Radio Imaging and Sensing MSc

	Full-time	Part-time	Full-time distance learning	Part-time distance learning
MSc	Y	N	N	N

The Radio Astronomy group at Manchester University is offering an innovative 12-month MSc. course in Radio Imaging and Sensing . This course in the School of Physics and Astronomy, exploits academic knowledge and know-how from the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics and commercial companies.

Run by the world-famous Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, the course will equip you with a broad range of knowledge and skills which will widen your career opportunities and enhance your employment prospects, whether you wish to enter industry or academia.

Its principal themes are:

• Remote sensing, both passive and active and from ground and space, for the study of our environment.
• Inspection of nearby objects including security screening and medicine.
• Next generation radio astronomy systems for probing the universe.

You will first be given a broad scientific background in the use of radio and sub-mm waves, then you will work extensively on real systems.

Later modules and a dissertation project will allow you to adapt the course to your career aspirations.

Our underlying philosophy is to educate the Masters students of today to become the company or academic leaders of tomorrow. This group will need to have a broad scientific background, to appreciate what is possible and what is not and have the vision to seek connections where others see none. There is a powerful mutual advantage in having pure and applied science cultures working together, what can be learnt from one field can reap benefits in others.

Successful applicants will have the opportunity to:

• Be taught by active researchers at the forefront of their fields
• Make practical use of research equipment
• Carry out a project at a research frontier
• Widen their career opportunities in academia and industry

To educate students in techniques and technologies used in a diversity of well established and emerging applications areas. This new course will benefit those coming from a wide range of backgrounds. It allows students to tailor the MSc to their own career ambitions. (See also 'Career Opportunities')

 The course is centred in the Radio Astronomy group within the School of Physics & Astronomy. Manchester staff operated the world-famous 76-m Lovell Telescope at the Jodrell Bank Observatory and are leading players in many high-profile international projects including:

• o The UK National Radio Astronomy Facility eMERLIN;
• o The European Very Long Baseline Interferometry Network
• o The R&D technology programme for the International Square Kilometre Array.
• o The ESA Planck space mission to image the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation plus a range of instruments to study the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation from the ground.
• o The EC-funded FP7 APRICOT Radio Camera Study

There will be an immediate and direct link with the staff from the QinetiQ company involving applications in security, all-weather imaging and remote sensing from space and links with other leading UK companies in respect of the many other applications of imaging and sensing technologies.

There will be links with groups in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. In particular the E&EE Masters course in  'Nanoelectronics' which concentrates on the design of active semiconductor devices with applications across the same wide wavelength range. We anticipate an option to take one or more modules from Nanoelectronics, in particular 'Terahertz Technology'

We will call for projects and project supervisors outside the School - in the Schools of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Earth, Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences and Life Sciences.

Academic entry qualification overview: Our preferred entry requirement to the programme is a UK Bachelors upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) but we will consider those with a lower second class degree or equivalent (E.g. German students should have completed one year of Diplomarbeit and French students should have their Mantrise (Bac. +4).   

English language:

Students will need to be able to demonstrate competency in the English language and students who do not already possess a recognised English Language qualification will need to take a test such as IELTS or TOEFL and attain a minimum of IELTS 6.5 (with no sub test < 5.5), TOEFL 570 with 5.0 in the TWE (Test of Written English) or CBTOEFL 230 with 5.0 in the TWE.

                                          

If you do not currently have an English Language qualification at the required level then it may be possible to arrange a pre-sessional course, the duration of which will depend on your current English language qualification. For more information on the pre-sessional English language courses please visit the Universities Language Centre website.

                               

The blend of physics, engineering science and technology will be attractive to students with a first degree based on physics or electrical engineering, although we are interested to hear from applicants with other backgrounds.  Contact the Course Director Professor Peter Wilkinson (initially via email at peter.wilkinson@manchester.ac.uk ) for informal advice. 

See under career opportunities.

There are many graduate students working within the JBCA and the School of Physics & Astronomy from outside the UK/EU. We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements including English language see entry requirements for your country .

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry.  In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved.  We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.If you are applying for a place for the same year of entry through UCAS Extra, you should provide additional evidence of your suitability for the course. If you are applying through clearing you are required to meet the clearing requirements. In both UCAS Extra and clearing the places will be subject to availability.

Excellent technical facilities and laboratories associated with the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics Technology Programme

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Support Office. Email: disability@manchester.ac.uk

Typical students might include:

• The security systems engineer who wants to gain a solid background in the underlying theory of the new THz scanning technology.
• The physics/astrophysics student who wants to be well placed to do research with the next generation of radio telescopes (ALMA/SKA/e-Merlin, etc).
• Prospective managers who want an overview of capabilities in this band, where the technology is going, and to network with experts in the specialised fields.
• Anyone wanting to improve their career prospects in the rapidly developing imaging/sensing technology sector.