Master of Science in Electrical Engineering

The program combines rigorous scientific and technical education with the development of practical skills. It encourages independence, creativity, and inventiveness, and it shapes competent engineers who can contribute to society on many – if not all – levels. This program is part of Bruface, which means it is organized by Vrije Universiteit Brussel jointly with Université Libre de Bruxelles. This allows students to use the adjacent infrastructures of both institutions, as well as giving them the opportunity to study in a multicultural context.

The course aims at forming engineers adapted to the actual needs of our society. They also have a broad overview of the impact of electronics and informatics on the industry, on economics, and on worldwide trade and commerce.

The standard track in the Joint Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (120 ECTS) consists of 5 modules:

1. Common compulsory courses (47 ECTS)
2. Compulsory/Elective courses in year 1 (13 ECTS)
3. One compulsory, master-specific option package (1 set to accomplish out of 3 sets provided, 24 ECTS each)
4. Free elective courses and/or an internship (12 ECTS)
5. Master Thesis Electronics and IT-Engineering (24 ECTS)

Each of the modules should be successfully completed to obtain the master's degree. The student should respect the specified registration requirements. The educational board strongly suggests the student follow the standard learning track. Only this model track can guarantee a time schedule without overlaps of the compulsory course units.

In total, this academic plan comprises 120 ECTS credits.

Elective courses

Students can choose to postpone the company experience until after the master's program, and choose 12 ECTS from the more than 20 elective courses offered by the academic staff and their research groups. The electives have a wide variety of subjects, covering more in-depth specializations as well as topics like entrepreneurship and even languages.

Internship

Between the first and the second year, students can take up an internship worth either 6 ECTS (40 working days) or 10 ECTS (60 working days). The student can get actively involved in a real company where they carry out real tasks and are expected to integrate and communicate in a work team, gaining industrial engineering competencies through real-life situations in a professional context. This can take place in- or outside Belgium, as long as the theme is related to the professional life of an engineer in the enterprise of choice. It can be a laboratory or a research institute – not including university laboratories in Belgium. Students can even link their internship to their master's thesis. To avoid interference with studies in the second year, students are advised to plan their internship as much as possible during the summer holiday between the two master years.

Electronics and information technology span a broad range of topics related to omnipresent systems and devices: smartphones, laptops, robots, games, cars, medical imagers, solar farms, the ‘Internet of Things’, and so on. At VUB you can become an expert in this field, ensuring a career in an ever-evolving aspect of society. The program combines a rigorous scientific and technical education with the development of practical skills. It encourages independence, creativity, and inventiveness, and it shapes competent engineers who can contribute to society on many – if not all – levels.

Technology is a key component in today’s society and the rapid evolutions in this field ensure that there’s never a shortage of job opportunities. Graduates are ready for the international job market because of their thorough training with English as the working language. The job possibilities are virtually endless; 90% of students enrolled in the program receive interesting job offers before they graduate. VUB helps them take their first steps on the job market with workshops, networking events, job fairs, and tips for job interviews. It’s all an ambitious student needs!