Master's program "Systems Engineering" (M.Sc.)

Welcome to the website of the Master's program in Systems Engineering.

The Campus Advanced Studies Center (casc) at the Bundeswehr University, Munich, offers a career-integrated Master's program in Systems Engineering. The modules can also be studied individually (modular program) for continuing professional development as required.

Technical systems are becoming more and more complex not only because of the complexity of the system itself but also on account of interactions and connections to other systems and system environments. On the one hand, system development is associated with an increasing specialization of technical experts. On the other hand, system complexity involves a growing distribution of tasks. The resulting demand for system integration cannot be met with specialist knowledge of partial solutions alone.

The modules of the career-integrated Master's program in Systems Engineering provide methods and procedures to better understand and develop complex systems by merging individual functionalities of the components in the best possible way. A systemic approach takes account of technical skills and aspects as well as capabilities and elements developed through process development and social relations.

The program is state-recognized and adapted to the career development structure of the Bundeswehr Vocational Advancement Service.

Target Group

The postgraduate Master's program in Systems Engineering is first and foremost designed for executives from industry and the Bundeswehr with a degree qualifying for a professional career as well as for retired temporary-career officers seeking a position as systems engineer.

The competence profile that will be acquired enables them to develop and manage complex systems in different industrial sectors such as aeronautical and space technology, transport, security, communication, power plant engineering and defense.

Qualification Objectives

Participation in the program modules qualifies for the following competence profile:

During a technical development process the specialist area of systems engineering will be internalized and further processed and can be applied confidently to specific problems.

The acquired methods of systems engineering can be used to solve, scrutinize and, if necessary, further develop complex tasks in the fields of research and development in the industrial sector.

Experienced engineers will be trained in the methods and processes of systems engineering and of systems engineering management in order to be able to assume systems engineering tasks. During the program, specific problem awareness and systems thinking will also be developed. The engineer will thus be able to define and initiate situation-adapted approaches as well as to recognize and counter undesirable developments at an early stage.

The focus of the program is not to convey technical knowledge as this is considered a prerequisite. Based on knowledge of technical systems as highly interconnected subsystems, development and management methods will be presented. These methods facilitate project execution as well as specific project solution. In addition, the students become aware of the limitations and constraints of real-life projects. The transfer from theoretical approaches to practical application is considered the key to learning success.

Modules

Owing to the modular structure of the program, it is also possible to study individual modules and receive – upon completion – a certificate. Students attending individual modules will be integrated into the group of Master's students and will benefit from their professional diversity. Although attendance is mandatory during exams only, we recommend to comply with the attendance time allocated to each module. If all modules were attended and completed successfully, the students have the possibility to finish the program with a Master's degree by preparing a Master's thesis according to the examination regulations.

The program is organized on a trimester basis with one trimester comprising three months. The modules of the Systems Engineering program are divided into three basic categories:

Basic Modules (G1 to G4) present and consolidate basic knowledge. Knowledge is conveyed largely on a self-study basis by using current technical literature and virtual group work on the learning platform of the e-learning system. The contents are introduced in classic lectures as well as in complementary case study exercises. Every basic module will be completed with an oral or written exam.

Period	Trimester		Module	ECTS	Dates of Attendance
April – June	Spring	G1	Systems Engineering – Basics	5	Fri and Sat, beginning of April Fri and Sat, end of May Fri, beginning of July
April – June	Spring	G2	Systems Engineering – Methods and Tools	5	Fri and Sat, beginning of April Fri and Sat, end of May Fri, beginning of July
Oct – Dec	Autumn	G3	Systems Engineering Management	5	Fri and Sat, beginning of Oct Fri and Sat, end of Nov Fri, beginning of Jan
Oct – Dec	Autumn	G4	Methods of Verification and Validation in Systems Engineering	5	Fri and Sat, beginning of Oct Fri and Sat, end of Nov Fri, beginning of Jan

Advanced Modules (V1 to V4) address and give stronger consideration to individual aspects of systems engineering. The aim is to establish practical relevance for the students. The contents are thus geared towards professional interests and coordinated with the students. To include the students in the process of knowledge preparation they work with the contents by preparing lectures. The lectures may be evaluated or an oral or written exam will be taken at the end of the trimester.

Period	Trimester		Module	ECTS	Dates of Attendance
Jan – March	Winter	V1	Development Management	5	Fri and Sat, beginning of Jan Fri and Sat, end of Feb Fri, beginning of April
April – June	Spring	V2	Error Occurrence and Crisis Management	5	Fri and Sat, beginning of April Fri and Sat, end of May Fri, beginning of July
Jan – March	Winter	V3	SE Integration in the Industrial Environment & Personnel Development	5	Fri and Sat, beginning of Jan Fri and Sat, end of Feb Fri, beginning of April
Oct – Dec	Autumn	V4	Cognitive Systems Engineering	5	Fri and Sat, beginning of Oct Fri and Sat, end of Nov Fri, beginning of January

Practical Modules offer the possibility to learn about approaches and best practices of various industries, market conditions and competitive environments and to apply this knowledge to other tasks. At the same time, practical modules focus on and analyze specific problems of the students' professional environment in order to derive concepts for action. During these modules, too, the students will actively participate by preparing and presenting lectures or by writing a research paper on a chosen topic.

Period	Trimester		Module	ECTS	Dates of Attendance
Jan – March	Spring	P1	Specific Problems in Systems Engineering	5	Fri and Sat, beginning of April Fri and Sat, end of May Fri, beginning of July
Oct – Dec	Autumn	P2	Systems Engineering and its Application in Industry	5	Fri and Sat, beginning of Oct Fri and Sat, end of Nov Fri, beginning of January
July – Sept	Summer	PA1	Project Work 1	5	Fri and Sat, beginning of July Fri, beginning of Oct
July – Sept	Summer	PA2	Project Work 2	5	Fri and Sat, beginning of July Fri, beginning of Oct

In the download area on the right side you can find the curriculum for the Systems Engineering program. The curriculum gives an overview of the module sequence.

Teaching Method

Attendance periods and distance-learning phases

The program is divided into modules, which will be studied in part-time mode. The teaching and learning concept is based on blended learning and combines full-day on-campus attendance with distance-learning phases and thus ensures an intensive transfer of knowledge and a rapid acquisition of skills.

According to the learning objective the learning methods vary during the distance-learning phases:

Through virtual group work the students are encouraged to work in teams and to conduct technical discussions, which are especially fruitful owing to the diverse careers and degrees of the students and which offer an ideal basis for tasks that may have several solutions.

By working on tasks individually the students have the possibility to focus on their personal interests among the program topics and to adjust their program work to their professional projects. Their module leaders will give them personal and individual feedback.

During the self-directed learning phases the students do not have to present any papers and may choose their favorite learning method on their own. Moreover, the distance-learning phase offers them greater flexibility in time.

The attendance weekends usually take place on Fridays and Saturdays at the beginning and after approximately two thirds of the trimester. In addition to traditional teaching methods, novel concepts (workshops and/or conference-like classes with teachers as hosts) are used in order to live up to the practical orientation of the program.

Between attendance periods, the students can apply the acquired knowledge directly to their professional tasks and immediately benefit from the program. Compared to full-time programs, the workload of this program is adapted to the time constraints of working students with an average of 40 ECTS credits per year of study.

The modules will be taught by experienced professors and highly qualified experts with many years of experience in systems engineering.

Overview of the Master's Program

Duration of the program	2 years and 3 months (standard period)
Start of the program	each year on April 1, enrollment until March 1
Program structure	3 module clusters comprising a total of 12 modules (1 year and 9 months) Master's thesis (6 months)
Learning objective	Upon completion of the Master's program, the students are able to cope with interdisciplinary and integrating development and management tasks of systems engineering.
Type of program	part-time: distance learning combined with attendance dates on weekends
Teaching and learning method	media-supported and tutored distance learning with attendance days on-campus classes with practically-oriented project work and lectures
Place of study	Campus of the Bundeswehr University, Munich, Werner Heisenberg Weg 39, 85579 Neubiberg; www.unibw.de
Weekend attendance	Attendance is required on 7 weekends per year of study. Current schedule: April 7/8, 2017, June 9/10, 2017, July 7/8, 2017, October 6/7, 2017, November 24/25, 2017 (subject to change; subsequent appointments to be announced) Fridays from 10 to 18 hrs and Saturdays from 9 to 15 hrs
Language	English, research papers, in particular Master's theses, may be submitted in German upon consultation with the teaching staff
Admission criteria	Academic degree in a natural science or engineering course corresponding to value of at least 210 ECTS credits (diploma, Bachelor's or Master's degree or an equivalent national or international degree) with an average grade of 3.0 or better at least three years of qualified professional experience
Degree	Master of Science (M.Sc.) of the Bundeswehr University, Munich
Credits	90 ECTS credits
Costs	€ 18,500.00 (incl. course material and certificate plus travel and subsistence costs). Members of the Bundeswehr or other federal and Land authorities may be granted a reduction of 15%.

Enrollment

Do you have any questions? Please contact us! We will be pleased to give you more information via email, telephone or in person.

Enrollment for the Master's program is open until March 1 each year. Please fill in the application form (Master's program) and the enrollment form (see download area on the right).

Enrollment for the modular program is open until one month before commencement of the module. Please fill in the application form (modular program) and the enrollment form (see download area on the right).

The following documents are required for admission:

completed and signed application form
completed and signed Application for Enrollment with photo
signed CV (in tabular form) with complete record of higher education up to the present and/or other academic qualifications
officially-certified copy of higher education qualification
officially-certified copy of degree certificate
proof of at least three-year professional experience

Contact

We will be glad to answer further questions.

Dipl.-Soz. Dominik Baldin
Program coordinator

email: dominik.baldin@unibw.de
phone: +49 (0)89 6004 2709

campus advanced studies center
Universität der Bundeswehr München
Werner-Heisenberg-Weg 39
85577 Neubiberg