Master of Data Communication & Networks (DCN)

Program Description

Master of Data Communication & Networks (DCN) have evolved dramatically over recent decades. Accommodating the data traffic generated by billions of users and trillions of digital devices requires continuous technological evolution. Innovative internet and wireless infrastructure will be needed to cater for these challenging and unprecedented growth and performance characteristics. The students of this program will receive advanced and in-depth knowledge of communication networks, Software Defined Networks (SDN), ubiquitous computing and context aware computing. The students of this program will also be able to control the environment by using multiple smart gadgets as the focus of the program MS-DCN on innovative, quality learning with an emphasis on knowledge that enables students to influence the evolution of new technologies on a mass scale.

Why Study at PAF IAST?

Location and Ambience

Natural mountains nestle PAF IAST that flank its campus from all sides. The institute offers one ravishing view of snow-capped peaks of Nathiagali and natural winding trails. Furthermore, to its north-west is Tarbela Lake, a journey of only a few kilometers from the campus. Moreover, set in the middle of the campus is a natural lake, fed by the springs of surrounding mountains. The campus is just a 3-kilometer drive from the Hazara Motorway. This results in an ideal setting equally conducive to academic activity. Most importantly, major cities like Islamabad, Abbottabad, are just an hour’s drive, while small towns like Wah, Hasanabadal, Taxila, and Swabi can be reached in just half an hour.

Technology Advancement and Foreign Partnership

This institute is an emerging center of excellences, with its own technology park. Therefore, all faculty members hold PhD degrees in appropriate disciplines. By virtue of its wide array of facilities and the facilitation for its students to learn. Furthermore, they benefit both from classroom teaching and faculty trained at premier Austrian universities/institutions. The institution is ideally cut out for imparting state-of–the-art engineering and allied education in Pakistan. Moreover, the institute enjoys close linkages with top ranking universities in Austria and China. As a result, we have already concluded with them formal agreements regarding student and faculty exchange programs, provision of dual degrees in certain areas, and the training support from foreign faculty.

Academia-Industry Relationship

There is a strong relationship between academia and industry. As a result, this paves the way for job opportunities for students even in the midst of their studies. PAF IAST will serve as a welcome platform for the industry to share their requirements for a skilled workforce. Therefore, this will enable the institute to incorporate their valuable inputs in practical vocational training and expose the students to industrial perspectives.

On-Spot Industry Internship

Firstly, it will be a mandatory requirement for every student to do an internship every semester in an appropriate industry. Secondly, this will garner them practical experience related to their respective degree programs. To crown it all, Technology Park will afford them rare opportunities to apply themselves innovatively and become promising entrepreneurs.

Need and Merit-based Scholarships

Different types of local and foreign scholarship opportunities are available on need and merit base.

Associated Careers

Today’s technical challenges concern developing network systems to support a wide range of applications and connected devices, while ensuring that the next generation of Data Communication & Networks is scalable, flexible, secure, and sustainable. These systems will give users global access to a large variety of possibilities, ranging from advanced services based on sensor data produced by large amounts of constrained devices to cloud-based distributed services for computation and storage empowered by high-performance networks and powerful connected data centers. The commercialization of these new ideas will create value for users, vendors, operators and society in general. Consequently, entrepreneurship, product realization and economics are inextricably linked to Data Communication & Networks.

Graduates from the program can be found in academia, as well as in the industry – on the producer side with system manufacturers and operators, and on the consumer side with industry, in the public sector, and among regulators. There is a huge demand for network designers and administrators, especially in emerging markets in developing regions. Finally, as evidenced by Google, Skype, Spotify, and others, there are rich opportunities for entrepreneurs to change the world.

MS Data Communication & Networks Course Outline

Semester 1

	Code	Course Title	Credit Hours	Labs	Total
1	SS-821	Research Methodology	*Non-Credit Hour
2	COMP-###	Core Course I	3		3
3	COMP-###	Core Course II	3		3
4	COMP-###	Core Course III	3		3
		* Non-Credit course (compulsory) with 2 Contact Hours
		Total Credit Hours	9		9

Semester 2

	Code	Course Title	Credit Hours	Labs	Total
1	COMP-###	Core Course IV	3		3
2	COMP-###	Elective I	3		3
3	COMP-###	Elective II	3		3
		Total Credit Hours	9		9

Semester 3

	Code	Course Title	Credit Hours	Labs	Total
1	COMP-899	Research Work	3		3
2	COMP-###	Elective-III	3		3
		Total Credit Hours	6		6

Semester 4

	Code	Course Title	Credit Hours	Labs
1	COMP-###	Elective-IV	3		3
2	COMP-900	MS Thesis	3		3
		Total Credit Hours	6		6