MSc Communications and Signal Processing
Key information
Duration: 1 year full-time
Start date: October 2017
Campus: South Kensington
ECTS: 90 credits
Course Director
Dr Tania Stathaki
Overview
This course will provide you with in-depth knowledge and critical awareness of theoretical and practical solutions to problems at the forefront of communications and the processing of signals.
Communications and signal processing are closely intertwined, and together provide the basis of modern information engineering.
Areas of application include:
- mobile communications (3G/4G/LTE and future 5G), access networks and wireless communication
- Communication networks including broadcast and computing communication networks
- image processing and robotic vision
- audio and video recording
- radar and sonar detection
- biomedical signal processing
- medical imaging
- remote sensing
- array signal processing and beanforming
- space-time communications and processing
You study taught modules, both core and optional, in the Autumn and Spring terms (October–April). Modules are taught through a blend of lectures, tutorials and practical laboratories. You will then take written exams on the studied modules between May and June.
You also complete a substantial individual research project, which will be carried out in an area of special interest.
Structure
Modules shown are for the current academic year, and are subject to change depending on your year of entry.
Structure
Core modules
You take all of the modules below.
- Advanced communication theory
- Digital signal processing and filters
- Probability and stochastic processes
- Spectral estimation and adaptive signal processing
Optional modules
You choose four optional modules from below.
- Coding theory
- Digital image processing
- Distributed computation and networks
- Information theory
- Machine learning for computer vision
- Network and web security
- Optical communications
- Speech processing
- Traffic theory and queuing systems
- Wavelets and applications
- Wireless communications
Research project
You will also carry out an individual research project: three months part-time (January–March) and four months full-time (June–September).
The project gives you the opportunity to carry out research that deepens your knowledge of an area in which you have a special interest.
It also develops your report writing, presentation and time management skills.
An academic supervisor will mentor you, and the project is assessed by a written report and poster presentation in September.
Tuition fees and funding
The level of tuition fees you pay is based on your fee status, which we assess based on UK government legislation.
For more information on the funding opportunities that are available, please visit our Fees and Funding website.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees (Home and EU students)
| 2017 entry |
|---|
| £12,000 |
Fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.
Except where otherwise indicated, the fees for students on courses lasting more than one year will increase annually by an amount linked to inflation, including for part-time students on modular programmes. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) value in the April of the calendar year in which the academic session starts e.g. the RPI value in April 2019 will apply to fees for the academic year 2019–2020.
Tuition fees (Islands and Overseas students)
| 2017 entry |
|---|
| £29,000 |
Fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.
Except where otherwise indicated, the fees for students on courses lasting more than one year will increase annually by an amount linked to inflation, including for part-time students on modular programmes. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) value in the April of the calendar year in which the academic session starts e.g. the RPI value in April 2019 will apply to fees for the academic year 2019–2020.
Postgraduate Master's loan
If you are a Home or EU student who meets certain criteria, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan of up to £10,280 from the UK government. The loan is not means-tested, and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Scholarships
We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students to support you through your studies. Try our scholarships search tool to see what you might be eligible for.
There are a number of external organisations also offer awards for Imperial students, find out more about non-Imperial scholarships.
Accommodation and living costs
Living costs, including accommodation, are not included in your tuition fees.
You can compare costs across our different accommodation options on our Accommodation website.
A rough guide to what you might expect to spend to live in reasonable comfort in London is available on our Fees and Funding website.
Admissions
We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
For advice on the requirements for the qualifications listed here please contact the Department (details at the bottom of this page).
We also accept a wide range of international qualifications. If the requirements for your qualifications are not listed here, please see our academic requirements by country page for guidance on which qualifications we accept.
Admissions
Minimum academic requirement
A high first class (1st) Honours degree (75%+) in electrical engineering or a related subject.
International qualifications
The academic requirement above is for applicants who hold or who are working towards a UK qualification.
We also accept a wide variety of international qualifications. For guidance see our Country Index though please note that the standards listed here are the minimum for entry to the College.
If you have any questions about admissions and the standard required for the qualification you hold or are currently studying then please contact the relevant admissions team.
English language requirement (all applicants)
All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.
For admission to this course, you must achieve the standard College requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the English language requirements for postgraduate applicants.
How to apply
All applicants must apply online.
You can usually apply for up to two courses, although your second choice will only be considered if your first-choice application is unsuccessful.
Most courses don't have a formal closing date, but popular courses close when they are full, so you should apply early to avoid disappointment. There may also be funding deadlines that apply to you.
You will need to upload documents with your applications, which may include transcripts and degree certificates.
Offer holders will need to pay a deposit to secure your place. This will be deducted from the balance of your tuition fees.
For full details on the online application process, or to start your application, please visit the How to Apply section of our website.
ATAS certificate
An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.
Further information

Contact us
T: +44 (0)20 7594 6166
E: admit.eee@imperial.ac.uk

Applying for your visa
Visit the International Student Support website for information on applying for a visa.

Scholarships
Use our search tool to find scholarships from Imperial, plus non-Imperial scholarships.