Embedded Systems KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Overview

The Embedded Systems MSc programme from KTH Royal Institute of Technology provides a broad education in embedded systems with the opportunity to specialise in areas that cover theoretical as well as practical aspects of embedded systems development. Special emphasis is placed on engineering skills, integration of software and hardware, system design, integration, verification and the management of the design process.

The programme offers four tracks: 

• The Embedded Electronics track addresses the problems of integrating sensors, analog circuits, and communication devices into SoC/ASIC and PCB-based embedded systems, with a focus on the Internet of things
• The Embedded Platforms track addresses the problems of designing and assembling an embedded single-/multi-/many-core CPU platform, including VLSI design and embedded software
• The Embedded Software track addresses the problems of designing and maintaining embedded software running on single-/multi-/many-core systems, including software engineering and computer hardware fundamentals
• The Embedded Control track addresses the problems of designing electronics/embedded systems that are closely integrated with mechanical and control systems

The programme has a total of 120 ECTS credits structured as follows. About 30 ECTS credits consist of mandatory courses for all students in the programme. About 30 ECTS credits consist of courses that are mandatory for that specific track. About 30 ECTS credits are elective courses, and the final 30 ECTS credits consist of the degree project. During the final semester, students demonstrate the individual skills they have acquired during the programme through a degree project. The student writes a thesis report, demonstrates and defends the results. The focus of the project may be proposed by the student, an examiner, a company, a public agency or any other external organization, but the project plan must be approved by the examiner of one of the thesis project courses in the curriculum. The degree project may also be concluded at universities or companies.

Career opportunities:

The enormous price and performance developments of electronics, coupled with their flexibility and programmability, creates considerable opportunities for innovation. At the same time, the industry is experiencing problems with sustaining competence in the area, and facing major challenges in managing the integration of software and hardware.

Employers of graduates from the master's programme in Embedded Systems are companies that develop electronic components and embedded systems in all possible areas. The programme has a broad industrial contact network through ICES – the KTH Innovative Centre for Embedded Systems. ICES member companies support implementation and student activities in the programme, such as trainee positions, master’s thesis projects and pilot projects, offering participants an excellent bridge into the industry or further education in the form of doctoral studies.