The master's degree course is geared towards graduates from a technically oriented bachelor's degree programme who wish to specialise within their subject area.
You will systematically develop your ability to analyse complex contexts and thus solve difficult problems. In doing so, you will pave the way for challenging, interdisciplinary activities.
Master's graduates possess the tools to take on positions of responsibility in research, industry and administration. They are able to take on both challenging activities in a specialist field, as well as management tasks and responsibility for interdisciplinary projects.
Insight into the MSE degree course
Customised master's degree course
At the heart of the course is individual specialisation within a given subject area. This specialisation is achieved by theoretical and practical work in a Master's Research Unit (MRU), where you are accompanied and supported by a personal advisor throughout your entire course, so that you can acquire a unique and highly developed skills set by participating in a range of research projects.
What to do:
Select your individual fields of specialisation in one of the four subject areas.
Select an advisor or a Master's Research Unit that will enable you to enhance your understanding of your field of specialisation by taking part in application-oriented research projects and complementary events.
Select theory modules that enhance understanding of your specialism.
Subject areas
Business Engineering and Production
You learn engineering methods that can be used to analyse, plan, optimise and manage operational processes and systems.
You will improve your understanding of Strengthen your knowledge on the development, production, use and optimisation of machines, systems and products in an ...
You will acquire specialist expertise in a sub-area of the computer sciences and become an expert in, for example, data science or distributed systems.
The MSE allows you to systematically and individually specialise in the fields of Engineering, IT and Engineering and Management.
You learn to develop abstract thinking and to act in an application- and solution-oriented way.
You possess extensive methodical know-how, can recognize the complexity of individual contexts and can solve problems independently.
In practice-oriented projects, you develop your skills and gain qualified practical experience.
You can develop products and procedures using cutting-edge technologies, have acquired expertise in project management and are familiar with business contexts.
In dealing with complex problems, you can make a significant analytical, conceptional and technical contribution to the development of innovative solutions.
Thanks to strong communication skills, you are confident operating in an international environment.
One third of the degree consists of theory modules, which are offered at central locations for students of all Swiss universities of applied sciences. The other two thirds are accounted for by the focus area "Master of Science in Engineering". This part of the degree takes place in Brugg-Windisch at the School of Engineering.
The master's degree consists of 90 ECTS points, which are earned in core theory and professional-context modules and in a technical specialisation with project modules and complementary events.
Theory modules
Theory modules include technical/scientific specialisation modules and advanced theoretical foundation modules. Both further the acquisition of a lasting stock of knowledge and foster the capacity for abstract thought. The theory modules are offered in the immediate vicinity of Zurich central station. Master's students make their selection in consultation with their advisors, taking the requirements into consideration.
Professional-context modules
Professional-context modules enhance the knowledge and abilities of master's students in the fields of management, communication and culture. Here too, students select from a variety of modules in line with their needs and in consultation with their advisor.
Project modules
The master's degree is geared towards technical, project-oriented specialisation. All three semesters are based on this. A full-time degree generally takes up two days’ study per week in the first semester and three days per week in the second semester. In the third semester, students concentrate entirely on their technical specialisation by preparing their master’s thesis. At the FHNW School of Engineering, students have four MRUs to choose from, in which you can improve your knowledge of your specialist field.
The spacialisation is integrated in to a Projects and Master Research Unit (MRU):
All students must acquire six credits from complementary events over the course of their degree.
Complementary events are there for the purpose of imaprting theoretical expertise that cannot be part of the core theory modules due to the high level of specialisation involved.
Organisational information
The master's degree is aimed to graduates with a good first degree(ECTS Grade A or B).
The field of study must be appropriate to the area of expertise in the selected technical specialisation. Those who possess equivalent credentials (e.g. a degree from a technical college or university of applied sciences) can also be admitted to the degree course.
An aptitude test is carried out after application. If required, an additional admission interview may be arranged.
The MSE is normally taken immediately after a bachelor's degree . More detailed clarification is necessary if the applicant has worked for several years in the interim.
All lectures are given in English. As the technical specialisation can also be taken in English, knowledge of German is not required for the master's degree.
The degree can be completed full-time or part-time (50 percent). In a part-time degree, the proportion of work and study may vary from semester to semester.
Tuition fee (CH + EU countries*
CHF 700.- (per semester)
Enrolment fee
CHF 200.- (before commencement of studies)
Thesis fee
CHF 300.- (before master's thesis)
Teaching materials, copying costs, etc.
CHF 500.- (per semester, guide price)
* The tuition fees for students not domiciled in Switzerland or an EU country are CHF 5,000 per semester full-time and CHF 2,500 per semester part-time.
