Project is a major element of the MSc courses; it enables students to extend their knowledge base and skill sets in areas that will enhance their career development.

All projects involve investigation and research: some will involve substantial technical and practical work while others will be mainly research based. Highly technical projects will probably use state of the art, industry standard, computer aided design tools. Distance learning part-time students are able to access these tools over the internet.

Students may choose projects that have been proposed by staff and match their career interests or they may propose their own. Extensive discussion and guidance between the student and academic staff ensures that students embark on projects that meet academic requirements and may be completed in the timescale available.

Students are assigned an academic supervisor for the duration of the project who will be available for discussion, advice and guidance.

The range of industry CAD software available for postgraduate projects is extensive and includes:

• Altera programmable logic design
• Cadence comprehensive integrated circuit design system
• Cadence PCB Design - including high speed digital signal integrity
• Comsol multiphysics - including Electromagnetics and MEMS
• Flomerics - thermal design of electronic assemblies and components
• Matlab - mathematical modeling
• Microchip - microprocessor development systems
• Spice - electronic circuit simulation
• Modelsim - virtual electronic laboratory
• Software prgramming languages - VHDL, Verilog and C++

Other packages not included in the above list may be made available if appropriate.

The schematic diagram shows the high level arrangement of a mixed signal analogue multiplexor.

The circuit has been developed using the Cadence Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) CAD design software.

The waveforms shown are for the analogue multiplexor above. They have been simulated using the Cadence ASIC CAD design software.

Students taking the Advanced Microelectronics course will use this software.

The diagram shows the work flow for a printed circuit board assembly process using mixed technologies.

Students taking the Electronic Product Development course will study this module, which is useful for both technical managers and electronic design engineers.

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