Subjects

Design of RF and Microwave Passive Circuits (5 ECTS)

This subject introduces concepts and tools for the design and simulation of passive microwave devices that are part of the most representative RF communication systems. Components such as filters, couplers, multiplexers, and polarization converters, among others, are studied.

These devices are implemented using different technologies that employ guided transmission media supported by physical structures, as well as planar free-space structures with spatial feeding, including reflectarrays, frequency selective surfaces, and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces.

In addition, the course introduces the use of the most common commercial tools for the analysis and design of these devices.

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Design of RF and Microwave Solid-State Circuits (5 ECTS)

The course covers the analysis, design, and specification of solid-state active circuits and subsystems, highlighting their role in modern RF and microwave systems.

Students will learn to translate the specifications of a complex RF subsystem into viable technical solutions, either by selecting and integrating commercial components or by designing custom circuit blocks built from fundamental semiconductor devices.

Advanced tools and techniques for microwave circuit design are employed, providing rigorous and industry-aligned training.

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Laboratory course on RF measurements
(5 ECTS)

This course, which is mainly practical, is focused on providing the students the capability to know and use the most common techniques for measuring and characterizing Radiofrequency (RF) components and systems.

The course is divided into laboratory sessions where, in addition to operating the most common instrumentation to test RF devices, students study the theoretical foundations and expected uncertainties of the measurement processes.

Through the use of tools in the frequency or time domains, the course covers the measurement of both passive and active high frequency RF devices, the extraction of electrical properties of materials in guided and free-space systems, antenna measurement, and the characterization of signals of a RADAR system.

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Antenna array processing
(3 ECTS)

Antenna Array Processing provides an integrated view of antenna array processing techniques as key enablers of modern and secure communication systems by implementing active smart antenna systems. The course links signal models and advanced adaptive beamforming algorithms with system-level performance, addressing capacity, interference mitigation, and robustness.

Realistic use cases are introduced, including satellite non-terrestrial networks, massive MIMO, vehicular communications, and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces.

Emphasis is placed on practical trade-offs within algorithms implementation, demonstration with planar wave emulator and the system analysis software supporting implementation aspects and performance improvement in current and emerging communication scenarios.

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Satellite Communications Technologies
(3 ECTS)

This course describes the main characteristics of space-based communication systems, including massive constellations.

It will cover orbital aspects, onboard communication payload design, link balance, and its impact on overall system performance and the services provided.

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Radar Systems
(5 ECTS)

This course addresses the fundamentals and main applications of modern radar systems.

The covered topics include their hardware architectures and employed waveforms, as well as the principles of radar signal and data processing, with focus on clutter cancellation and algorithms for target detection and tracking.

Laboratory sessions will be carried out to consolidate the acquired knowledge, in which the students will operate real systems and process the received signals in experimental environments.

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Research Methodologies in RF Engineering
(1 ECTS)

This course provides students with an introduction to the fundamentals, methods, and tools of scientific and technological research in the field of radio frequency engineering.

It covers the phases of the research process, experimental design, validation of results, and writing scientific reports.

Its objective is to equip students with the necessary skills to carry out future research activities with methodological rigor.

This subject reinforces the research orientation of the master’s degree and prepares students to join research groups and complete their Master’s Thesis.

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Master’s Thesis (MT)
(15 ECTS)

The Final Master Thesis offers a great opportunity to closely collaborate with your favorite professor on advanced topics to be agreed with him/her. Located in the second semester with 15 ECTS, at that time you will have the global perspective about which are the more challenging topics or more demanded by local or international companies you desire to deepen.

After an initial discussion with your academic advisor about your preferences, he/she will put in contact with the most suitable researcher among our professors who will lead your final stage before obtaining the final degree. You will have the chance to access to the professional laboratories in our department and get involved in our research or our technological transfer projects.

Finally you will have to elaborate an extended report describing your achievements and make an oral presentation defending your results in front of other professors experts in the field. In the end, you will have gained full professional maturity to continue your career in academia or high technological companies with unique capabilities.

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