ISLI Prospectus

Electronics Postgraduate Prospectus MSC IN SYSTEM LEVEL INTEGRATION ENGINEERING DOCTORATE IN ELECTRONIC SYSTEM-LEVEL DESIGN

Introduction THE INSTITUTE FOR SYSTEM LEVEL INTEGRATION (ISLI) IS A COLLABORATIVE VENTURE OF FOUR OF THE UK’S LEADING UNIVERSITIES – EDINBURGH, GLASGOW, HERIOT-WATT AND STRATHCLYDE. IT IS LOCATED IN A MODERN PURPOSE-BUILT BUILDING IN THE NEW TOWN OF LIVINGSTON, CLOSE TO SCOTLAND’S TWO MAJOR CITIES, EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW.

ISLI offers two postgraduate courses – the one-year MSc in System Level Integration, and the Engineering Doctorate (EngD) in System Level Integration, a PhD-level research programme lasting four years.

Successful graduates of both programmes are awarded a joint degree of the four partner universities.

MSc The MSc in System Level Integration is designed for graduates in electronic engineering, computer science and other relevant disciplines. The course has been designed with substantial input from industry and is recognised as the world’s first postgraduate qualification aimed specifically at engineers working in leading edge ‘crossover’ technologies.

EngD The Engineering Doctorate (EngD) is a full-time, doctoral-level research and training programme. Equivalent in intellectual rigour to a PhD, it is achieved through industrially-focused applied research, producing graduates with a sound understanding of the business implications of academic and industrial research activity. Research is enhanced by accredited coursework in technical and business subjects.

Contact T: +44 (0) 1506 469 300 F: +44 (0) 1506 469 301 E: courses@sli-institute.ac.uk W: www.sli-institute.ac.uk.

Institute for System Level Integration ISLI IS THE FIRST CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN THE DISCIPLINES OF SYSTEM LEVEL INTEGRATION AND ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES TO BE ESTABLISHED WORLDWIDE, AND COMBINES EXPERTISE FROM THE DEPARTMENTS AND SCHOOLS OF THE FOUR PARTNER UNIVERSITIES. ITS MISSION IS TO CARRY OUT EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RESEARCH IN ALL ASPECTS OF SYSTEM LEVEL INTEGRATION, INCLUDING HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND NANOSTRUCTURES. ISLI’S ACTIVITIES PRODUCE HIGHLY SKILLED DESIGN ENGINEERS AND RESEARCHERS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE RAPIDLY CHANGING GLOBAL SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY.

ISLI teaches students from all over the world; its prestigious academic degrees are awarded jointly in the name of the four partner universities.

ISLI’s academic programmes receive financial support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and industry. ISLI’s funding is underpinned by a financial commitment from Scottish Enterprise, Scotland’s economic development agency.

ISLI invites eligible students to pursue postgraduate studies, taught by prominent academics and mentored by professional engineers.

RESEARCH EXCELLENCE The university departments involved with ISLI were highly rated in the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE2001), with excellent reputations for research (5 or 5*). ISLI also benefits from an excellent relationship with industry, as a result of which it is able to secure access to leading edge design tools, state-of-the-art IP, industrial design platforms and development systems.

STUDENT FACILITIES The standard of student facilities at Livingston is exceptional and ISLI aims to give students the experience of working in a commercial environment.

Student workspace has been designed to promote team working and teaching, with clusters of workstations arranged in self-contained groups.

Each student is allocated a dedicated workstation and has access to industry-standard tools. New graduates will gain much from this working environment. Academic staff are committed to supporting and mentoring students in order to make the postgraduate programmes deliver results and make graduates attractive to future employers.

ISLI also has its own library, providing access to textbooks, journals and electronic databases to support all taught coursework.

LIVINGSTON Livingston is a modern town, close to the historic city of Edinburgh and less than an hour from Glasgow, the UK’s sixth largest city. Both cities offer easy rail and bus links to the rest of Scotland.

ISLI is located in one of Livingston’s newest business parks, within 15 minutes’ walk of the town centre with its excellent shopping and leisure facilities.

There is plenty of good quality, reasonably priced rental accommodation available in Livingston. Alternatively, students may choose to live in student accommodation at Heriot-Watt University.

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MSc in System Level Integration OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES The modular MSc in System Level Integration is designed specifically for graduates in electronic engineering, computer science, physics and other relevant disciplines.

The course has been designed with substantial input from industry and is recognised as the world’s first postgraduate qualification aimed specifically at engineers working in leading edge hardware and software domains.

The MSc concentrates on the understanding of the process of system level design, the use of IP blocks and the architecture of modern electronic systems.

Core to the philosophy of ISLI is its business culture. Students acquire not just the knowledge of tomorrow’s technologies but the ability to take that knowledge into the marketplace through a thorough grounding in business issues. The content of the MSc covers a range of compulsory core topics in electronic systems design engineering to be taken by all students and a number of optional topics for specialists. Subjects have been included to introduce students from a singlediscipline background to other specialisms in this multidisciplinary field.

The objective of the MSc is to allow students who have completed a relevant undergraduate qualification to become proficient system engineers. The course provides students with the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to be of immediate value to employers. The course is modular in structure, with credit awarded for each successfully completed module. Each module is delivered on a half-day per week basis at ISLI’s premises in Livingston. The MSc culminates in the submission of a dissertation on an individual or group project overseen by an academic supervisor.

Students completing the taught modules but unable to conduct a project will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in System Level Integration. Successful students will graduate with a joint degree of the four universities. This prestigious qualification reflects the strength of the collaboration between the academic partners and the importance they attach to this subject.

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MSc Modules: Taught Components COMPULSORY ■ SLI Methodology Overview An overview of SLI design methodology, market forces and the opportunities produced by advances in deep submicron technology and associated design techniques.

■ System Partitioning An in-depth study of the methodology of top-down design from architecture through to mapping onto physical units.

■ IP Block Authoring A study of the principles of design reuse in the context of complex IC technology.

■ IP Block Integration The concepts underpinning methods for specifying, analysing and realising systems in silicon using predefined IP blocks.

■ VLSI Design Top-down coverage of VLSI design principles starting from algorithmic design manipulation through gate and transistor levels down to layout.

■ Embedded Software 1 – SoC and RTOS An introduction to the general embedded software engineering process and some of the specific considerations due to complex IC engineering. Understanding the fundamental elements of real-time embedded operating systems and applying RTOS techniques in a practical manner.

PRESCRIBED ■ Introduction to Embedded Software Engineering Introducing the basic concepts, syntax and structure of the C programming language with relation to embedded software systems.

■ Introduction to UNIX ■ Introduction to Hardware Design Automation Covering the basic aims and limitations of a hardware description language (Verilog). Coding and testing basic combinatorial circuits and sequential clocked circuits such as counters and Finite State Machines.

OPTIONAL: EMBEDDED SOFTWARE ■ Embedded Software 2 – Sensor Network Systems Exploring some of the more advanced operating system concepts required to build sensor network systems.

■ Embedded Software 3 – Networked Applications Introducing some of the more advanced concepts used in embedded systems software, in particular, the use of networking, network applications, and distributed systems technologies.

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OPTIONAL: HARDWARE DESIGN Providing an understanding of microcontroller and microprocessor architectures mainly from a hardware perspective.

■ Analogue and Mixed Signal Design Provides an understanding of the principles of analogue and mixed signal MOS VLSI design starting from small signal models and sub-circuits, through more complex circuit building blocks.

■ FPGAs for DSP & Communication Covers the use of FPGAs for DSP algorithms, applications and architectures. Emphasis is on communications given the widespread use of FPGAs and the variety of problems to be solved.

OPTIONAL: APPLICATIONS AND SYSTEMS ■ DSP for Communications Presents a DSP systems-based approach to the design, implementation and analysis of wireless and wireline digital communication systems for students from EE and CS backgrounds.

■ Mobile & Multimedia Communications Providing an understanding of the capabilities of mobile telecommunications systems and an appreciation of the influence of environmental conditions on system design and standards.

Giving students a thorough technical understanding of the spectrum of standards that exists for multimedia image and video data processing.

■ Broadband Networks Providing an understanding of the principles which underpin high-speed broadband communications networks and architectures. Facilitating an appreciation of the operating principles associated with key supporting transport technologies that underpin modern highspeed communication networks.

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MSc PROJECT A student accumulating a minimum of 120 credits from taught modules will be awarded a diploma and will be permitted to proceed to study for the MSc. This requires completion of a project on a subject to be agreed between the student and the nominated academic supervisor and will include projects sponsored by industry.

Suitable topics would include challenging hardware and software design problems or the development of new design methodologies as well as longer-term research. Projects are expected to take around ďŹ fteen weeks to complete. At the end of the project the student will submit a dissertation which, if approved, will gain a further 60 credits, allowing the MSc to be awarded.

CREDIT ACCUMULATION SCHEME The MSc is awarded in accordance with national guidelines for postgraduate degrees under development by the UK Quality Assurance Agency and the Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer scheme. SCOTCAT is designed to make it easier for credits to be transferred between different institutions.

A module consists of a self-contained block of teaching, self-study, practical work and assessment. A student who successfully completes a module will be awarded a corresponding number of credits. Modules differ in length according to the topic: a full module lasting ten half-days carries 15 credits and a half module lasting 5 half-days carries 8 credits. Assessment will be based on a combination of formal examination and submitted coursework.

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MSc in System Level Integration TUITION FEES Course fees for 2006/2007 academic session are: UK and EU students £3,085 Overseas students £12,450 On receipt of an offer, international applicants must pay a deposit of £500 in order to secure their place on the course. All overseas applicants who have accepted an unconditional offer and have paid their deposit by 31 May will qualify for a £500 discount on their fees.

Students are normally required to pay the balance of fees in one instalment on the first day of induction. UK and EU applicants may be eligible for fee payments from SAAS. Eligibility can be checked at www.student-support-saas.gov.uk/. Students must apply to SAAS prior to starting the course and will be required to provide evidence of SAAS funding at induction.

ISLI student stipends are available for suitably qualified UK applicants. Details will be given to UK students on receipt of application. Information on various grants for international students can be found at www.sli-institute.ac.uk/student/msc/resources.htm.

DATES MSc students should be prepared to be in residence from 2 October 2006.

ACCOMMODATION Applicants who receive an unconditional offer of a place at ISLI are eligible for accommodation at the Heriot-Watt Riccarton Campus (17km from ISLI). An accommodation prospectus and associated application form will be sent with an unconditional offer. All prospective students should apply for accommodation as early as possible. Overseas students may find it useful to refer to the University of Edinburgh International Office website: www.ed.ac.uk/internat. The deadline for the guarantee of accommodation is 1 September 2006.

Heriot-Watt: www.hw.ac.uk/welfareWWW/accom.html Livingston: www.sli-institute.ac.uk/student/msc/resources.htm

GRADUATION AND EMPLOYMENT Graduation from the MSc course takes place from the University of Edinburgh at a ceremony in late November. A joint degree is awarded and the crests of all four universities are represented in the graduation certificate.

The Scottish Executive has established its ‘Fresh Talent’ Initiative which permits graduates two years’ leave to remain in Scotland without the need for a work permit. This allows students to work in Scotland without requiring the sponsorship of an employer. This greatly enhances the chances of being accepted into a position in the design industry in Scotland. See www.scotlandistheplace.com for further information.

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Applications and Admissions Applications must be made on ISLI’s standard application form, available at www.sli-institute.ac.uk.

Applications should be submitted as early as possible, no later than 31 July 2006. Applications should not be delayed due to the applicant awaiting examination results. All applicants must hold, or expect to obtain, a good honours degree (second class or better), or experience which is acceptable as equivalent, in computing science, electronic engineering or physics.

The following supporting evidence MUST BE SUBMITTED with an application: 1. Documentary evidence of qualifications (degree certificate and transcript). If this is not possible, it should be submitted as soon as possible afterwards.

2. Documentary evidence of competence in written and spoken English, in the form of results from an IELTS or TOEFL test (European and international students). Even if you have been taught in English for your first degree, you will still be required to provide written proof. This is a requirement of the University of Edinburgh School of Science and Engineering.

Qualification

Minimum Grade

IELTS

6.5 or above with a score of at least 6.0 in each section of the test.

TOEFL

(paper-based) 580 or above with at least 55 in all sections and 4.0 in the test of written English (computer-based) 237 or above with at least 22 in all sections and 4.0 in the essay rating

Cambridge Certificate of proficiency in English (CP)

B

3. Two signed, written references, along with the names and addresses of the referees.

4. Two passport sized photographs, signed by the applicant on the reverse side.

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APPLICATIONS Completed application forms should be returned to: MSc Administration Office Institute for System Level Integration Alba Centre Alba Campus Livingston EH54 7EG UK Applications for admission will be considered by the MSc Programme Director and ISLI’s Management Committee. Letters of admission are issued by the Faculty Postgraduate Studies Committee of Edinburgh University, which is responsible for all administrative matters related to ISLI. Successful applicants will receive a joining pack prior to the course start date, which contains information on matriculation and enrolment, payment of tuition fees, how to apply for accommodation and other practical details.

CONDITIONS OF OFFER This prospectus was revised in April 2006 and every care has been taken to ensure that the information contained in it is accurate at the time of printing, however, the course programme described is subject to continuing development and changed circumstances may necessitate cancellation or alteration to the programme, fees and other matters.

ISLI reserves the right to make variations to the programme or other matters if such action is considered necessary at any time before or after a student’s admission to the course. In such circumstances ISLI will take all reasonable steps to minimise any resultant disruption and give as much notice as possible of any such changes. Please note that ISLI does not accept any liability arising out of or in connection with any such changes.

In accepting an offer of a place at ISLI, students are required to agree to abide by ISLI’s rules and regulations pertaining to students as may be amended from time to time.

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Engineering Doctorate (EngD) ENGD IS A FOUR-YEAR, PHD-LEVEL RESEARCH PROGRAMME FUNDED BY THE UK ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY AND EPSRC, A GOVERNMENT BODY WHICH FUNDS AN EXTENSIVE RESEARCH PORTFOLIO IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. ISLI IS ONE OF 20 ENGD CENTRES IN THE UK, AND IS THE ONLY ONE DEDICATED TO ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS DESIGN.

Equivalent in academic standing to a PhD, EngD is achieved through industrially-focused applied research, with the student working onsite with a sponsoring company. It aims to provide a more vocationally-oriented doctorate, and establish a high quality research and training programme that meets the needs of industry and enhances its knowledge base.

EngD is also designed to produce exploitable outcomes from research, generating partnerships between academia and industry, and providing graduates with challenging research in an industrial and business context, preparing them for leadership positions in industry. EngD students are known as Research Engineers (RE).

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Programme Structure EngD lasts for four years and part-time study is not available. Start dates are flexible: students with a confirmed offer from a sponsor may start the programme at any convenient time during the year.

The academic programme offers flexibility to address the needs of students and sponsors, and all taught modules can be undertaken via distance learning. The course comprises:

1. Taught technical training: 120 credits, 9 months Modules are centred around the MSc in System Level Integration and are normally completed within the first two years of the programme.

2. Taught business and management training: 60 credits, 3 months Available via the four partner universities and normally completed in the third year.

3. Research project and thesis: 3 years The project is supported by academic and industrial supervisors and the majority of time is spent at the sponsor’s premises. Each research project requires an industrial sponsor and all REs carry out original, publishable work with their sponsor. The sponsor defines and directs the industrial problem which forms the basis of the thesis. Projects focus on the evaluation of new research in an industrial context, and on tackling industrial problems with fresh intellectual input. Full information on current and past projects can be viewed at www.sli-institute.ac.uk/research/engd/home.htm.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Research Engineers must be well-qualified, motivated and ambitious, with good interpersonal and team-working skills. Selection for entry is by formal interview at ISLI followed by an interview with potential sponsors.

Preferred applicants will have a first class honours degree in electronics, computer science, physics or a related discipline. Graduates with a 2:1 are considered if supported by strong academic references. Some relevant industrial experience is preferred but not essential. Candidates with a lower formal qualification plus significant industrial experience will also be considered.

Courtesy of Wolfson Microelectronics

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ELIGIBILITY All EPSRC-funded REs must satisfy UK residency requirements. To be eligible for funding, candidates must be UK citizens, or have a relevant connection with the UK, usually through residence and appropriate academic qualifications. Residence requirements are set out in Part IV, Regulation 12 of the Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations 1983: • A student must be ordinarily resident in the UK for 3 years prior to the date of application for an award, and • has not been resident in the UK for any part of that period, wholly or mainly for the purposes of full time education, and • has settled status in the UK within the meaning of the Immigration Act 1971.

EU nationals are eligible for awards which cover the payment of tuition fees. The EPSRC stipend may be available if the person has studied in the UK as an undergraduate and has continued to live in the UK after graduation, or currently works, and is ordinarily resident in, the UK. International applicants are not eligible for any funding unless they satisfy UK residential criteria and EPSRC residence requirements.

ISLI does not invite EngD applications from international students.

Applications may be considered from candidates able to arrange their own funding for four years however ISLI is unable to suggest organisations or companies that could provide such funding. Overseas students may consider ISLI’s MSc to a more realistic alternative to EngD.

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FINANCIAL SUPPORT & FEES Eight fully funded places are available each year for eligible students. EPSRC covers all academic fees and provides a tax-free stipend to eligible students along with a grant to attend conferences and training programmes worldwide. Sponsors also make a payment to the RE to cover living costs. Eligible students joining the course in 2006/07 can expect an income of c£19,000 (tax-free) in the first year, rising by annual increments.

SUPERVISION Each RE has three supervisors, two academic supervisors from one of the partner universities and one from the industry sponsor.

The academic and industrial supervisors jointly oversee the development of the RE, provide guidance regarding the research project and, along with the RE, develop a plan for the research, and decide on the appropriate choice of technical and management modules.

Academic supervisors ensure that the research project is of academic equivalence to a PhD, while industrial supervisors are tasked to ensure that the research makes a significant contribution to the performance of the company and has a commercial outcome.

MONITORING & ASSESSMENT Industry and academic supervisors meet regularly with the RE to ensure the project remains on target. Joint meetings are normally held quarterly, along with weekly contact between the RE and one of the supervisors. All REs must maintain a logbook as a record of progress and achievement, and as a means of recording professional development and progress monitoring.

In order to graduate, REs must achieve 180 taught technical and business credits and have been examined successfully on the thesis by a viva committee of four examiners. All REs must achieve a minimum B+ average pass mark in all taught modules. In accordance with academic practice, there is an annual assessment of research work and taught course results.

APPLICATIONS Applications should be made on ISLI’s postgraduate application form, available from the website. Completed application forms with the required supporting paperwork should be returned to: EngD Centre Manager, Institute for System Level Integration, Alba Centre Alba Campus, Livingston EH54 7EG T: +44 (0) 1506 469 312 F: +44 (0) 1506 469 301 E: sian.williams@sli-institute.ac.uk

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PA RT N E R & A S S O C I AT E U N I V E R S I T Y R E S E A R C H L I N K S

EEE and CS departments offer expertise in

• • • • • •

Process technology and MEMS Networks Advanced sensor devices Device and sensor modelling Power aware sensor networks RF & analogue, wireless technologies • Lab-on-chip

EEE and CS departments offer expertise in

• • • •

Advanced compiler technologies Formal verification Processor architectures and design Low power and reconfigurable systems • Process technology and MEMS • Low power design

EEE department offers expertise in

SLI and MEMS test and reliability

EEE and CS departments offer expertise in

• • • •

Networks Communications MEMS design Signal processing implementation on FPGA • DSP on FPGA • Signal processing • LED arrays

RESEARCH and KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER NETWORK

EEE and CS departments offer expertise in

• MEMS design & technology • Computer vision and image analysis • Image and signal processing • Low power telemetry and implantable devices

ISLI IS A PARTNERSHIP OF THE UK UNIVERSITIES OF EDINBURGH, GLASGOW, HERIOT-WATT AND STRATHCLYDE, AND WITH LINKS TO LANCASTER UNIVERSITY. GRADUATES OF ISLI’S POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES ARE AWARDED A JOINT DEGREE OF ALL FOUR PARTNER UNIVERSITIES.

THE UNIVERSITIES ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF RESEARCH, WITH THE MAJORITY RATED AS EXCELLENT IN RAE2001 (5 OR 5*). THE UNIVERSITIES OF EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW ARE ALSO MEMBERS OF TWO INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS OF LEADING RESEARCH INTENSIVE UNIVERSITIES, UNIVERSITAS 21 AND THE RUSSELL GROUP.