Microelectronic Systems Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

FH Westküste

Courses are held in English. German is not required to apply for this programme.

Students can choose individually whether they want to write their examinations and the Master's thesis in English or German.

Microelectronic technology is at the heart of any modern technology and innovation. As a scientific discipline, it encompasses the design, production, testing and application of microelectronic circuits, components and related embedded software. Microelectronics is the term for the subfield of electrical engineering which concerns itself with the incorporation of large numbers of components into what are known as integrated circuits (ICs). Integrated microelectronic systems can be found in a wide range of products from the automotive industry, to traffic engineering, production technology and telecommunications solutions.

The Master's programme is made up of two semesters of theory and practice with the following modules:

Winter semester:

• System on Chip
• Embedded Signal Processing
• Smart Sensor Systems
• Sustainable Research Project 1
• General Elective Module 1

Summer semester:

• Microtechnology
• Chip Design
• Machine Learning on Embedded Devices
• High-Speed Digital Design
• Sustainable Research Project 2
• General Elective Module 2

Students complete their Master's thesis during the third semester.

The course is run in cooperation with FH Westküste in Heide in Schleswig-Holstein. The synergies that emerge from the combination of the core competencies of the two institutions give students an outstanding, real-world-centred higher education and opportunities to make use of the institutions‘ networks of contacts with businesses and other higher education institutions inside and outside Germany. Upon successful completion of the programme, a joint degree certificate is awarded by both universities.

NOTE: Applicants whose Bachelor’s degree is equivalent to 180 credit points are required to attain a further 30 credit points within the first two semesters on the course in order to enrol fully. If this applies to you and your application is successful, your studies will generally take one semester longer.

For an application at HAW Hamburg (winter semester only):
Application period: 1 June to 15 July (programme start: October)

Please have your school and Bachelor's certificates checked first by uni-assist (www.uni-assist.de) to get a VPD ("Vorprüfungsdokumentation") well in advance BEFORE applying to HAW Hamburg.

With your VPD,  please apply using the myHAW online application system on the HAW Hamburg website.

You do not need to send your documents with the postal mail to complete your application.

If you have questions about the application process, please e-mail the admissions office: studierendensekretariat@haw-hamburg.de

The application deadlines and requirements for a programme start in March at FHW Heide can be found on their DAAD GATE database profile.

The first two semesters are made up of lectures in small groups and lab work. The students will complete two individual projects on various elective topics and present them at a small conference at the end of the semester.

The Master's thesis is written in the third semester; in most cases in industry, with electrical engineering and microelectronics-related companies.

Each semester is awarded a total of 30 credit points. This course is taught in person only. There isn't an option to study online.

To see course content and module descriptions, please click on the PDF link below.

PDF Download

The programme does not include an integrated internship, but most students complete their Master's theses in industry.

No tuition fees

Each semester, students have to pay a semester contribution (379 EUR as of September 2025). This fee includes a semester ticket for unlimited use of Hamburg's public transport system (and currently also for regional trains). For more information about studying and living in Hamburg, see: https://www.haw-hamburg.de/en/international/international-students/.

Hamburg is a relatively expensive city. Depending on your lifestyle, you should expect living costs of 700 to 900 EUR for rent, food, and other expenses.

• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in electrical and information engineering, electronics, computer engineering, mechatronics or in a comparable subject with at least 210 credit points. In degree programmes similar to those mentioned above, at least 150 CP must be allocated to the field of information and communication technology and/or electronics and/or information and electrical engineering.

• Proof of English language ability (if English is not your first language) – see the language requirements

NOTE: Applicants whose Bachelor’s degree is equivalent to 180 credit points are required to attain a further 30 credit points within the first two semesters on the course in order to enrol fully. If this applies to you and your application is successful, your studies will generally take one semester longer.

• Proof of professional experience in the field is appreciated and will lead to more points in the ranking of applicants. Proof of professional experience should be documented in the application by a CV and reference letters from employers.

Uni-assist (VPD) (www.uni-assist.de): Students who completed their school education outside Germany must have their high school and Bachelor's certificates checked by uni-assist and receive a VPD BEFORE applying to the HAW Hamburg. The VPD from uni-assist must be uploaded as part of the application process at HAW Hamburg. Please be advised that the uni-assist VPD process can take six to eight weeks, so please apply early.

For more information about academic requirements, see: https://www.haw-hamburg.de/en/master-microelectronic-systems/.

You are required to provide proof of proficiency in English at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference.

For an application at HAW Hamburg (winter semester only):
Application period: 1 June to 15 July (programme start: October)

Please have your school and Bachelor's certificates checked first by uni-assist (www.uni-assist.de) to get a VPD ("Vorprüfungsdokumentation") well in advance BEFORE applying to HAW Hamburg.

With your VPD,  please apply using the myHAW online application system on the HAW Hamburg website.

You do not need to send your documents with the postal mail to complete your application.

If you have questions about the application process, please e-mail the admissions office: studierendensekretariat@haw-hamburg.de

The application deadlines and requirements for a programme start in March at FHW Heide can be found on their DAAD GATE database profile.

No

If you are coming to Germany on a visa, you will have to provide proof of your finances for the first year: 853 EUR per month to 10,236 EUR per year.

EU students can work 20 hours per week.

Students from non-EU countries are permitted to work 140 full days (280 half days) in one calendar year. Please be advised that part-time job opportunities are limited, especially for students who do not speak German. It is unlikely that we will be able to offer you a job on campus. Therefore, please make sure you have sufficient finances for your studies.

More information can be found here, under "Visa & Paperwork":
https://www.haw-hamburg.de/en/international/international-students/

"Studierendenwerk Hamburg" offers affordable accommodation for students under the age of 30. Generally, students have their own room in a shared apartment with a communal bathroom and kitchen. The monthly rent for a room in a student hall of residence is usually between 350 and 450 EUR (including amenities). New students can apply three months before the start of their degree programme.

Please be advised that it is unfortunately not easy to find accommodation in Hamburg; finding somewhere to live can take a while. The student halls of residences offered by the "Studierendenwerk Hamburg" often have long waiting lists.

Further information on accommodation can be found here: https://www.haw-hamburg.de/en/study/campus-life/accommodation/.

Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg) is one of the largest of its kind in Germany and within our nine faculties we offer a wide range of Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in engineering, IT, life sciences, design and media as well as business and social sciences.

We focus on applied sciences in our teaching, giving our students a practical insight into their fields of study through projects, lab work, internships and theses in industry. Our expertise is drawn from faculty members who have worked in industry before joining the university. In research, we are an important partner for the city of Hamburg’s companies and innovation clusters, developing new ideas from the synergies of this dynamic location.

Our fields of expertise reflect the technologies, industries and services that make Germany a leading economy, and our close collaboration with Hamburg's innovation clusters allows us to develop this knowledge in our teaching and research.

We are a very international university, with students from over 100 countries making up 16% of our students. Combined with the international nature of the city of Hamburg, you will feel very comfortable studying here.

Read more about the city and what our students say: https://bit.ly/3bq2rI3.

In the north of Germany and in the heart of Europe, Germany’s second largest city (1.8 million) offers excellent quality of life and international flair. If you like to spend your leisure time outdoors, then you will love Europe’s “greenest” city with its lake, canals and beautiful parks. For those of you who love culture, Hamburg’s museums, theatres and its world-famous concert hall, the Elbphilharmonie, will inspire you.

Hamburg is also one of the most dynamic commercial centres in Europe, placing its strategic focus on six innovative segments: aviation (Airbus), IT and media, the international port and logistics, life sciences (biotechnology, medical technology and health care), nanotechnology, and renewable energies. We are sure you will feel at home.