Postgraduate Diploma in Arrays/MIMO and Beam Steering
Online Postgraduate Diploma of 800 h in Arrays/MIMO and Beam Steering. 8 modules covering 3GPP TS 38.104, 3GPP TS 38.141-2 and MATLAB Phased Array System Toolbox. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Arrays/MIMO and Beam Steering — studying from the United Kingdom
Electronics and telecommunications form a significant part of the UK technology economy, with clusters in Cambridge, Bristol, Edinburgh, Belfast and the South East. Semiconductor design firms, defence electronics suppliers, telecom operators and Internet of Things companies all require embedded systems and communications engineers. Arm, headquartered in Cambridge, is a notable example of the design sector. Engineers work on hardware, firmware, signal processing and network infrastructure, often within regulated frameworks for radio and telecoms equipment.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £1,490 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Which UK bodies recognise electronics, embedded systems and telecom qualifications?
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is the main UK body for electronics, embedded systems and telecoms, and the British Computer Society (BCS) covers embedded software. Chartered and incorporated engineer titles are regulated through the Engineering Council. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by these bodies, so you should check with the IET how your study would be assessed.
Do UK electronics and telecoms employers hire people with private online qualifications?
UK electronics, semiconductor, telecoms and embedded systems employers usually assess candidates on practical design skill, hardware and software projects, and experience. A private qualification may help show specialist learning, but how much it counts depends on each employer. A portfolio of working embedded or telecoms projects is often decisive.
Is it realistic to study this online while working in the UK, and what level of English is needed?
Online study means you can keep your UK job and study from home, with no student visa required. Teaching is in English, so you need solid technical English. Your assigned technical tutor will help you plan your work. Fees are payable in instalments, and some employers offer training support, which varies by employer. Compare the programme hours with your schedule 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
Calculate the array factor and control side lobes.
Design electronic beam scanning and its calibration.
Compare analogue, digital and hybrid beamforming architectures.
Analyse the capacity and precoding of MIMO systems.
Apply direction-of-arrival estimation algorithms.
Design radiating elements for wide-scan arrays.
Validate the performance of an array through simulation and measurement.
Who it's for
- Antenna engineer seeking to specialise in Arrays/MIMO and Beam Steering.
- MIMO systems engineer seeking to specialise in Arrays/MIMO and Beam Steering.
- Signal processing engineer seeking to specialise in Arrays/MIMO and Beam Steering.
- Radar engineer seeking to specialise in Arrays/MIMO and Beam Steering.
- 5G systems engineer seeking to specialise in Arrays/MIMO and Beam Steering.
- Wireless communications researcher seeking to specialise in Arrays/MIMO and Beam Steering.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter telecommunications.
What you'll work with
- 3GPP TS 38.104
- 3GPP TS 38.141-2
- IEEE 145-2013
- IEEE 149-2021
- ETSI EN 302 264
- IEEE 802.11ad
- ITU-R M.2101
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Array factor and pattern multiplication1.2Uniform linear arrays1.3Planar and circular arrays1.4Element spacing and grating lobes1.5Array directivity and gain1.6Taylor and Chebyshev amplitude weighting1.7Side lobes and nulls1.8Mutual coupling and active impedance1.9Scan blindness in large arrays1.10Practice: array factor in MATLAB
2.1Progressive phase shift and pointing2.2Phase shifters versus time delay lines2.3Beam squint with frequency2.4Gain loss during scanning2.5Phase quantisation and errors2.6Channel phase and amplitude calibration2.7Pointing tables and codebooks2.8Mechanical versus electronic scanning2.9Field-of-view limitations2.10Laboratory: beam scanning on an 8x8 array
3.1Analogue beamforming at RF3.2Beamforming at intermediate frequency3.3Full digital beamforming3.4Hybrid architectures by subarrays3.5Butler matrices and Rotman lenses3.6Beamformer integrated circuits3.7ADC and digital processing requirements3.8Power consumption by architecture3.9Selection by application3.10Workshop: comparison of hybrid architectures
4.1MIMO channel capacity4.2Spatial diversity and multiplexing4.3Linear precoding: ZF and MMSE4.4Singular value decomposition4.5Multi-user MIMO and scheduling4.6Massive MIMO and TDD reciprocity4.7Channel estimation and pilot signals4.8Spatial correlation and its effect4.9MIMO antennas in compact terminals4.10Practice: MIMO capacity with simulated channels
5.1Direction-of-arrival estimation5.2MUSIC and ESPRIT algorithms5.3Adaptive MVDR beamforming5.4Interference suppression5.5Beam tracking with mobile users5.6Channel estimation in millimetre waves5.7Machine learning-based algorithms5.8Computational complexity of algorithms5.9FPGA implementation5.10Laboratory: DoA estimation with MUSIC
6.1Patch, dipole and Vivaldi elements6.2Element feeding and distribution network6.3Dual polarisation and isolation6.4Unit cell with periodic boundary conditions6.5Design for wide-angle scanning6.6Integration with electronics in AiP modules6.7Thermal dissipation in active arrays6.8Manufacturing tolerances6.9Array measurement in an anechoic chamber6.10Case study: 64-element array at 28 GHz
7.15G base stations with massive MIMO7.2Automotive radar with virtual MIMO7.3Electronically scanning satellite terminals7.4Point-to-point mmWave communications7.5Wi-Fi networks with beamforming7.6Weather sensing and radar7.7Angle-based positioning systems7.8Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces7.9Research trends7.10Case study: 77 GHz MIMO radar
8.1Coverage and gain requirements8.2Radiating element design8.3Array design and weightings8.4Beamforming architecture selection8.5Pointing or MIMO algorithm8.6Full system simulation8.7Measurement and calibration plan8.8Design conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training 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 study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB Phased Array System Toolbox, Ansys HFSS, CST Studio Suite, Keysight PathWave SystemVue, Python with NumPy, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied through real procedures for channel calibration in active arrays, scan pattern measurement in an anechoic chamber, and MIMO capacity simulation with channel models. Assessment is continuous, module by 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.
Calculate the array factor and control side lobes.
Design electronic beam scanning and its calibration.
Compare analogue, digital and hybrid beamforming architectures.
Analyse the capacity and precoding of MIMO systems.
Apply direction-of-arrival estimation algorithms.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow the reading of 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 comprises 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The programme uses MATLAB Phased Array System Toolbox, Ansys HFSS, CST Studio Suite, Keysight PathWave SystemVue and Python with 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 title 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 you enrol.
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