Program details for master track in embedded systems

Systems Modeling and Applied Control: read the description and watch the video for these compulsory modules.

Systems Modeling

Here you learn to create a white-box model of a real-world process in the electrical, mechanical and chemical domain. How? Using the 4+1 step approach.

You learn to use model representations such as differential equations, transfer functions and state space. And you discover the ins and outs of tools such as Bode plots and Nyquist diagrams.

What about simulating your model? For that you become proficient in MATLAB Simulink. To conclude the modeling process, you validate your model and estimate its parameters.

Part of this 1st module is strengthening your project and research skills.

Topics:

Applied physics
Introduction to modeling
Practice modelling and simulation
Energy-based modeling
System identification
Minor project modeling systems (includes research skills)

Watch the video about the module Systems Modeling

Applied Control

The Applied Control module starts with analyzing a physical system and/or a model. This might be a 1st order, 2nd order or higher order system. Or a linear or nonlinear model or SISO/MIMO system.

You master techniques such as pole–zero plot, Bode, Nyquist diagrams and step responses. These techniques are for determining the requirements of the controlled system. Another important skill you work on is discussing controller specifications with a client. So discussing specifications like stability, offset, settling time, overshoot, phase and gain margin.

You also learn to create an analogue and/or digital feedback controller for a linear physical system. To do this you need to use the right techniques. For example, applying anti-windup and bumpless transfer schemes, selecting resolution and sample rate.

Can you properly communicate your core findings? And justify your choices? During this module, you’ll be fine-tuning your communication skills as well.

Finally, you master the skill of actually applying control strategies. So strategies like feedforward, cascade, compensation and override. How? Using frequency-response and root-locus techniques. And you learn to implement a controller on a suitable platform.

Topics:

Analysis of physical systems and/or models
Pole-zero plot, Bode, Nyquist diagrams, step responses
Controller specifications
Analogue and digital feedback controllers
Control strategies

Watch the video about the module Applied Control

Here you can find the calendar for the current academic year.

2023-2024 academic year

The 2023-2024 academic year has 43 weeks of education and 32 weeks of classes.
The academic year is divided into 2 semesters: one of 19 and one of 20 weeks.

Semester 1: 28 August 2023 to 28 January 2024
Semester 2: 29 January 2024 to 12 July 2024

HAN Intro	21-8-2023 to 25-8-2023
Fall holiday	14-10-2023 to 22-10-2023
Christmas holiday	23-12-2023 to 7-1-2024
Spring holiday	10-2-2024 to 18-2-2024
Good Friday	29-3-2024
Easter Monday	1-4-2024
King's Day	27-4-2024
May holiday	27-4-2024 to 5-5-2024
Liberation Day	5-5-2024
Ascension Day and day following	9-5-2024 and 10-5-2024
Pentecost Monday	20-5-2024
Conclusion academic year	8-7-2024 to 12-7-2024
Summer holiday	13-7-2024 to 18-8-2024
Resits and start up*	19-8-2024 to 25-8-2024

*Not all programs have resits after the summer holidays. Check the dates of exams and resits for your program on HAN Insite.

Here's the schedule of modules and subjects for the Master in Engineering Systems in 2023-2024.

Semester 1: August - January

Monday	Systems Modeling
	Big Data and Small Data
Tuesday	Advanced Vehicle Dynamics
	Sustainable Energy Systems
Wednesday	Applied Control
	Electives: Guest lectures
Thursday	Innovations in Powertrains
Friday	Mathematics

Semester 2: February - July

Monday	Big Data & Small Data
	Hydrogen Technology
Tuesday	Advanced Vehicle Dynamics
	Sustainable Energy Systems
Wednesday	Applied Control
	Electives: Guest lectures
Thursday	Intelligent Mobility
	Innovations in Powertrains
	Embedded Control
	Smart Power Supply
Friday	Mathematics

Finished all the theory? Including labs and minors? Now it’s time for your graduation project. Apply the principles of the program to a real-life industrial setting. Use your technical aptitude. Prove your ability to manage a project. And show your skills in communicating, reporting and presenting.

All master graduation projects are motivated by real-life problems. In most cases, the graduation project-related research is carried out at a company. That means a representative of the company is involved to verify:

(1) whether the thesis results match the expectations of the company.

(2) whether the rated aspects of the master graduation project are relevant for the company.

This gives us valuable feedback on the professional requirements for the intended learning outcomes.

The problem to be solved requires an understanding and active analysis of distinctive disciplines. The project will always include the step from a real-life problem to a more abstract representation of the problem. This restricted representation of the real world is then the basis for the problem analysis. How will you go about this? Using the tools and methods you’ve learned about in the modules.

The problem analysis then leads to a problem solution. Finally, conclusions are drawn about the extent to which the problem has been solved and the objectives fulfilled.

Procedure

During a period of 5-6 months (study load of 840 hours) you will complete a project in an industrial and/or research environment. This project will be supervised by a HAN staff member and an industrial supervisor from the supporting company.

This project will require you to prove your ability to manage a project. You will also need to demonstrate your skills in communicating, reporting and presenting.

You’ll conclude the project by writing a major project, which you will present in an oral examination to a panel. On the panel will be your two supervisors, a further examiner (HAN) and an external expert.

Your choice of setting

You can do your graduation project at the company or institution of your choice. There are conditions though. The company needs to be able to provide a proper assignment, working environment and support. You may also opt to complete the project in a research setting. At HAN University of Applied Sciences or at one of our many partner universities.

Finished all the theory? Including labs and minors? Now it’s time for your graduation project. Apply the principles of the program to a real-life industrial setting. Use your technical aptitude. Prove your ability to manage a project. And show your skills in communicating, reporting and presenting.

All master graduation projects are motivated by real-life problems. In most cases, the graduation project-related research is carried out at a company. That means a representative of the company is involved to verify:

(1) whether the thesis results match the expectations of the company.

(2) whether the rated aspects of the master graduation project are relevant for the company.

This gives us valuable feedback on the professional requirements for the intended learning outcomes.

The problem to be solved requires an understanding and active analysis of distinctive disciplines. The project will always include the step from a real-life problem to a more abstract representation of the problem. This restricted representation of the real world is then the basis for the problem analysis. How will you go about this? Using the tools and methods you’ve learned about in the modules.

The problem analysis then leads to a problem solution. Finally, conclusions are drawn about the extent to which the problem has been solved and the objectives fulfilled.

Procedure

During a period of 5-6 months (study load of 840 hours) you will complete a project in an industrial and/or research environment. This project will be supervised by a HAN staff member and an industrial supervisor from the supporting company.

This project will require you to prove your ability to manage a project. You will also need to demonstrate your skills in communicating, reporting and presenting.

You’ll conclude the project by writing a major project, which you will present in an oral examination to a panel. On the panel will be your two supervisors, a further examiner (HAN) and an external expert.

Your choice of setting

You can do your graduation project at the company or institution of your choice. There are conditions though. The company needs to be able to provide a proper assignment, working environment and support. You may also opt to complete the project in a research setting. At HAN University of Applied Sciences or at one of our many partner universities.

In the 1st semester you follow 2 compulsory modules: Systems Modelling and Applied Control. Below you can find a detailed description and a video for each of these modules.

Systems Modelling

Here you learn to create a white-box model of a real-world process in the electrical, mechanical and chemical domain. How? Using the 4+1 step approach.

You learn to use model representations such as differential equations, transfer functions and state space. And you discover the ins and outs of tools such as Bode plots and Nyquist diagrams.

What about simulating your model? For that you become proficient in MATLAB Simulink. And to conclude the modelling process, you validate your model and estimate its parameters.

Part of this 1st module is strengthening your project and research skills.

Topics:

Applied physics
Introduction to modelling
Practice modelling and simulation
Energy-based modelling
System identification
Minor project modelling systems (includes research skills)

Watch the video about the module Systems Modelling

Applied Control

The Applied Control module starts with analyzing a physical system and/or a model. This might be a 1st order, 2nd order or higher order system. Or a linear or nonlinear model or SISO/MIMO system.

You master techniques such as pole–zero plot, Bode, Nyquist diagrams and step responses. These techniques are for determining the requirements of the controlled system. Another important skill you work on is discussing controller specifications with a client. So discussing specifications like stability, offset, settling time, overshoot, phase and gain margin.

You also learn to create an analogue and/or digital feedback controller for a linear physical system. To do this you need to use the right techniques. For example, applying anti-windup and bumpless transfer schemes, selecting resolution and sample rate.

Can you properly communicate your core findings? And justify your choices? During this module, you’ll be fine-tuning your communication skills as well.

Finally, you master the skill of actually applying control strategies. So strategies like feedforward, cascade, compensation and override. How? Using frequency-response and root-locus techniques. And you learn to implement a controller on a suitable platform.

Topics:

Analysis of physical systems and/or models
Pole-zero plot, Bode, Nyquist diagrams, step responses
Controller specifications
Analogue and digital feedback controllers
Control strategies

Watch the video about the module Applied Control

Below are the elective modules in the 2nd semester for the Embedded Systems track. Read the descriptions, watch the videos and then choose the 2 modules that suit you best!

Big Data & Small Data

This module gives you the skills to make models of complex and non-linear systems. The method? Black-box modelling. You’ll learn techniques such as system identification and creating ARMAX and FIR models. We also take a look at fuzzy, neural networks, PLS and PCA.

What about systems with binary inputs or outputs? You learn to deal with those too. And you become skilled at making hybrid models. These combine the techniques of white- and black-box modeling.

Part of this module is a minor project. Here you focus on the application area of your choice. This could be big data analysis in energy management. Or degrees of freedom and friction in robotics. Or a project on Model Predictive Control.

Topics

System identification
State and parameter estimation
Advanced modelling (minor project)

Watch the video about the module Big Data & Small Data

Advanced Controller Design

In this module you learn how to create a controller. Not just any controller. One that can deal with varying conditions. How? Using robust design techniques such as H∞ and augmented plant. You also create an optimal controller based on cost functions using Pontryagin’s Principle. Varying points of operation? No problem. Overcome this using adaptive control techniques.

During the minor project you focus on an application of your choice. Want to specialize in energy management or process? Then you could study optimization. Mechatronics more your thing? Then you could conduct a study on robustness.

Topics

Robust control techniques
Optimal control
Adaptive control techniques
Minor project on optimization/robustness

Watch the video about the module Advanced Controller Design

Distributed Systems

What are the underlying principles of distributed embedded systems? And how do they work? That’s the core of this module. Here you learn about architectural design, protocols, algorithms, fault handling and maintenance. The key principle is real-time behavior. And how this affects quality requirements (resource limited reasoning).

During the minor project you apply these principles. How? Following the guidelines of agile software development and using C programming language.

Topics

Architectural design
Protocols
Algorithms
Fault handling
Maintenance
Real-time behavior
Quality requirements (resource limited reasoning)
Agile software development
C programming

Watch the video about the module Distributed Systems

Kalaeb came to the Netherlands from Ethiopia. HAN provided him with different opportunities. Educationally and professionally. “I had amazing lecturers who would push you to reach your potential. I was lucky to have nice study coaches."

Learning Dutch
What was your best experience so far? “Learning Dutch in one year and 10 months. I really had to learn the language. If you really want to integrate into the society, you have to be able to speak the language. Thankfully, I had amazing colleagues, so they were like my ‘free teachers’.”

Teachers and students are equal
How did you like your teachers? “My study at HAN changed me as a professional. In my country you cannot talk back to your boss or to your teacher. They are your superior; you are like a diminutive figure compared to them. In the Netherlands you can speak back to anyone. You can stop the teacher, while teaching or tell your boss that he is wrong. In the Netherlands you are equal.”

Out of his comfort zone
What was your experience at HAN like at first? “My first experience when I first arrived at the HAN was, what am I doing here? Because the first lecture I had was of Applied physics and I was completely lost at first. I didn’t know anything about physics. I even told myself, I should go back home at some times, because I was frustrated. I asked the teacher for help, and he invited me to his office and told me that I had to fight more, to rise above the situation, take everything one step at a time, simplify everything and just try to push myself. He gave me some books to help."

"The first step is always really hard, and it will most likely make you want to give up or make you want to go back home. Once you step out of your comfort zone and leap on the first step on the ladder, it is going to be very easy.”

The move from Ethiopia to the Netherlands
How was the move from Ethiopia to the Netherlands? “It was difficult. I am very far away from my family, friends and my kids. I was financially not very stable. I felt lost in a big place. I started to work at the end of October. Then everything started to change. I got this nice job at the HAN; I got the scholarship, and I had this amazing mentor at the HAN.”

Standing on his own feet
Did you get the support you needed from lecturers? “For some of the practical lessons I had to educate myself more and to stand up on my own feet and to take those obstacles by your own understanding. On some of them, I was on school faith, and I didn’t even need to study for the exams, because those teachers covered everything in class. For the others I had to put a bit more effort into it.”

To follow this program in part-time you need to be an EU/EEA citizen. This is because of visa requirements. As a part-time student, you might be eligible for exemptions. Also, scholarships are usually only for full-time students. So here we also give you tips on reducing your costs.

Exemptions
Part-time students often have prior work experience. Can you show you’ve already covered certain units in the curriculum? Then you may be exempt from parts of the program. You can indicate this on your application.

Tuition fees: reducing your costs
Subsidies. Tax deductions. Grants in the field. An employer who pays part of the costs. A loan from family. There are lots of ways to cover your tuition fee.

This master degree benefits you, but also your employer. That’s why many employers are willing to contribute to study costs. Is your workplace in the Netherlands? Your organization can probably get a special subsidy from the Dutch government called ‘Praktijkleren’.

Want help drawing up a proposal for this subsidy? We can help you substantiate the program’s benefits for you and your organization. We can also schedule a meeting with you and your manager to discuss the benefits of the program.

Paying your own study costs? In most cases you can declare these costs on your income tax return. Read more about declaring study costs on the website of the tax office.

Below are the elective modules in the 2nd semester for the Embedded Systems track. Read the descriptions, watch the videos and then choose the 2 modules that suit you best!

Big Data & Small Data

This module gives you the skills to make models of complex and non-linear systems. The method? Black-box modelling. You’ll learn techniques such as system identification and creating ARMAX and FIR models. We also take a look at fuzzy, neural networks, PLS and PCA.

What about systems with binary inputs or outputs? You learn to deal with those too. And you become skilled at making hybrid models. These combine the techniques of white- and black-box modeling.

Part of this module is a minor project. Here you focus on the application area of your choice. This could be big data analysis in energy management. Or degrees of freedom and friction in robotics. Or a project on Model Predictive Control.

Topics

System identification
State and parameter estimation
Advanced modelling (minor project)

Watch the video about the module Big Data & Small Data

Advanced Controller Design

In this module you learn how to create a controller. Not just any controller. One that can deal with varying conditions. How? Using robust design techniques such as H∞ and augmented plant. You also create an optimal controller based on cost functions using Pontryagin’s Principle. Varying points of operation? No problem. Overcome this using adaptive control techniques.

During the minor project you focus on an application of your choice. Want to specialize in energy management or process? Then you could study optimization. Mechatronics more your thing? Then you could conduct a study on robustness.

Topics

Robust control techniques
Optimal control
Adaptive control techniques
Minor project on optimization/robustness

Watch the video about the module Advanced Controller Design

Distributed Systems

What are the underlying principles of distributed embedded systems? And how do they work? That’s the core of this module. Here you learn about architectural design, protocols, algorithms, fault handling and maintenance. The key principle is real-time behavior. And how this affects quality requirements (resource limited reasoning).

During the minor project you apply these principles. How? Following the guidelines of agile software development and using C programming language.

Topics

Architectural design
Protocols
Algorithms
Fault handling
Maintenance
Real-time behavior
Quality requirements (resource limited reasoning)
Agile software development
C programming

Watch the video about the module Distributed Systems

Finished all the theory? Including labs and minors? Now it’s time for your major project. Apply the principles of the program to a real-life industrial setting. Use your technical aptitude. Prove your ability to manage a project. And show your skills in communicating, reporting and presenting.

All major projects are motivated by real-life problems. In most cases, the research is carried out at a company. That means a representative of your company is involved to verify:

whether the thesis results match the expectations of the company.
whether the rated aspects of the master graduation project are relevant for the company.

This gives us valuable feedback on the professional requirements for the intended learning outcomes.

The problem to be solved requires an understanding and active analysis of distinctive disciplines. The project will always include the step from a real-life problem to a more abstract representation of the problem. This restricted representation of the real world is then the basis for the problem analysis. How will you go about this? Using the tools and methods you’ve learned about in the modules.

The problem analysis then leads to a problem solution. Finally, conclusions are drawn about the extent to which the problem has been solved and the objectives fulfilled.

Learning Outcomes

During the major project you learn to:

1. Analyze and define problems

Critically analyze the engineering problem through active communication with the problem owner.
Based on this analysis, formulate a problem, come up with feasible approaches towards a solution, draw scientifically valid conclusions and make recommendations, again to be communicated again to the problem owner.

2. Design

Systematically translate the engineering problem to a model at an abstract level, (i.e. reducing it to its essentials in terms of model and problem requirements).
Validate results against the real-life situation and problem formulation.

3. Test

Systematically translate the engineering problem to a concrete level.
Validate results against the real-life situation and problem formulation.

4. Manage work processes

Place engineering activities within the perspective of engineering company processes, including quality control principles.
Incorporate the economical (cost) and societal (safety, sustainability) consequences in the design or development process.

5. Conduct research

Gain specialized scientific knowledge and skills in the field of engineering.

6. Communicate and collaborate

Work on a problem within a multidisciplinary context in an industrial environment.
Work on a problem in an international engineering context in an industrial environment.

7. Work on your professional development

Through self-reflection, improve one’s own professional performance

Procedure

The project is completed during a period of 5 -6 months (study load of 840 hours). You’ll be supervised by a HAN staff member and an industrial supervisor from the supporting company.

This project requires you to prove your ability to manage a project. You’ll also need to demonstrate your skills in communicating, reporting and presenting.

You conclude the project by writing a thesis, which you present in an oral examination to a panel. On the panel will be your  2 supervisors, a further examiner (HAN) and an external expert.

Project setting

You can do the major project at the company or institution of your choice. There are conditions though. The company needs to be able to provide a proper assignment, working environment and support. You may also opt to complete the project in a research setting. At HAN University of Applied Sciences or at one of our many partner universities.

Interested in one of the tracks of the Master of Engineering Systems program? Want to discuss whether it aligns with your goals and background? Let's discuss it during an online meeting!

First check out the admission requirements. Still think the program could be interesting for you? Email us at technicalmasters@han.nl to arrange an online meeting in Teams.

Please include in your email which track you're interested in.

Look forward to meeting you!

Program

Changes to the Embedded Systems track

Embedded Systems in a nutshell

Systems Modeling and Applied Control

Compulsory modules

Academic calendar

Modules and lecture days

Track-specific modules

Modules in 2nd semester

A good match?

Embedded systems project

Major project

Master of Science

Master of Science

Watch our drone campus tour

Careers

Master in Engineering Systems Compulsory modules

2023-2024 Academic calendar

2023-2024 academic year

Master in Engineering Systems Modules and lecture days 2023-2024

Graduation project

Graduation project

Embedded Systems Modules in the 1st semester

Embedded Systems Modules in the 2nd semester

Big Data & Small Data

Advanced Controller Design

Distributed Systems

Testimonial Kaleab Gebemedhin Reach your potential

Studying in part-time

Embedded Systems Modules in the 2nd semester

Big Data & Small Data

Advanced Controller Design

Distributed Systems

Master in Engineering Systems Major Project

Online Arrange a meeting