MASTER’s PROGRAMME
COMMUNICATION
ENGINEERING
Communications – Life forces of today
Society today is firmly founded on communication systems.
In addition to human communications, communication
supports the operations of industries, businesses and
banks; vehicles and transportation systems; household
entertainment electronics; and smart power grids.
Communication reduces the need for energy-consuming
transportations, assists medical diagnosis and treatment,
traffic safety, and environmental monitoring.
How will we communicate ten years from now? No one
knows, but three things are certain: There will still be
communication systems, some of them will be different from
what we know today, and communication engineers will be
needed to design and to build them.
AIMS
The programme prepares you for an advanced career in design, development, research or Ph.D. studies in the field of communication engineering. This is achieved
by essentially focusing on the fundamental
principles that govern the design, performance, and limitations of communication
systems of the past, present as well as the
sustainable future.
RESEARCH CONNECTIONS
The professors at the department are
themselves internationally recognized in
their respective fields and are engaged in
collaborative research with researchers
from the top universities around the world.
Also, the department is engaged actively
in research and development projects with
leading companies such as Ericsson, Volvo, Nokia Siemens Networks etc.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
In general, graduate study in communication engineering will prepare students to
pursue careers in diverse, high-technology
areas. These careers can be in the government, and the industry. Most of the alumni
of this programme work as technical specialists in design, development, and maintenance of communication technology. Some
have progressed to leading positions in the
industry and academia.
Several international telecom players
like Ericsson actively recruit our graduate
students on a regular basis. And there are
plenty of smaller companies specializing
in the area of communications in Sweden
that have recruited students from our programme. In recent times, the automotive
industry has evinced interest in engineers
with advanced knowledge in Communication technologies, given that all modern
cars include an internal communication
network, and vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Vehicular safety systems is currently a hot area of design, development
and research. Many of our former students
are also pursuing a Ph.D. degree at various
European and American universities.
EDUCATIONAL METHODS
The pedagogical structure of the programme is well targeted towards learning
system design processes as practiced in
the communication industry. In general, the
educational methods are based on what
are expected from engineering graduates
in an industrial environment, with specific
emphasis on building and refining problem-solving skills, team work and presentation skills. Certain emphasis is placed on
solving complex tasks by defining subtasks
and interfaces, performing these subtasks
independently, and assembling the results.
All courses in the program are permeated
by the principles of sustainable development. Students get the opportunity to interact with the industry via guest lectures
and study visits. Finally, the Master’s Thesis gives the student training in individual
research, project planning, documentation
and presentation. It can be carried out at
the University, industry or another university/research institute.
COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
UNDERGRADUATE PROFILE
Major in Electrical Engineering, Automation and Mechatronics Engineering, Com-
puter Engineering, Computer Science,
Information Engineering, Mathematics or
Engineering Physics.
PREREQUISITES
Signals and systems theory (including linear systems and transforms), Basic programming and Mathematics (including
probability and linear algebra).
PROGRAMME PLAN
The first semester of the programme consists of an initial mandatory block of 30
ECTS credit units, consisting of four of the
five compulsory courses described below.
In the second semester, the fifth mandatory course is taught along with a set of
semi-elective courses, out of which the
student must choose at least one during
the second semester. In the third semester, the students must choose at least two
of the given set of courses. Among the
semi-elective courses, there are two courses named “Advanced Topics in Communications” and “Advanced Topics in Signal
Processing” that are research oriented
courses of a more advanced nature than
the others. The topics for these courses
are different from year to year. In the fourth
semester, the master thesis should be
done.
COMPULSARY COURSES
• Introduction to Communication Enginee ring gives an overview of fundamental
concepts in communication engineering
and insight into modern communication
standards, with some emphasis on com mercial wireless systems.
• Random Signal Analysis gives the ne cessary tools for understanding sto chastic models of signals and noise. The course covers various characterizations of random signals as well as statistical inference (estimation) based on these.
• In Digital Communications, we derive a theoretical framework for analyzing and designing advanced communication sys-
tems, based on stochastic methods. The course covers methods for digital modu-
lation, coding and detection.
• In Applied Signal Processing, you learn standard techniques and get insight in applications of digital signal processing. You are also given the opportunity to app- ly some of the techniques to semireal sig-
nal processing problems and you get insight into current practice in industry.
• Wireless Communications is concerned with the design of wireless communica tion systems, where you acquire enough understanding of the wireless channel and state of technology to explain why
today’s systems are designed as they are and how they can be improved.
SEMI-ELECTIVE COURSES
After the mandatory courses are completed,
the students can pursue a specialization of
their interest. The semi-elective courses
are divided into hardware-related and
algorithm-related courses, and it is recommended that the students decide their main
area between these two. Thus, it is recommended that the students choose either
(at least) three algorithm-related or three
hardware-related courses among the set of
semi-elective courses.
Hardware-related Semi-Elective Courses Optoelectronics, Microwave Engineering,
Electromagnetic Waves and Components,
Mixed-Signal System Design, Introduction
to Electronic System Design, Fiber-optical
communication, Introduction to Integrated
Circuit Design, Laser Engineering, Antenna Engineering, Fundamentals of photonics, Radar systems and applications.
Algorithm-related Semi-Elective Courses
– Remote Sensing, Wireless Networks,
Multimedia and Video Communications, Image analysis, eHealth, Advanced Topics in
Communications, Advanced Topics in Signal Processing, Network Security, Computer Networks, Satellite Positioning, Image
processing, Satellite Communications.
It is also recommended to supplement the
technical courses with courses related to
management, environment, society, economy and English that help build general
competency.
MASTER THESIS
In the fourth semester, the Master’s Thesis
of 30 ECTS credit units should be done.
The work can be conducted within one of
our research divisions or within a company.
Even though it is scheduled for the spring
semester, the timing of the Thesis is somewhat flexible in order to allow a wider selection of elective courses.
Year 1
Year 2
Introduction to
Communication
Engineering
Digital
Communications
Wireless
Communications
Random
Signals
Analysis
Applied
Signal
Processing
Semielective
courses
Autumn
Communication
hard-ware related
Communication
algorithm related
Semielective
courses
Spring
Semielective
courses
Master’s Thesis
Autumn
Spring
Laser
engineering
Introd.to
Electronic
Syst. Design
Mixed-Signal
System
Design
Radar syst.
& applications
Electromag.
Waves and
Components
Fiber-optical
communication
Antenna
Engineering
Optoelectronics
Microwave
Engineering
Remote
sensing
eHealth
Introd. to
Integrated
Circuit Design
Image
analysis
Wireless
Networks
Image
processing
Wireless link
project
Adv. topics in
communications
Multimedia/
Video
Communic.
Satellite
communicat.
Satellite
positioning
Adv Topics
in Signal
Processing
Computer
networks
Probability &
random proc.
advanced level
Fundamentals
of photonics
Network
security
COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
“Chalmers – for a sustainable future is a vision which
exudes the long-term approach, the acceptance of responsibility and the trust I feel is worthy of Chalmers.
At the same time, it is obvious that this vision has to
be shared by many and that Chalmers has to co-operate across disciplines in order to promote the whole
of society’s commitment to our future.”
Karin Markides, president
Chalmers conducts research and edu­ca­tion in engineering and natural
scien­ces, architec­ture, technology-relat­ed mathe­mati­cal scienc­­es and
nautical sciences – in close collaboration with industry and society.
Chalmers is one of Sweden’s largest universities of technology with
about 12 000 students and 2 200 em­ployees.
Approximately 40 percent of Sweden’s graduate engineers and
architects are educated here. Chalmers has formed partnerships with
major industries mostly in the Gothenburg region such as Ericsson,
Volvo and SKF.
The Master’s Programmes at Chalmers are strongly linked to advan­c­
ed research in areas of particular strength. Upon completion of studies,
candidates will be granted a Master’s degree. The programmes are
taught in English and open to applicants from the whole world.
Chalmers has eight areas of advance where the aim is to bring
together research, education and innovation across departmental
boundaries and to co-operate with bodies and organisations out­side
Chalmers: Materials Science, Produ­c­tion, Information & Communica­­­
tion Technology, Transport, Built Environment, Nano­science & Nano­
technology, Life Science and Energy. The eight key areas also have a
firm foundation in the basic sciences. The pursuit of new knowledge
and improved technology has characterized Chalmers ever since its
foundation in 1829.
More info at: www.chalmers.se/en
The small metropolis – GOTHENBURG
More than 60 000 are currently studying in Gothenburg. In many
ways, their decision to choose Gothenburg when the time came to
take the next step into the future isn’t surprising. Gothenburg is an
attractive major city with a maritime atmosphere and within easy reach
of outdoor activities in the rest of West Sweden.
Gothenburg is an uncommonly inviting city for students, with a great
deal to offer: You’ll find an exciting cultural and entertainment scene
worthy of any major city, as well as a friendly atmosphere that will help
you to quickly feel at home.
Founded in 1621, Gothenburg is a young city by European
standards. Since formative years it has been an important port of
international trade and today it is the largest in Scandinavia. With a
population of about half a million, it is both friendly and cosmopolitan.
More info at: www.goteborg.com
SWEDEN – A CULTURE OF INNOVATION
One of the world’s most modern countries, Sweden is the birthplace
of many successful international corporations. Innovative research
at Swedish universities and companies has resulted in a number of
successful inventions. Some examples are: the computer mouse,
Bluetooth for internet mobility, the pacemaker, the ball bearing, the
Tetra Pak beverage packaging system, the dialysis machine and
internet applications such as the online music streaming service
Spotify and the free internet calling service Skype.These fairly
recent inventions build on a long history of excellence in academia
and research. Sweden is the home of the prestigious Nobel Prize,
awarded in Stockholm every year.
Sweden has a number of large multinational corporations, such as
telecom supplier Ericsson, automotive companies Volvo and Scania,
household appliances corporation Electrolux, bearing manufacturer
SKF, and high-tech engineering groups Sandvik and Atlas Copco.
The deep-rooted creative environment has made Sweden a strong
nation in the areas of design, fashion and music, with well-known
international brands such as furniture giant IKEA and clothes retailer
H&M. Sweden is also one of the largest music-exporting countries in
the world.
More info at: www.studyinsweden.se
Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden, Phone +46 31 772 1000
Foto och grafisk design, Chalmers, 2012
Chalmers University of Technology