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ACADEMIC QUALITY TEAM
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Programme Specifications 2023-24
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Revised February 2023
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Programme TitleMSc in Embedded Wireless Systems
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This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:2023Award type Master Degree
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What level is this qualification?7Length of programme1 year
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Mode of study (Full / Part Time)Full Time
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Will the programme use standard University semester dates? YesFor York Online programmes, will standard dates for such programmes be used?Semester 1
18 September 2023 - 2 February 2024
Semester 2
Postgraduates: 5 February 2024 - 17 September 2024
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Awarding institutionUniversity of YorkBoard of Studies for the programmeSchool of Physics, Engineering and Technology
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Lead departmentSchool of Physics, Engineering and TechnologyOther contributing departmentsEngineering
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Language of study and assessmentEnglishLanguage(s) of assessmentEnglish
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Is this a campus-based or online programme?Campus-based
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Partner organisations
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If there are any partner organisations involved in the delivery of the programme, please outline the nature of their involvement. You may wish to refer to the Policy on Collaborative Provision
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N/A
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Reference points

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Please state relevant reference points consulted in the design of this programme
(for example, relevant documentation setting out PSRB requirements; the University's Frameworks for Programme Design (UG or PGT); QAA Subject Benchmark Statements; QAA Qualifications and Credit Frameworks).
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Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - August 2008
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Documents/FHEQ08.pdf
IET Accreditation - October 2014 & 2020
http://www.theiet.org/academics/accreditation/policy-guidance/
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Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
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Will this programme involve any exemptions from the University Policy and Procedures on Credit Transfer and the Recognition of Prior Learning? If so, please specify and give a rationale
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No
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Exceptions to Regulations
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Please detail any exceptions to University Award Regulations and Frameworks that need to be approved (or are already approved) for this programme. This should include any that have been approved for related programmes and should be extended to this programme.
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Although the university allows 40 credits of compensation, for the degree to remain IET-accredited, students can only be compensated in 20 credits. If a student has over 20 credits of compensation but has met the university progression requirements of 40 credits of compensation, they may be given the opportunity to resit compensated modules in order to reduce the compensation to 20 credits and remain on an accredited degree.
Students who do not meet the IET criteria for accreditation will graduate with MSc Electronics.
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Internal Transfers
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Please use the boxes below to specify if transfers into / out of the programme from / to other programmes within the University are possible by indicating yes or no and listing any restrictions. These boxes can also be used to highlight any common transfer routes which it would be useful for students to know.
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Transfers in:NoneTransfers out:None
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Statement of Purpose
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Please briefly outline the overall aims of the programme. This should clarify to a prospective student why they should choose this programme, what it will provide to them and what benefits they will gain from completing it.
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Wireless communication and mobile computing are currently the largest growth sectors in electronics and are expected to grow in the future, with applications ranging from mobile phones and self-driving cars to the Internet of Things (IoT) becoming pervasive in consumer electronics, society and industry. Wireless communication is now present in the majority of everyday objects including vehicles, phones, personal health and fitness, entertainment systems and even food. The MSc Embedded Wireless Systems provides you with all the tools and skills necessary to become a leader in engineering research, design and development across a range of industries. It covers theoretical and practical electronic design, sensors, instrumentation systems, communications and embedded computing from core principles to cutting-edge research. One of the major features of the MSc is the teaching of industry standard embedded systems using ARM processors, which are currently in over 90% of all mobile phones. The MSc culminates in a major group project involving the design and practical implementation of a wireless sensor network to solve a real-world problem such as distributed environmental monitoring. The project is closely linked with research in the department and often involves collaboration with other departments and industry. The modules are taught by leading academics specialising in wireless sensor networks, embedded systems, sensor and instrumentation, and the programme is fully accredited by the IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology). The programme provides a route into industries which utilise wireless sensor network applications, ranging from smart buildings, warehouses, traffic monitoring, patient monitoring, industry 4.0 and the internet of things. After graduating from this MSc, students will be significantly more attractive to a wider range of employers due to a more comprehensive portfolio, experience from running and managing a team project and system integration skills.
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If there are additional awards associated with the programme upon which students can register, please specify the Statement of Purpose for that programme. This will be most relevant for PGT programmes with exit awards that are also available as entry points. Use additional rows to include more than one additional award. Do not include years in industry / abroad (for which there are separate boxes).
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Exit Award TitleIs the exit award also available as an entry point?Outcomes: what will the student be able to do on exit with this award?Specify the module diet that the student will need to complete to obtain this exit award
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MSc ElectronicsNoSemester 1 and 2 taught modules (120 credits) passed. Research project passed (60 credits). The students will have completed all of the core taught material. The students will have gained broad knowledge of the Embedded Wireless Systems field.
Does not meet IET requirements.
Meets the MSc PLOs for the appropriate programme. 		180 credits passed
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Postgraduate Certificate in Embedded Wireless SystemsNoSemester 1 taught modules (60 credit) passed. The students will have completed some of the core taught material. The students will have gained some broad knowledge of the Embedded Wireless Systems field. They will have made progress towards the PLOs although the research aspects of the these will not be met fully as the project will not have been undertaken.Embedded Systems Design and Programming; Research Methods, Theory and Data Analysis; option from a) Emerging Technologies, b) Sustainability in Engineering Management, c) Introduction to Signal Processing with Matlab, or d) Digital Design

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Postgraduate Diploma in Embedded Wireless SystemsNoThe students will normally have completed all of the core taught material, gained knowledge of the Embedded Wireless Systems field and achieved all PLOs with the exception of the project elements where this has not been undertaken.Any 120 credit from the programme
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Programme Learning Outcomes
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What are the programme learning outcomes (PLOs) for the programme? (Normally a minimum of 6, maximum of 8). Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme and represent the outcomes that students progressively develop in the programme and achieve at graduation. PLOs should be worded to follow the stem 'Graduates will be able to...'
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1Subject Knowledge: Conduct research into the theory and operation of wireless systems (communications, embedded systems, sensors) and apply specialist knowledge in their design and implementation.
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2Engineering Analysis: Extract and critically evaluate literature and other data about complex systems through analytical and computational methods, and modelling.
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3Engineering Design: Create innovative and optimised designs to address real-world and industry-relevant problems involving wireless and embedded systems by synthesising novel ideas into engineering specifications.
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4Practical Skills: Apply professional skills of programming, circuit design and construction, and system integration to independently solve technically challenging real-world research-based problems.
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5Technical Communication: Debate, defend and contextualise information in a succinct, professional and technically accurate manner for engineers and non-technical audiences, and write and interpret technical documentation to international industry standards.
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6Management & Personal Development: Proficiently manage themselves, teams and complex projects in preparation for technical careers as leaders in applied electronic engineering.
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Diverse entry routes
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Detail how you would support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme. For example, disciplinary knowledge and conventions of the discipline, language skills, academic and writing skills, lab skills, academic integrity.
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Prior to arrival: Students receive newsletters with information about the programme. Students can top up their knowledge, or gain an introduction, to a variety of material to be used in the programme by visiting the programme website ahead of starting their course, where they will find extensive pre-learning material.
Upon arrival: 3 afternoon intensive induction specifically designed to introduce students to the way we do things here at York, to level the understanding playing field; to give students the chance to get to know each other and work together in groups; to lay down a foundation of generic skills training and UK conventions, especially in teaching and learning; to get them started in writing and speaking skills, working in teams, some tools for creative problem solving, thinking, etc. We generally mix students in supervision groups by gender and country of origin - with the intention of helping them integrate.
During the year: Each module is designed to introduce key topic material, but also to allow students to apply this in practice in labs, tutorials, and via supported self-study. We also recommend that students can receive additional support from the central provision of the Maths Skills Centre and the Writing Centre if needed.
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Inclusion
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Please confirm by ticking the box on the right that the design, content and delivery of the programme will support students from all backgrounds to succeed. This refers to the University's duties under
the Equality Act 2010. You may wish to refer to the optional Inclusive Learning self-assessment tools to support reflection on this issue.
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Employability
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Please give a brief overview - no more than 5 sentences - of how the programmes helps develop students' employability. Your Faculty Employability Manager can help reflection on this issue. This statement will be used by Marketing as the basis for external content with respect to employability.
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All our MSc programmes incorporate a carefully designed Professional Development Framework. In consultation with our Departmental Advisory Board, with key contributors from Industry, Research and Academia, this ensures that all students gain awareness of the essential skills that employers need and opportunities to develop their personal and team-based effectiveness. This begins with an Induction Week including an introduction to masters-level learning, and student team activities. Throughout Semesters 1 and 2 students develop their personal effectiveness in a series of workshops (covering such issues as literature, research, referencing, teamwork, leadership, reflective learning, ethics, and business skills). These lead on to Interdisciplinary Masterclasses which cover key research and development cross-curricular topics in emerging technology. In the Summer Semester students are prepared for research methodology and digital literacy, and undertake regular developmental training in project management. This all leads to a major group project (60 credit units) which is designed to give research and industry-relevant experience to individuals and teams as a major component of each programme.
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