# Degree structure
**Source**: https://www.tue.nl/en/education/graduate-school/master-automotive-technology/degree-structure
**Parent**: https://www.tue.nl/en/education/graduate-school/master-automotive-technology
- [Menu](#sideMenu--accordion-70242)
- [Master Automotive Technology](https://www.tue.nl/en/education/graduate-school/master-automotive-technology)
- [Degree structure](https://www.tue.nl/en/education/graduate-school/master-automotive-technology/degree-structure)
- [Admission and enrollment](https://www.tue.nl/en/education/graduate-school/master-automotive-technology/admission-and-enrollment-3)
- [Study in Numbers](https://www.tue.nl/en/education/graduate-school/master-automotive-technology/study-in-numbers)
- [After graduation](https://www.tue.nl/en/education/graduate-school/master-automotive-technology/after-graduation)
- [International students](https://www.tue.nl/en/education/become-a-tue-student)
The Master’s program in Automotive Technology at TU/e offers you the freedom to specialize while building a strong foundation in vehicle systems from a **multidisciplinary perspective**. This two-year program involves specialists from five different departments to prepare you for complex challenges in modern mobility. Organized into **two main themes,**Smart Mobility and Sustainable Mobility,the program promotes **a systems engineering approach**, ensuring you understand how technologies interact within the entire vehicle ecosystem. Before you start, you’ll select your specialization (research group) and be paired with a mentor to guide your journey and help design a curriculum that matches your ambitions.
The research groups are presented in the [slider](#c261381) below.
## Program
After selecting your specialization together with your mentor, you compile your own program. In the first year, you take core, specialization and elective courses. In the second year you do an internship and work on your graduation project. Once again, you choose your own path; the mentor provides the program-related guidance in complex decisions such as choosing specialization courses, finding an internship and orientation in selecting a possible graduation topic.
You can find a full overview of the curriculum and course descriptions [below](#c420310).
| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Year 1 | Core program | 30 ECTS |
| | Specialization courses | 15 ECTS |
| | Electives/Homologation | 15 ECTS |
| Year 2 | Internship | 15 ECTS |
| | Graduation Project | 45 ECTS |
## What makes our curriculum unique?
The Automotive Technology (AT) Master’s program at TU/e gives you the knowledge, skills, and freedom to shape the future of mobility. Our curriculum is designed to be **multidisciplinary and systems-oriented**, so you can tackle complex challenges in modern automotive engineering.
[Read more](#)
The Master’s program in Automotive Technology combines structure, flexibility, and real-world impact, preparing you to innovate in a rapidly evolving industry.
**Personalized Learning**
Before you start, you’ll choose your theme, **Smart Mobility** or **Sustainable Mobility,**and work with a mentor to design a program that fits your ambitions.
**Core Program for Strong Fundamentals**
Build essential skills in vehicle systems, dynamics, and control through 30 ECTS of core courses that provide a solid foundation for systems engineering.
**Specialization Tracks to Shape Your Expertise**
Dive deeper into your interests with 15 ECTS of specialization courses within your chosen theme:
- **Smart Mobility:** Autonomous driving & embedded software, vehicle dynamics control, automotive human factors.
- **Sustainable Mobility:** Internal combustion engines & future fuels, electric & hybrid vehicles & transmissions.
**Flexibility to Customize**
Add 15 ECTS of electives from TU/e or other universities, broaden your scope with certificate programs, or strengthen your background with homologation courses.
**Hands-On Experience**
Connect theory to practice through an internship and a 7.5-month graduation project, often in collaboration with leading companies or research institutes.
With cutting-edge research sections, strong ties to the Brainport high-tech region, and a curriculum that promotes **systems thinking and multidisciplinary collaboration**, TU/e prepares you to become a versatile engineer ready to drive innovation in the mobility industry.
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## Year 1
In your first year, you'll build a strong academic foundation across core engineering disciplines through a combination of core, specialization and free elective courses.
[Read more](#)
**Core Courses:**
The core program of 30 ECTS is mandatory for all Automotive Technology students. The five compulsory courses are:
1. **Vehicle Dynamics**
2. **Powertrains**
3. **Real-time Software Systems Engineering**
4. **Automotive Human Factors**
5. **Automotive Systems Engineering Project**
In the Automotive Systems Engineering Project, you'll team up with fellow students and use selected case studies to explore the integrative and systemic character of vehicle-system design and research.
**Specialization Courses**
After being allocated to your specialization (research group), you’ll select 15 ECTS of specialization courses from a broad list of more than 30 options. These courses let you dive deeper into areas that inspire you. Most courses are worth 5 EC, with some at 2.5 EC, giving you the flexibility to mix and match. Your choices must be approved by your mentor, and while you’re encouraged to stay within your research group's offerings, you can explore courses from other sections with your mentor’s consent. This is your chance to customize your program and build expertise that aligns with your ambition.
The Automotive Technology Master’s program is organized into **two overarching themes**, each offering further specialization themes that allow you to shape your expertise:
**1. Smart Mobility**\
Focus on the technologies that make vehicles intelligent and connected. This theme includes three further specialization themes:
- **Autonomous Driving & Embedded Software**
- **Vehicle Dynamics Control**
- **Automotive Human Factors**
**2. Sustainable Mobility**\
Dive into innovations for cleaner and more efficient vehicles. This theme offers two further specialization themes:
- **Internal Combustion Engines & Future Fuels**
- **Electric & Hybrid Vehicles & Transmissions**
Using these specialization themes as a guide,you will select your specialization (research group) together with your mentor.
**Electives**
Similar to the specialization courses, you choose electives in your elective space. You can choose from a wide range of courses or extend your internship. Your choice is not limited to only automotive topics. You can also use your elective space to focus on non-technical topics such as career development or entrepreneurship courses. This way, you get the chance to oversee your field from a different angle. The electives also include homologation courses. These courses are intended to help students to catch up in certain knowledge areas.
You can find a complete overview of the [curriculum, course descriptions](#c420310) and [research groups](#c261381) at the bottom of this page.
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## Year 2
The second year is all about learning how to apply the disciplinary knowledge and skills acquired throughout your course program. In your internship (15 ECTS) you apply your know-how in an industry project or at a research institute.
[Read more](#)
**Internship**
An internship or research internship is worth 15 ECTS. This is equal to a full-time job for approximately ten-and-a-half weeks. The most important goal during your internship is to develop your scientific research skills, while at the same time applying theory to practice. In close collaboration with your mentor, you choose the topic and location of your internship, to make sure it is well-aligned with your specialization.
An internship can take place at TU/e, a company, a research institute or another university in the Netherlands or abroad. We always recommend Dutch students to do their internship abroad, because international work experience is highly valuable. You can also extend your internship with five credits in the individual elective space.
**Graduation Project**
You start your graduation project once you have completed your courses and internship. During the graduation project, many of the things you have learned during your study program will be combined and you will be challenged to conduct your own research. Your research will contribute to the development of smarter and more sustainable vehicles.
The graduation project can be completed at a university, a research institute or at a company, under the supervision of a professor. After the preparation phase of two to six weeks, where you write your project plan, your graduation project will take at least six months. At the end of your project, you hand in your report and defend your project in a presentation. You will be assessed on the execution of your project, your independence, your analytical skills and creativity.
[Close](#)
## The Automotive Technology Pre-Master's program
The Automotive Technology pre-Master's program is intended for students who have not received direct admission to the Automotive Technology Master's program.
[Read more](#)
The pre-Master program is designed for students with a relevant HBO degree who want to continue to a Master’s at TU/e. In this program, you’ll strengthen your academic foundation and prepare for the multidisciplinary challenges of AT. If you hold a relevant HBO degree such as Automotive, Aviation, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or Engineering Physics, you can gain direct access. If your HBO degree is not listed, the Departmental Admissions Board will determine your eligibility when you submit an enrollment request.
Application is easy: apply via **Studielink before May 1** to start in **September**. This program strengthens your foundation and prepares you for success in the Automotive Technology Master’s.
[Close](#)
## Research groups Automotive Technology
[Department of Mechanical Engineering
### Control Systems Technology
The mission of the CST section is to develop new methods and tools in the area of Systems Theory, Control Engineering and Mechatronics. The…](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/control-systems-technology)[Department of Mechanical Engineering
### Dynamics and Control
Our mission is to perform top-level research and train next-generation students on the topic of understanding and predicting the dynamics of…](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/dynamics-and-control)
### Model Driven Software Engineering
[Department of Electrical Engineering
### Signal Processing Systems
Enabling the digital revolution through theories, algorithms, architectures and solutions for analyzing and interpreting signals, images,…](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/signal-processing-systems)[Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
### Interconnected Resource-aware Intelligent Systems
We at the Interconnected Resource-aware Intelligent Systems cluster address (distributed embedded) systems performance challenges in terms…](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/computer-science/interconnected-resource-aware-intelligent-systems)[Department of Electrical Engineering
### Electronic Systems
Our goal is to create constructive design trajectories for electronic systems that lead to high-quality, cost-effective systems with…](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/electronic-systems)
### Future Everyday
[Department of Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences
### Human Technology Interaction
The Human-Technology Interaction (HTI) group analyzes people’s interaction with technology with the aim to better understand and improve the…](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/innovation-sciences/human-technology-interaction)[Department of Mechanical Engineering
### Power & Flow
Power & Flow focuses on clean and efficient combustion and process technology, to cater for fast-growing energy demands.](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/power-flow)[Department of Electrical Engineering
### Control Systems
The research field of CS is the area of dynamic modelling and model-based control of complex dynamic systems.](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/control-systems)[Department of Electrical Engineering
### Electromechanics and Power Electronics
We carry out fundamental research on the energy conversion theory, methods, and systems, that serve as enabling technologies for future…](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/electromechanics-and-power-electronics)
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