Electrical and Electronic Engineering (2013 entry)

MEng, 4 years, UCAS: H600
Typical A level offer: AAB-ABB

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Subject overview

Why engineering?

Science and technology have the potential to benefit society – engineers realise this potential. Society depends on the reliability and continued development of engineering systems, which is why the role of the engineer is so important. 

There is a wide range of sectors employing engineers, covering critical areas such as transport, sustainable power generation and distribution, healthcare, communications and manufacture. These diverse sectors will appeal to you if you like to know how things work and want to make them work better – faster, more quietly, more cleanly, more efficiently – and if you like the challenge of real, practical problems and finding innovative solutions to them.

Why engineering at Sussex?

We offer degrees in automotive, computer, electrical, electronic and mechanical engineering. Our courses are based on a common first-year core, offering you the flexibility to change degrees if you wish.

Electrical engineering at Sussex was ranked 4th (91 per cent) for personal development and 8th (93 percent) for overall satisfaction in the 2012 National Student Survey (NSS).

Sussex is ranked among the top 20 universities in the UK for mechanical engineering in The Sunday Times University Guide 2012 and among the top 30 in the UK in The Complete University Guide 2014.

Sussex is ranked among the top 20 universities in the UK for electrical and electronic engineering in The Times Good University Guide 2013 and The Sunday Times University Guide 2012, and in the top 25 in the UK in The Complete University Guide 2014.

You will be taught and supervised by research active academics: we were rated 14th in the UK for ‘General Engineering and Mineral and Mining Engineering’ research in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). 95 per cent of our research was rated as recognised internationally or higher, and 60 per cent rated as internationally excellent or higher.

All of our engineering courses are currently accredited by professional institutions under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council, and either the professional Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) or the professional Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

We have strong links with industry, which you benefit from through the provision of placements, industrial advisors on our curriculum, industrial support for our research, and sponsored prizes and projects.

Laboratory and project work uses industry-standard computer-aided design software and circuit design, simulation and virtual instrumentation systems.

Our Year 4 MEng students are able to undertake a substantial interdisciplinary project, which mimics work in industry. For example, producing an entry for the Formula Student competition – a unique experience bringing together a team of specialists in all engineering disciplines.

For information about industrial placement opportunities during your studies, refer to Department of Engineering and Design: Student placements and Professional placements.

MEng or BEng?

Engineering Council accredited degreeAll of our engineering courses are currently accredited by professional institutions under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council. For more information, visit the Engineering Council. 

 

 

IET Accredited Scheme

All our electrical, electronic and computer engineering courses are currently accredited by the professional Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) up to the 2011 intake, and the regular review for future accreditation is due in autumn 2012. Completion of an MEng course ensures that you have met the full educational requirements for chartered engineer status. For more information, visit The Institution of Engineering and Technology.

 

I MECH E

All our mechanical and automotive engineering courses are currently accredited by the professional Institution of Mechanical Engineers up to the 2012 intake, and the regular review for future accreditation is due in 2013. Completion of an MEng course ensures that you have met the full educational requirements for chartered engineer status. For more information, visit the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

 

The fourth year of the MEng courses has specialist technical modules that reach a higher level than the final year of the three-year BEng. The MEng is for those who wish to become chartered engineers and to aim for leadership positions as early as possible in their careers. 

The three-year BEng courses are for those looking for a good grounding in engineering to equip them for a range of careers and who either want to get into industry quickly or to take a more technical approach after graduation with a specialist MSc course – which can also lead to chartered engineer status.

The four-year MEng courses have higher entry requirements but BEng students who make good progress are offered the opportunity to transfer into MEng courses up until the end of Year 2.

Programme content

Every aspect of modern life depends on electrical power systems, and manufacturing industry relies on electric motors and other electromechanical devices. In these applications of electrical power, computer-based electronic control is crucial.  

This course covers the areas of electrical machines and power systems and will help you gain a sound understanding of electronic devices and the analogue and digital circuits in which they are used. Power electronics is given particular attention. Modern semi-conductor switching devices are capable of handling enormous currents, which makes them suitable for controlling large electrical and electromechanical systems. These power electronics switching devices are likely to be under microprocessor or computer control, so digital electronics and computer systems makes up a substantial part of these courses.

Electromechanical devices are introduced through practical work with specialist equipment. You will learn to  design a device using industry-standard electromagnetic simulation software. In the third year, you take modules in electrical power systems, and control engineering. You will have the choice of a wide range of individual projects through which you can decide to specialise in either the electrical or electronic aspects of this broad-based degree.

We continue to develop and update our modules for 2013 entry to ensure you have the best student experience. In addition to the course structure below, you may find it helpful to refer to the 2012 modules tab.

How will I learn? 

Engineering at Sussex is based on strength in the practical application of engineering principles. The Department has been congratulated by external reviewers on the use it makes of team-based project work. 

There are many ways to acquire skills – from taught sessions (such as lectures and problem classes) and laboratory assignments to projects and independent and computer-based learning. In addition, the first-year and foundation-year timetables include one-hour small-group tutorials.

Individual topics are offered for third-year projects, arising from the extensive industrial and scientific research in the Department, from industrial contracts, and from student suggestions. National businesses and professional institutions sponsor prizes for the best projects each year.

As members of a general engineering department, our Year 4 MEng students are able to undertake a substantial interdisciplinary project often linked with an industrial organisation.  

The Department of Engineering and Design provides all first-year undergraduate students with the myDAQ electronics instrumentation device as part of the learning experience for the duration of the course. For more information, visit Department of Engineering and Design: myDAQ: hands-on learning anytime, anywhere.

What will I achieve? 

If you work hard, you will earn a well-respected degree, opening the door to the career you want and equipping you to succeed in it. In particular, you will acquire: 

  • a thorough understanding of, and the ability to apply, the mathematical and scientific concepts required to become an engineer 
  • the ability to analyse and design conceptual and practical solutions to engineering problems 
  • the ability to employ industry-standard computational tools and computer-aided design packages 
  • an understanding of business management skills and techniques required to manage projects and balance risks, costs, reliability and environmental impact 
  • research skills that provide a framework for innovative and creative thinking in order to generate and test systems and designs. You should be able to analyse resulting data and determine their validity using computational tools and packages 
  • interpersonal, communication and teamworking skills you will need as you progress along your chosen career path. 

Core content

Year 1 

Year 1 ensures that you have a good grounding in the fundamentals of engineering and the flexibility to transfer between courses if you wish. Topics shared by all of our courses, apart from Computer Engineering, include electrical circuits and devices • electromechanics • engineering mathematics • mechanics and properties of materials • programming for engineers • thermodynamics. In addition, you study a project-based module focusing on either electrical/electronic engineering or mechanical/automotive engineering, as appropriate. The Computer Engineering courses replace some of these topics with introductions to programming concepts and techniques. 

Year 2 

You continue to develop your mathematics knowledge and are introduced to the principles of signal processing and feedback control. You also study the key professional skills required for accreditation – project management, technical communication, risk and professional ethics.  

Additional modules shared by this group of courses cover topics such as digital systems, microprocessors and microcontrollers • electrical machines and power electronics • high-frequency communications. Group project work in Year 2 is based around electronic circuit and system design.  

Year 3

The major component of Year 3 is a two-term individual project with associated training in project planning and management. In addition, each course offers a range of core modules and options allowing specialisation in the relevant subject areas. In electrical engineering, these include control engineering • electrical drives • electrical power systems. In electronic and computer engineering, they cover computer networks • digital communications • high-frequency circuits and devices • micro-processor systems • sensor systems. In mechanical and automotive engineering, you undertake a design and manufacture group project culminating in a presentation to judges from industry. In addition, you can study topics in computational fluid dynamics • dynamics of machines and vehicles • engine technology heat transfer • sensor systems.

Year 4

In the final year of the MEng, the range of specialist options is increased and draws on topics delivered in our postgraduate courses in digital communications and mechanical engineering. You also join an interdisciplinary team to undertake a project modelled on those common in industry. You will further develop your commercial and management skills and gain an enhanced understanding of engineering design and development.

Back to module list

Electrical Circuits & Devices

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 1

DC circuits: Ohm's law; Kirchhoff's laws, node and mesh analysis; Thvenin's theorem, Norton's theorem, superposition principle. AC circuits: inductance (L) and Capacitance (C); sinusoidal steady-state, phasors. Energy dissipation and storage. Frequency response of R-L, R-C and R-L-C circuits, resonance. Transient response of R-L, R-C and R-L-C circuits. Operational amplifiers: inverting, non-inverting and differential amplifiers; integrators and differentiators; simple filters. Semiconductor devices: diodes, junction transistor as a switch, Boolean algebra, Karnaugh maps, Combinational logic. Simple circuit applications: rectifiers.

Electromechanics

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 1

Topics covered by this module will include: magnetic fields of currents and coils; magnetic materials; magnetic circuits; induced EMF; inductance; transformers; magnetic forces, permanent magnets and electromagnets; moving-coil devices; DC motors; and AC machines and 3-phase systems.

Electronic Devices and Circuit Prototyping

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 1

Semiconductor devices: diodes, junction transistors, FETs; Simple circuit applications: rectifiers and amplifiers; Component specifications and selection; Use of data sheets and applications notes; Production of circuit diagrams; Circuit simulation; Circuit prototyping; Development and testing; PCB production; Final construction and testing; Project team management; Recording of work; Technical report writing

Engineering Maths 1A

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 1

The module will be taught using the Helping Engineers Learn Mathematics (HELM) resource.

The module will include thorough revision of A level Maths topics, particularly:

  • differential calculus
  • integral calculus
  • algebraic manipulation of functions
  • vectors.

Then new material:

  • complex numbers
  • further differentiation, integration, partial differentiation
  • curves and functions.

 

Engineering Maths 1B

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 1

Line, surface and volume integrals;
Power series expansions;
Matrix algebra including determinants, Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors;
Expansions with orthogonal basis functions - Fourier Series
First-order and second-order ODEs with constant coefficients;

Engineering Thermodynamics

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 1

Fundamental Concepts: Fluid properties, work, heat, temperature, properties of a gas from the ideal gas law.
1st Law of Thermodynamics: The equivalence of work and heat, concepts of thermodynamic systems and boundaries, internal energy, enthalpy. Applications to non-flow and steady flow processes, an introduction to thermodynamic cycles, Bernoulli's equation.
2nd Law of Thermodynamics, entropy and the concept of reversibility and the Carnot cycle.
General Thermodynamic relations (Maxwell)
Application of thermodynamic principles to simple engine cycles (Otto, Diesel & Joule).
Properties of vapours with specific reference to the use of the steam tables. Application to simple Rankine and refrigeration cycles.
Properties of mixtures with specific reference to the measurement of humidity.
Dimensional Analysis. Buckingham's theorem and derivation of some basic dimensional groups (e.g. Reynolds number and skin friction coefficient).
Heat Transfer: use of the basic laws for simple problems in conduction, convection and radiation.

Programming for Engineers

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 1

This module introduces you to the following topics:

Compiling and linking
Constants, variables, data types and conversion
Operators and expressions
Program structure and pseudo code
Selection and repetitive statements
Functions
Recursion
Pointers
Arrays
Characters and strings
Data structures
File input/output
Well-designed programs and testing (software engineering)
Introduction to programming paradigms
o C and Matlab (procedural)
o MATLAB - Simulink
o LabVIEW (Graphical Programming)
o Concept of Object orientated programming (C++, Java)

Statics and Mechanics of Materials

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 1

Introduction to materials: principal characteristics and applications of plastics, metals, composites and ceramics.
Introduction to the mechanics of materials. Material properties: density; tensile strength; yield stress, proof stress, Young's modulus; ductility; toughness, endurance limit; glass transition temperature; specific heat; thermal conductivity; temperature limits. The development of a design stress and an introduction to factors of safety. Basic calculation methodology for the identification of material capability. Introduction to atomic bonding, the basic force/separation curve and development of the stress/strain relationship. Dislocation theory, strengthening of metals. Elastic behaviour of composite materials. Viscoelastic materials. Failure criteria, fatigue, crack growth. Introduction to creep. Introduction to corrosion.
Applications of the principles developed in this module are given by a series of examples such as the modelling of snap fit joints, shafts, tubular steel, catches.
Introduction to Mechanics; Newton's laws.
Statics: force, moment of a force about a point and an axis, static equilibrium. Pin jointed frames. Introduction to bending of beams. Introduction to torsion.

Analogue Communication and Propagation

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2

This module introduces key physical and engineering concepts in high frequency propagation which underpin the transmission and reception of analogue electromagnetic signals. The module covers:

Maxwell's equations, the electromagnetic wave equation, the Poynting vector;
Plane waves, phase and group velocity, skin depth;
Propagation along transmission lines, attenuation and distortion, characteristic impedance, reflections and standing waves;
Electromagnetic propagation in free space, line of sight communications and design using Fresnel zone, power budget in satellite links, tropospheric and ionospheric propagation;
Introduction to antennas and aerials (inc. dipole, Yagi-Ueda, arrays, dish, planar, patch, antennas for CP) radiation pattern, reciprocity theorem, antenna gain;
Analogue communication systems, modulation and demodulation systems (AM/FM/pulse), phase lock loops;
Physical sources and statistical properties of electrical noise, signal-to-noise ratio, noise figure, noise temperature;
Spectrum management and EMC, radio transmitter and receiver architecture.

Digital Systems and Microprocessor Design

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 2

This module covers a range of topics relating to digital systems:

1) the review of digital basics, logic gates and design techniques, and combinational digital logic circuits 

2) fundamental synchronous sequential logic covering types of flip-­flops with an understanding of analyzing and synthesising circuits that use the flip­flop. 

3) registers and counters forming digital systems as part of an arithmetic unit. 

4) configuration of memory formed from combinational and sequential logic

5) programmable logic devices such as PLDs, FPGAs and ASICs and their place in the digital world 

6) design studies using algorithmic state machines (ASMs), implemented with sequential logic 

For your project work, you will be given an overview of computer- ­aided design of digital systems followed by laboratory experiments covering elements covered in lectures. The project includes design entry in schematic capture or hardware description language (VHDL), and design circuit timing and simulation. The gate array implementation is realized using FPGA development hardware allowing circuit testing and verification.

Electrical Machines & Power Electronics

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 2

Topics covered on this module include: DC machines; transformers; AC machines and rotating magnetic fields; synchronous machines; induction machines; variable­ frequency control of AC motors; power electronics technology, devices and applications; DC choppers and switched­-mode regulators; AC controllers and cyclo­-converters; DC link DC-AC inverters, quasi­-square wave and PWM operation; and electronic drive circuits.

Electronic Circuit & Systems Design

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 2

Topics include: filters: frequency domain analysis, gain and phase and use of the s variable; types of filter response, low-pass, band-pass and relation to the transfer function; design of low-order active filters from pole-zero locations; Butterworth, Chebyshev and Elliptic responses with design from tables and computer programs; small-signal analysis with matrix-based nodal analysis for circuits using operational amplifiers; computer-based analysis in the frequency domain and time domain; circuits: instrumentation amplifiers, logarithmic amplifiers, oscillators, mixers and other communication circuits; analysis and design considering temperature compensation and stability; coursework: design project of a small analogue circuit, computer-aided printed circuit layout, building and testing, computer-aided analysis.

Embedded Systems

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2

In this module you will obtain new basic knowledge of data structures and algorithms. You will be able to understand and use these structures as system components to design and build a basic software system, as well as understand the relative merits and limitations of these elements in different application contexts. As a result of this exercise you will have a basic understanding of the process involved in system specification, analysis and implementation. From the practical work you will have explored the task of evaluating, selecting and implementing basic data structures and algorithms for particular problems, in particular those data structures and associated methods supported by the embedded systems development environment.

Engineering Mathematics 2

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 2

Polynomials with real coefficients, and roots of polynomials; Continuous-time signals; integrators. Solution of simultaneous equations. Second order differential equations, linear homogeneous, and non-homogeneous; initial and boundary value problems. Laplace transforms and associated theorems; Convolution. Solution of ODEs via Laplace Transforms; The numerical solution of ODEs. Simulating differential equations, phase plane for a second order system.
Vector calculus: grad, div and curl; line, surface and volume integrals; theorems of Gauss and Stokes. Laplace's equation, Poisson's equation, Wave equation. Fourier series and Fourier transforms. Probability: random variables, distribution and density functions, expectations; rms. Normal distribution, Central Limit Theorem. Estimation of parameters: moment and maximum likelihood methods, confidence intervals. Regression: least squares fit, correlation. Quality control: acceptance sampling, reliability, failure rates, Weibull distribution.

Professional and Managerial Skills

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2

This module covers the technical communication, project and financial management skills, and the understanding of the importance of ethics, required of professional engineers. In addition, it encourages a holistic view of the engineering degree programme and how it fits the graduate for their future career. Teaching and learning methods include; specialist lectures on technical communication and careers planning, supported by Study Direct resources and online exercises; lectures and workshops leading to a management group project based on a computer based simulation; and lectures and seminars based around case studies on the application of ethical principles. Topics covered include;
Technical reports and presentations
Project planning and management
Gantt charts
Financial management and control, cost management, application to projects
Financial models and return on investment
Risk management
Professional ethics
Health and safety
Preparing CVs, Career development

Systems Analysis and Control

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2

Step and impulse response of first and second-order systems via Laplace transforms; Transfer functions; Block diagrams. Polynomial and pole zero representations. Frequency response; modelling of simple mechanical and electrical systems; Simple Filters. Control objectives and feedback systems; open loop and closed loop transfer functions; use of Matlab. Error transfer functions; steady state errors; errors to inputs and disturbances, pole-zero diagrams, root locus methods; Bode and Nyquist diagrams; stability via Routh-Hurwitz and simplified Nyquist criterion; gain and phase margins; introduction to PID.

Business and Project Management

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

This module addresses wider business and project management issues that affect the technological and engineering environment. Some of these issues include: principles of strategic management, project management and planning, the business environment, auditing and control, organisational structure, business legislation, resource management, global markets and supply, and forecasting.

Control Engineering

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

Using MatLab/Simulink and some hardware experiments as tools, this module teaches students some theoretical concepts, design methods and practical topics in control engineering. The main teaching/leaning paten is the same as that of our current Y2 Electrical Design Project one (two) hour lecture and three hours computer lab per week for 10 weeks; and each student is assigned a unique case study to complete. In addition, each student will have 6 hour lab in total (in 2 weeks) on hardware experiments to supplement what they have learnt in computer simulation/design.

Electrical Drive Systems

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

Topics will normally include the following:

  • Electrical drive systems: fundamentals (translational and rotational motion, power rating and classes of duty, 4-quadrant operation, torque/power limits, a note on closed-loop control of drives, electrical and mechanical transformers)
  • DC drives: brushed and brushless, and introduction to their control issues
  • AC motors: examples of motor drives (eg induction motors), and introduction to their control issues (emphasise model-based control characteristics, involving nonlinearity)
  • Servomotors and stepper motors: principles and their control
  • Examples of modern electrical drives in engineering applications.

Electrical Power Systems

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

 Power system structure, important aspects of power system operation, operating states. Complex power, the symmetrical three-phase system, per unit system.
Power system components, synchronous generators, power and control transformers, transmission lines, the characteristics of the loads, network analysis, voltages, currents and powers at sending and receiving ends.
Load flow analysis, power flow equations, numerical techniques, decoupled power flow algorithm.
Fault analysis, systematic short-circuit computations, unbalanced system analysis, symmetrical component theory.
Voltage and reactive power control, load frequency control, power system stability. Economic dispatch.
Power system economics. Embedded or dispersed generation, issues and technical impacts of embedded generation.
Introduction to smart grids and future power systems.

Individual Project

45 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 3

The Individual Project in Year 3 is a major component of your degree and builds upon all of your modules to date to explore in depth an engineering problem in the area of your degree. It is designed to give you experience of the full cycle of an engineering project, from initial planning to final presentation, and involves management, resourcing, planning, scheduling, documentation, and communication. You will interact with a range of skilled people, complete work within budget and available resources, and by an agreed deadline. The project will involve the design, development and testing of a system and will include construction and measurement (for hardware projects) and code development and testing (for software projects). It will demand creative thinking, self-organisation and research skills. You will typically spend 18 hours per week for two terms on the project and it is assessed by an interim report at the mid-way point, a final technical report (dissertation) and a 20 minute oral presentation. You must keep a record of your work throughout the project in a dated logbook, which is handed-in with the final report. The project is supervised by a single member of faculty, who takes on the role of technical director along with a second (minor) supervisor who provides occasional guidance and, in some cases, complimentary expertise.

Digital Communications

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

The aim of the module is to introduce the basic principles of digital communications and provide the students with knowledge and skills required in the design and performance analysis of digital communication systems.

The following topics will be covered:

  • introduction
  • digital versus analogue
  • main components of digital communication systems
  • digital baseband transmission
  • sampling
  • quantisation
  • PCM/DPCM
  • data transmission fundamentals
  • line coding
  • binary and multilevel signalling
  • multiplexing
  • detection of digital signals
  • noise in communication systems
  • inter-symbol interference
  • decision theory
  • digital modulation and demodulation
  • ASK/FSK/PSK/DPSK
  • probability of error performance and bandwidth efficiency
  • fundamentals of information theory and channel coding
  • research project and simulation work using MATLAB software tools.

Radio to Optical Frequency Engineering

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

Sensor Systems & Applications

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

Sensor technologies are evolving at a rapid pace and are core to the drive for increased energy efficiency. You will gain a systems level understanding of a broad range of technologies and be provided with the knowledge and skills required to specify and design sensor systems. You will discuss specific sensor technologies in the context of their application to a range of areas including healthcare, security, control, materials characterisation and HCI.

You will cover the following topics: Transducers and sensors, operating principles; low noise systems; signal processing, hardware & DSP; intelligent sensors; wireless sensors; specific sensor technologies, hall effect, magneto-resistance, piezoelectrics, electromagnetic, ultrasonic, microwave, solid state, MEMS, radiation sensors, gas, chemical, biological sensors.

Advanced Electronic Systems

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 4

Topics include: internal operation of analogue integrated circuits including noise; operation of switched-capacitor circuits including comparator, filters and convertors; sample and hold circuits, DAC and ADC oversampling convertors; and phase-locked loop circuits.

Advanced Topics in Control of Electromechanical Systems

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 4

Marketing Analysis and Financial Strategic Planning

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 4

This module will cover:

Developing marketing strategy, market planning and control.
Marketing research.
Behavioural concepts, marketing decision making.
Marketing communication and sales strategy.
Environmental consideration.
Marketing ethics.
Legal control and European/International influences costs of funds.
Source of funds.
Capital structures and CAPM.
Business expansion.
Working capital management including cash management.
Dividends and dividend decisions.
Corporate planning and financial control.
Investment appraisal.
The stock exchange and its efficiency.
Preparing a project and being able to persuade company managers of how marketing and financial planning assist strategic decisions.

MEng Group Project

45 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, Year 4

The MEng Group Project in year 4 involves 3 - 6 students, of different engineering disciplines, being formed into a team to address a multi-disciplinary engineering project of industrial interest. Formation of the team, and the actual start of the project, takes place at the start of the Autumn term. The Group Project experience is designed to develop a range of skills, including a good understanding of system design, and experience of team-working (in a pseudo-industrial environment). The Team challenge is to meet stated specifications, targets, milestones, and delivery deadlines, all within a set budget. This is achieved through good project management by applying proven scientific, technological, and engineering principles to a real engineering problem. The Group Project will exercise original thought and judgement, making best use of published literature and recent technological developments. It will be necessary for the the team to variously specify, design, construct, manufacture, test, and commission an engineering system, product, or process. Each member has a distinct role with responsibilities to others. An agreed Team Leader and Secretary are appointed (from the Group) early in the project, to take responsibility for day-to-day project co-ordination. The project is steered by an academic supervisor and, in some cases, with the help of an industrial advisor. At project steering meetings, formal minutes are taken and recorded (by the Group Secretary). Your assessment is based on both a Group contribution (totalling 40%) and an individual contribution (totalling 60%). The team submits two formal reports and gives a formal project presentation. The Final Report is required to contain a Project Profile as an appendix (which includes a full transcript of the minutes of formal meetings). You will keep an individual, dated logbook which is also handed-in with the final report.

Advanced Digital Communications

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 4

The aim of the module is to introduce advanced topics in digital communications and provide you with up-to-date knowledge and skills required in the design and performance evaluation of wireless digital communication systems.

The following topics will be covered:

  • overview of digital communications
  • aims and constraints of the digital communication system designer
  • wireless communication fading channels
  • digital modulation
  • probability of error performance
  • bandwidth efficiency
  • adaptive modulation
  • error control coding
  • block coding
  • convolutional coding
  • interleaving
  • trellis coded modulation
  • spread spectrum
  • orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
  • multiuser communications
  • research project and simulation work using MATLAB software tools.

Advanced Digital Signal Processing

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 4

This module will provide an overview of the applications of digital signal processing techniques.


It will include revision of:
Fourier series, complex notation, linear systems theory, discretisation, transform techniques, Fourier series to Fourier integral, Fourier transform properties
Complex frequency, Laplace transform, the Dirac delta functional, sampled data systems, z-transform, the inverse z-transform; the relationship between z and s planes, stability, poles and zero locations; Nyquist sampling theorem, aliasing, signal reconstruction from sampled data
Detailed discussion of:
System response and convolution
Correlation and convolution theorems, the matched filter
Digital filtering, system discrete transfer function, filter types: IIR and FIR, impulse response, methods of digital filter realisation.
IIR digital filter design: impulse invariant and bilinear transformation methods, designed from prototype normalised Butterworth and Chebychev analogue prototype filters.
FIR filters, the discrete Fourier transform and its properties.
FIR filter design, spectral leakage, window functions, sources of error in digital filter implementations, filter stability.
The fast Fourier transform.
Extension of discrete Fourier transform and convolution theorem to two dimensions. Numerical computation of two dimensional frequency spectrum as a sequence of one dimensional discrete Fourier transforms.
Two dimensional filtering and impulse response. Two dimensional convolution and correlation in the space and the frequency domains; applications to image and video processing.
Discrete cosine transform in two dimensions; applications to image compression.
Overview of the architecture of modern DSP hardware.
Matlab DSP Laboratory:
Overview of Matlab commands.
8 Matlab m-files given illustrating Matlab coding of important signal processing operations:
1) Generation of a complex exponential sequence
2) Use of a moving average filter to smooth signal corrupted by noise
3) Convolution and correlation of two sequences
4) Computation of 1-D DFT
5) Computation of DFT using decimation in time FFT
6) IIR filter design using Matlab DSP filter design toolbox
7) FIR filter design using Matlab DSP filter design toolbox
Problem Section:
Four problems of increasing difficulty (up-dated each year) solved by documented Matlab code for final report.

Advanced Networks

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 4

Topics covered include: ISO reference layer model; physical and data link layers overview; further concepts for the other layers; service implementation and access methods; applications, connection and connectionless oriented services; networks and Higher Layer Protocols; wire LANs (Ethernet, ATM, CAN) and wireless LANs (IEEE802.11, Bluetooth); current and future advanced networks (B-ISDN, ATM, Gigabit Ethernet); access network (ISDN, xDSL) and backbone networks (ATM, Ethernet etc.); and internet-working and communication devices.

 

Cybernetics and Neural Networks

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 4

A cybernetic device responds and adapts to a changing environment in a sensible way. Neural network systems permit the construction of such devices exploiting information, feedback and control to achieve intelligent interaction and behaviour from autonomous devices such as robots. In this module the utilisation of artificial intelligence techniques and neural networks are explored in detail. Software implementation of theoretical concepts will solve genuine engineering problems in dynamic feedback control systems, pattern recognition and scheduling problems. In many instances solutions must be computed in response to data arriving in real-time (e.g. video data). The implications of high speed decision making will be explored.

The module will explore:

  • neuron models
  • network architectures
  • perceptron and perceptron learning rule
  • synaptic vector spaces
  • linear transformations for neural networks
  • supervised hebbian learning
  • performance optimisation
  • widrow-hoff learning
  • associative learning
  • competitive networks.

Learning will be supported by laboratories using the Matlab Neural Network Toolbox.

Fibre Optic Communications

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 4

Topics covered in this module include: analysis of slab wave-guide; analysis of step index fibre; dispersion in the step index fibre; mono-mode fibre; propagation of light rays in multi-mode graded index fibres; dispersion in graded index fibres, light sources and detectors; modulation of semiconductor light sources; transfer characteristic and impulse response of fibre communication systems; power launching and coupling efficiency; receiver principles and signal-to noise ratio in analogue receivers; receivers for digital optical fibre communication systems; system noise; system components and aspects of system design; coherent optical fibre communication; and network systems.

High Level IC Design

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 4

This module focuses on the high level, or top down design of digital circuits implemented in field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The methodology used takes a design entry in VHDL (a popular industry standard hardware description language), functional and gate level simulation, logic synthesis, optimisation and technology mapping, to ‘final place and route’ in an FPGA. You will design a reasonable complex digital circuit using state-of-the-art industrial electronic design automation (EDA) tools.

Prerequisite: to take this module, you must have a knowledge of digital electronics.

Image Processing

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 4

 You will study: introduction to machine vision and relation to image processing; importance of scene constraints and methods of achieving these in the industrial environment; lighting techniques; ;radiometric and photometric units; camera technologies; lenses for machine vision; image formation and resolution; display technologies; image acquisition hardware and hardware implemented point operations; histogram manipulations; linear invariant systems theory in two dimensions; the convolution operation and its discrete implementation as mask operators; first and second differential edge detection operators; edge filling techniques; Hough transform; the 2-D Fourier transform and frequency domain filters; 2-D correlation. Scene segmentation methods and region filling; pattern recognition techniques: shape descriptors; Fourier descriptors; template matching; and examples of machine vision systems in industry.

Mobile Communications

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 4

Topics include: mobile communication technologies; overview of mobile communication systems; cellular communications concepts; multiple access technologies; fading and mitigation techniques; mobile wireless systems (GSM, WLAN, 3G); satellite communication systems; satellite systems architecture; orbital and geostationary satellite types; satellite multiple access techniques; satellite system link models and analysis; mobile satellite systems; and global positioning systems.

Real Time Embedded Systems

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 4

The module covers: microcontroller-based real-time systems; architectures and structures; task structures and synchronisation; real-time, deterministic applications; multitasking management; communications between tasks; examples of 8-bit and 16-bit controllers; and examples and case study of CAN/FlexRay/TTP.

Satellite and Space Systems

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 4

Fundamentals of Space Missions: Evolution of space activities; Launch vehicles; orbital dynamics.

Spacecraft Systems: Attitude control of spacecraft; Telemetry and telecommand; Spacecraft thermal control; Spacecraft power systems.

Mission Environmental and Engineering Requirements: Hostile environment; System reliability; Space and Ground segments.

Applications of Satellite Space Technology: Communication satellites; Navigation satellites; GPS and tracking systems; Remote sensing from space for environmental security. The role of satellite imagery for monitoring international arms control treaties. The role of satellite imagery in the control of nuclear proliferation. The role of space systems for border security and systems.

Back to module list

Entry requirements

Sussex welcomes applications from students of all ages who show evidence of the academic maturity and broad educational background that suggests readiness to study at degree level. For most students, this will mean formal public examinations; details of some of the most common qualifications we accept are shown below. If you are an overseas student, refer to Applicants from outside the UK.

All teaching at Sussex is in the English language. If your first language is not English, you will also need to demonstrate that you meet our English language requirements.

A level

Typical offer: AAB-ABB

Specific entry requirements: A levels must include Mathematics

International Baccalaureate

Typical offer: 34-35 points overall

Specific entry requirements: Higher Levels must include Mathematics, with a grade of 5 or 6.

For more information refer to International Baccalaureate.

Other qualifications

Access to HE Diploma

Typical offer: Pass the Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at Level 3, of which 30 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher.

Specific entry requirements: Successful applicants will normally need A level Mathematics, grade B, in addition to the Access to HE Diploma.

For more information refer to Access to HE Diploma.

Advanced Diploma

Typical offer: Pass with at least a grade B in the Diploma and an A in the Additional and Specialist Learning.

Specific entry requirements: The Additional and Specialist Learning must be an A-level in Mathematics.

For more information refer to Advanced Diploma.

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma

Typical offer: DDD

Specific entry requirements: Successful applicants will need to achieve Distinction in the unit in Further Mathematics for Technicians within the Engineering BTEC Extended Diploma. Ideally applicants will have A level Mathematics, grade B in addition to the Diploma. GCSE (or equivalent) Mathematics with at least grade B is essential.

For more information refer to BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.

European Baccalaureate

Typical offer: Overall result of 77-80%

Specific entry requirements: Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential (normally with a final grade of at least 8.0).

For more information refer to European Baccalaureate.

Finnish Ylioppilastutkinto

Typical offer: Overall average result in the final matriculation examinations of 6.0-6.5.

Specific entry requirements: Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.

French Baccalauréat

Typical offer: Overall final result of at least 13/20

Specific entry requirements: Successful students will need to be taking the science strand within the French Baccalauréat with a final result of at least 12/20 in Mathematics.

German Abitur

Typical offer: Overall result of 1.8 or better

Specific entry requirements: Successful applicants will need a very good final result in Mathematics (at least 12/15) at a high level.

Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher level)

Typical offer: AAAABB-AABBBB

Specific entry requirements: Highers must include Mathematics, grade A.

Italian Diploma di Maturità or Diploma Pass di Esame di Stato

Typical offer: Final Diploma mark of 90/100

Specific entry requirements: Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.

Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

Typical offer: AAABB-AABBB

Specific entry requirements: Highers must include Mathematics, grade B. Applicants should also have an Advanced Higher in Mathematics (grade B).

For more information refer to Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers.

Spanish Titulo de Bachillerato (LOGSE)

Typical offer: Overall average result of 8.0-8.5

Specific entry requirements: Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.

Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma

Typical offer: Pass the Core plus at least AB in two A-levels

Specific entry requirements: A levels must include Mathematics, grade B.

For more information refer to Welsh Baccalaureate.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with not less than 6.0 in each section. Internet-based TOEFL with 88 overall, with at least 20 in Listening, 19 in Reading, 21 in Speaking and 23 in Writing.

For more information, refer to alternative English language requirements.

For more information about the admissions process at Sussex:

Undergraduate Admissions,
Sussex House,
University of Sussex, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9RH, UK
T +44 (0)1273 678416
F +44 (0)1273 678545
E ug.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

Related subjects

Fees and funding

Fees

Home/EU students: £9,0001
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £9,0002
Overseas students: £16,2003

1 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
2 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
3 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.

To find out about your fee status, living expenses and other costs, visit further financial information.

Funding

The funding sources listed below are for the subject area you are viewing and may not apply to all degrees listed within it. Please check the description of the individual funding source to make sure it is relevant to your chosen degree.

To find out more about funding and part-time work, visit further financial information.

Care Leavers Award (2013)

Region: UK
Level: UG
Application deadline: 31 July 2014

For students have been in council care before starting at Sussex.

First-Generation Scholars Scheme (2013)

Region: UK
Level: UG
Application deadline: 13 June 2014

The scheme is targeted to help students from relatively low income families – ie those whose family income is up to £42,611.

First-Generation Scholars Scheme EU Student Award (2013)

Region: Europe (Non UK)
Level: UG
Application deadline: 13 June 2014

£3,000 fee waiver for UG Non-UK EU students whose family income is below £25,000

High Flier Scholarship (Engineering & Design) (2013)

Region: UK
Level: UG

An unlimited number of 'high-flier' Engineering & Design scholarships of £1,000 are available.

Mrs Emily O Akinluyi Scholarship (2013)

Region: UK
Level: UG
Application deadline: 19 October 2013

£5000 paid over the length of the course

 

Careers and profiles

Career opportunities 

The career of an engineer is richly rewarding in terms of personal satisfaction, status and salary. According to the Association of Graduate Recruiters, engineers are now among the top earners of the graduate population and are one of the most likely groups to fast track into management positions. 

Career opportunities include employment in sectors such as communications, aerospace, transport, marine or space exploration, environment, marketing, the supply chain, robotics, security and defence, the power industry, and health and medicine. 

Our recent graduates have taken up a wide range of posts with employers including: 

  • design engineer at Delphi Diesel Systems
  • hardware design engineer at Optisense Ltd
  • research and development engineer at itmsoil
  • graduate engineer at hurleypalmerflatt
  • production systems engineer at Gemini Data Loggers UK Ltd
  • development engineer at Eschmann Equipment
  • embryologist at The Agora Clinic
  • graduate analyst at the Royal Bank of Scotland
  • manufacturing engineer at Lola Group
  • project engineer at Allen Gears
  • design engineer at Nissan Technical Centre Europe
  • development engineer at Delphi
  • trainee electrical engineer at Max Wright Limited
  • IT consultant at Aron Willis IT Consultants
  • programmer at PeoplePlanner
  • electrical engineer at CBG consultants
  • research and development engineer at Dyson
  • design engineer at BP
  • engineer at Tesla
  • mechanical engineer at Network Rail.

Specific employer destinations listed are taken from recent Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education surveys, which are produced annually by the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

For more information, refer to Department of Engineering and Design: Career opportunities.

Careers and employability

For employers, it’s not so much what you know, but what you can do with your knowledge that counts. The experience and skills you’ll acquire during and beyond your studies will make you an attractive prospect. Initiatives such as SussexPlus, delivered by the Careers and Employability Centre, help you turn your skills to your career advantage. It’s good to know that 94 per cent of our graduates are in work or further study (Which? University).

For more information on the full range of initiatives that make up our career and employability plan for students, visit Careers and alumni.

David's career perspective

David Reid

‘I chose to study Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Sussex because the course covered everything I wanted to learn and offered many different options so I could really tailor my degree to suit my needs.

‘Studying at Sussex gave me both the technical skills and the underlying theory that are essential for when you move into industry. In my third year, I honed my practical skills by actually building a project that I had designed, and in my fourth year the group project encouraged an interdisciplinary approach, as everyone in the group was bringing their own area of expertise and applying it to the group’s work.

‘I’m now a Project Manager for UK Power Networks, currently managing a large electrical construction project that involves replacing old apparatus with much more modern and efficient equipment. Not only am I using the theoretical knowledge and practical skills that I gained at Sussex but the interdisciplinary aspect of the degree has also proved to be extremely useful as I’m working with a range of multidisciplinary teams and the clear and effective communication of technical knowledge is key.

‘I’ve been able to develop and build on the excellent start that Sussex gave me and I can’t recommend the degree enough!’

David Reid
Project Manager Investment Delivery (south)
UK Power Networks

Contact our School

Department of Engineering and Design

The Department of Engineering and Design has expertise in electronic and mechanical engineering, with significant emphasis on design. It offers high-quality teaching and world-leading research in an exciting and supportive learning environment.

How do I find out more?

For more information, contact:

Department of Engineering and Design,
University of Sussex, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9QT, UK
E ug.admissions@engineering.sussex.ac.uk
T +44 (0)1273 678743
F +44 (0)1273 678399
Department of Engineering and Design

Visit us

Campus tours

We offer weekly guided campus tours.

Mature students at Sussex: information sessions

If you are 21 or over, and thinking about starting an undergraduate degree at Sussex, you may want to attend one of our mature student information sessions. Running between October and December, they include guidance on how to approach your application, finance and welfare advice, plus a guided campus tour with one of our current mature students.

Self-guided visits

If you are unable to make any of the visit opportunities listed, drop in Monday to Friday year round and collect a self-guided tour pack from Sussex House reception.

Go to Visit us and Open Days to book onto one of our tours.

Hannah's perspective

Hannah Steele

'Studying at Sussex gave me so many opportunities to really throw myself into university life, and being taught by enthusiastic academic staff who are involved in ground-breaking research meant that the education I received was second to none.

'Coming to an Open Day gave me a great insight into both academic and social life at Sussex. Working here means that I now get to tell others about my experiences and share all the great things about the University. And if you can’t make it to our Open Days, we’ve other opportunities to visit, or you can visit our Facebook page and our Visit us and Open Days pages.'

Hannah Steele
Graduate Intern, Student Recruitment Services

Aaron-Leslie's perspective

Aaron-Leslie Williams

'Leaving home to study at Sussex was an exciting new experience, and settling in came naturally with all the different activities on campus throughout the year. There are loads of facilities available on your doorstep, both the Library and the gym are only ever a short walk away.

'My experience at Sussex has been amazing. It's a really friendly campus, the academics are helpful, and Brighton is just around the corner. I now work as a student ambassador, and help out at Open Days, sharing all the things I've grown to love about Sussex!'

Aaron-Leslie Williams
BSc in Mathematics


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