State of the art embedded and distributed systems have been increasingly used by engineering and commercial companies for distributed control and management of their operations. Many large companies now rely on sophisticated real-time networks to distribute goods and services (water, electricity, retail goods, web retailing). This real-time network builds on modern embedded and distributed systems. It is possible because of the availability of computer networks which are now fast and reliable enough to cope with this kind of traffic. You will deal with the real-time, interaction and control of networked systems, such as these.

The course is a technically specialist MSc aiming to provide graduates with the particular skill set to support these kinds of distributed embedded systems. The skill set includes: engineering the computer networks (hardware and software), electronic, instrumentation and measurement skills, and embedded system skills, theoretical knowledge of and practical experience with real-time (including distributed) applications.

Building on our extensive research in Telecommunications, Robotics and Nondestructive Evaluation, Bio-Engineering Instruments, and Applied Electromagnetics, the course contains the latest technologies such as VHDL and FPGAs.

This course also covers some Cisco Certified Network Associate and Cisco Certified Network Professional topics on computer networks.

Course modules

• IP based communication networks
• Technical, research and professional skills
• SCADA systems
• Design of microcontroller based systems
• System design on FPGA
• Network design and implementation
• Major project

Employability and academic progression

Employment prospects for graduates of the MSc Embedded and Distributed Systems are excellent, with demand outstripping supply. Successful graduates enter telecommunication companies or companies such as the major water, electricity and transport utilities, as members of technical teams designing and maintaining modern real-time distributed systems.

LSBU is committed to supporting you develop your employability and succeed in getting a job after you have graduated. Your qualification will certainly help, but in a competitive market you also need to work on your employability, and on your career search. Our Employability Service will support you in developing your skills, finding a job, interview techniques, work experience or an internship, and will help you assess what you need to do to get the job you want at the end of your course. LSBU offers a comprehensive Employability Service, with a range of initiatives to complement your studies, including:

• direct engagement from employers who come in to interview and talk to students
• Job Shop and on-campus recruitment agencies to help your job search
• mentoring and work shadowing schemes.