Master of Science Programme in Electrical Engineering with emphasis on Signal Processing

Profile - General Content

The objective of the programme is to prepare for qualified development work in industry as well as provide a basis for research studies. You will meet and work closely with researchers in the field of Signal Processing and get a thorough understanding in the area.

After finishing the studies you will be able to apply the knowledge in a range of situations for an analysis of problems as well as creation of solutions. You will be able to select, design and apply a range of complimentary and cohesive tools and concepts in the area.

The programme is mainly focused on adaptive- and acoustic signal processing and image processing as well. You will learn to implement methods in industrial areas in the field of noise and vibration control, speech coding, speech enhancement, image processing, etc. Example of important courses: Multidimensional Signal Processing, Sound- and Vibration Analysis, Adaptive Signal Processing, Optimal Signal Processing, Neural Networks, Computer Vision and Digital Image Processing and Analysis.
The studies will mainly be carried out on campus to make it possible for you to work close to the researchers. The education will include both theory and practical applications and you will work both independently and integrate into teams as well. The programme will be finished by a Master’s thesis (30 credit points) which normally will be done at the industry or in close cooperation with the industry.

In order to get the master’s degree, you have to complete 90 credit points (1.5 years) courses plus a 30 credit points (0.5 year) Master’s thesis, totally 2 years. One credit point (högskolepoäng) in the Swedish system corresponds to one credit point in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

The programme is based on that you have obtained a Bachelor of Science in the area of either electrical engineering or computer engineering. For further information, please see the programme descriptor of the programme.

Qualification Awarded

The education leads up to a higher education qualification for second-cycle studies, with the description
Degree of Master of Science.
Main field of study: Electrical Engineering
Specialization: Signal Processing

Prerequisites

For admission to the study programme, a Bachelor's degree (180 credits) with one of the main fields of study Electrical Engineering or Computer Technology is required. The Bachelor's degree should comprise at least 30 credits mathematics where multidimensional analysis, transform theory and mathematical statistics are included. Further, a higher education qualification should include signal processing, programming, computer network and telecommunications. English B.

Read about general admission requirements for second cycle.

Admission Criteria

(This paragraph is a translation from Swedish of the approved method, “Antagnings¬ordning”[Admission regulations], Dnr 13-0217-2009.)

GENERAL
This method has the purpose of assessing the applicants’ competency for studies at, among others, the Master Programmes in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Software Engineering.

BASES FOR RANKING OF APPLICANT
Previous university studies and English.

DETAILS ON BASES FOR SELECTION:
The first step of the ranking process is an assessment of the relevance of the area and specialisation of the applicants’ previous university studies to the applied programme. This assessment is made in three categories: minimal relevance = merit points 0, average relevance = merit points 0.5, high relevance = merit points 1.

Finally, the applicants’ TEOFL or IELTS level in English is normalised to a value between 0 and 1, where 0 is the minimum level to pass the prerequisites of the applied programme and 1 is the maximum level of the test. Applicants’ who are not required to prove their English skills with TOEFL or IELTS tests will get the merit point 1.

These two merit point values are added to a total merit value between 0 and 2

MAXIMUM MERIT RANKING:
A maximum of 2 merit points will be given, according to the above given details.

WORK METHOD:
Applications that are accepted for review based on the basic requirements for the programme will be ranked according to the details above. If not all applicants with the same lowest merit point can be admitted, a preference is given to the gender that is least represented at the programme, and if further selection is needed lots will be drawn.

Admission Procedure

Read about the admission procedure.

Recognition of prior studies and studies abroad

Student who has been admitted to the programme and has earlier completed a course that corresponds to a course within the programme, can apply for recognition of prior studies. If possible, the student will be offered admission to an alternative course. Studies abroad within the programme can normally be partly or fully recognised. In these cases a decision is made via the Learning Agreement, prior the study period.

Read more about studying abroad.

Practical Information

Practical information is found under 'Prospective students'.

Profile - General Content

The objective of the programme is to prepare for qualified development work in industry as well as provide a basis for research studies. You will meet and work closely with researchers in the field of Signal Processing and get a thorough understanding in the area.

After finishing the studies you will be able to apply the knowledge in a range of situations for an analysis of problems as well as creation of solutions. You will be able to select, design and apply a range of complimentary and cohesive tools and concepts in the area.

The programme is mainly focused on adaptive- and acoustic signal processing and image processing as well. You will learn to implement methods in industrial areas in the field of noise and vibration control, speech coding, speech enhancement, image processing, etc. Example of important courses: Multidimensional Signal Processing, Sound- and Vibration Analysis, Adaptive Signal Processing, Optimal Signal Processing, Neural Networks, Computer Vision and Digital Image Processing and Analysis.
The studies will mainly be carried out on campus to make it possible for you to work close to the researchers. The education will include both theory and practical applications and you will work both independently and integrate into teams as well. The programme will be finished by a Master’s thesis (30 credit points) which normally will be done at the industry or in close cooperation with the industry.

In order to get the master’s degree, you have to complete 90 credit points (1.5 years) courses plus a 30 credit points (0.5 year) Master’s thesis, totally 2 years. One credit point (högskolepoäng) in the Swedish system corresponds to one credit point in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

The programme is based on that you have obtained a Bachelor of Science in the area of either electrical engineering or computer engineering. For further information, please see the programme descriptor of the programme.

Learning outcomes

In addition to the aims regulated nationally the following aims have been set for the programme.
On completion of the programme you will be able to:
-apply gained knowledge and understanding in the area of Electrical Engineering, mainly in the area of Signal Processing.
-show knowledge and understanding of current trends and problems within the area of Signal Processing.
-have the ability to search, evaluate and use information in an independent way to be able to learn during both future studies and at working life.
-broaden gained knowledge in an independent way into new areas within the field of Signal Processing.
-analyze problems and develop new methods within the field of Signal Processing.

From the Swedish Higher Education Ordinance; System of Qualifications:

“A Degree of Master (Two Years) is obtained after the student has completed course requirements of 120 higher education credits with a certain area of specialisation determined by each higher education institution itself, including at least 60 higher education credits with in-depth studies in the main field of study. In addition, the student must hold a Degree of Bachelor, a Degree of Bachelor of Arts in…, a professional degree worth at least 180 higher education credits or an equivalent foreign qualification”.

“For a Degree of Master (Two Years) students must have completed an independent project (degree project) worth at least 30 higher education credits in their main field of study, within the framework of the course requirements. The independent project may comprise less than 30 higher education credits, but not less than 15 higher education credits, if the student has already completed an independent project at the second level worth at least 15 higher education credits in their main field of study, or an equivalent project in a foreign educational programme.”

Specific for BTH, as an institution:

The Degree of Master (Two Years) requires at least 60 higher education credits (ECTS) at A1-level in the main field of study, of which at least 30 higher education (A2E-level) higher education credits (ECTS) shall consist of an independent project in the main field of study. Of the 120 higher education credits, no more than 30 may be from the basic level.

Mode of delivery

The programme includes course work of 90 ECTS and a Master’s thesis of 30 ECTS. Total duration of the programme is 2 years which includes four semesters. Each year is divided into four lecture periods (Lp1, Lp2, Lp3 and Lp4). There are twelve courses at the programme and each course is 7.5 ECTS.

During the first year, Lp1, the first two courses Complex Analysis and Transforms and Signal Processing II will form a base for nearly all the courses at the programme. In the next lecture period, Lp2, the course Random Processes will be used in four courses. The course Multidimensional Signal Processing is basically a generalization of the course Signal Processing II into higher dimensions and will give a better understanding of this course. Multidimensional Signal Processing is not a formal prerequisite for future courses but will be an advantage for the coming courses at the programme, especially the image processing courses. During Lp3 at the first year, the two courses Adaptive Signal Processing and Digital Transmission and Radio Communications will complete the base of fundamental knowledge in the signal processing area. You now have a large set of advanced tools for continuing at the programme.

The programme has three main areas (where some courses belong to the base of fundamental knowledge already studied above).
Adaptive signal processing area:
- Adaptive Signal Processing, Lp3, first year (mandatory)
- Applied Adaptive Signal Processing, Lp4, first year (mandatory)
- Optimal Signal Processing, Lp1, second year (optional)
- Neural Networks, Lp2, second year (mandatory)

Image processing area:
- Multidimensional Image Processing, Lp2, first year (mandatory)
- Digital Image Processing and Analysis, Lp4, first year (optional)
- Computer Vision, Lp1, second year (optional)

Sound and Vibrations area:
- Sound and Vibrations Analysis, Lp4, first year (optional)
- Experimental Modal Analysis, Lp1, second year (optional)

In the next lecture periods (first year, Lp4, second year Lp1 and second year Lp2) you will select from these main areas.

During Lp1, second year, the course Research Methodology with emphasis on Electrical Engineering will focus on how to prepare for the Master’s thesis.

During the next lecture period, Lp2, second year, you can choose between three optional courses that are useful for all areas above:
- Advanced Filter Design (optional)
- Digital Signal Processors (optional)
- Applied Signal Processing (optional)

During the last semester at the programme (Lp3 and Lp4, second year), the Master’s thesis will let you apply your theoretical and practical knowledge from all the previous courses at the programme in a major project within radio communications.

NOTE! It is the start term of the course that is stated below. See each course to find out the actual length of the course.

Written Work

The programme is completed with a written degree project equivalent to 30 HE credits.

International element

Studies abroad can either be carried out at some of our partner universities or at other appropriate universities.

Read about study abroad

Job Profiles

After obtaining a higher education qualification from the programme you can work as an innovator, calculation engineer or project manager within the sectors of signal processing, sound - and vibrations as well as radio and telecommunications.

The education is particularly interesting for students that want to work abroad.

Further Studies

After obtaining a higher education qualification from the programme you can generally apply to third-cycle studies within the main field of study of Electrical Engineering.

At BTH, the following programme for third-cycle studies is open for students with a higher education qualification from this programme: signal processing.

Programme Advisory Board

The program has a Programme Council that has the assignment of ensuring the usability of the education on and for the labour market.

The Programme Council consists of students, alumni, external representatives and teachers and representatives of the main field of study.

The Programme Council meets 2 times a year.

Contact for the Programme Council is: Stefan Sjödahl.