Diploma in Electronics and Telecommunications L7 (DET7)

About the Programme

This 240-credit programme is approved and accredited by NZQA. It offers advanced skills in electronic circuitry and telecommunications engineering technology. It provides a complex technical competence in electronic devices, electronic communications technologies such as radio, integrated electronics systems, and software that governs the application of this technology.

This programme is approved and accredited by NZQA.


Entry Criteria

  • minimum of a Level 5 qualification in the field of Electronics/Telecommunications (or equivalent skills and knowledge)
  • IELTS band score of at least 6.0 (Academic); or TOEFL score of 550 or equivalent knowledge and skills. Students without these entry requirements must complete the school's entry test before enrolment is confirmed.

If you are a New Zealand student under 20 years of age, there are additional entry requirements. Please contact us for further information.


Core Papers

  • DET500* Engineering Mathematics
  • DET510* Electrical Principles & Circuit Theory
  • DET600* Digital Electronic
  • DET610* Electronic Communication Systems
  • DET620* Data Communications and Networking
  • DET630* Antennas and Wave Propagation
  • DET700* Control System
  • DET710* Cellular and Mobile Communications
  • DET720* Microwave and Radar Engineering
  • DET730* Broadband Communication



Electives Papers (students must complete any two of the following)

  • DET740 Positioning Communication Systems
  • DET750 Power Electronics
  • DET760 Digital Control Systems
  • DET770 Intrduction Microprocessor

*Applicants who have studied these papers as part of the Queens Academic Group Diploma in Electronics and Telecommunications (DET6) Level 6 qualification will be able to transfer any or all of these credits (120) to this Level 7 qualification.


Further Study

  • Higher level qualifications specialising in Electronics / Telecommunications

Job Opportunities

Graduates of this diploma may pursue career opportunities in a wide range of entry level roles in the electronics and telecommunications industries eg. operations and maintenance technician, electronics sales/service representative, telecommunications technician, communication systems installer, or field service representative.


Paper Summaries

Compulsory Papers

DET500 Engineering Mathematics:

Aim: This paper covers vector algebra and geometry: equations of lines and planes. Linear algebra: matrix operations, systems of linear equations, eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Calculus: logarithmic differentiation, improper integrals, integration by parts. Sequences and series: convergence, power series, Taylor polynomials. Ordinary differential equations: first order, second order with constant coefficients, boundary value problems, systems of ODEs. Multivariable calculus: partial derivatives, directional derivatives, chain rule, maxima and minima. Laplace and Z- Transforms; Fourier Series and Transforms; Optimization; and Statistics and Probabilities.

DET510 Electrical Principles & Circuit Theory:

Aim: This paper introduces DC and AC electricity with emphasis on circuit analysis, measurements, and operation of test equipment. Topics include DC and AC principles, circuit analysis laws and theorems, components, test equipments operation, circuit simulation software and other related topics. Upon completion, students should be able to interpret circuit schematics: design, construct, verify, and analyse DC/AC circuits; and properly use test equipment.

DET600 Digital Electronics:

Aim: This paper covers combinational and sequential logic circuits. Topics include number systems, Boolean algebra, logic families, MSI and LSI circuits, AC/DC converters, and other related topics. Upon completion, students should be able to construct, analyze, verify, and troubleshoot digital circuits using appropriate techniques and test equipment.

DET 610 Electronic Communication Systems:

Aim: This paper introduces the fundamentals of electronic communication systems. Topics include the frequency spectrum, electrical noise, modulation techniques, characteristics of transmitters and receivers, and digital communications. Upon completion, students should be able to interpret analog and digital communication circuit diagrams, analyze transmitter and receiver circuits, and use appropriate communication test equipment.

DET 620 Data Communications and Networking:

Aim: This paper introduces the following: (1) Analysis and design of computer networks; (2) Layered architecture of Internet; (3) Protocol layers and their service models; (4) Principles of network applications and application protocols such as HTTP, FTP, and SMTP; (5) Principles of transport layer services and transport-layer protocols such as TCP and UDP; (6) Virtual-circuit networks(7) Broadcast and multicast routing. Introduction to link-layer and its services; (8) Network architectures: cellular networks, ad hoc networks; access protocols; (9) Radio and network resource management; (10) Mobility and location management; (11) Routing; (13) Mobile-IP; (14) Current wireless technologies for personal, local and satellite networks.

DET630 Antenna and Wave Propagation:

Aim: This paper examines the fundamental solutions of time-varying Maxwell’s equations and applies them to design antennas and understand radio wave propagation phenomena in modern communication and radar systems. Three major topics will be covered: 1) fundamentals of electromagnetic radiation with application to antenna theory and design, 2) electromagnetic wave propagation, scattering and diffraction, with application to understanding wireless communication channels, and 3) numerical and asymptotic methods for simulating complex electromagnetic wave interactions in real-world scenarios.

DET 700 Control Systems:

Aim: This course covers the elements of classical control. A good grounding in the understanding of the dynamic behaviour of systems is followed by a study of the elements that make up some control systems. Standard techniques for modifying the behaviour of control systems are examined. Particular studies of real world control systems are used to bring together the topics previously covered.

DET 710 Cellular and Mobile Communications:

Aim: This paper introduces a broad overview of cellular radio systems as it examines the elements of cellular radio system design, interference, cell coverage for signal and traffic, cell site and mobile antennas. Topics also cover tradeoff between capacity and coverage in a cellular system and the role of frequency reuse, cell sectorization, and cell splitting. It explores the importance of wireless data in mobile wireless systems. The major standards are examined and an introduction is provided to 3G systems (CDMA2000 and UMTS).

DET 720 Microwave and Radar Engineering:

Aim: This paper deals with phenomena that occur when the wavelength of an electromagnetic field. It covers the following topics: waveguides, microwave components, microwave tubes, microwave solid state devices, microwave

DET730 Broadband Communications:

Aim: This paper provides a broad working knowledge of the broadband communication technologies that permeate today's society and to provide the learners with the tools to address the numerous opportunities that abound in this field. It provides the fundamental knowledge about X.25 and frame relay, synchronous optical network (Sonet), virtual private network (VPN), digital subscriber line (DSL), integrated service digital network (ISDN) and broadband ISDN (B-ISDN), asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), switched multimegabit digital service (SMDS), wireless data services, personal communications service (PCS), and fibre channel. It concludes with installation, configuration, testing, troubleshooting and analysis of wireless broadband networks. It also covers the essential knowledge required to implement the type of network for integration of data, voice and video and will cover the latest technology advancements in broadband communications.

Elective Papers ( any two of the following)

 DET 760 Digital Control Systems:

Aim: This paper covers the following topics: review of sampling process; discrete time linear systems analysis; Z-transforms; discrete time and sampled data state variable analysis; stability analysis; time-domain, and frequency-domain analysis and design; and computer implementation of digital algorithms and control systems.

DET 770 Introduction Microprocessor:

Aim: This paper introduces microprocessor architecture and microcomputer systems, including memory and input/output interfacing. Topics include assembly language programming, bus architecture, bus cycle types, I/O systems, memory systems, interrupts, and other related topics. Upon completion, students should be able to interpret, analyze, verify, and troubleshoot fundamental microprocessor circuits and programs using appropriate techniques and test equipment.