Course on IEEE Standards in SDR (Software Defined Radio)
300-hour online course on IEEE standards in SDR (software defined radio). 6 modules covering IEEE 1900.1 (software defined radio terminology and spectrum management), IEEE 802.22 (regional networks in white spaces) and GNU Radio. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course on IEEE Standards in SDR (Software Defined Radio) — studying from the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom maintains a substantial defence industry, with prime contractors such as BAE Systems and Babcock, and a wide supply chain across the Midlands, the North West, Bristol and Scotland. Land systems, armoured vehicles, munitions and military engineering programmes provide long-term employment for engineers in design, integration, test and sustainment. The Ministry of Defence, Defence Equipment and Support and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory oversee procurement and research. Security clearance requirements shape recruitment, and professional standards are maintained through UK defence engineering frameworks.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £373 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Which UK bodies and regulators are relevant to defence and military land systems engineering?
In the UK, the Ministry of Defence sets its own engineering standards and the Engineering Council regulates professional registration. Professional bodies such as the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Royal Engineers' professional structures are relevant. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by these bodies, so recognition for security-cleared or MOD roles is decided by the employer and the relevant authority.
Will a private qualification help with UK defence industry careers?
UK defence employers, including primes and suppliers, often prioritise security clearance eligibility, relevant experience and formal qualifications recognised by the MOD or industry bodies. A private qualification may support your profile but is unlikely to replace these requirements. Ask prospective employers how they would assess it before enrolling.
Is it practical to study this online while working in the UK, and what about language and funding?
Online study means you can continue working in the UK, and no student visa is needed to study from home. Teaching is in English, so good technical English is essential. Fees can be paid in instalments, and some employers offer training sponsorship, though policies vary. Each programme has a fixed number of hours and an assigned technical tutor. Confirm the workload and costs before enrolling.
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
Explain the architecture of a software defined radio.
Apply digital signal processing techniques to modulation and demodulation.
Interpret IEEE standards on cognitive radio and spectrum management.
Implement a simple waveform on an SDR platform.
Analyse the regulatory requirements for spectrum use.
Plan integration and coexistence tests.
Develop a software defined radio project.
Who it's for
- Radio frequency engineer who wants to specialise in IEEE Standards in SDR (software defined radio).
- Digital signal processing engineer who wants to specialise in IEEE Standards in SDR (software defined radio).
- Waveform developer who wants to specialise in IEEE Standards in SDR (software defined radio).
- Spectrum management engineer who wants to specialise in IEEE Standards in SDR (software defined radio).
- Communications test engineer who wants to specialise in IEEE Standards in SDR (software defined radio).
- Telecommunications systems engineer who wants to specialise in IEEE Standards in SDR (software defined radio).
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter telecommunications.
What you'll work with
- IEEE 1900.1 (software defined radio terminology and spectrum management)
- IEEE 802.22 (regional networks in white spaces)
- IEEE 1900.5 (policy interface for cognitive radio)
- ITU Radio Regulations
- Directive 2014/53/EU (radio equipment)
- ETSI EN 300 328 (equipment in the 2.4 GHz band)
- SCA 4.1 (Software Communications Architecture)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1What SDR is and what stops being solved in hardware1.2Reception chain: antenna, radio frequency, conversion and baseband1.3Sampling, the Nyquist theorem and undersampling1.4Analogue-to-digital conversion: resolution, dynamic range and jitter1.5Architectures: superheterodyne, direct conversion and direct sampling1.6Processing on FPGA, DSP and general-purpose processor1.7Latency and determinism along the signal chain1.8Common platforms and their real limits1.9Metrics that matter: noise figure, intercept point and selectivity1.10Exercise: sizing the reception chain for a given requirement
2.1Digital filtering: FIR, IIR and design with judgement2.2Decimation, interpolation and sample-rate conversion2.3Digital modulations and their reading on the constellation diagram2.4Carrier and symbol synchronisation2.5Equalisation and multipath channels2.6Channel coding and error correction2.7OFDM and multicarrier systems2.8Spectral estimation and signal detection2.9Quality measurement: EVM, bit error rate and signal-to-noise ratio2.10Practice: implement a complete digital receiver
3.1The role of IEEE in radio standardisation3.2IEEE 802.11 and its physical layers3.3IEEE 802.15.4 and low-power networks3.4IEEE 802.22 and cognitive radio3.5The IEEE 1900 family and dynamic spectrum management3.6Interfaces and component models in software radio3.7Waveform portability across platforms3.8Open environments and development tools3.9Documentation and traceability of a waveform3.10Practice: port a waveform to another platform
4.1Spectrum allocation and regulatory bodies4.2Licensed, licence-exempt and shared bands4.3Dynamic spectrum access and availability databases4.4Cognitive radio: environment sensing and decision-making4.5Interference, coexistence and mitigation4.6Emission limits and spectrum masks4.7Equipment certification and required testing4.8Electromagnetic compatibility in SDR equipment4.9Operator responsibility and lawful use of spectrum4.10Practice: coexistence study in a shared band
5.1Test bench design and required measurement equipment5.2Closed-loop testing and channel simulation5.3Validation of the waveform against the standard5.4Field testing and repeatability of results5.5Configuration management and waveform versions5.6Remote updating and firmware security5.7Power consumption, dissipation and platform constraints5.8Test documentation and acceptance criteria5.9Hardware maintenance and obsolescence5.10Practice: validation plan for a complete link
6.1Definition of the link and its requirements6.2Choice of architecture and platform6.3Waveform design6.4Link budget and available margin6.5Implementation and simulation6.6Test plan and analysis of results6.7Regulatory and spectrum compliance6.8Cost and feasibility analysis6.9Technical report6.10Project defence
How you'll learn
Training 100 % online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the course with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is GNU Radio, MATLAB (Communications Toolbox), USRP Hardware Driver (UHD), Python (NumPy), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real laboratory procedures with USRP platforms, measurements with a spectrum analyser, and coexistence tests in a shared band. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Explain the architecture of a software defined radio.
Apply digital signal processing techniques to modulation and demodulation.
Interpret IEEE standards on cognitive radio and spectrum management.
Implement a simple waveform on an SDR platform.
Analyse the regulatory requirements for spectrum use.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical standards reading.
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 is 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours a week on average, compatible with full-time work.
The course uses GNU Radio, MATLAB (Communications Toolbox), USRP Hardware Driver (UHD), Python (NumPy). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when enrolling.
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