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MSc by Distance Learning

Welcome to our Distance Learning page! This is our 7th year running Distance Learning. Our programmes are designed to provide an opportunity for earner-learners to enrol onto a University of London MSc which is not possible otherwise. Our programmes aim to provide you with a virtual environment in which you can have, as nearly as possibly, the same learning experience as students attending Queen Mary. We have special arrangement in place so that DL students would receive sufficient support. Degrees available by distance learning Only the following degree courses are available for study in this way: MSc inTelecommunications Networks Pathway (H6D4) Internet Computing Pathway (H6D8) Applications Pathway (H6D9) MSc inWireless Networks - Networks Pathway ONLY (H6D3) MSc in Digital Signal Processing (H6I5) MSc in Digital Music Processing (H6I4)

“I found the delivery of the programme through virtual lectures and tutorials, together with message boards well suited my needs as a distance learning student. The academic staff are very strong in their field and excited by the technology.” David Turner , DL Graduate (UK)

We are pleased to announce that:

•  MSc in Telecommunications (all pathways) is now one of the few MSc Programmes in the UK accredited by the Institute of Engineering Technology (IET); this accreditation includes all delivery mode: standard onsite and distance learning.

•  The  UK Government Quality Agency (QAA) has just conducted a very successful "Institutional Audit" at Queen Mary in which the "guidelines on quality assurance of, and issues related to, the provision of distance learning produced by the Department of Electronic Engineering" were specifically commended.

IMPORTANT: Distance Learning is available to students in the UK or those in other countries where there is a partner institution (currently Hong Kong, Macao and Portugal). It also may be available to students from other countries, but these applications will be considered on an individual basis.

Programme structure

A standard University of London MSc consists of 8 taught units plus a 4-unit project. MSc via DL are all part-time and will take a minimum of 2 years to complete.

			Full Time	DL (Part Time)
Year 1	Semester 1	Sept to Dec	4 courses	2 courses
	Semester 2	Jan to Mar	4 courses	2 courses
		May	Examinations
		Summer	Project (3 months)	*Possible project start date
Year 2	Semester 3	Sept to Dec		2 courses
	Semester 4	Jan to Mar		2 courses
		May		Examinations
		Summer		Project (6 months)

IMPORTANT: The total tuition fee for part time distance learning programmes is the same as the fee for full time study.  However, the payment is split equally over two years.

 

Study approach

This is not a web-based approach. The approach is to provide a virtual environment in which you can have, as nearly as possibly, the same learning experience as students attending Queen Mary. The components in this approach are:

Please follow link for a demonstration of our virtual lecture format

Virtual lectures : these are multimedia recordings of the actual lectures that you can download from the web soon after the lecture has taken place. Different techniques are used, depending on the format of the lecture, but the intention is that you will see and hear all the essential aspects of the lecture as seen by the internal students including multimedia content and any white board activity. Once you have watched the recordings of live lectures, you will be able to ask questions via a message-board or by participating in online tutorials. Because you download these lectures as files (not streaming) you will be able to watch them as much as you wish. The file size is of the order of 100Mbyte/lecture - which is why you need a broadband connection. Supporting material : Lecture notes and other supporting material will be available via the web page for each course and are accessed in the same way as internal students. By accessing the Department network over a secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection, you will have full access to all the electronic libraries to which the College subscribes, which includes IEE Explore

" I would like to thank all the QM staff who have helped me during my studies. These two years have been very enriching, professionally speaking. Beyond the obvious technical improvements, the experience of dealing with different teaching methods, points of view, mentalities, and cultures has given me better insight on how to stand in this international professional environment.”   Joao Miguel Ribeiro Goncalves DL Graduate (Portugal)

Virtual laboratories : most of the laboratory work can be done on your own PC (we will make all required software and licenses available to download) or, where special purpose computer facilities are required, you can access the Department's facilities over the VPN (but probably not from an employer's Intranet).

Message-boards: There is a message-board available for each course and these are used by both attending as well as distance learning students. Each message-board is monitored by the assistant tutor as well as the lecturer for the course, who will respond to questions that are posted. In addition there are also message-boards for IT support, administration and the project as well as one solely for distance learning students. Message-boards have proven to be very successful and very useful for distance learning students.  They not only provide a means for sharing knowledge and experience, but a way to communicate with other students at Queen Mary.

Tutorial support : you will need to be able to ask questions and discuss issues with your lecturers. To do this, "drop-in" video-conference sessions will be organised (which is why you need a webcam) and you may also be required to attend some tutorials at Queen Mary (depending on location). E-mail discussion groups will also be used. In addition "newsgroups" will be organised for each course and here you would be able to discuss issues with all students taking the course, including those doing it internally.

Coursework will be uploaded electronically, as will class tests.

Project work

Your MSc project will be carried out on your own PC or over the VPN where special facilities are required. However, you will need to discuss a schedule for attendance to discuss progress with your supervisor. You are also encouraged to carry out a project related to your technical work area, just need to talk to your project supervisor to make sure academic criteria required by a MSc project are meet. Projects are all assessed by QM staff via a conference link.

Examinations

You will have to attend Queen Mary or a local centre (if you are outside the UK ) for examinations. Examination format is exactly the same as Queen Mary.

Attendance for students in the UK

You have to be prepared to attend Queen Mary at certain times of the year. You will get an access card and computer account in the same way as internal students: this means you can access the computer laboratories during the usual opening hours (between 8am and 12 midnight 7 days a week). If you live within reasonable travelling distance there would be advantages in attending in the evenings to do some of the coursework (as you could meet other students) and it may be possible to timetable meetings with academic staff at mutually convenient times.

However, there are minimum attendance requirements:

• 1 day in the Induction/Enrolment period (late September)
• On examination days as required (including project examinations)
• By mutual agreement with your supervisor, during the summer to discuss project progress (MSc only).

Dates will be sent out well in advance to allow sufficient time for you to make the necessary arrangements.

Attendance for students outside the UK

This varies with partner institution but the intention is the same: to allow you to meet and discuss issues with QM staff.  Currently our overseas partners are:

Macao Polytechnic Institute
Hong Kong University SPACE
Portugal Telecom

Students from other countries who are interested in studying by distance learning should apply as normal so that their applications can be considered on an individual basis.

Requirements

The academic entry requirements for study by distance learning are exactly the same as those for study in attendance and you should apply in the normal way (see How to apply), using the specific code for the distance learning option.

In addition there are facility requirements that you must meet; these are in place to ensure that you have the facilities in order to be able to complete the degree. These are:

1. A PC running Windows 2000, Windows XP Professional or Windows Vista with a webcam and headset/microphone
2. A broadband connection, via one of:
• an ADSL or Cable Modem connection; OR
• a fast Internet connection at work with permission from your employer to use it; OR
• the ability to come to Queen Mary at weekends or evenings.
3. Willingness to attend Queen Mary or a local centre at certain defined times.

Note that:

1. A simple dial-up connection will be insufficient
2. If you use your employer's Internet connection:
   • Security considerations might prevent you from access to virtual laboratory sessions; you would need to discuss this with your employer and if you were not allowed to set up a VPN connection you would have to attend Queen Mary at evenings or weekends to complete laboratory work.
   • You would also need to discuss with your employer whether you would be allowed to install the software to do the laboratory work on the local PC.

 

Contact:

Programme Manager

Mark Jenkinson

mark.jenkinson@elec.qmul.ac.uk

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