Systems Engineering in Manufacturing (SEM) Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg

Courses are held in English only.

The objective of the Master's programme in System Engineering in Manufacturing is to provide a broad yet detailed perspective and critical view on the interdisciplinary scientific fields relevant for engineering and the use of production systems. It provides knowledge and skills for the cross-site development of new production systems while keeping in mind the products to be manufactured as well as the lifecycle management of production systems.

The Master's programme provides the methodical basis for engineering production systems. It provides expertise for the control of production systems. It also enables the identification and meaningful application of dependencies between different parts and/or aspects of production systems.

Application deadline for

• applicants with a German Bachelor's degree is 15 September
• applicants with an international Bachelor's degree is 15 June

for the following winter semester.

The Master's programme consists of compulsory modules, compulsory elective modules ("Wahlpflichtfächer"), an internship and the Master's thesis.

Within the first two semesters, lectures are related to the following scientific fields:

• mechanics
• digital systems
• automation
• logistics
• material sciences
• manufacturing technology
• information sciences
• methodological crossing areas like systems engineering and mechatronics

These lectures will cover the main fields of product and production systems and show their dependencies and interactions. 

In the third semester, the internship will enable the students to gain practical experience.

In the fourth and final semester, the completion of a Master's thesis further deepens each student's expertise in a topic of choice and demonstrates that the student is qualified to work on academic topics independently.

In the third semester, students complete an internship in an industrial company or in a research institute.

No tuition fees

Currently, the semester fee is 278.90 EUR. It covers services offered by the "Studentenwerk" (student union) and the student representatives. Enrolled students receive the "Deutschlandsemesterticket" for free use of public transport throughout Germany, along with student discounts in the campus cafeteria and more.

A minimum of 992 EUR per month must be budgeted for accommodation, cost of living, health insurance, books, and miscellaneous expenses. In comparison with many other towns and cities, the rental prices in Magdeburg are still relatively low. There are no tuition fees for the majority of programmes, and the semester fee already includes the cost of bus and tram travel within Magdeburg. The following link provides a fair picture of the cost of living in Magdeburg: Finance.

Applicants must have obtained a Bachelor's degree (180 credit points) in engineering or a closely related field.

The Bachelor's degree has to include the following:

• at least 25 CP (credit points) in natural sciences and informatics (including at least 10 CP in mathematics, at least 5 CP in physics, and at least 5 CP in information sciences)
• at least 10 CP in design
• at least 10 CP in engineering mechanics
• at least 20 CP in engineering sciences (including at least 5 CP in manufacturing technologies, at least 5 CP in material sciences)
• at least 10 CP in economics

Adequate English language skills must be demonstrated through one of the following:

• TOEFL test (Internet-based 108)
• IELTS (minimum score: 7.0)
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) with at least C1
• Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) with at least Grade C
• UNIcert III

Application deadline for

• applicants with a German Bachelor's degree is 15 September
• applicants with an international Bachelor's degree is 15 June

for the following winter semester.

The university provides a limited number of excellence scholarships. Eligible candidates are students in advanced semesters who clearly show above-average results. Scholarships cannot be provided for new students. 

Additionally, you may check the following overview:
Scholarships and funding opportunities for international students.

It is possible to find a part-time job as a research or student assistant at one of the faculties or in the university administration (maximum: 80 hours per month). Other opportunities are student jobs at different companies, restaurants, and shops. Information on how to find a job can be found on our website: Career Service.

The "Studentenwerk" (student union) in Magdeburg manages the on-campus halls of residence (mostly one- to four-room apartments). Currently, the monthly rent ranges from 174 EUR to 421 EUR per room (approx. 12 to 35 square meters), depending on the size and furnishing. Rooms in the halls of residence are limited in number. The accommodation application can be found on the website of the Studentenwerk.
The Studentenwerk assists all new students in finding adequate accommodation, either on or off campus. Private accommodation is available on the Magdeburg accommodation market. However, fully furnished units are in somewhat short supply.

Advisory service for international students is provided by our International Office: https://www.ovgu.de/international.html