in industry or academia. There is exceptionally strong industry demand for engineers with this research skills base.

This degree is ideal for you if you want to excel in management roles in the telecommunications industry or continue your research to PhD level.

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 2026), providing you with a prestigious qualification that is highly regarded by employers worldwide.
Access to cutting-edge research and state-of-the-art facilities in telecommunications technology.
Insight into the latest advancements in IP support networks and communications systems.
Hands-on experience with industry-relevant projects and collaborations with leading telecommunications companies.
Development of advanced technical and analytical skills essential for telecoms engineering and management roles.
Mentorship from world-renowned academics and industry experts, enhancing your learning and professional growth.
Opportunities to build a robust network of contacts within both academia and the telecommunications industry, boosting your career prospects.
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

The foundation of your career

Our MRes Telecommunications programme not only provides advanced technical skills but also focuses on enhancing your employability and professional network. By connecting with industry leaders and leveraging UCL’s prime location, you'll be well-prepared to launch a successful career in telecommunications. Graduates from our department have gone onto roles at Huawei, CISCO, Microsoft and more (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017-22).

With a cohort less than a tenth the size of typical MSc courses, the close-knit environment of the MRes Telecommunications programme at UCL ensures your ideas are nurtured and your potential fully realized. From day one, the early focus on independent, original research pushes you beyond traditional study, cultivating the critical insight and confidence essential for doctoral study or a research career. This programme doesn’t just prepare you, it transforms you into a pioneering thinker ready to shape the future of telecommunications.

Lepakshi Venkatraman

MRes Telecommunications

Employability

The Telecommunications MRes programme equips you for careers as a network or telecommunications engineer, consultant, or systems architect. You will gain deep expertise in both theoretical and practical aspects of telecommunications, including mobile and wireless technologies such as 6G, IoT, and IEEE 802 standards.

Networking

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

Benefit from UCL’s central location in the heart of London, offering rich industry connections and opportunities.
Whether you're advancing your career or transitioning from industry, tap into our extensive connections, with opportunities for site visits, placements, and collaborations with world-leading companies.
Access exclusive industry events, including guest lectures and seminars with leading professionals from top telecommunications companies.
Leverage our academic team’s industry experience to gain valuable career insights and networking opportunities.

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 lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops.

You will be assessed through unseen written examinations, coursework (written and design assignments) and a substantial research project, which is assessed by dissertation and presentations.

This is a full-time course with a weekly schedule of approximately 12 to 16 contact hours. You should expect an additional 12 to 16 hours of time devoted to independent learning.

Modules

: You will take 2 core modules as the basis of your programme, as well as 3 additional optional modules during the period October to April/May. You also carry out a project dissertation comprising 35 weeks of supervised study during the period February/March to September.

Compulsory modules

Transferable Skills

Introduction to Telecommunications Networks (ITN)

MRes Telecommunications Project

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 MRes in Telecommunications.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

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 (2026/27)	£21,500
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£42,700

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course 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

Students are expected to have their own computer/laptop, in order to carry out independent study and programming assignments. Average laptop prices can range from £300-£1000. Chromebooks cannot be used at all.

For in-person teaching, 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 £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. 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

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.

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 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 courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

This course requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.