Diploma in RF/IF Front-Ends for High-Speed
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in RF/IF front-ends for high-speed systems. 8 modules covering receiver and transmitter architectures, RF link budgets, front-end blocks, the RF-converter interface, microwave design, integrated transceivers and SDR, and radio conformance, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Select suitable receiver and transmitter architectures.
Prepare link budgets covering noise and linearity.
Design and characterise RF front-end building blocks.
Design the interface between the RF chain and the converters.
Apply microwave design techniques with the Smith chart and EM simulation.
Integrate RF transceivers and SDR platforms.
Verify the front-end against radio standards.
Who it's for
- RF engineers designing receivers and transmitters.
- Transceiver design engineers working on 5G, Wi-Fi or satellite systems.
- Communications hardware engineers integrating RF chains with converters.
- Microwave engineers moving towards system-level front-end design.
- Radio test engineers performing conformance measurements.
- SDR systems engineers building wideband platforms.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter telecommunications.
What you'll work with
- 3GPP TS 38.104 (5G NR base station radio transmission and reception)
- 3GPP TS 38.141-1 (5G NR base station conformance testing)
- ITU-R SM.329 (unwanted emissions in the spurious domain)
- ETSI EN 301 908-1 (IMT cellular networks: harmonised standard)
- ETSI EN 300 328 (2.4 GHz wideband transmission systems)
- IEEE 802.11-2020 (wireless LAN)
- Keysight ADS
- Keysight SystemVue
- MATLAB RF Blockset
- Cadence AWR Microwave Office
- GNU Radio
8 modules
1.1Single and dual-IF superheterodyne1.2Direct conversion and zero IF1.3Direct RF sampling1.4Low-IF receivers1.5IQ and heterodyne transmitters1.6Frequency planning and spurs1.7Undersampling and Nyquist zones1.8Architectures for wideband SDR1.9Selection by application1.10Case study: frequency plan at 2 GHz
2.1Noise figure and the Friis formula2.2Gain, sensitivity and SNR2.3Linearity: P1dB, IP3 and IP22.4Spurious-free dynamic range2.5Selectivity and image rejection2.6Desensitisation by blockers2.7Cascading stages in a spreadsheet2.8Transmitter budget: EVM and ACLR2.9Optimising the gain distribution2.10Practical exercise: cascade budget in SystemVue
3.1LNA: noise, matching and stability3.2Passive and active mixers3.3IQ demodulators and modulators3.4IF amplifiers and VGAs3.5SAW, BAW and cavity filters3.6LC and microstrip filters3.7RF attenuators and switches3.8Power amplifiers and linearisation3.9Power detectors and AGC3.10Lab: NF and IP3 measurement of an LNA
4.1High-speed ADC drivers4.2Baluns and transformers4.3Bandpass anti-aliasing filters4.4Impedance matching at the ADC input4.5Interface between DAC and IQ modulator4.6IQ imbalance and LO leakage4.7Digital image and offset correction4.8Sampling clock requirements4.9Board design in the transition zone4.10Workshop: balun-ADC interface for direct sampling
5.1Microstrip and coplanar lines5.2Smith chart and matching5.3S-parameters of amplifiers5.4Stability and gain circles5.5Distributed and lumped elements5.6EM simulation with Momentum or Sonnet5.7Package effects and parasitics5.8Distributed filter design5.9Tolerances and sensitivity5.10Practical exercise: LNA matching network in ADS
6.1Wideband integrated RF transceivers6.2RFSoC with direct converters6.3Internal transceiver calibrations6.4DPD for power amplifiers6.5Digital gain control6.6Interference and coexistence6.7Open SDR platforms6.8GNU Radio software6.9Integration with FPGA6.10Lab: receiver with RFSoC or AD9361
7.1Spectrum and vector signal analysers7.2Noise figure measurement7.3EVM, ACLR and spectral mask measurements7.4Sensitivity and blocking tests7.5Spurious emissions according to ITU-R SM.3297.63GPP TS 38.141 requirements7.7Testing over temperature7.8Chambers and test environments7.9Radio conformance report7.10Case study: ACLR test of a 5G transmitter
8.1Radio system specifications8.2Architecture and frequency plan8.3Cascade budget8.4Component selection8.5ADC interface design8.6Front-end simulation8.7Prototype measurements8.8Conformance analysis8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with your tutor
How you'll learn
Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Keysight ADS, Keysight SystemVue, MATLAB RF Blockset, Cadence AWR Microwave Office and GNU Radio, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied on real procedures for noise figure and IP3 measurement, ACLR and spectral mask testing, and cascade simulation in SystemVue. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: 3GPP TS 38.104, 3GPP TS 38.141-1, ITU-R SM.329, ETSI EN 301 908-1, ETSI EN 300 328, IEEE 802.11-2020.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Keysight ADS, Keysight SystemVue, MATLAB RF Blockset, Cadence AWR Microwave Office and GNU Radio, 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 final project. 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 are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), 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.
Related programmes
TSN Diploma on Industrial Ethernet
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in TSN over industrial Ethernet. 8 modules covering gPTP time synchronisation, traffic scheduling and shaping, stream reliability, TSN configuration, industrial…
Diploma in Precision Pressure/Temperature Measurement
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in precision pressure/temperature measurement. 8 modules covering pressure and temperature metrology, temperature and pressure sensors, precision signal conditioning, laboratory calibration,…
Postgraduate Diploma in CI/CD for Embedded Systems and HIL Farms
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in CI/CD for Embedded Systems and HIL Farms. 8 modules covering ISO 26262-8, Automotive SPICE 4.0 and Jenkins. Assigned tutor and enrolment…
More in Electronics, Embedded Systems & Telecom
All Electronics, Embedded Systems & Telecom programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships