A method for wirelessly transmitting user data and control information using multiple transmission layers in a MIMO transmission scheme, comprising: receiving control codewords and user data codewords (122A, 122B) for transmission over a MIMO channel; scrambling the control codewords and the user data codewords (122A, 122B) by scramblers (106A, 106B) thereby producing scrambled outputs; modulating the scrambled outputs by symbol modulators (108A, 108B) thereby producing modulated outputs; mapping the modulated outputs to transmission layers of the MIMO transmission scheme for output of a series of vector symbols to a carrier modulator, wherein each vector symbol represents an associated group of modulation symbols that are transmitted simultaneously on different transmission layers and each transmission symbol in a vector symbol is associated with a transmission layer over which the modulation symbol will be transmitted; comprising estimating a number of vector symbols to be allocated to transmission of a plurality of user data codewords during a sub-frame; determining a number of bits in the plurality of user data codewords to be transmitted during the sub-frame; calculating a number of control vector symbols to be allocated to control information based at least in part on the estimated number of vector symbols and the determined number of bits; mapping one or more control codewords to the calculated number of control vector symbols, wherein the one or more control codewords comprise encoded control information; and transmitting vector symbols carrying the plurality of user data codewords and the control codewords over the multiple transmission layers during the sub-frame. receiving control codewords and user data codewords (122A, 122B) for transmission over a MIMO channel; scrambling the control codewords and the user data codewords (122A, 122B) by scramblers (106A, 106B) thereby producing scrambled outputs; modulating the scrambled outputs by symbol modulators (108A, 108B) thereby producing modulated outputs; mapping the modulated outputs to transmission layers of the MIMO transmission scheme for output of a series of vector symbols to a carrier modulator, wherein each vector symbol represents an associated group of modulation symbols that are transmitted simultaneously on different transmission layers and each transmission symbol in a vector symbol is associated with a transmission layer over which the modulation symbol will be transmitted; comprising estimating a number of vector symbols to be allocated to transmission of a plurality of user data codewords during a sub-frame; determining a number of bits in the plurality of user data codewords to be transmitted during the sub-frame; calculating a number of control vector symbols to be allocated to control information based at least in part on the estimated number of vector symbols and the determined number of bits; mapping one or more control codewords to the calculated number of control vector symbols, wherein the one or more control codewords comprise encoded control information; and transmitting vector symbols carrying the plurality of user data codewords and the control codewords over the multiple transmission layers during the sub-frame.