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University of Groningen
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University of Groningen

Mechanical Engineering

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Award Attendance Study Duration Start Domestic fees International fees
Master Degree On-Campus find out find out September €2530 per year €18700 per year

About Mechanical Engineering, Master Degree - at University of Groningen

Digital technology, Artificial Intelligence and data science are integral and essential parts of the 21st century mechanical engineering discipline. 21st century mechanical engineers must be versed in both the classical design and construction of complex mechanical systems, as well as the physical, mathematical and digital representation and analysis of these systems.

At the Faculty of Science and Engineering, we offer students a Masters degree programme in Mechanical Engineering that fits the needs of digital technology and digital society. The university is a unique place where engineering, natural sciences and social sciences meet to tackle urgent societal challenges. It prepares students for an international digital and high-tech career in industry. The close collaboration with the Innovation Cluster Drachten, a cluster of high-tech companies in the north Netherlands, offers students a unique opportunity to be part of research and development teams where innovative high-tech systems, products and solutions are developed using cutting edge technologies. Some exemplary Mechanical Engineering design projects are the development of hydrogen refueling tank systems at Resato B.V., of sensor systems for radio astronomical applications at ASTRON, of robotic and data analytic solutions for the production and quality monitoring of consumer products at Philips Drachten, of mechatronics and robotics solutions for medical lab equipment at BD Kiestra B.V., along with many others. The programme plays a central role in the European Digital Innovation Hub - Autonomous Systems, in the Offshore Wind Innovation Centre, in the smart and green mobility centre of Hive.Mobility as well as in a number of other engineering initiatives in renewable energies and in smart and circular economies. Mechanical Engineering in Groningen has a long-running tradition of top research. Exemplary research projects: nano- and microfabrication technology and advanced material at the Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials (ZIAM) ; 3D metal printer, smart micro sensor and actuator systems, the Ocean Grazer project, smart energy systems, collaborative multi-robotic systemsdigital twin and systems & control at the Engineering and Technology Institute Groningen (ENTEG) ; robotization in agriculture in the DigiAgro project DigiAgro project ; advanced instrumentation systems at the Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON) and the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute (KAI); and fuel-cell and hydrogen conversion at the Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen (ESRIG) and ENTEG. The mission of the master's degree programme in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Groningen is: To train and prepare students to apply principles of engineering, science and mathematics in the modelling, analysis, design and realization of physical systems, components and processes; special focus is on advanced instrumentation, smart factories, and smart and green energy savers. Main compulsory courses

  • Computational Solid Mechanics
  • Introduction to Data Science
  • Experimental Design Advanced instrumentation

With the track-specific compulsory courses on Basic Detection TechniquesAnalysis and Control of Smart Systems, and Advanced Instrumentation and Extreme Environments, you will learn the fundamental of detection technologies, gain knowledge on control systems that are crucial for high-precision of advanced instrumentation and understand state-of-the-art technologies in advanced instrumentation that can function under extreme environment, such as, cryogenic, ultra high vacuum or high temperature. Additionally, in the advanced instrumentation track, you have the opportunity to follow five elective courses out of more than twenty elective courses. Examples of electives in this track include Space Mission TechnologyBio-signal Processing for Human Machine InteractionAdvanced Detection TechniquesAdvanced Mechanical Dynamic MeasurementAdvanced VibrationApplied OpticsOpto-mechatronicsMedical Imaging Instrumentation, and many more.

Smart factories Through the track-specific compulsory courses on RoboticsAdvanced Processing for Complex Materials and Analysis and Control of Smart Systems, you will gain knowledge of crucial technology for smart factories in the era of Industry 4.0. You will learn the fundamentals of robotics and its control, understand techniques and methods relevant for processing of advanced and complex materials used in high-tech systems, and learn control systems required for the realization of smart factories.

Within this track, you will be able to specialize in Materials for Mechanical Engineering or in Robotics, Mechatronics and Smart Systems. In each specialization, you will be able to choose five elective courses from out of more than twenty elective courses. Examples of electives in this track include Multibody and Nonlinear DynamicsSmart Materials for EngineeringTinyML: Machine Learning for Embedded DevicesFracture of MaterialsComposites and MetamaterialsFitting Dynamical Models to DataData-driven Optimization and many more.

Smart and Green Energy Systems The track-specific compulsory courses on Thermodynamics of Energy ConversionElectrochemical Systems and Engineering, and Advanced Process and Energy Technologies allow the students to understand the fundamentals of thermodynamics involved in the energy conversion of smart and green energy systems, to learn various advances in electrochemical engineering involved in batteries, electrolysers and fuel cells, and to gain state-of-the-art knowledge of process and energy technologies. You will be able to choose five elective courses out of more than fifteen elective courses which allows you to specialize in processes and electrochemical systems or in renewable energy systems. Examples of electives in this track include MicrofluidicsHydrogen, Fuels and ElectrolysersFuel-Cell SystemsEngineering Design Integration, Capita Selecta in Ocean Energy, and many more.


Entry requirements

Contact University of Groningen to find course entry requirements.


Why study at University of Groningen

  • Top 100 university
  • 180+ highly-ranked Bachelor’s and Master's degree programmes offered across 11 faculties
  • Excellent PhD-programmes offered across 10 graduate schools
  • Groundbreaking research
  • Over 400 years of reputation
  • Vibrant student city
  • Global community of 120+ nationalities