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Please note: This course is now closed. You can click the apply now button above to register your interest for more info about our Engineering courses. You might also be interested in Electrical and Electronic Engineering MSc.

This course is designed for students from a variety of engineering backgrounds, to enhance and develop electronic engineering knowledge and skills essential for the modern engineer.

You will gain expertise and experience in the areas of analogue and digital systems and circuit design using state-of-the-art software and processors. You will gain the in-depth knowledge and skills you need for analysing, modelling and optimising the performance of advanced microelectronic and communication systems. The course covers a broad range of topics including advanced embedded system technologies, digital design automation and silicon electronic design, as well as optical fibre communication systems and wireless communications.

In the second year, for one semester you will have the chance to undertake study in another country or join a research group. This valuable experience will enhance your employment opportunities and further develop your theoretical and practical skills. 

It’s also possible to complete this course in one year without the Advanced Practice element.

Why Study Microelectronic and Communications Engineering MSc at Northumbria?

  • Top School: Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Northumbria is ranked 3rd in the UK for Student Experience and Top 10 for Teaching Quality (Times Good University Guide 2026).
  • Research Powerhouse: Engineering is ranked 25th for research power in the UK out of 89 submissions (REF, 2021). This is a rise of 8 places compared to 2014.

Please note: This course is now closed. You can click the apply now button above to register your interest for more info about our Engineering courses. You might also be interested in Electrical and Electronic Engineering MSc.

This course is designed for students from a variety of engineering backgrounds, to enhance and develop electronic engineering knowledge and skills essential for the modern engineer.

You will gain expertise and experience in the areas of analogue and digital systems and circuit design using state-of-the-art software and processors. You will gain the in-depth knowledge and skills you need for analysing, modelling and optimising the performance of advanced microelectronic and communication systems. The course covers a broad range of topics including advanced embedded system technologies, digital design automation and silicon electronic design, as well as optical fibre communication systems and wireless communications.

In the second year, for one semester you will have the chance to undertake study in another country or join a research group. This valuable experience will enhance your employment opportunities and further develop your theoretical and practical skills. 

It’s also possible to complete this course in one year without the Advanced Practice element.

Why Study Microelectronic and Communications Engineering MSc at Northumbria?

  • Top School: Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Northumbria is ranked 3rd in the UK for Student Experience and Top 10 for Teaching Quality (Times Good University Guide 2026).
  • Research Powerhouse: Engineering is ranked 25th for research power in the UK out of 89 submissions (REF, 2021). This is a rise of 8 places compared to 2014.

Course Information

Level of Study
Postgraduate

Mode of Study
2 years Full Time with Advanced Practice

School
Engineering, Physics and Mathematics

Location
City Campus, Northumbria University

City
Newcastle

Start
September or January

Fees
Fee Information

Modules
Module Information

a close up of an object a circuit board a view of a city a circuit board
Entry Requirements Modules Overview Fees, Funding  and Scholarships

Entry Requirements 2026/27

Standard Entry

Applicants should normally have:

A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in Physics, Engineering or a relevant subject. Other subject qualifications, equivalent professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be considered on an individual basis.

International qualifications:

If you have studied a non UK qualification, you can see how your qualifications compare to the standard entry criteria, by selecting the country that you received the qualification in, from our country pages. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry

English language requirements:

International applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).

 *The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS.  You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications

Fees and Funding 2026/27 Entry

Full UK Fee: £14,250

Tuition fees in the academic year 2027/28* will be £10,050. Fees are set in line with the UK Government's tuition fee cap. The University may increase fees in subsequent years in line with any changes to the tuition fee cap. Increases will be linked to inflation. For example, increases may be linked to RPIX (Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments) Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect. Student fee loans rise in line with the tuition fees cap.

*if your course is longer than one year


Full International Fee: £24,500

This is the tuition fee for your first year of study. You should expect to pay tuition fees for every year of study. The University may increase fees in the second and subsequent years of your course at our discretion in line with any inflationary or other uplift. Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect.



Scholarships and Discounts

Discover More about Fees, Scholarships and other Funding options available for UK and International applicants.

ADDITIONAL COSTS

TBC

If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

Modules Overview 2026/27

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

Year two

Year two

KB7056 -

Advanced Practice Semester (Core,60 Credits)

This 60 credit module is designed for all full-time postgraduate programmes within the Faculty of Engineering and Environment and provides you with the opportunity to undertake a Live Project (including the possibility of live research project work with staff). for one semester as part of your programme. This experience gives you the opportunity to apply skills and knowledge acquired during the taught part of your programme and to acquire new skills and knowledge in an alternative learning environment. Specific learning will be defined in a personal learning contract.

Your Advanced Practice semester will be assessed on a pass/fail basis and as such, it does not contribute to the classification of your degree. However when taken and passed it is recognised both in your transcript as a 60 credit Advanced Practice Module and in your degree title.

More information

KD7065 -

MSc Engineering Project (Core,60 Credits)

This module allows you to engender a spirit of enquiry and thirst for knowledge into a practical or theoretical dissertation. It includes aspects of information research, retrieval and critical appraisal; research enquiry based upon practical and theoretical skills development and critical discussion and appraisal of results; and an opportunity to compose a thesis or research style paper and to deliver a technical presentation on the project.

This module aims to make use of the knowledge and analytic skills developed throughout the programme to provide solutions to real-world industrial and research problems. In this module you will develop:

• Critical thinking on current engineering practices and their limitations, and exposure to state of the art technologies.

• Independent problem solving skills to develop and propose solutions to fundamental and subtle problems.

• An understanding and appreciation for the need and application of ethics within research and the wider society, and apply this in the context of the Engineering project undertaken.

• Project management skills to organise and plan tasks with clear objectives, outcomes and timescales, and analyse the true “cost” in order to achieve project outcomes.

• Key technical writing and presentation skills to a professional standard expected by both industry and academia.

These will provide a professional base from which you will be able to identify and use key knowledge, objectives, theories and techniques, plan and cost in order to bid, for funding, for future industrial and research projects. A key requirement of a professional engineer.

More information

Any Questions?

Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help.  They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.

 

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

Accessibility and Student Inclusion

Northumbria University is committed to developing an inclusive, diverse and accessible campus and wider University community and are determined to ensure that opportunities we provide are open to all.

We are proud to work in partnership with AccessAble to provide Detailed Access Guides to our buildings and facilities across our City, Coach Lane and London Campuses. A Detailed Access Guide lets you know what access will be like when you visit somewhere. It looks at the route you will use getting in and what is available inside. All guides have Accessibility Symbols that give you a quick overview of what is available, and photographs to show you what to expect. The guides are produced by trained surveyors who visit our campuses annually to ensure you have trusted and accurate information.

You can use Northumbria’s AccessAble Guides anytime to check the accessibility of a building or facility and to plan your routes and journeys. Search by location, building or accessibility feature to find the information you need. 

We are dedicated to helping students who may require additional support during their student journey and offer 1-1 advice and guidance appropriate to individual requirements. If you feel you may need additional support you can find out more about what we offer here where you can also contact us with any questions you may have:

Accessibility support

Student Inclusion support

 

 

Page last updated 05/08/26

If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

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