Global Utilities

La Trobe University
University Handbook 2010

Coursework programs

Master of Telecommunication Engineering – Melbourne (Bundoora) (SMTE)

The objective of the Master of Telecommunications Engineering degree is to enable students to achieve a high level of knowledge and understanding in topics central to telecommunication engineering. This degree aims to produce engineers with the necessary skills and practical experience to satisfy the requirements of the telecommunications and information technology industries. The degree addresses the major aspects of computer, internet, mobile, multimedia and telecommunication, and wireless technology – from the high-level specification of telecommunications systems, through implementation alternatives, to the realisation of communication circuits.

Graduates can work in the telecommunication industry, in areas including the design and development of new technological systems, computer networks, signal processing, telecommunications, wireless systems, and hardware and software development.

Admission requirements

Applicants to the course normally require a four year Bachelor of Engineering degree in electronic engineering, or computer engineering, or communication/telecommunication engineering, or a four year Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in an appropriate field or an equivalent qualification. Applicants with a three year Bachelor of Science degree (in an appropriate field) or a Bachelor of Engineering degree in another field may also be considered for admission following the successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma in Electronic Engineering, which will strengthen their knowledge and skills in communication systems, analogue electronics and signal processing.

Course structure

The Master of Telecommunication Engineering course is a two semester (one year) full-time program requiring the successful completion of 120 credit points. Students should seek advice from a course adviser before enrolling.

Core subjects (60 credit points)

Students must select:

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit points
TE-SEM-1 or
TE-SEM-2
Engineering Practice ELE5PRA 15

Plus three subjects from the following:

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit points
TE-SEM-1 Broadband Digital Communications ELE5BDC 15
TE-SEM-1 Optical Networks ELE5OPN 15
TE-SEM-1 Personal Mobile Communications ELE5PMC 15
TE-SEM-1 Telecommunications Systems Engineering ELE5TSE 15
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Communication Systems ELE5ACS 15
TE-SEM-2 Antennas and Propagation ELE4ANS 15
TE-SEM-2 Communications Networks ELE4NET 15
Compulsory project/design subjects (30, 45, or 60 credit points)

Each student must select a design/project option from the following:

(a) A 30-credit point single-semester design exercise

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit points
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2 Telecommunications Design ELE5TDE** 30
TE-SEM-1 Network Design Exercise ELE5NDE** 30

(b) A 45-credit point two-semester telecommunications project (students enrol in both subjects)

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit points
TE-SEM-1 or
TE-SEM-2
Telecommunications Project A1 ELE5TRA 15
TE-SEM-1 or
TE-SEM-2
Telecommunications Project B1 ELE5TRB 30

(c) A 60-credit point two-semester telecommunications major project1 (students enrol in both subjects)

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit points
TE-SEM-1 or
TE-SEM-2
Telecommunications Major Project A1 ELE5TPA 30
TE-SEM-1 or
TE-SEM-2
Telecommunications Major Project B1 ELE5TPB 30

** Under special circumstances a student may enrol in more than one design exercise or project, subject to approval of the course coordinator.

Elective subjects

Remaining subjects are chosen from the following, according to the student’s interest, to a total of 120 credit points for the entire program. The subjects offered may vary from year to year, depending on demand and staff availability.

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit points
TE-SEM-1 Advanced Studies in Telecommunication A1 ELE5ASA 15
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Studies in Telecommunication B1 ELE5ASB 15
TE-SEM-1 Advanced Topics A1* ELE4ATA 15
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Topics B1* ELE4ATB 15
TE-SEM-1 Advanced Topics in Telecommunications A1 ELE5TTA 15
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Topics in Telecommunications B1 ELE5TTB 15
TE-SEM-1 or
TE-SEM-2
Directed Study1 ELE4DIR 15
TE-SEM-1 Communications Systems ELE3CMN 15
TE-SEM-1 Control Systems ELE3CON 15
TE-SEM-1 Embedded Processors ELE3EMB 15
TE-SEM-1 Instrumentation Electronics and Sensors ELE3IES 15
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Instrumentation Electronics ELE4AAE 15
TE-SEM-1 Advanced Signal Processing ELE4ASP 15
TE-SEM-1 Radio Frequency Design ELE4RFD 15
TE-SEM-1 Digital System Design ELE5DSD 15
TE-SEM-1 Integrated Circuit Design ELE5ICD 15
TE-SEM-1 Semiconductor Materials and Devices ELE5SDP 15
TE-SEM-1 Secure Communications* ELE5SEC* 15
TE-SEM-2 Digital Communication Systems ELE3DCS 15
TE-SEM-2 Electronic Design Automation-Tools and Technique ELE3DDE 15
TE-SEM-2 Digital Signal Processing ELE3SIP 15
TE-SEM-2 Digital Control Theory ELE4DCT 15
TE-SEM-2 Image Processing and Coding ELE4IPC 15
TE-SEM-2 Design for Mass Production ELE5DES 15
TE-SEM-2 Emerging Topics in IC Design ELE5ETD 15
TE-SEM-2 EDA Tools and Design Methodology* ELE5TDM* 15

Key: 1 Enrolment subject to approval from the course coordinator.

* Not offered in 2010.

Subjects offered by other departments

Subject to the approval of the course coordinator students may take a maximum of two subjects (30 credit points) offered by other departments, if they are of an appropriate level and are considered relevant to the course. For example, subjects offered by the Department of Computer Science and Computer Engineering applicable to this program include:

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit points
TE-SEM-1 C Programming for Engineers and Scientists CSE1CES 15
TE-SEM-1 or
TE-SEM-2
Network Engineering Fundamentals CSE2NEF 15
TE-SEM-2 Pervasive Network Design* CSE4PND 15
TE-SEM-2 Networks Systems and Web Security CSE3NSW 15
TE-SEM-1 Communication Protocol Engineering* CSE4CPE 15
TE-SEM-2 Mobile and Pervasive Computing CSE4MPC 15

Key: *Not offered in 2010.