Course Catalogue

Modern Digital Communications (UESTC) UESTC5019

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Engineering
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

This course will help students to understand and analyse typical communication systems, basic modulation schemes and signals, optimal reception for transmission in AWGN channel, and transmission theory in bandlimited channel.

Timetable

40 hours of lectures

Requirements of Entry

None

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

In-class quizzes 30%

Homework 10%

Final exam 60%

Main Assessment In: April/May

Course Aims

The aim of this course is to provide students with a sufficient understanding of the fundamental concepts of information transmission, and a knowledge of industrially relevant digital communications, including real-world properties and constraints, to be able to develop structures for appropriate practical transmission systems.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Describe the components of analogue and digital communication systems, including channels with additive Gaussian noise, and the translation of analogue to digital representation using Analogue to Digital Convertors and Pulse-code Modulation;

2. Analyse optimal digital transmission and evaluate performance of systems subject to band-limited channels including Gaussian noise; techniques for characterising digital communication systems

3. Apply appropriate digital modulation and demodulation techniques to optimise transmission in realistic systems, including Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing, Frequency Shift Keying and Minimal Shift Keying, and evaluate their respective benefits and disadvantages;

4. Critically assess the optimal transmission approach for a range or real-life communication problems.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions