Master of Science in Engineering MSE

The Master's programme is aimed at Bachelor's graduates of a technically oriented degree programme who wish to further deepen their knowledge in their specialist field.

Key data

Degree: Master of Science FHNW in Engineering
Next start: Spring or Automn Semester
Studying mode: Full-time, part-time
Teaching language: English
Place: Windisch und further Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences
Semester fee: 750 – 5000 CHF see Organisational information / fees

Closing date is end of April or end of September respectively

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With the Master's degree, the highest academic university degree, you prepare your way for responsible positions in research, industry and administration. You are able to take on both challenging activities in a specialist field, as well as management tasks and responsibility for interdisciplinary projects.

The FHNW School of Engineering and Environment offers the following MSE profiles:

Other MSE profiles at the FHNW

FHNW School of Computer Science

FHNW School of Architecture, Construction and Geomatics

Customised master's degree course of study

The core of the degree programme is the individual specialisation within a profile. You will gain this in-depth knowledge through theoretical and practical work at an institute of the FHNW School of Engineering and Environment. Throughout your studies, you will be accompanied and supervised by a personal advisor and thus acquire unique competences at a high level within the framework of selected theory modules and practical research and development projects. You will supplement your specialist knowledge with selected theory modules.

This is how you proceed:

You enquire about specialisation options with the relevant profile responsible and/or potential advisor.
You apply for a place on the programme.
The MSE admissions committee decides on your admission.
Once you have been admitted, you and your advisor choose theory modules from the range on offer.
The choice of module and the content of the specialisation are recorded in the Individual Study Agreement (ISV).

MSE profiles at the FHNW School of Engineering and Environment

Course of study

The MSE course enables you to pursue a targeted, individual specialisation in the fields of engineering and information technology.

Benefits

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.

Structure / modules

One-third of the course of study consists of theoretical modules that are carried out at central locations for students from all Swiss universities of applied sciences. The other two thirds form the focus of the “Master of Science in Engineering”. You acquire this part of the training at an institute of the FHNW School of Engineering.

The MSE course of study represents 90 ECTS credits:

30 ECTS by completing the central theory modules
30 ECTS through the individual specialisation (projects, Supplementary course elements)
30 ECTS by passing the final master thesis

Further information on the structure of the course can be found here.

Additional courses

All students must provide evidence of 6 credits from additional courses (EVA) throughout their studies.

Additional courses serve to impart theoretical knowledge that is not part of the central theory modules due to its specialisation. The EVA is organized by the institute of the FHNW School of Engineering and Environment where you are studying. However, you can also take suitable EVA from other universities of applied science, provided that you have coordinated this with your advisor and with the respective profile supervisor.

Organisational information

Admission requirements

The master's degree programme is aimed at bachelor's graduates who have achieved very good results (ECTS grades A or B) during their studies.

The completed field of study must be related to the area of competence of the chosen profile. Holders of an equivalent certificate can also be admitted to the programme.

After the application deadline, your submitted application documents will be reviewed and our admissions committee will decide on your admission or rejection.
If necessary, an additional admission interview can be arranged.

The MSE usually follows on directly from a bachelor's degree. In case of several years of professional activity after the degree, more detailed clarifications are necessary.

Teaching language

All lectures are held in English. Therefore, we recommend a knowledge of English on at least level B2 or better on level C1 according to the scaling of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
The specialisation can also take place in English and therefore no knowledge of German is required for the master's degree programme.

Full-time or part-time degree

The master's degree can be completed full-time with a duration of three semesters or part-time with a correspondingly longer duration. In the case of part-time study, it is possible to divide work and study into different semesters.

Fees

Tuition fee (CH domicile)	Fr. 750.- (per semester)
Tuition fee EU/EFTA*	Fr. 1000.- (per semester)
Tuition fee all other countries**	Fr. 5000.- (per semester)
Enrollment fee	Fr. 200.- (at registration)
Materials and licenses	CHF 100.- (from autumn semester 2023/24, per semester)
Leave semester	Fr. 100.- (per semester)
Graduation fee	Fr. 300.- (settlement prior to graduation)

* The decisive factor is the civil law domicile before the start of the studies. This is not the residence under tax law, i.e. students who take up residence in Switzerland for the purpose of their studies do not have their residence under civil law in Switzerland (see Art. 23, para. 1 ZGB: "Residence, term").

** Refers to students with a residence permit that does not permit gainful employment, i.e. was only issued for the purpose of studying.

For more detailed information see Fees

Fixed dates

The master's degree can be started in the spring or autumn semester:

Beginning in the spring semester: Registration closes at the end of September of the previous year
Beginning in the autumn semester: Registration closes at the end of April of the current year

Downloads / further information

www.msengineering.ch
General information about studying at the FHNW School of Engineering and Environment
Studien- und Prüfungsordnung MSE until the end of spring semester 2025 (in German)
Studien- und Prüfungsordnung MSE from autumn semester 2025 (in German)
Study and examination regulations MSE (in English, not legally binding) until the end of spring semester 2025
Study and examination regulations MSE (in English, not legally binding) from autumn semester 2025