ECE4122 Advanced electromagnetics
Faculty of Engineering
ECE4122 Advanced electromagnetics is a level 4, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Engineering, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It needs ECE3121 or ECE3122.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 60%
- and 3 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before ECE4122
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After ECE4122
No unit lists ECE4122 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
The unit evaluates the propagation of time-harmonic electromagnetic waves in wireless and guided media using Maxwell's equations. The media covered include vacuum/air, radio frequency (RF) and microwave transmission lines, metallic waveguides, planar optical waveguides and optical fibres.
The unit also explores different types of antennas that can be used to generate electromagnetic waves. In addition to these, the unit covers concepts related to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Using these concepts, the unit explores practical problems such as interference and coupling in RF/microwave circuits and discusses solutions such as grounding, shielding and filtering. In each section of this unit, the learned theory is related to real-world applications to expand your understanding.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Mid-semester summative assessmentExaminationThreshold hurdle20%
- Laboratory assessmentWrittenThreshold hurdle15%
- Lab testQuiz / TestThreshold hurdle5%
- Design projectProjectThreshold hurdle20%
- Final assessmentExaminationThreshold hurdle40%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Apply knowledge of mathematics, physics and engineering fundamentals to solving complex problems involving plane wave propagation in various media, antennas and electromagnetic compatibility.
- 2
Interpret solutions to complex electromagnetic problems using mathematics, physics and Maxwell's equations.
- 3
Apply appropriate techniques to solve transmission line, antenna and optical fibre related practical problems.
- 4
Select and use appropriate software and hardware tools to complete transmission line, antenna and optical fibre related laboratory tasks.
- 5
Communicate technical contents related to electromagnetic theory effectively individually and in a group.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops24 hours
- Laboratories36 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.
Learning resources
Required resources
Materials available on the unit's Moodle site.
Where it fits
ECE4122 is part of 2 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Wenle Weng
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Wenle Weng
Common questions
When is ECE4122 offered?
In 2026, ECE4122 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is ECE4122?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ECE4122 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 60% of the final mark, alongside 4 other tasks.
Which majors and minors include ECE4122?
ECE4122 is part of Electrical and computer systems engineering; and Telecommunications infrastructure.