Disciplines
The program includes a large number of subjects from advanced component and system design via complex network structures to the development of services and ICT solutions to meet the demands of users. The courses forming part of this field of specialization comprise three central traditional disciplines which are based on a technical science foundation that is common to them in certain respects. These disciplines are:

Design of Components and Software
This discipline comprises the design of optical components, optical transmission systems and electrical components, e.g. by way of integrated circuits, and the design of software for telecommunication, including signal processing software.

System Development and Methodology
This discipline offers in particular courses on coding, communication networks and multimedia. These courses deal with the basis for and the design of technical communication systems as well as the operation and supervision of such systems.

Applications
This discipline offers courses in the following fields: services and networks, information systems as well as the market for communication applications. These application-oriented subjects deal with the interplay between technologies, the needs of users and the market and organizational aspects, including solutions to support organizational communication and cooperation.

The disciplines are not described in course lists and the like as study plans may be closely related to the traditional disciplines and be composed as mixed study plans. A concrete study plan will typically be determined by interests in relation to a specific field of application, drawing on subjects from several of the traditional disciplines.

Recommended Study Lines 
Students may specialize by following one of the study lines listed below with a composition of subjects which is relevant for the field of application in question and which can feasibly be completed with respect to timetable considerations. It is not necessary to complete the recommended study lines to obtain the program designation of telecommunication. It is possible – subject to reservations as regards relevant compositions – to choose freely in accordance with rules described in the study plan.

Optical Communication

• Design of optical communication systems and networks

Signals and Transmission Technology

• Processing and transmission of signals in communication systems

Protocols and Network Technologies

• Design, modelling and implementation of mobile and fixed communication networks

Services and Markets

• Development and analysis of applications - also seen from a user or business perspective

Admission to the MSc in Telecommunication requires a completed technical science BSc in electronics or computer science, both with a flavour of communication technologies. The DTU BSc educations listed below serve as a guideline.

Applicants must demonstrate skills in a number of the following subjects

• Mathematics (linear algebra, analysis, diferential equations, fourier transforms, probability theory)
• Linear systems and circuit theory (time continuous and time discrete systems)
• Analog and digital design (emphasis on digital design)
• Software engineering including programming (C or equivalent)
• Fundamental classical electromagnetics in simple media
• Basic telecommunication, data communication, or communication theory

The merits and qualifications of the applicants will be considered individually, based on the submitted material. The level of the qualifications compared to other applicants will also be of importance.

Notice that the master education is very broad such that each prerequisite is not of equal use in all study lines. This is described further with the study lines and the descriptions for the individual courses.

The following DTU BSc educations

• IT and Communication Technology
• Electrical Engineering
• Software Technology
• Physics and Nanotechnology

having at least 10 points from the list below are admitted directly. It is also possible to show that similar qualifications were obtained in an alternative way. 

The course 34225 is intended for international students and has some special requirements.

B Eng in IT or in Electrical Engineering from DTU must, prior to admission to the MSc in Telecommunication, include 10 points from the list above. 

B Eng in IT or in Electrical Engineering from other Danish education institutions than DTU are admitted if they fulfill the requirements above or similar requirements. An example is the B Eng from Copenhagen University College of Engineering in Electronics and Computer Engineering  or Information and Communications Technology with a suitable selection of elective courses.

The academic requirements may be fulfilled differently. This will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the program coordinator.

Students who wish to be admitted to the MSc program in Telecommunication are recommended to contact the program coordinator for guidance in their choice of courses.

Students with a bachelor degree who seek admission to MSc programs at DTU must demonstrate proficiency in English (B-level for students from Nordic countries, IELTS, TOEFL or Pearson test for international students).

Program Provisions
To obtain the Master of Science Degree in Telecommunication, the student must fulfil the following requirements:

• Have passed General Competence Courses adding up to at least 30 points
• Have passed Technological Specialization Courses adding up to at least 30 points
• Have performed a Master Thesis of at least 30 points within the field of the general program
• Have passed a sufficient number of Elective Courses to bring the total number of points of the entire study up to 120 points 

General Competence Courses
The requirement of 30 points in General Competence Courses is broken down into 3 groups of 10 points. 

10 points must be earned from among the courses listed below. These provide the core competence of the program.

10 points have to be obtained from the courses listed below. These are all project-based and you learn how to define and provide solutions to an open problem. You will be part of a group and trained in communication and collaboration. 

The last 10 points of the General Competence Courses have to be obtained from the courses listed below. You learn how to combine technology application and development with finances, management, and organization and most important, you learn how to use your qualifications and technological knowhow in a professional and social context.

Technological Specialization Courses
Each study line contains a recommendation list with some of these courses. Some courses are also listed in the General Competence list, but these count in one list only.

Elective Courses
Remaining points may be chosen freely among all advanced level courses at DTU. In the more detailed descriptions of the study lines, recommendation for some relevant course(s) may be found.  Please note that it is allowed to have up to 10 points from basic courses here, and we shall especially recommend the courses described above under academic requirements, e.g. 34330.

The program is completed through a master thesis project relevant for the program. The project is based upon the knowledge obtained in the individual path followed through the study, and it is the responsibility of the project supervisor to approve that the project may be done based on this knowledge. The Thesis project is typically done at DTU Fotonik, DTU Electrical Engineering, or DTU Informatics, or it may be done in an organization outside DTU, e.g. a company, still with a main supervisor from one of these departments. The subject of the project should be approved by the program coordinator. It is also possible to do a project at another department. The work load of the project should correspond to between 30 and 35 points. A Master Thesis of 30 points must be undertaken as a full-time course of study for five months plus any agreed holiday time. If the Master Thesis is more than 30 points, the period will be extended with 3 weeks for every 5 additional points. Exceptions can be made in cases of documented physical or psychical learning disabilities. The Master Thesis and the Elective Courses must comprise 60 points altogether.

DTU recommends that students study one semester at a foreign university if they have not been on an international exchange before. 

Most of DTU's partner universities have relevant courses as part of a special programme or as part of programmes for electrical engineering or in some cases, computer science. Some good examples within this study programme are:

• Universiteit Gent, Belgium
• Technische Universität München, Germany
• University College London, UK
• Technische Universiteit Delft, The Netherlands 
• ETH Zürich og Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale Lausanne, Switzerland
• Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Taejon, South Korea

The head of studies may approve selected courses taken as part of an approved International Exchange Program as substitutes for required DTU courses.

Head of Studies
Professor Knud J. Larsen 
DTU Fotonik 
DTU Building 343
DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
Phone: (+45) 4525 3629
Fax: (+45) 4593 6581
E-mail: knjl@fotonik.dtu.dk
www.fotonik.dtu.dk

Links:
International MSc Office: intcouns@adm.dtu.dk