Master'sElectronics, Embedded Systems & Telecom Applications open

Master’s in DSP and Real-Time Signal Processing

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in DSP and real-time signal processing (filters, FFT, fixed-point and CMSIS-DSP). 12 modules covering discrete signals and systems, digital filter design, spectral analysis, multirate and adaptive processing, real-time architectures, DSP on FPGA, audio, communications and sensor processing, and verification and deployment, applied to IEEE 754, IEEE 1241 and AES17 with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration12–14 months

ModeOnline

LanguageEnglish

Start datesSet by the faculty

AwardSEIUM Institute diploma

Enrol now View syllabus Ask an advisor

Master’s in DSP and Real-Time Signal Processing — studying from Australia

Electronics and embedded systems underpin a wide range of Australian industries, including defence, mining automation, medical devices and consumer technology. The telecommunications sector is significant, with ongoing investment in fibre, mobile networks and satellite communications for remote regions. Research organisations such as CSIRO and university groups contribute to advances in sensing, communications and signal processing. Engineers typically work on hardware design, firmware development, testing and certification. Employers include telecommunications carriers, defence contractors, instrumentation companies and product manufacturers.

Fees for Australia: A$14,200 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in Australia

Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
Engineers Australia
Standards Australia
Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman

Typical roles

Embedded Systems Engineer
Electronics Design Engineer
Firmware Engineer
Telecommunications Engineer

Questions from Australia

Is this qualification recognised for electronics engineering in Australia?

SEIUM's qualifications are private and not official state degrees, and they are not accredited by Engineers Australia or the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Recognition for electronics and telecom roles generally depends on accredited degrees, licences and experience. Employers or the relevant body make the final decision.

Which Australian employers hire embedded and telecom engineers?

Australia has telecommunications carriers, defence electronics firms, medical device makers, mining technology companies and IoT developers. Employers mostly assess your hands-on skills, project record and certifications. Ask prospective employers whether they would consider a private online qualification.

Can I study this part-time while working, and how is it supported?

The courses are 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from anywhere in Australia without needing a student visa. Specialist courses take 300 hours, diplomas 800 and master's 1,900. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

Analyse discrete systems in the time and frequency domains.

Design FIR and IIR digital filters.

Apply spectral analysis and multirate processing.

Implement adaptive filtering.

Program algorithms on DSPs, microcontrollers and FPGAs.

Apply signal processing to audio, communications and sensors.

Verify and deploy real-time algorithms.

Profile

Who it's for

DSP engineers.
Signal processing firmware engineers.
FPGA engineers implementing DSP pipelines.
Digital audio engineers.
Digital communications engineers.
Radar processing engineers.
Engineering or science graduates looking to enter telecommunications.

Standards & tools

What you'll work with

IEEE 754 (floating-point arithmetic)
IEEE 1241 (terminology and test methods for analogue-to-digital converters)
AES17 (measurement of digital audio equipment)
ITU-T G.168 (digital network echo cancellers)
IEC 61672-1 (sound level meters)
ISO/IEC 14496-3 (MPEG-4 audio coding)
MATLAB and Simulink
CMSIS-DSP
GNU Radio
AMD Vivado HLS
Python SciPy

Syllabus

12 modules

1.1Discrete-time signals
1.2Linear time-invariant systems
1.3Discrete convolution
1.4The Z-transform
1.5Frequency response
1.6Poles, zeros and stability
1.7Discrete-time Fourier transform
1.8Sampling and reconstruction
1.9Fixed-point arithmetic
1.10Case study: analysis of a digital audio system

2.1FIR filters by windowing
2.2Parks-McClellan method
2.3IIR filters by bilinear transformation
2.4Butterworth, Chebyshev and elliptic filters
2.5Direct, cascade and lattice structures
2.6Coefficient quantisation effects
2.7IIR stability in fixed point
2.8Linear-phase filters
2.9Design tools
2.10Lab: filter design with MATLAB Filter Designer

3.1DFT and FFT
3.2Radix-2 and split-radix algorithms
3.3Windows and resolution
3.4Periodogram and Welch's method
3.5Parametric estimation
3.6Goertzel algorithm for tone detection
3.7Spectrograms
3.8Real-time FFT
3.9Performance measurements
3.10Practical exercise: real-time spectrum analyser

4.1Decimation and interpolation
4.2Polyphase filters
4.3CIC filters
4.4Filter banks
4.5Sample rate conversion
4.6Half-band filters
4.7Discrete wavelet transform
4.8Applications in communications
4.9Computational efficiency
4.10Lab: sample rate converter for audio

5.1Wiener filter
5.2LMS algorithm
5.3NLMS and RLS
5.4Echo cancellation
5.5Active noise cancellation
5.6Channel equalisation
5.7System identification
5.8Convergence and stability
5.9Fixed-point implementation
5.10Practical exercise: noise cancellation with LMS

6.1DSP processors
6.2DSP extensions on ARM Cortex-M
6.3SIMD instructions
6.4Harvard architecture and MAC
6.5DMA and double buffering
6.6Latency and throughput
6.7Cycle budget
6.8Memory management
6.9Platform selection
6.10Lab: FIR filter with CMSIS-DSP

7.1FPGA architectures
7.2Dedicated DSP blocks
7.3Design in VHDL and Verilog
7.4High-level synthesis
7.5Pipelining and parallelism
7.6Distributed arithmetic
7.7Code generation from Simulink
7.8Design verification
7.9Resources and timing
7.10Practical exercise: FIR on FPGA with HLS

8.1Audio codecs
8.2Parametric equalisation
8.3Dynamic range compression
8.4Reverberation
8.5Voice activity detection
8.6Microphone beamforming
8.7Keyword spotting
8.8Audio latency
8.9Audio platforms
8.10Lab: real-time equaliser

9.1Digital modulation and demodulation
9.2Carrier synchronisation
9.3Clock recovery
9.4Pulse-shaping filters
9.5OFDM
9.6Equalisation
9.7Software-defined radio
9.8GNU Radio
9.9Performance measurements
9.10Practical exercise: QPSK receiver in GNU Radio

10.1FMCW radar
10.2Ultrasound processing
10.3Basic image processing
10.4Sensor fusion with Kalman filters
10.5Digital control and filters
10.6Vibration and diagnostics
10.7Biosignals
10.8Edge processing
10.9Real-time requirements
10.10Case study: FMCW radar processing

11.1Modelling in Simulink
11.2Automatic code generation
11.3Bit-exact testing
11.4Hardware verification
11.5Performance profiling
11.6Code optimisation
11.7Version management
11.8Documentation
11.9Product integration
11.10Workshop: model-to-code flow on a DSP

12.1Application and requirements
12.2Algorithm design
12.3Floating-point simulation
12.4Fixed-point conversion
12.5Platform implementation
12.6Optimisation
12.7Real-time validation
12.8Analysis of results
12.9Master's Thesis report
12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel

Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it fits around your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB and Simulink, CMSIS-DSP, GNU Radio, AMD Vivado HLS and Python SciPy, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for bit-exact algorithm validation, real-time latency measurements and tests with real sensor signals. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: IEEE 754, IEEE 1241, AES17, ITU-T G.168, IEC 61672-1, ISO/IEC 14496-3.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.

Standards-based learning:guided reading of IEEE 754, IEEE 1241 and AES17 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.

Industry software:MATLAB and Simulink, CMSIS-DSP, GNU Radio, AMD Vivado HLS and Python SciPy, in free, academic or evaluation versions.

Master's Thesis with defence:Real-time signal processing application, from algorithm design and floating-point simulation to fixed-point implementation and real-time validation, defended before a panel.

Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.

Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Filter design

Design FIR and IIR filters and assess coefficient quantisation effects.

Real-time spectrum analyser

Implement a real-time FFT-based spectrum analyser.

CMSIS-DSP and FPGA implementation

Implement an FIR filter with CMSIS-DSP and on FPGA with HLS.

Application processing

Build a QPSK receiver or FMCW radar processing chain.

Master's Thesis

Real-time algorithm taken from floating-point model to validated fixed-point implementation, defended before a panel.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

DSP engineerSignal processing firmware engineerFPGA engineerDigital audio engineerDigital communications engineerRadar processing engineer

Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
Internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with MATLAB and Simulink, CMSIS-DSP, GNU Radio, AMD Vivado HLS and Python SciPy, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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