master’s degree
Mechanical Engineering
Welcome to the Faculty of Engineering Technology! We are pleased to welcome you to the University of Twente. The excellent facilities and enthusiastic staff of the University of Twente provide a great environment to study and explore. The intention of the Faculty of Engineering Technology is to deliver young Masters of Science with a highly respected diploma who are able to solve societal problems and become a leader in the field of Mechanical Engineering, Sustainable Energy Technology, Civil Engineering and Management, Construction Management and Engineering or Industrial Design Engineering.
Prof.dr. Geert Dewulf, dean of the Faculty of Engineering Technology If you see your future in these or other related fields and aim at a role in society that makes a difference, be it an engineering specialist (technical or commercial) or project manager, join us. We help you prepare for a variety of industry professions or academic career. You will be welcomed in an open, participative and entrepreneurial environment. The University of Twente offers you the opportunity to study engineering in a multi-disciplinary environment.
We will make your Master’s an interesting and challenging journey: an adventure that will shape your future. You won’t get it for free: you will have to work hard, but this investment in yourself will result in generous rewards.
Mechanical Engineering
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programme Mechanical engineers focus on design and analyses of machinery, structures and products as well as production processes. The Master’s programme in ME zooms in on one of these disciplines. Almost every aspect of our modern world is in some way a product of mechanical engineering, from power stations and oil refineries to steel factories and flood barriers. Mechanical engineers are behind all our modern means of transport: air, sea, rail, road or rocket. But their contribution does not stop there. Mechanical engineers are responsible for major innovations in fields such as medicine and biomedicine. These include robot-controlled surgical tools, ‘smart’ prostheses such as heart valves and miniature cameras for internal explorations. From large scale industrial installations to intricate mechanisms in the field of medicine, they put high-tech solutions in a human context.
SPECIALIZATIONS
Mechanical engineers are involved in the entire process from generating the initial idea to design and analysis, and onward to the development of products, processes and systems. Mechanical engineering offers unique opportunities to combine these various disciplines and push the boundaries of what is possible.
We will make your Master’s an interesting and challenging journey: an adventure that will shape your future Biomedical Engineering/Rehabilitation Engineering New developments in functional prosthetics, special wheelchairs and countless other rehabilitation and orthopaedic aids have been made possible through biomechanical engineering. This specialization focuses on the use of mechanical engineering technology and methodology to address health care problems.
Applied Mechanics How far can you go in reshaping a material before it breaks? How do vibrations and tensions influence the behaviour and life span of mechanical engineering constructions? What can be done to reduce the noise of structures for public transport? These questions illustrate the various disciplines within this Master’s specialization. What they have in common is the increasing importance of developing calculation and simulation models. But that’s not all: calculation and simulation is always carried out with design or redesign in mind. Within this specialization, you can opt to focus on Structural Dynamics & Acoustics or on Solid Mechanics & Forming Technology or on Dynamics-Based Maintenance.
In this Master’s specialization, you will become part of an approach that takes the end users into consideration as an essential aspect of product development (care/ cure). In addition to Mechanical Engineering, it addresses relevant issues from a medical perspective and highlights the contribution of other technical disciplines (electrical engineering in particular). Students with a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering that includes a minor in Mechanical Engineering are eligible for admission to this specialization.
Design Engineering When launching a new product, it is important to progress quickly and efficiently through the product development stages that lead from product concept to final product. This calls for flexibility and effectiveness when introducing and implementing design tools and methods.
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Products should be designed with a view to manufacture and assembly. It is essential to go beyond the question ‘How do I make a product?’. Other key questions need to be answered. How do I ensure that the necessary parts and tools come together at the right time? How do I deal with failures? How should I schedule machine maintenance? How can I go about setting up the sophisticated logistical systems required? In this Master’s degree specialization, you will focus on one particular field within this area: design technology, production/manufacture or management of production and logistics. Computer science and automation play a key role in these fields.
Elastomer Technology and Engineering
Engineering of Fibrous Smart Materials
Elastomer or rubber technology is a specialized branch of polymer technology, which deals with materials and articles that have highly dynamic and elastic properties. The most obvious applications of elastomers are tyres of all sorts, (passive) vibration dampers, tubes and seals (from simple o-rings to radiator hoses), and weather strips in car doors and windows. Rubber products derive their functionality from an intricate mix of the typical elastomer properties, their design and the production method used to manufacture them. This Master’s specialization covers all these aspects as an introduction to this field.
Engineering of Fibrous Smart Materials involves studying and developing new systems and technologies to modify fibre surfaces using both traditional and innovative new treatment processes. The specialization has two focus points: - applying (bio)catalysts and the principles of process intensification to develop innovative and sustainable treatment processes; - adding new functionalities to fibres by drawing on sophisticated chemistry and physics.
It is a field that encompasses a wide range of technologies, which means that many research topics are explored in close cooperation with other specializations in Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics and Chemical Engineering.
Engineering Fluid Dynamics Engineering Fluid Dynamics focuses on the theoretical, numerical and experimental aspects of how gases and fluids flow and how this behaviour applies to mechanical engineering. This wide-ranging field addresses key issues and goes in search of the answers to fascinating scientific questions. How will a car or an aircraft respond to conditions in a wind tunnel? How do you set about achieving the best possible mix of fluids? How can flows in pumps and turbines be described with a view to improving their yield? What can be done to support the pulmonary function or blood saturation in the human body? If you have a Bachelor’s in Applied Physics with a minor Mechanical Engineering, this specialization is for you.
Mechanical Automation, Mechatronics and Laser Technology The design of intelligent, learning robots is a prime example of automation. They already carry out a substantial part of the manufacturing process. The most important aspect is controlling the dynamical systems, particularly in laser robots and other precision apparatus. Mechanical Automation is all about designing and developing controlled mechanical systems and fabrication systems, using innovative design, system modelling, actuating, sensing and control principles and state-of-the-art computer technologies that enhance the performance of high-tech equipment. You can join this specialization if you have a Bachelor’s
Mechanical Engineering
in Electrical Engineering with a minor Mechanical Engineering. Much of the programme is combined with Mechatronics. The work at the Mechanical Automation and Mechatronics Lab concentrates on the design and development of methods and equipment for the control and automation of mechanical systems and physical processes. Courses range from general control theory for Bachelor’s students to specialized Master’s lectures. Research involves a combined approach of theoretical analyses, numerical simulations and experimental investigations.
Multi Scale Mechanics How does the micro-structure of materials and fluids affect their material properties? Can modern numerical tools like DEM/FEM or CFD help us understand the fascinating ways in which modern materials and tools behave? What approach should we take to improving engineering machines and tools? Multi Scale Mechanics explores the world of fluids and solids, particles and their contacts, granular materials and powders, micro fluid systems and self-healing materials. This involves a variety of multi-scale theory and modelling approaches such as: - Microscopic/discrete models for fluids and solids - Micro-Macro transition for constitutive relations - Continuum CFD/FEM based on micro-properties.
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Production Management focuses on these production and repository systems. As the world moves on, new systems have to be designed or existing systems have to be improved to achieve greater efficiency. This specialization looks at time efficiency, the highest quality and the lowest possible cost. In addition to a specialist knowledge of technology, it also requires a keen eye for business administration.
Production Technology
How far can a material bend before it breaks? How can you determine the right shape of a mould to produce the panel of an aircraft fuselage made of a fibre metal laminate? What can be done to improve the quality and productivity of wind turbine blades? These questions provide a good illustration of the various disciplines that come together in this Master’s specialization. The different disciplines share a common bond: the fact that the development of calculation and This specialization collaborates with industry in areas simulation models has come to play an increasingly such as the testing and optimization of modern/complex important role, and always with a view to design or materials, sound and wave propagation for oil redesign. exploration, powder flow behaviour, mixing and segregation, sintering and self-healing. Whether the focus is on designing a light-weight carbon composite suspension for a passenger car or monitoring the condition of gas and water pipelines or advanced composite structures in service, this specialization will equip you with the expertise you need.
Surface Technology and Tribology Components that rub against each other as they move experience friction and wear. Friction plays a decisive role in the life span, energy loss, performance and costs of equipment and installations. Surface Technology and Tribology investigates the complex processes involved in the prediction and control of friction and wear. Construction methods, materials and potential lubricants (e.g. fluids, oils or gas) all have a part to play. Since the creation and generation of new surfaces is an Production Management When a product rolls off the conveyor belt, there’s still a integral part of design and production, this specialization long way to go before it reaches the end user. Producers is organized in cooperation with Design Engineering, need to address issues such as logistics, the supply Production Management and Production Technology. chain and transport management. Technology can If you have a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Physics with support these processes and make the difference a minor in Mechanical Engineering, you are eligible for between a successful product and a failure. admission to this specialization.
Mechanical Engineering
Thermal Engineering Thermal Engineering looks at vital issues such as how to manage our energy resources as efficiently as possible and how to prevent negative environmental impact. In this Master’s specialization you will explore the
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design and testing of new methods and installations (e.g. incineration in gas turbines and the use of fluidized beds for waste incineration). You will work closely with fellow students in a range of fields, including fluid dynamics and chemical engineering.
Admission requirements Dutch HBO students
Dutch university students
Graduates with a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study of a Dutch HBO may be considered for admission. In most cases students will first need to complete a pre-Master’s programme.
Students with relevant Bachelor’s degrees from a Dutch university will be considered for admission.
University of Twente students Students holding a BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Twente qualify for direct admission, conditions may apply. Students with other relevant Bachelor’s degrees will be considered for admission.
International students International students with a Bachelor of Science or Engineering degree in a relevant field of study and a CGPA of at least 75% of the maximum score are invited to apply for admission. In addition international students need to pass an English language test. More detailed admission requirements are available at www.utwente.nl/master/me
Career OPPORTUNITIES Mechanical Engineering graduates are well qualified to work in a wide range of companies and well equipped to perform a wide variety of jobs. Our recent graduates have mostly found jobs in research and development or design and construction. In a design team, they take on the role of engineering specialist, integrator and often team leader. A relatively high proportion of our graduates go on to manage other engineers in their first job. The Master’s programme in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Twente offers students the opportunity to train specifically for one of these job categories. Skills-based learning is very much part of the University of Twente’s ethos.
Our recent graduates have mostly found jobs in research and development or design and construction The Mechanical Engineering programme has a reputation for excellence. Compared to other engineering programmes, our graduates are very satisfied with the training they received: 82% believe it gave them an excellent preparation for the job they hold.
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Student’s Touch ‘The university is surrounded by a lot of high-tech companies. That gives students numerous job and internship opportunities’ NAME Roderik Kuin
Although this leaflet was compiled with the utmost care, no rights can be derived from its contents.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN the Netherlands
After the Bachelor’s programme in Mechanical Engineering it was a logical step for me to choose for the subsequent Master’s programme in Mechanical Engineering. The Bachelor’s was a good preparation, it taught me all I needed to know to continue. The Master’s has challenging courses on a wide range of subjects. During my Bachelor’s I discovered my interest in fluids, therefore I have chosen the specialization Engineering Fluid Dynamics. The university is surrounded by a lot of high-tech companies. That gives students numerous job and internship opportunities, both on and off the campus. I am about to start my internship in Fluid Dynamics in Brazil. A great opportunity to learn more about the field and it is also exciting to see this in the context of another culture.
CONTACT For general information about the Master’s programme or the University of Twente, as well as for questions about the application form of your enrolment status, please contact:
University of Twente Study Information Desk Phone: +31 (0)53 489 5489 master@utwente.nl www.utwente.nl/master
What I like most about the University of Twente is the fact that it is a campus university. You meet and interact with all sorts of people with different backgrounds and different forms of pre-education. This interaction gives you a broader view, and that experience helps when solving problems that you encounter. It also supports in developing and recognizing your own interests. If you would like to develop yourself personally and as an engineer, the University of Twente is a great place to be!