Individual study programme (ISP) MSc EMSYS
Your Individual Study Programme (ISP) defines which courses you will take during the master’s in Embedded Systems (120 EC). It must be approved by the programme coordinator within 6 months after you start the programme.
Below you will find the instructions on Choosing Electives using a pre-approved list and Thematic Guidance
Programme structure (120 EC)
Component | EC | Description |
|---|---|---|
Core compulsory courses | 30 | Fixed set of courses forming the foundation of Embedded Systems |
Electives | 30 | Your own selection of advanced or specialized courses |
Optional internship | 20 | Optional; can be replaced by 20 EC extra electives |
Final Thesis Project | 40 | Research project at one of the participating research chairs |
Choosing your Electives
Most of your electives should come from the pre-approved elective list published on this page.
You may suggest up to 10 EC of courses not on the list, if they fit your study goals and are approved by your programme coordinator. It is important that your overall ISP is coherent.
We strongly recommend that these additional courses come from the Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or Robotics master’s programmes.
Courses from other UT master programmes can sometimes also be approved. Always contact your programme coordinator before enrolling in such a course.
A limited number of courses from partner universities (TU Delft or TU Eindhoven) may still be followed, if they contribute clearly to your study focus.
If you plan to take one, first discuss it with the coordinator and check the latest course information:
- TU Delft: Study guide Embedded Systems → Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science → Master Embedded Systems
- TU Eindhoven: TU/e Embedded Systems curriculum
Your final elective package must align with the exit qualifications of the Embedded Systems programme and be approved by your coordinator on behalf of the Examination Board.
List of pre-approved elective courses
Course code | Course name | EC | Quartile |
|---|---|---|---|
Machine Learning I | 5 | 1A | |
Modelling & Analysis of Concurrent Systems | 5 | 1A | |
System-on-Chip Design for Embedded Systems1 | 5 | 1A | |
Internet of Things (for EEMCS)2 | 5 | 1A | |
Systems Engineering (elective for old curriculum) | 5 | 1A | |
Introduction to Biometrics | 5 | 1A | |
System Validation | 5 | 1A | |
Image Processing and Computer Vision | 5 | 1A | |
Wireless Communication Systems | 5 | 1A | |
System-on-Chip Design1 | 10 | 1A+1B | |
Machine Learning II | 5 | 1B | |
Control System Design for Robotics | 5 | 1B | |
Building Blocks for Sustainable Computing Systems | 5 | 1B | |
Cloud Networking | 5 | 1B | |
Embedded Computer Architectures 2 | 5 | 1B | |
Distributed Energy Management for Smart Grids3 | 5 | 1B | |
Computer Ethics4 | 5 | 1B | |
Perspectives on Engineering Design4 | 2.5 | 1B | |
Philosophy of Engineering: Ethics4 | 2.5 | 1B | |
Embedded AI (elective for old curriculum) | 5 | 1B | |
Robot Perception, Cognition and Navigation | 5 | 1B | |
Computer Arithmetic (TU Delft) | 5 | 1B | |
Advanced Software Development for Robotics | 5 | 2A | |
Design of Digital Systems (will continue in 2026/2027) | 5 | ||
Implementation of Digital Signal Processing | 5 | 2A | |
Mobile and Wireless Networking | 5 | 2A | |
Software Testing and Risk Assessment (STAR) | 5 | 2A | |
Pervasive Computing | 5 | 2A | |
Tele-presence Robotics | 5 | 2A | |
Quantative Evaluation of Systems | 5 | 2A | |
5G/6G Communication and Sensing Channels | 5 | 2B | |
Real-Time Systems 2 | 5 | 2B | |
Distributed Systems | 5 | 2B | |
Ad-Hoc Networks | 5 | 2B | |
AI for Autonomous Robots | 5 | 2B | |
Advanced Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition | 5 | 2B | |
A/D Converters | 5 | 2B | |
Security Services for the Internet of Things | 5 | 2B | |
Dependable Computing Systems | 5 | 2B |
- Has 16 contact hours/week. 2 or 3 hours overlap with system validation. With self-study this should be possible.
- "for EEMCS" is not shown on your diploma transcript. This course replaces course Wireless Sensor Networks.
- Not in a combination with the course "Energy Efficient Embedded Systems"
- "Perspectives on Engineering Design" and "Philosophy of Engineering: Ethics" cannot be followed in combination with the course "Computer Ethics"
Thematic Guidance
To help you build a coherent set of electives, five thematic areas are offered:
Theme | Focus area |
|---|---|
Computer Architectures | Hardware–software co-design, processors, architectures |
Embedded AI | Machine learning and artificial intelligence for embedded platforms |
Internet of Things (IoT) | Connected embedded systems and networking |
Dependable Computing | Safety, reliability and fault-tolerant systems |
Cyber-Physical Systems | Integration of computation and control in physical environments |
You can follow one of these themes, combine several, or design your own track, provided it is approved by your programme mentor.
Here are the elective courses (recommended) for these 5 themes:
Themes\Quarter | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Computer Architecture | System-on-chip for Embedded Systems | Embedded Computer Architectures 2 | Implementation of Digital Signal Processing | Dependable Computing Systems or Real Time Systems 2 or Distributed Systems |
Embedded AI | Machine Learning 1 (Design of Digital Systems (not in 2025/2026)) | Machine Learning 2 | Implementation of Digital Signal Processing | AI for Autonomous Robots |
Internet of Things | Wireless Communication Systems | Cloud Networking | Mobile and Wireless Networking Pervasive Computing | Ad-Hoc Networks or Distributed Systems |
Dependable Computing | System Validation | Embedded Computer Architectures 2 | Qantitative Evaluation of Systems Software Testing and Risk Assessment | Dependable Computing Systems or Distributed Systems or Real Time Systems 2 |
Cyber-Physical Systems | Image Processing & Computer Vision or (Design of Digital Systems (not in 2025/2026)) | Robot Perception, Cognition, and Navigation or Embedded Computer Architectures 2 | Advanced Software Development for Robotics Tele-presence in Robotics | AI for Autonomous Robots |
Approval of ISP
- Find the ISP form here: Individual Study Programme Form
- After filling in the ISP and signing it, send it to master-emsys@utwente.nl for approval.
- After receiving approval, send it to boz-emsys@utwente.nl for registration into Osiris.
Before submitting your final ISP:
- Make sure your total study load is 120 EC (including any internship or extra electives)
- Check that your electives support your intended thesis area