What is everyday working life like for a Bachelor of Systems Engineering FH? What do systems engineers FH do?

The job title of graduates of the Bachelor of Systems Engineering UAS is "Systems Engineer UAS". They work at the interfaces of mechanics, electrical engineering, electronics and IT in areas such as automation, robotics and mechatronics and develop networked industrial systems for products, devices or entire systems. Their field of activity includes, for example, the development of mobile robots for automatic disinfection in hospitals, the development of a production line for a brewery or the development of glasses with IT data feed for building technology analyses.

For their innovations, they combine existing components and assemblies with control systems or develop their own assemblies, control systems and components. In doing so, they take into account the needs of their customers, operational structures and entrepreneurial, legal and ecological aspects. In addition to the development, planning and implementation of solutions, their work also includes the maintenance and optimization of systems and quality assurance. They often take on the management of entire projects and interdisciplinary teams. In addition, they must always keep abreast of technological developments, familiarize themselves with new technologies and be able to apply their knowledge in a new environment.

Target group - who is the University of Applied Sciences Bachelor's degree program in Systems Engineering suitable for?

The Bachelor's degree program in Systems Engineering (FH) is aimed at young people

• with good mathematical and scientific skills and a keen interest in combining mechanics, electrics, electronics and IT
• especially for "inventive minds" who are passionate about tinkering with new solutions and want to implement their engineering ideas, test them in practice and develop them further, thus contributing to further technological development
• who would like to take on leadership roles in interdisciplinary teams and projects in industry and research
• who are prepared to keep up to date with technological, materials science and other relevant developments as future systems engineers.

Requirements for admission to the Bachelor's degree program FH in Systems Engineering

For admission to the UAS Bachelor's degree program in Systems Engineering, you must have one of the followingPrerequisitesfulfill:

• EFZ in a field related to the field of study and technical vocational baccalaureate
• High school diploma or EFZ in another field and at least 1 year of professional experience in a field related to the field of study
• High school diploma and internship contract with a company in the field of systems engineering (for practice-integrated Bachelor's degree program at ZHAW)
• EFZ in a field related to the field of study with professional experience after completion of apprenticeship and admission procedure (e.g. preparatory course with entrance examination)

You can obtain information on the basic vocational courses that are considered "related fields" directly from the individual universities of applied sciences. You will also receive answers to individual questions there.

Topersonal characteristics and abilitiesyou need for this course:

• Strong technical interest
• Good math skills
• good comprehension skills
• logical and abstract thinking
• Creativity in the search for new solutions
• Good language skills (German and English)
• Enjoy interdisciplinary collaboration
• Good communication skills

Subject matter and content of the course

The Bachelor's degree course in Systems Engineering consists of a foundation course and a specialization course in a chosen field. Students also work on projects and attend a selection of contextual and free additional modules.

Subjects in the foundation courseare roughly: Mathematics, physics, mechanics, mechatronics, systems engineering, materials/chemistry, computer science, electrical engineering, languages (German, English, partly French), communication, business administration

PossibleSpecializationsare (as of spring 2021)

• Computational EngineeringStudy focus: Data Engineering, Computational Physics, Cloud Computing, Design of Experiments, Machine Learning, Digital Product Design.
• Design and materialsStudy focus: Materials, mechanics, construction, design, energy systems, hydraulics.
• Electronics:Study focus: Analog technology, digital technology, measurement technology, signal transmission, signal processing, control technology.
• Industrial automation technologyStudy focus: Measurement and control engineering, automation engineering and robotics, Industry 4.0.
• Infotronics:Study focus: Information Systems, Electronics, Computer Science, Embedded Systems, Distributed Systems, Real-Time Programming.
• Engineering informatics:Study focus: Software development, programming, cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), IT security.
• Mechanical engineering:Study focus: Mechanics, mechatronics, design, product development, simulation, materials engineering.
• Medical technology:They work at the interface between medicine and technology and develop complex systems engineering solutions using mechanical, electronic, optical and IT components, e.g. surgical robots as well as procedures and devices for imaging therapies and analyses.
• Microtechnology:Study focus: Materials technology, actuator technology, sensor technology, coating technology, packaging, miniaturized technical systems.
• Photonics:Study focus: Optics, electronics, lighting technology, laser technology, optical metrology, image processing, sensor technology, optical coatings.
• Power and controlStudy focus: Information systems, electronics, industrial electronics, mechatronics, drive systems, energy systems.
• Robotics and mechatronicsWith a sound knowledge of systems engineering and its scientific foundations, you will develop solutions in the field of robotics, control engineering and automation technology, e.g. for medical innovations or in vehicle and aircraft construction.

Costs of the study program

The total training costs depend on the duration of the course (6 semesters for full-time students and 8 semesters for part-time students) and the university of applied sciences:

• Tuition fees for students resident in Switzerland are subsidized by the state and amount to CHF 700-1,000 per semester, depending on the university of applied sciences; tuition fees for students from EU/EFTA countries are not subsidized and are therefore a few hundred francs higher per semester.
• Depending on the university of applied sciences, additional costs may be incurred for enrollment (up to CHF 200), course materials (up to CHF 550) and final thesis (up to CHF 300).

Duration of study, number of lessons and learning effort

The Bachelor's degree program FH in Systems Engineering can be completed indifferent temporal modelsbe completed:

• Full-time study, 6 semesters (full-time, Monday-Friday)
• Part-time or part-time study, 8 semesters, lessons on 2-3 days or approx. 5 half-days/evenings per week

There are also 8-semester courses for holders of a baccalaureate from the Gymnasium.Practice-integrated full-time study programsin which 2 semesters are completed as an internship in a company.

In the case of part-time study programs, a training-relatedProfessional activityof 40 to a maximum of 60% is recommended.

The Bachelor's degree requires 180 ECTS points, which corresponds toStudy effortof around 4,500-5,400 learning and working hours.

Degree, diploma and title

What achievements are required for the Bachelor's degree?

Course-related performance assessment

The course has a modular structure and each module is completed individually. Students also work on practical projects throughout the course. This means that examinations and assessments are spread over the entire course.

Bachelor thesis

Towards the end of their studies (usually in the last semester), students write a Bachelor's thesis in which they address a current systems engineering issue from the practice of their specialization. With this thesis, they demonstrate what they have learned during their studies and that they are able to apply this knowledge to an independent research project. They often work on the project in cooperation with a business partner.

Depending on the UAS and specialization, the Bachelor's thesis is written in individual or group work and supervised by a lecturer.

Diploma and title

Successful graduates of the Bachelor's degree course receive a federal diploma and may use the following recognized and protected title: Bachelor of Science (abbreviation of the UAS) in Systems Engineering with specialization in (specialization area).