Key information
Duration: 1 year full time
Institution code: R72
Campus: Egham
UK fees*: £14,400
International/EU fees**: £26,100
The course
Microwave and Optical Fibre Communications (MSc)
Microwave and optical fibre communication systems enable high-speed communication, used in our everyday life from high-speed home-based internet, smart mobile phones, machine-to-machine communication systems, and ‘Everything Connected’. At Royal Holloway, we are one of the few institutions in the UK with the skills and resources to provide hands-on experience in this area. You’ll join an active, research-focused, postgraduate-only community; a unique microwave photonics and sensors research group.
This new masters focuses on the usage of fibre optics and RoF communications in 5G/6G and beyond, as well as in areas such as space and defence. As a student you will:
- Conduct hands-on experiments using microwave and photonic components and their integration into broadband transmission systems and have the opportunity to see first-hand how Radio Frequency signals are transmitted through fibre optic systems, as we’re one of only a handful of universities with microwave photonics cutting-edge laboratory facilities sponsored by leading defence industry.
- Develop an understanding of a range of advanced theories, simulation methods, and practical design spectral efficiency techniques applied in industry, providing you with the essential knowledge expertise and skills required to become an Microwave Photonics engineer.
- Work on industry-funded projects that will be overseen directly by industry-leading specialists in emerging smart communication technologies.
This MSc programme will contribute specialist expertise productively to a multi-specialist development team working on solving modern real-world emerging communication engineering problems, in terms of analysis, design, implementation, testing, and project management.
You will have the opportunity to pursue a successful career in cutting-edge communication industries.
From time to time, we make changes to our courses to improve the student and learning experience. If we make a significant change to your chosen course, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.
Course structure
Core Modules
- Agile Engineering
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This is a major group project in which students will work on an agreed practical problem that is relevant to tomorrow's societal needs and agreed with their supervisor. The working practice of the groups will be modelled on industrial practices in terms of planning, keeping proper records of meetings and the progress of work, and students will each take on a responsibility within the team that is vital to the professional and successful running of the group project. The overall aim is to provide students with a full appreciation of mechanisms that can support professional group working and its management in engineering practice in the context of exploring and researching solutions to a topic relevant to society.
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This module develops a comprehensive understanding of the theory behind digital signal processing (DSP) and progresses to include how DSP can be implemented in real-time and embedded systems. Initially, students will be introduced to the theory behind signal processing progressively increasing the depth and breadth of their knowledge using Matlab software interface. Material will include sampling theorem, digital filtering, the discrete Fourier transform, the z-transform and adaptive filtering. Then, students will gain an understanding of how to program hardware to perform industry standard DSP algorithms such as filtering, spectral analysis and including Wiener filtering and adaptive echo cancellation. Advanced topics include high-resolution spectral estimation techniques and speech processing. Limitations of hardware such as finite precision, floating point operations will also be studied.
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The main aims of the module are to provide guidance and experience of working in Mobile and Fibre Optic high-speed smart communication systems ensuring that user requirements are understood and used to produce suitable advanced solutions. Students will acquire knowledge of fundamental concepts, terminology, techniques, and principles: Radio over Fibre (RoF) components; causes and techniques to remove radio frequency interference; optical multiplexing and switching technologies; link budget calculation; optical network architectures; increased dynamic range. Furthermore, students will be exposed to the importance of RoF systems in the broadband mobile and fibre telecommunication systems, where they are used for applications such as fibre optics, microwave and photonic components, antenna remoting, radar detection, satellite communications, signal generation, and electronic warfare systems. Students will interact with leading UK communication industries and learn from experienced communication leaders on how to apply communication engineering skills to real-world problems.
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This module covers advanced communications systems, focusing on microwave, optical, and broadband technologies. Students will gain knowledge and understanding of these systems and their applications in high-speed networks. They will learn to analyse complex microwave systems using mathematical and computational tools, such as estimating satellite link budgets. The module also covers the breakdown and categorisation of communication system elements, including high-speed optical data network architectures. Students will study radio propagation, design principles of advanced microwave systems, and sources of degradation, distortion, and losses. Additionally, they will be introduced to the latest CAD tools for evaluating and synthesising practical microwave systems.
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The module extends the knowledge acquired in digital systems with advanced topics in the emergent area of FPGA based system on chip design. The module will cover state-of-the-art features available in modern FPGAs exploring their fine-grained internal architecture and embedded macro blocks such as DSP slices, IPs and hardcore/softcore processors. A design language based on C/C++ will be presented as an alternative to traditional RTL design (VHDL). High level synthesis tools will be used to compute signal processing applications.
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The aim of this module is to provide students with the opportunity to carry out an in-depth engineering project, potentially in collaboration with industry, to solve a real-world problem or create a novel product. For specialised MScs, the project will be related to the specialisation topic.
Optional Modules
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All modules are core
Teaching & assessment
This MSc consists of eight modules and a dissertation. Teaching follows several different complementary models: face-to-face, online, pre-recorded, workshops, presentations, practical sessions, hands-on experiments labs. Assessments cover a variety of activities: groupwork, presentations, reports, Moodle quizzes, etc. Across the four MScs, examples and industry case-studies are international and cover many different backgrounds. Modules feature built-in formative assessments (eg Moodle quizzes, workshops, presentations) that complement and lead up to summative assessment.
Students have a close relationship with their tutors, and with the teaching staff in general, which means they have many opportunities for feedback. They receive oral feedback in workshops, presentations, practical sessions, and labs.
Entry requirements
2:2
Electronic Engineering, Computers Systems Engineering, Computer Networks, Telecommunication, Digital communcation, Sensor networks, Telecoms industry, or any other Engineering background
International & EU requirements
English language requirements
MSc Microwave and Optical Fibre Communications requires:
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. No subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. No subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL iBT: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 17.
- Duolingo: 120 overall and no sub-score below 100.
Your future career
On this masters you will develop unique advanced theoretical and practical design techniques applied in industry, providing you with the essential knowledge expertise and skills required to become an Optics communications, Radio over Fibre, Wireless communication, photonics and microwave expert.
Globally there is a massive growth of wireless mobile, fibre optics broadband communication, Sensor communication network and Device to Device (D2D) communication.
Upon completion of the course you’ll be well prepared for career opportunities in a range of communication systems and business in mobile, optics and hybrid communication sectors.
You will be able to apply artificial intelligence to various emerging fibre broadband and wireless communication systems, including radio over fibre communication systems for future generations of mobile networks (5G, 6G, etc.), satellite systems, Free-Space Optical (FSO) communication, D2D communication systems, communication networks for multimedia, reconfigurable intelligent reflecting surfaces for mobile communication, and wireless sensor communication for various applications:
- Telecommunication (Mobile & Fibre broadband) industry
- Aerospace communication systems
- Radar and satellite communication systems
- Autonomous Vehicles sensor communication systems
- Drone technology (UAVs)
- Health Monitoring Sensors technology systems
- Smart Cities
- Smart Energy
- Extreme Environment Communications
We look forward to finding out about the exciting path you will chose for your future and supporting you on your journey.
Fees, funding & scholarships
Home (UK) students tuition fee per year*: £14,400
EU and international students tuition fee per year**: £26,100
Other essential costs***: There are no single associated costs greater than £50 per item on this course.
How do I pay for it? Find out more about funding options, including loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries.
* and ** These tuition fees apply to students enrolled on a full-time basis in the academic year 2025/26. Students studying on the standard part-time course structure over two years are charged 50% of the full-time applicable fee for each study year.
Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase all postgraduate tuition fees annually. Be aware that tuition fees can rise during your degree (if longer than one year’s duration), and that this also means that the overall cost of studying the course part-time will be slightly higher than studying it full-time in one year. The annual increase for continuing students who start their degree in 2025/26 will be 5%. For further information, see the fees and funding , and terms and conditions.
** This figure is the fee for EU and international students starting a degree in the academic year 2025/26. Find out more
*** These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2025/26 academic year, and are included as a guide. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included.
