Electrical Engineering (Electronics Design or Communication Engineering) University of Siegen

All courses are taught in English.

The Master's thesis can be written in German or English.

This Master's programme trains students with specific expertise in key areas of microelectronics design and communication systems including theoretical foundations, practical skills and knowledge about application areas in analogue and digital integrated circuits, semiconductor physics, photonics, embedded systems, digital communications and high-frequency engineering.

Students must select one of the two specialisations offered in English – Electronics Design and Technology (EDT) or Communication Engineering. EDT covers microsystems and integrated circuit design. In both themes, students will gain in-depth knowledge and can choose from a wide-ranging catalogue of modules. In addition, students acquire non-technical skills ranging from presentation techniques and team work to management and leadership skills.

Electronics Design and Technology Specialisation

This specialisation trains students in the design of micro and nano electronics devices and circuits. VLSI integrated circuits and photonic systems have revolutionised our lives with low cost, high performance and powerful computing and sensing devices becoming omnipresent, in form of hand-held computers like mobiles and laptops as well as high-end computing and AI systems. This course trains engineers in advanced design, build and test of electronic components required for these developments. They gain diverse experience ranging from cleanrooms fabricating nanoscale electronic devices and designing IC in state-of-the-art software to developing photonic systems. Sensory systems, including digital camera technology and machine learning / artificial intelligent systems, are key themes of research at Siegen, which is reflected in our teaching portfolio as well. Other application areas of electronics design taught at Siegen include automotive, mobile computing, biomedical electronics, robotics, quality control, film and television industries and computer games.

Communication Engineering Specialisation

Communication is vital to our interconnected world and our lives have come dependent on secure, sustained and rapid communication. This specialisation trains students in theoretical as well as practical skills for analysis and design of a diverse range of communication systems as well as components required to build them. Of particular interest are communication systems applied to sensorics, optical and digital communication. The telecommunication and mobile market have been growing at a rapid pace and our courses prepare our students in all aspects of electronic communication systems in place as well as those being researched for future.

In both specialisations, students benefit from the close collaboration between electrical engineering and computer science and a tight link to research projects conducted in both disciplines at the University of Siegen. The University of Siegen participates and leads research projects in AI/machine learning, digital imaging technology, healthcare, automotive, industrial control, avionics and home automation. Master's students are welcome to become involved in these projects (e.g. Master's thesis, student projects), and excellent students get the opportunity to pursue a PhD in one of these projects in Siegen.

30 April for the next winter semester

The Master's programme at the University of Siegen is taught through different types of modules. Core modules convey a broad spectrum of theoretical, practical, and technical topics in electrical engineering. These include practical skills such as capabilities in chip design and fabrication as well as future occupational areas. These also establish key qualifications that are required for team work in typical projects of the information technology industry.

Specialised elective modules convey profound scientific knowledge and can be chosen out of a comprehensive catalogue of modules. These modules build on top of the core modules and focus on expertise in an area that is typically the foundation for the student's projects and the Master's thesis.

This programme is structured as follows:

• Seven core modules (6 CP each)
• One fundamental module (9 CP)
• Five elective modules (6 CP each)
• Research modules: project work (9 CP), Master's thesis (30 CP)

For Electronics Design and Technology, the compulsory modules offered cover fundamental courses in microsystems design including the following:

• Semiconductor Electronics
• Semiconductor Electronics Design
• Analogue Integrated Circuits
• Digital IC Design
• Embedded Systems
• Optoelectronics
• Lightwave Technology
• Electromagnetic Field Theory

Students are also offered a number of elective courses by various chairs of the university, particularly its Electrical and Information Engineering department. These include the following areas:

• Nanotechnology
• Advanced Semiconductor and Microelectronics
• Advanced Analogue Circuits
• Radio Frequency IC Design
• Embedded Control
• Communication Engineering
• Microelectronic Sensors
• Microsystems Fabrication and Test
• Digital 2D/3D Image Sensors
• Photonic Devices

Similarly, the specialisation in Communication Engineering requires students to take a mix of compulsory and elective modules. The compulsory modules are offered in the following areas:

• Electromagnetic Field Theory
• Signals and Systems I and II
• Lightwave Technology
• Optoelectronics
• Data Communications Technology I
• High Frequency Engineering
• Practical Course Communications Technology

Students are also offered a number of elective courses in areas including:

• Computational Imaging
• Synthetic Aperture Radar
• Data Communication Technology II
• Communications and Information Security
• Compressive Sensing

Furthermore, students can select elective modules offered in other diverse disciplines including mechatronic systems, robotics, control theory, artificial intelligence, ubiquitous systems and real-time systems, distributed systems, deep learning, visual computing, computer architecture, nanotechnology and quantum technologies. Furthermore, with our advanced research base in sensorics and machine learning, opportunities to further develop in the area of artificial intelligence and deep learning combined with microelectronics and communication engineering are available.

No tuition fees

Students have to pay a semester contribution of approximately 320 EUR, which is due before the start of each semester, as part of (re-)registration. This fee covers the cost of a public transport ticket (valid for six months in all of Germany), a social services contribution, and student activities.

The city of Siegen has very moderate costs for accommodation, offering attractive living conditions for students. Living expenses range from only 800 EUR to 950 EUR per month, including rent, health insurance, food, clothing, learning materials, phone/Internet, travel expenses, entertainment, and sports. This estimated cost of living can vary depending on lifestyle, type of accommodation, budget, and spending habits.

It is important that students plan and manage their finances throughout the duration of the degree programme to ensure they have enough funds to cover semester contributions and living costs.

We expect our applicants to have a good Bachelor’s degree equivalent to University of Siegen's Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. This could be a degree in Electronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Communication/Telecommunication Engineering, Computer Science/Engineering, Instrumentation/Control Engineering, Engineering Physics or Mechatronics covering at least six semesters.

The equivalent Bachelor's degree must have taught skills in the following areas to the specified minimum credit points: mathematical foundations (20 CP), scientific basics (15 CP), basics of electrical engineering and measurement technology (20 CP), theoretical electrical engineering (field theory, signal and system theory – 10 CP) project work (including Bachelor's thesis – 10 CP).

For admission to “Communications Technology", students should have studied a minimum of 20 CP in their Bachelor's covering theory and practice in the fields of "Communications Engineering", "Optical Communications Engineering", "High Frequency Technology", "Electromagnetic Field Theory" and "Signal and Systems Theory".

Similarly, for "Electronics Design and Technology", they should have studied 20 CP worth of "semiconductor and circuit technology", "semiconductor physics", "power electronics" and "high-frequency technology" or equivalent courses.

We expect our applicants to have a good knowledge of English. Ideally, this should be validated by an English proficiency certificate. We expect a minimum of the following:

• TOEFL: 533 (paper-based), 200 (computer-based), 72 (Internet-based) (The TOEFL code number for the University of Siegen is 8429.)
• IELTS: 6
• In any case, the English language knowledge should meet the level B2 of CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Language)
• For exemptions, see our website.

30 April for the next winter semester

Students at the University of Siegen can apply for the “Deutschlandstipendium / Studienförderfonds”, which can cover part of the students' cost of living. Scholarships for doctoral students are available at the House of Young Talents of the University of Siegen.

Students can easily find part-time jobs with the help of the job placement service of the university. Siegen and the surrounding area are home to a large number of medium-sized industrial enterprises (SMEs), or so-called hidden champions in electrical and mechanical engineering. Some bigger examples include the companies SMS and Achenbach Buschhütten. A lot of smaller, yet very successful and quickly growing high-tech companies are located here as well, for instance, PMD Technologies and Asentics, which are spin-off companies of the university. As a result, employment opportunities are very good, especially for jobs during the semester breaks and after graduation.

There are student residences (dormitories) of the "Studierendenwerk" (student services) close to the university. The rent for a room is between 270 EUR and 450 EUR. Please be aware that German universities do not usually have campus systems like universities in some other countries where all students can find accommodation directly on the university property. Therefore, some students might have to find rooms on their own. The private accommodation costs per room are 400 EUR on average. Detailed information concerning general accommodation can be found here.

Early application/search is advisable.

The career services team helps with all questions regarding career entry and career planning. It offers information on occupational fields, helps with the career-related structuring of studies and provides direct support with individual coaching and consulting services when it comes to finding a good career start after graduation.

Furthermore, the programme "Forging International Talents - FIT in Siegen" specifically supports international students during their whole studies with a focus on preparation for the German job market. Additionally, the offers of the "Alumniverbund" provide a good opportunity to network and to benefit from the experiences of former students.

The university offers international students activities throughout the entire duration of their studies. Starting with Orientation Days and the placement of a buddy who provides support in the first semester, through various networking and personal development opportunities (e.g. the Student Living Room, such as sessions for well-being), to offers that prepare students specifically for the German job market and network them accordingly during their studies.