What is 'Mechatronics'?

Mechatronics is an interdisciplinary field in which engineering and natural sciences come together to conceive and produce intelligent, modern and, increasingly miniaturized components, machines and apparatus. Mechanics, optics, electronics, IT and other fields find their use in this discipline to create products of complex intelligence. These products are the result of skilled use of electronic circuits, software and precision engineering to produce never before seen technical solutions.

Further Information regarding registration and the required documents may be had from the Enrollment Office:

Hochschule München

Bereich Immatrikulation und Beratung

Lothstr. 34, 80335 München

Telephone: 089/1265-5000

E-Mail

Internet: Application

The seven semester course of study in Mechatronics has the objective of developing future engineers of mechatronics, optics and medical technology with the ability to work independently in the professional fields of development, research, construction, production, markenting and sales. This objective is achieved through a solid basis in both the professional skills of engineering and rigorous training in the natural sciences.

Among the qualifications acquired through this program are:

• A rigorous and thorough grounding in the natural sciences and the field of engineering.
• The ability to conceive, project, construct and mass produce mechatronic and precision engineered products.
• The competence to create models and simulations as well as to apply measurement and control technologies to the analysis of complex mechanical, electronic and optical systems and components and to optimize these systems.
• Graduates of the disciplines of Apparatus Engineering leave the university with a broad and deep knowledge of mechatronics, precision engineering, laser technologies and micro mechanical products and production processes. These competences are the basis for responsibilities in the fields of development, research, construction, production, marketing, sales and service. Our graduates have the interdisciplinary background to manage complex projects required knowledge and skills from across many disciplines.
• Graduates of the disciplines of Medical Engineering leave the university with a profound knowledge of the biology of humans and the interdisciplinary knowledge to command the interface between human and technical apparatus. This skill set is the ideal basis for careers in the areas of conceptions, projection, development, marketing and service of medical technical applications.
• Future engineers acquire the ability to work independently as well as the competence to work within teams through interdisciplinary and engineering specific seminars and courses.
• English language lecturers within the course of study from within the various disciplines prepare future graduates for work on a global level as well as the knowledge to continue to learn through English language professional literature.

The objective of the program is to prepare every student through broadly based and deep instruction in the academic and application specific skill sets of their chosen engineering profession. The carefully balanced combination of theory and practical application, the fundamentals and specialized instruction, professional competencies and interdisciplinary studies provide an excellent basis for beginning a career in the demanding fields of apparatus engineering and medical engineering. These two fields of study provide future engineers with a differentiated and specialized course of study upon which to build their professional careers. The focus of the course of study is to produce responsible engineers who work within society and the environment to create a future which reflects the processes of work and the needs of humanity. Successful completion of the course of study of Mechatronics / Precisions Engineering opens a wide field of interesting opportunities for graduates. The enormous expansion of mechatronics products into the global markets means there will be an ever increasing need for such engineering competencies in the future.

The course of study is a seven semester course of study (full time). The program includes six semesters of theory and one internship semester.

The courses are a well balanced collection of lectures, exercises, laboratory work and projects and seminars which students select. All courses are arranged as modules, there are examinations for each course. Advancement through the rigorous course of study is determined by rigid academic criteria to ensure that the student has acquired the necessary fundamentals.

The course of study is fulfills the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) criteria with a total of an accepted 210 credit points, approximately 30 CP per semester. Details may be found in the Course Catalog

German Language Requirement Note:

Most lecturers are held in the German language. Competency in spoken and written German sufficient as to succesfully complete the Bachelor or Master Courses of Study is required.

Course of Study

The academic concentration in the first two semesters is on the fundamentals of mathematics and the natural sciences as well as the basics of the engineering sciences in the fields of mechanics, electromechanics, optical engineering and materials engineering. This rigorous course of study lays a firm foundation upon which the further courses of study find their anchor. The general sciences module focuses on the additional interdisciplinary professional qualifications which students need to acquire.

The third and fourth semesters begin with a concentration on further basics of mathematics and the natural sciences. The third and fourth semesters begin with the acquisition of additional knowledge of mathematics and natural science and finish with an introduction to mechatronics.

During the fourth semester, the student decides which of the two concentrations, Apparatus Engineering or Medical Engineering better suit his or her abilities. At this point, an extensive and rigorous academic training in the chosen concentration begins. The necessary qualifications for an appropriate internship in a suitable enterprise are also chosen at this time.

The fifth semester focus on the further acquisition of knowledge in either apparatus or medical engineering. Additional elective and required elective courses in engineering and interdisciplinary work permits the student to concentrate on those areas of most interest to him or her. At the end of these semesters, the student has acquired competence both within their chosen discipline as well as in the important fields of knowledge which lead to a well-rounded professional. Both concentrations require an interdisciplinary project in which students demonstrate the grasp of both concrete, practical knowledge and demonstrate that they are ready to write their Bachelor's thesis.

The sixth semester is an internship semester. During this semester, the student works in an enterprise or institution from within the sectors of mechatronics, precision engineering, medical engineering, machine engineering , automotive, device engineering or specialty device engineering. This internship is not a 'go get the coffee and donuts' semester. Rather, very high demands are placed upon the student accepted into these internships to guarantee a full industrial practical semester. This internship provides the student with a clear picture of their future professional field of work as well as being an opportunity to expand and deepen the acquired theoretical knowledge through practical experience. The industrial internship (24 four-day weeks) is accompanied and enhanced by required academic courses on Fridays (professional practice seminars, economic and business basics) at the university.

Alternatively: A concentrated internship (19 five-day weeks) in an enterprise followed by a concentrated block of academic instruction at the university is possible when necessary for the success of a foreign internship. A foreign internship is seen as an important contribution towards mastery of both other languages as well as intercultural competence and is strongly supported by the university.

The seventh semester focus on additional elective courses and the Bachelor's thesis.

Further Academic Courses of Study

After successful completion of one of these courses of study, a students may choose to deepen their knowledge within their field instead of beginning their professional career. If the academic work was of sufficient quality, the university is pleased to offer a consecutive Master's Course of Study in Mechatronics/Precision Engineering, In only 18 months, the academic title of Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) can be acquired. This graduate course of study provides students with a deeper base of engineering knowledge upon which to build their careers. This department and the Munich University of Applied Sciences offer many graduate courses of study which may be open to successful graduates.

The doors to your chosen career are open!

The major in apparatus engineering teaches the academic and production skills needed to achieve competence in the design of mechatronic/precision engineered products (components, apparatus, systems). This major focus on the conception, development, testing and analysis of these products. The results of these complex construction processes are new products based upon mechanical, electronic, optical, IT and other product components. The interdependence of these technologies is mastered through simulation technologies.

Technical applications in this field which are already providing industry with outstanding performance include such achievements as the application and control of path-time based motion. Use of measurement and control technologies, opto-electronic sensors, the transfer and networking of files are all areas in which this field has broken new ground in industrial technologies.

Graduates are well prepared to assume responsible roles in the development, research, construction, production, marketing and service of these products. Students leave the program with the management skills and knowledge to lead interdisciplinary programs.

This picture shows an example of a mechatronic product (Wireless, battery free switch, Firm: EnOcean) which was made possible through various steps involved in apparatus engineering.

These career fields are open to graduates of this course of study:

• Development, design, assembly and testing of apparatus for the fields of metronics, control and measurement engineering, optics, electronics, opto-electronics, photonics, laser technology and medical technology.
• Results based development and design of functional, assembly and cost-effective apparatus and systems.
• Conception and assembly of micro systems and apparatus in the technological fields of communication and IT.
• Development and application of modern technologies to realize never before thought of products,
• Projection, consultation, marketing, training.

The major in medical engineering teaches the academic and production skills needed to achieve competence in the projection, conception, testing, use and control of technical products in the field of medicine (components, apparatus, systems) The major in medical engineering is based upon the application of mechatronics to medicine.

Within this course of study, the student is taught the necessary medical skills within the context of the fields of medical optics, medical IT, medical projection, etc. The enormously important aspects of quality control and safety engineering in medical products are granted considerable attention.

This is a picture of a medical product (surgical apparatus for minimal invasive surgery). The production of such apparatus requires both the well grounded knowledge of apparatus engineering as well as the specialized knowledge of medical engineering.

These career fields are open to graduates of this course of study:

• Development, testing and set-up of medical engineering based systems such as instruments for minimal invasive surgery, X-ray apparatus, cardiac pace-makers, hearing aids and systems for medical scan processing.
• Product management, consultation, marketing, technical purchasing,
• Service of diagnostic and therapy systems,
• Quality control, including adherence to legal guidelines,
• Development and testing of medical engineering safety guidelines,
• Integration of medical and engineering standpoints into the conception, application and choice of medical engineering apparatus.