Photos of university / #chalmers.university
The aim of the programme is to prepare the students for a professional career by providing a broad systems engineering base, suited to the engineering of complex, computer-controlled (embedded) products and systems, and offering course packages toward subtopics (e.g. control; automation; mechatronics) and/or fields of application.
Applications span a wide spectrum, from small consumer devices and medical equipment to large systems for process and production control.
A basic idea behind the programme is the systems perspective and the general systems engineering skills. The elective part of the programme can be tailored towards an application area or to more fundamental topics in control, automation or mechatronics.
Why apply
The programme leads to a wide range of career opportunities with emphasis on operation, design, development and research of complex technical systems within almost any branch of industry. In fact, the generality of many of the methods offers great opportunities in terms of choosing among many different application domains. The acquired skills are needed at manufacturing companies, supplier companies, consulting firms and utility companies.
Job roles range from applied research to product and system development and operation, as well as extend to sales support and product planning. In addition, other career opportunities may arise as academic researchers, technical advisors, project managers and teachers at different levels.
Research connections
The programme is a good platform for advanced studies and research. It qualifies students for postgraduate studies in e.g. automatic control, automation and mechatronics, which are all part of the Signals and Systems graduate school at Chalmers. Some of the courses offered by the graduate school are also suitable elective courses within the Masters programme. A masters degree from Systems, Control and Mechatronics is also highly relevant when pursuing a Ph.D. in related areas such as machine and vehicle systems, product and production development, complex systems and environmental sciences.
Programme plan
The programme consists of five compulsory courses together with three semi-compulsory courses and a set of elective courses. In the semi-compulsory/elective part of the programme it is possible to select courses from defined course packages that will tailor the education towards a certain application or to more fundamental topics in control, automation or mechatronics. The five compulsory courses focus on general systems engineering skills and aim at providing a set of generic methods and tools:
- In Modelling and simulation the basic tools for systematic modelling from physics and/or experiments and simulation of those are learnt. These skills are used in many branches of systems engineering.
- Discrete event systems provides the basics for modelling and analysing systems with complex logic often present in man-made systems, for example, within embedded products and production systems.
- Linear control system design describes the fundamental ideas behind feedback control systems, based upon the triplet sensing decision actuation, with focus on model based control system design.
- In Embedded control systems you learn the principles and mechanisms used in the implementation of control and automation systems, and what the implications are for the system as a whole.
- In Design project in systems, control and mechatronics, a structured project methodology is used in solving a larger design and implementation problem in a team where the skills from the previous courses are necessary to successfully solve the project.
The semi-compulsory courses consists of (three out of seven should be chosen) Model predictive control; Mechatronic Design; Optimization (one out of three possible courses); Applied signal processing; Discrete event control and optimization; Nonlinear and adaptive control; Simulation of production systems.
Course packages
Course packages are used to tailor the education towards a certain application or more towards fundamental topics, examples of course packages are:
- Artificial intelligence provides knowledge about autonomous agents and biologically inspired optimization methods.
- Automation is focused on automation of manufacturing systems, including virtual simulation, robotics, logistics, and sustainability.
- Automotive systems extends the control and signal processing courses with courses in vehicle dynamics and hybrid vehicles.
- Control and signal processing focuses on general methods for control, signal processing and optimization.
- Electric drives is focused on design of electric drive systems and power electronic converters with possible applications in hybrid vehicles.
- Mathematical system theory further focuses on general system oriented courses for modelling and analysis of dynamic systems.
- Mechatronics and embedded systems is focused on both the use and implementation of computers as embedded components for control of mechatronic systems.
- Mechatronics in mechanics further focuses on the analysis of mechancal systems and the use of electrical drives in mechatronic systems.
- Power systems is focused on power systems and power electronic equipment connected to the grid including technologies like HVDC power transmission.
- Process control is focused on control for chemical engineering applications with more courses process engineering.
Important: Applications for scholarships should be made along with the application for Master's studies. Students should not wait until they receive an admission to do so.
The Avancez Scholarships are 75% tuition fee waivers awarded by Chalmers University of Technology and are funded by the Chalmers Foundation. These scholarships are available to all students who are liable to pay tuition fees i.e., students with non-EU/EEA nationality.
The IPOET (International Programme Office for Education and Training) Scholarships are 75% tuition fee waivers funded by the Government of Sweden. They are awarded by Chalmers University of Technology and available to nearly all fee-paying students, with the exception of 12 countries.
The Mölnlycke Health Care Scholarships are 100% fee tuition waivers with possibilities for summer internships and a final master's thesis project.
The Sievert Larsson Scholarship Fund (within Friends of Chalmers) offers a 100% tuition fee waiver and living expenses to students of Thai nationality who aim to study on a Masters programme at Chalmers University of Technology.
The US Friends of Chalmers Scholarship is a scholarship comprising USD 35 000 (i.e. a reduction of the tuition fee by USD 8750 per semester) and is awarded to one student with US citizenship.
The Volvo Car Corporation Scholarships are 100% tuition fee waivers awarded to 2 Chinese students with the guarantee of participation in the VESC (Volvo Engineering Student Concept) programme which includes a summer job, master thesis project, mentorship and possible employment at Volvo Car Corporation.
The Volvo Group Scholarship Programme is a 100% fee tuition fee waiver awarded to students of Indian nationality and Chinese nationality. The Scholarship includes possibilities for internships during the summer, a final Master thesis project and mentorship.
Scholarships that will not be offered in 2014
The Chalmers MasterCard Scholarship (will be offered again in 2015) Available biennialy for a Master's student from Central America, South America or Mexico. The scholarship comprises a 280 000 SEK reduction of the tuition fee (70 000 SEK reduction/ semester).
The FlexLink Scholarship (not available in 2014) for a Master's Student from China is a 100% tuition fee waiver along with possibilities for internship and a final master thesis project.
Note: Being granted alternative funding from external patrons does not affect the possibility of obtaining scholarships from Chalmers as an applicants financial status is not taken into account during the nomination process.
Scholarships for current students
Adlerbert 60th Anniversary Scholarships - Will be offered for the first time during 2014 to fee paying Master's Programme students who were admitted Autumn 2013, including scholarship holders whose scholarships do not include costs of living coverage. This means that, for instance, holders of Swedish Institute scholarships and Sievert Larsson, version 2 scholarships will not be eligible to apply. In order to be eligible the applicant must have passed at least 60 credits during the first year of studies. The scholarships, which amount to 60 000 SEK each, will be awarded based on the applicants' cumulative grade point average . Around 10 to 20 scholarships will be offered in 2014. More information about how to apply, etc., will be published soon.
Adlerbert Foreign Student Hospitality Fund - Only open for international students who have been admitted to, and enrolled on, a Master's Programme at Chalmers. Thus, prospective students cannot apply. Students can be awarded the scholarship a maximum of two times. The application period opens in late January and closes in late February. Consequently, it is only possible to apply during this period of a student's first and second year.
Scholarships administered by the Swedish Institute
The Swedish Institute, a government agency, administers over 500 scholarships each year for students and researchers coming to Sweden to pursue their objectives at a Swedish university. Use their online guide in order to find out if any of the Swedish Institute scholarships are available for citizens of your country at your intended level of study.