Electrical Engineering

University of Twente

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Program description

Microsystems, robotics or signal processing for biomedical applications or telecommunications: if this is your passion, then Electrical Engineering is your programme.

You’ve completed a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering and you want to expand your knowledge and hone your skills further. You want to specialize in preparation for a career in science or industry. The Master’s programme in Electrical Engineering will teach you to define your own approach to analysis, research and design. You will work in teams with industrial designers or in research groups, and you will have the opportunity to join one of the University of Twente’s research institutes.

With no fewer than 12 research groups, the possibilities for fascinating projects are nearly endless. One of our research groups is researching and developing a Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) system, while another is looking into methods to balance supply and demand through flexibility in supply chains. Each research group is responsible for one of our specializations. The sky is the limit within the range of specializations to choose from.

Objectives
An Electrical Engineering graduate is able to design, develop and realise electrical and electronic systems and processes; to keep up with new developments and to break through frontiers of existing technologies.

Electrical Engineering Specializations

Electrical Engineering Students can choose any one of following 12 specializations:

1) Biomedical and Environmental Sensor systems
The BIOS Lab-on-a-Chip chair (Miniaturized systems for biomedical and environmental applications) is engaged in the research and development of Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) systems.

It is our mission to:
• further the knowledge and understanding of nanofluidics and nanosensing
• bridge the gap between users in the physical, chemical, biomedical and life-science fields
• develop new micro- and nanotechnologies for Lab-on-a-Chip systems
• demonstrate the potential of LOC applications.

2) Biomedical Signals and Systems
Neural Engineering is the central theme of the Biomedical Signals and Systems (BSS) group. The research focus is on interfacing with the neural system and monitoring and influencing body functions through such interfaces.

Research is performed on three levels:
• The cellular and network level: neuro-electronic interfacing of live neural tissue on electrode substrates, learning and memory in cultured circuits, neural endcap prosthesis.
• The human function level: neuromodulation and dynamic identification applied to pain, motor control and heart function; diagnosis, functional support and neurofeedback training in rehabilitation.
• The healthcare level: telemedicine: remote monitoring and remotely supervised treatment using wearable interfaces and ICT systems.

3) Computer Architecture for Embedded Systems
Energy-efficiency is the main research focus of the CAES group.

Even prior to 2005, we started working on energy-efficient processing and communication sub-systems for battery-powered embedded systems, such as mobile phones and wireless sensor networks. This has since been extended to streaming applications in the high-performance high-tech domain (e.g. phased array antenna systems, medical image processing and signal processing on board satellites) and ICT for energy management of systems such as smart grids. The three main research themes are:

- Efficient architectures and tools for streaming applications
- Dependable embedded systems
- ICT for energy management in buildings and smart grids

4) Robotics and Mechatronics
Robotics and Mechatronics (RAM, formerly known as Control Engineering, CE) deals with the application of modern systems and control methods to practical situations.

Its focus is on robotics as a specific class of mechatronic systems. Our research is embedded in the CTIT and MIRA institutes. The robot application areas we investigate include inspection robotics (UAVs, UGV, UUVs), medical robotics (assistance to surgeons), and service robotics (street cleaning, service to people).

The science and engineering topics we work on include modelling and simulation of physical systems, intelligent control, robotic actuators, and embedded control systems.

We have a wide variety of robotic set-ups in our lab: basic 1 or 2 motor systems, precise motion control platforms, a production cell-like block circulator, several types of flying and wheeled mobile robots and humanoid walking robots.

5) Design and Analysis of Communication Systems
DACS focuses on dependable networked systems.

A networked system is considered to be dependable whenever the services it delivers can justifiably be called reliable. We focus on communication systems, which can be wired, wireless, or embedded in other systems, meaning we aim to contribute to the design and implementation of dependable networked systems, as well as to methods and techniques to support the design and dimensioning of such systems. All of this is done with an eye to ensuring their dependability in all phases of their lifecycle. For us, dependability encompasses availability, reliability, performance (quality of service) and security.

6) Integrated Circuit Design
ICs are at the heart of the rapid developments in mobile telecommunications, multimedia and the internet, and in numerous other applications.

IC design is of major industrial importance, which is even more true for analogue circuit design, an area in which the European electronics industry leads the pack. In the Integrated Circuit Design group (ICD group) we do research on integrated transceivers in CMOS technology. This includes transmitters and receivers for wireless and wireline communication systems. We develop clever IC design techniques to realize portable, fast and energy efficient communication systems. Current projects are in the field of frequency synthesizers, radio frontends, RF beamforming and cognitive radio.

7) Integrated Optical MicroSystems
Our research activities focus on micro-/nanoscale integrated optical devices.

This involves novel materials, structures, and optical phenomena, device design, realization, and characterization, as well as applications in optical sensing and communication. Currently we are working on various on-chip integrated optical devices such as amplifiers and lasers, bio-sensors and medical instrumentation, and we are exploring phenomena based on opto-mechanical interactions. We make use of the excellent clean-room facilities of the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology for our device fabrication endeavours, while our optical research is carried out at our IOMS laboratories.

8) Nano Electronics
The NanoElectronics chair carries out research and provides teaching in the field of nanoelectronics.

Nanoelectronics comprises the study of the electronic and magnetic properties of systems with critical dimensions at the nanoscale, i.e. sub ~100 nm. Hybrid inorganic-organic electronics, spin electronics and quantum electronics are important subfields of nanoelectronics. Our research goes above and beyond the boundaries of traditional disciplines, synergetically combining aspects of Electrical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, and Nanotechnology.

9) Semiconductor Components
We study new materials, new device concepts, and new characterization techniques in order to contribute to the advancement of silicon circuit technology.

The primary areas of focus of our research are:

IC processing, covering topics including: 

• CMOS wafer post-processing - can we fabricate new components on top of a microchip? See our position paper on this subject.
• Novel devices – can we incorporate light emitting diodes, high-quality passives, gas sensors etc. into a CMOS process?
• Nanotechnology, such as novel thin films, nanocrystal memories, ultrathin silicon, and silicon nanowires Device characterization and reliability:
• Novel characterization methods to measure the capacitance-voltage relationship
• Improving characterization methods to measure contact resistances
• Reliability of MOS devices, interconnect, and novel devices
Device physics and modelling, covering topics including:
• Ultra-thin silicon – can we understand and model silicon, when it is hardly three-dimensional anymore?
• How is a bulk-acoustic-wave resonator modelled?
• How are silicon LEDs modelled?

10) Signals and Systems
The purpose of the Signals and Systems chair is to provide teaching and to conduct research on signal processing and system design.

Signals are carriers of information and can be 1-D time signals, 2-D images, 3-D data sets or 4-D moving structures. We characterize, analyse, design and realize systems with the aim of processing signals.

The research conducted by the Signals and Systems group focuses on image processing and pattern analysis. This concerns complex high-dimensional signals and systems and the development of methods for processing and analysing these signals. We apply our research in biometrics and medical imaging. We are also engaged in active noise control and wireless communication.

11) Telecommunication Engineering
Our research concentrates on optical signal processing and networks, mobile communications, microwave techniques and radiation from ICs and PCBs.

The TE group’s research can be divided in three principal areas:

Short-Range Radio (SRR)
The main issues in this research area are low power consumption, resilience to interference, integration on chip (including antenna) and overall costs.

Microwave Photonics (MWP)
Our research focuses on integrated photonic chips that perform various microwave signal processing functions such as filtering, tuneable signal delay and signal combining for optical beam-forming networks. The main field of application is smart phased-array antenna systems for airborne and radio astronomy applications.

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)
The EMC group’s research focuses on modelling of radiated emission and immunity of circuits at IC and PCB level, signal integrity of high-speed electronic circuits, development of test techniques for high-intensity electromagnetic fields, and the combination of two or more numerical methods for optimum prediction of EMI.

12) Transducers Science and Technology
Research at TST is conducted at the MESA+ Research Institute for Nanotechnology.

We specialize in three-dimensional nanofabrication and microfabrication based on top-down lithography methods. We invent new fabrication techniques and demonstrate them on various devices with the aim of ultimately transferring our knowledge to industry. We are working on three generations of fabrication technologies, in different stages of the process between fundamental research and application:

• Microtechnology
• Nanotechnology
• Self-assembly

Electrical Engineering Related Programs

Besides the MSc Electrical Engineering, University of Twente offers a range of other Engineering related programs such as the Civil Engineering and Management master.

See which programs are related to the MSc Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering Scholarships

Students who would like to register for the Master Electrical Engineering, will need to have sufficient funds for tuition and living expenses. Getting a scholarship could be the first step towards obtaining a top MSc degree at the University of Twente

See which scholarships you can apply for if you want to do the Electrical Engineering master.

About the University of Twente

The University of Twente focuses on the development of technology and its impact on people and society. It offers bachelor, master and postgraduate programs in the field of Technology, Behavioral and Social Sciences. University of Twente students are always encouraged to look beyond the boundaries of their own field and establish links with other disciplines.

High tech, human touch. This is what characterizes the University of Twente. Some 3,300 scientists and other professionals working together on cutting-edge research, innovations with real-world relevance and inspiring education for more than 9,000 students. The enterprising university encourages students to develop an entrepreneurial spirit and is a partner of Knowledge Park Twente.

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Admission requirements

Professional experience

None, but extensive experience may reduce the programme duration.

Knowledge minimum

CGPA of at least 70-75%.

Academic degree

Bachelor's degree with honours or higher marks in electrical engineering or physics from an internationally acknowledged university.

Language requirements

IELTS overall band: 6.5, TOEFL internet based: 90

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