This page describes the Master of Engineering (Eng) specialising in Telecommunications by coursework. This degree has a minimum of 120 SAQA credits, in addition to a research mini-dissertation (minimum 60 SAQA credits). Combined, the MEng needs to cover at least 180 SAQA credits in total.
A previous version of this programme ran successfully until 2009 when we temporarily stopped offering it. It is scheduled to resume in 2015 due to popular demand and is now on block release. Each course on the programme will typically contain a lecture component of 5 full week days, followed by weekly seminars, tasks and a written examination, over a five-week period after the intensive lecture session.
The programme is designed to support students that cannot be resident in Cape Town for the full duration to complete all courses, by using distance learning techniques during the follow up period after the one week intensive lecture period. All students will, however, have to be present in Cape Town for the one week lecture period for each course. Elements of continuous assessment (problem sets, short projects) and a written examination are utilised to assess the course.
Modules of this Masters Programme are offered to Continuing Professional Development students as separate certificated courses from which a participant can obtain CPD credits as these courses are registered with ECSA. These CPD courses are attendance based, and a certificate of attendance is issued.
Note: If you are interested in attending this course for credit purposes, you will need to register for the Masters Programme or as an occasional student. If you attend the course as a CPD participant, credit cannot be claimed in retrospect.
The MEng (Telecom) provides the strongest theoretical grounding for either PhD studies or higher level responsibilities in industry. For the PhD degreem students register for the doctor of philosophy research course (EEE6000W), which carries 360 SAQA credits. Students then conduct thesis research under the guidance of a faculty member. Coursework is not a requirement for the PhD degree at UCT; however the MEng courses have been design such that PhD students student may elect to undertake some of these courses for self-improvement and to get up-to-speed on specific technologies that they may be aiming to use in their research. For more detail about PhD application and registration see the EBE faculty website.
| Course Number | Title | NQF Credits | HEQSF Level |
| EEE5004Z | Minor Dissertation | 60 | 09 |
| EEE5135Z | Information Theory & Error Control Coding | 20 | 09 |
| EEE5136Z | Statistical Signal Theory | 20 | 09 |
| EEE5108Z | Advanced Engineering Mathematics | 20 | 09 |
| Elective courses | 60 | 09 | |
| Total credits | 180 | 09 |
Elective Courses
Select courses to the value of at least 60 credits
| Course Number | Title | NQF Credits | HEQSF Level |
| EEE5032Z | Digital Communication Systems | 20 | 09 |
| EEE5140Z | Software‐Defined Radio | 20 | 09 |
| EEE5137Z | Optical Communication Systems | 20 | 09 |
| EEE5121Z | Microwave Components and Antennas | 20 | 09 |
| EEE5122F | Computational Electronics I | 20 | 09 |
| EEE5138Z | Broadband Communication Networks | 20 | 09 |
| EEE5139Z | Wireless Data Network Convergence | 20 | 09 |
| EEE5033Z | Advanced Topics in Communications & Networks | 12 | 09 |
| EEE5034Z | Special Topics in Electrical Engineering | 8* | 09 |
*Please note that courses EEE5033Z and EEE5034Z will meet a single 20‐credit requirement and must be taken concurrently when selected.
Please click on the courses link to see more information about the courses on offer.
Applicants with exceptional grades from strong and reputable electrical or electronic engineering programmes may be admitted into the MSc (Eng.) by research programme, which only requires registration for the following courses:
- END5050X Master’s journal paper
- EEE5000W Dissertation in Electrical Engineering