New MSc students

Please make sure you also check out the Imperial College Welcome website, with details of more events and activities across campus, including Imperial College Student Union clubs and socities.

Sunday 27 September

Monday 28 September

Tuesday 29 September

Wednesday 30 September

Thursday 1 October

LECTURES START

Friday 2 October

MATLAB

There may be a need for you to use MATLAB during your MSc course. These tutorials from the web and YouTube may be helpful to you:
http://www.mathworks.com/academia/student_center/tutorials/launchpad.html
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=MATLAB&annotation_id=annotation_736368&feature=iv
http://www.math.utah.edu/lab/ms/matlab/matlab.html

Another good way for a novice to get started is to open one of the demos within MATLAB and work through it step-by-step (you simply need to type “demo” or “help” in the command window to get to the demos).

PYTHON

Python and its packages such as numpy, pandas and matplotlib are essential programming tools for the Applied Machine Learning
course.

Linear Algebra

These notes on Linear Algebra will assist students on our MSc courses.  It might be worth studying these before you arrive.

MSc in Control and Optimisation

• “Introduction to linear algebra” by Gilbert Strang
• MATLAB courses available on-line at: https://matlabacademy.mathworks.com (recommended: MATLAB onramp, Simulink onramp, Control Design Onramp with Simulink, MATLAB Fundamentals, MATLAB for Data Processing and Visualization, MATLAB Programming Techniques, Introduction to Symbolic Math with MATLAB, Solving Nonlinear Equations with MATLAB, Solving Ordinary Differential Equations with MATLAB, Introduction to Linear Algebra with MATLAB)
• Book by Astrom, Murray: “Feedback Systems: An Introduction for Scientists and Engineers”. By Karl J. Åström and Richard M. Murray, available on-line http://www.cds.caltech.edu/~murray/amwiki/index.php/Second_Edition

• Linear Systems, by Panos Antsaklis & Antony Michel, Birkhauser, 2006

MSc in Future Power Networks - background study materials

• AC transmission system operation, powerflow and basic stability analysis. Chapter 3 and 8 of ‘Electric Power System’ 5^th edition by Weddy, Cory et. al.
• Analysis of the performance of linear closed-loop controllers using frequency-domain tools. Chapter 1 and 2 from 'Multivariable feedback control: analysis and design.' Vol. 2. New York: Wiley, 2007 from Skogestad, Sigurd, and Ian Postlethwaite.
• Basic stability analysis and control design. Chapter 5, 10 and 11 from ‘Automatic Control Systems’, 10^th Edition by Farid Golnaraghi and Benjamin C. Kuo
• Challenges of future power system with high penetration of inverter-based resources https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nh22PgScCQ&t=2844s    https://lowcarbonconversations.libsyn.com/episode-2-a-tricky-balance
• Digitalisation of Energy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xpoTZP8Aew
• Generation of electricity by wind turbines https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KE65O44q9o
• Operation and characteristics of Thyristors and IGBTs Chapter 23 and 25 from ‘Power Electronics: Converters, Applications, and Design’, 3rd Edition by Ned Mohan, Tore M. Undeland, William P. Robbins
• Operation of synchronous generators https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8zJKXkU_yM

Library

• Library Services
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering Subject Librarian

Microsoft Teams for lectures

Information and instructions for using Microsoft Teams.

updated 29 August 2024 - for students starting in October 2024

Advice on laptops

The Department runs a Bring-Your-Own-Devices (BYOD) scheme. Electrical and Electronic Engineers need excellent skills in using computers for programming, controlling equipment and many other tasks. There is no better way to become proficient than by managing your own laptop, including all the software installed on it.

Financial assistance may be available from the College to support purchasing a laptop https://www.imperial.ac.uk/students/fees-and-funding/financial-assistance/student-support-fund/

What laptop to choose?

Our recommendation is to buy a laptop with the following specifications:

• Intel i5/i7 CPU
• 8/16GB of RAM
• 512GB hard drive
• 13”/15” screen

We do not make official recommendations on the specific make of laptops. When choosing your laptop processing power is less important than weight (light) and battery life (long). The more RAM you have, the better. An SSD hard drive can speed up some processes but is not essential. A touch screen can be useful for annotating notes but is also not essential.

The Department’s laptop loan scheme uses:

HP EliteBook 840G5, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD drive, 15” display

Mac users can consider the MacBook Pro 13”, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD drive.

Which operating system?

This depends solely on personal taste, but if you bring a MacBook make sure to install both OS X as well as Windows 10. We advise you run an English Windows 10 version on any laptop. Every student can request a key for their own license to Windows 10 educational version from ICT (via software shop). Help will be available for installing and converting operating systems. Windows is more compatible with a lot of the software we use. Also, some software packages are incompatible with the new M1/M2 chip Macbooks.

What about Software?

We use Office 365 at Imperial College. It is free to all students and can install on up to five devices. In addition, we offer students a wide range of free software to support their work. The ICT resources for new students pages have information about the available software packages.

Do I need a desktop as well as a laptop?

You are strongly advised against purchasing a desktop machine. Instead, you may want to buy a lightweight external monitor and connect your laptop to it. This configuration is much more portable and useful than a desktop machine.

Do I need a printer or other computer peripherals?

Scanning, photocopying and printing services are available in public areas, including the library. You access the printers and purchase print credits using your College ID card and details. If you intend to print lots of paper copies, it may be cheaper if you use your own printer.

Do I need to subscribe to cloud-based storage?

You do not need to pay for your own cloud. Instead, you will be provided with cloud-based space on Microsoft One Drive.

Find out more about IT resources at Imperial