Engineering Cybernetics

An industrial internship of at least twelve weeks in total is a compulsory part of the Master's degree program. 

More detailed information can be found in the internship guidelines. 

If you have any further questions, please contact the Internship Office for Engineering Cybernetics: write an email

The module handbook and the study program curriculum describe the individual modules with the associated courses, content and examinations.

The lecture Concepts of Automatic Control forms the foundation for several advanced courses and should be taken at the beginning of the program.  

The M.Sc. Engineering Cybernetics study program focuses on system theory and dynamics, control engineering, and mathematics. This is also reflected in the two compulsory modules in the curriculum. In the module Concepts of Automatic Control, students learn advanced control engineering concepts and modern controller design methods, as well as mathematical foundations. In the module Dynamics of Distributed Parameter Systems, students gain knowledge in system dynamics for more general classes of systems than those that are usually covered in the Bachelor studies. 

The focus areas of system theory, system dynamics, and control engineering are further addressed in the Advanced Control and System Analysis and Modeling modules. In these modules, students can choose from a wide range of specialized lectures that are closely related to current research. In addition to the above-mentioned focus areas, System Analysis and Modeling also covers a central field for the application of the acquired methods. 

We only list English-taught courses here. The full offer including German-taught courses can be found on C@MPUS.

The specialization "Autonomous Systems and Control" is intended as a methodologically oriented specialization that provides advanced knowledge in the area of control and systems theory, one of the core disciplines of Engineering Cybernetics.

Within this specialization, students may freely select the required ECTS credits from all of the listed modules, provided that the selection is made in consultation with the specialization coordinator. It is recommended that students take the module from "Nonlinear Control," "Optimal Control," or "Robust Control" that they did not complete as part of the "Advanced Control" area, in order to broaden and complete their advanced knowledge of control engineering. However, this is not mandatory. The remaining control-related modules provide advanced knowledge in specific, modern subfields in control. Please note that both the choice of specialization and the modules selected within the specialization must be approved in the study plan before taking the first examination in the specialization.

The specialization area Engineering Dynamics focuses on the analysis, modeling, simulation, and optimization of mechanical and mechatronic systems. Building on the methods of multibody dynamics, the specialization covers advanced methods from the fields of elastodynamics, mechatronics, system dynamics, and numerical methods with applications such as machine and vehicle dynamics, robotics, and contact mechanics. The elective lectures in English language place special emphasis on optimization of mechanical systems, simulation of particles and mesh-free computation methods, experimental modal analysis, and uncertainty quantification.

The specialization Flight Guidance and System Technology offers a comprehensive curriculum covering flight path planning, control, and aircraft system architecture. The theoretical foundations of aerospace systems begin with a system description concerning structure, functionality, and data flows. Methodological basics include specific development processes and platform-based design. Safety-critical systems require safety analysis based on formal probabilistic methods, with examples drawn from transport aircraft, military aircraft, and helicopters. System diversity ranges from central management modules to auxiliary systems such as cabin-pressure control. Many core aerospace systems perform flight guidance functions, e.g., avionics, navigation, and display systems. Flight guidance spans the whole spectrum from air traffic management to flight planning, flight control, and autopilot design for an individual aircraft. Guidance methods for unmanned aerial vehicles constitute special flight-guidance techniques. Non-linear optimisation and optimal control are methodological foundations for planning trajectories in future flight-management systems. Compliance with position and attitude requirements set by flight guidance is the task of flight control, encompassing both traditional autopilots and modern control-theoretic design methods for future autonomous, unmanned aircraft. The Aerobotics seminar gives students the opportunity to design and implement their own autopilot module for an unmanned model aircraft and subsequently test it in reality. A distinctive feature of the specialization is the practical implementation of these methods on real hardware, e.g., applying trajectory planning and flight control to suitable model aircraft.

In the Nonlinear Mechanics specialization, students are introduced to a mathematically rigorous description of mechanics. The lectures convey new mathematical concepts that have been jointly developed in the fields of mechanics and mathematics. In this way, a solid theoretical foundation is established that is essential for both fundamental research in mechanics and application oriented research in fields such as robotics, vibration engineering, and structural mechanics. The specialization enables students to advance their expertise in mechanics at the highest level across three dimensions: theoretical understanding, numerical methods, and experimental work. Graduates will be well prepared for careers in cutting edge research and innovative engineering applications where advanced mechanical knowledge is paramount.

The specialization area Robotics (non-industrial) is the ideal choice for anyone whose vision of robotics is more than just orange robotic arms on factory floors. Spanning a wide range of modern robotic systems, from soft-material robots to mobile platforms and bio-inspired walking machines, the specialization offers a broad, forward-looking perspective on robotics.  Taught entirely in English, the lectures equip students with essential methodological foundations while offering deep insights into cutting-edge technologies and emerging applications. The curriculum is closely aligned with the current state of research and prepares students to shape the future of robotics.

Systems Biology is an interdisciplinary and rapidly evolving research field with applications in medicine, biotechnology, and synthetic biology. By combining experimental approaches with mathematical modeling and computational analysis, Systems Biology aims to achieve a comprehensive understanding of biological systems. Such insights provide the basis for a wide range of applications, including the development of personalized therapies and the optimization of biotechnological processes.

The specialization Systems Biology can be chosen as a minor specialization. It includes the compulsory 6 ECTS module Stochastic Modeling of Biological Systems, consisting of lectures and exercise sessions. The module introduces modeling approaches for intracellular processes such as signal transduction, gene regulation, and metabolic networks, with a particular focus on stochastic models. Students learn how to develop, implement, and analyze these models using mathematical and computational methods.

Alternatively, the module can be taken as a 12 ECTS version that includes an additional computer laboratory course. The specialization can also be complemented by elective modules from related fields, such as Biology by the Numbers or Metabolic Engineering.

Transport systems enabling efficient transport processes are a fundamental prerequisite for a modern society. The mobility requirements of individuals and the economy place high demands on transport infrastructure and on traffic control systems designed to manage traffic flow. Modern transport systems are intended to move people from one place to another quickly, reliably, energy-efficiently, safely and comfortably, whilst minimising the environmental impact caused by noise and pollutant emissions. The specialisation in Transport Systems covers models and methods for the design and operation of entire transport networks and specific transport facilities for road and rail transport.