MASTER OF SCIENCE  3


SPECIALISATIONS

ROBOTICS 2


-YEAR MASTER'S PROGRAMME

~90
STUDENTS PER YEAR
1 | Robotics

INTRODUCTION
MASTER ROBOTICS
Create robots that fit seamlessly in society, industry, and healtcare, revolitionising of life, safety, and efficiency.

WHY ROBOTICS? FOCUS AND DISCIPLINES

Today, robots are not a sci-fi dream but an integral part In this two-year, English-taught Master’s, you will learn
of the high-tech industry. Manufacturing, maintenance, to develop robotic solutions for pressing challenges
construction, agri-food production, navigation, in industry, healthcare, and society. You will focus on all
healthcare, and many other sectors heavily rely on aspects of the complex process of making a robot: from
robotic systems. By overtaking dangerous, high- the mechatronics to the AI that powers it. Thanks to the
precision, or mundane tasks from humans, they help multidisciplinary nature of the programme, you will draw
increase efficiency and accuracy. However, developing insights from fields including mechanical and electrical
the technology and AI algorithms necessary for robots to engineering, computer science, and social sciences.
intelligently interact with their surroundings and execute
tasks is challenging. Think about designing an industrial
robotic system that handles and packages fragile
glassware in a factory or developing a social robot that
intuitively interacts with patients in a hospital. If you want
to dive into the mechatronics, control, software, AI, and
the legal, ethical, social, and economical intricacies of
making robots, the Master’s in Robotics at the University
of Twente is a great opportunity for you.

QUICKFACTS
Degree Master’s degree in Robotics CROHO 60973
Faculty Electrical Engineering Mathematics and Computer Science Duration 2 years
Language English-taught Start 1 Sep 2025
1 Feb 2026
Web ut.onl/rob
2 | Robotics

CAREER PERSPECTIVES
As a graduate with a Master of Science degree in Robotics, you are in high demand on the job market. You can
work at high-tech or robotics companies, delve into specialised research in academia, or even start your own
robotics company.

HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY, ACADEMIC RESEARCH, OR A WHERE DO GRADUATES WORK?

START-UP Wherever your interests lie, this Master's prepares you
After completing this Master’s, you will have a wide for a broad range of positions in a wide range of
range of career opportunities. You could work at a high- companies.
tech or robotics company, either in a broad role
overseeing entire processes or in a specialised position Potential positions
focusing on a specific aspect of robotics. Many ● System Engineer
graduates also find roles in research and development,
● Robotics Engineer
consultancy, or continue in academia. If you are
● Project leader
passionate about innovation, you might even start your
own company. Alternatively, you can further deepen your ● Software Engineer
expertise by pursuing a PhD or EngD through the Twente ● Robotics Designer
Graduate School (TGS). ● Mechanical or mechatronics Engineer
ut.onl/phd-eng
Potential employers
● Rosenxt
● TNO
● Dawn Aerospace
● ASML
● Demcon
● VDL
● Thales
● RIWO Engineering

For more specific examples of possible positions and

employers per specialisation, visit the website.
ut.onl/rob-specialisations

LET CAREER SERVICES Our Career Services Team is here to help you in
thinking about your future,so that your career gets off
HELP YOU OUT! to a flying start as soon as you get your diploma!

ut.onl/career-services
3 | Robotics

MASTER'S STRUCTURE
HOW TO COMPOSE YOUR
MASTER'S?
During your Master's in Robotics you will collect a total of 120 EC within two years. You have a lot of freedom
to customise your Master’s in Robotics to your interests and ambitions.

At the start of the programme you need to choose a CO-DECIDE THE CONTENT OF YOUR MASTER'S
specialisation. The Master's in Robotics has three While building your expertise in one of the three
specialisations, each consisting of six compulsory specialisations, you will tailor the programme by
courses: choosing one of the three profiles (research, design or
innovation & entrepreneurship) and diving into the
application areas: industry, healthcare or society.
● Mechatronics and Physical AI
● Algorithms and Software AI Becoming the Robotics professional of the future not
● Human-Robot Interaction and Social AI only requires content knowledge, but also soft and
academic skills. To develop these, Personal and
ut.onl/rob-specialisations Professional Development is embedded in the
programme through several challenging projects,
enabling you to work on personal learning goals related
to these skills, and also offering you tools to work on
real-life, complex problems to get you better prepared for
your master's thesis project and further career.
4 | Robotics

What your study programme will look like exactly, depends on the choices you make in composing your study
programme. The process consists of three steps:

STEP 1: CHOOSE A SPECIALISATION STEP 3: CHOOSE AN APPLICATION AREA

At the start of the programme, you need to choose a In addition to the specialisation and profile courses, you
specialisation. The Master's in Robotics has three will choose a number of electives to shape your expertise
specialisations: in a specific application area. Are you interested in
● Algorithms and Software AI (ASAI) making robots for industry, healthcare, or society? By
● Human-Robot Interaction and Social AI (HRISAI) choosing elective courses related to a certain robotics
● Mechatronics and Physical AI (MPAI) application area, you steer the direction of the research
you will do in your master’s thesis project and the type of
research group you will join. If you prefer, you can
STEP 2: CHOOSE A PROFILE combine electives from different application areas or
Next to a specialisation, you also choose a profile to courses from other specialisations or profiles.
further specialise. The profile you choose depends on
what kind of person you are and which roles and working YOUR PROGRAMME MENTOR IS HERE TO HELP
environments in the field of Robotics appeal to you. Each The Master’s in Robotics offers a lot of elective space. As
profile involves two profile-specific courses to be chosen long as your choices fit into the programme as a whole,
from a longer list. you can even opt for courses from other Master’s in
engineering! You are required to get your programme
● Research choices approved by your Programme Mentor and he or
If you aspire to an academic career or just want to she is on hand to help you compose the perfect mix for
deepen your knowledge, this is the profile for you. your talents and ambitions.
You will delve into research methodologies in robotics
and gain the skills needed for multidisciplinary
research.

● Design
Would you like to pursue a career as a robotics
engineer in a company? This profile equips you with
the necessary tools to effectively initiate and oversee
the process of designing robots.

● Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Do you dream of starting your own company or
becoming a robotics innovator? If you choose this
profile, you will learn to transform a technical concept
into a market-ready product.
5 | Robotics

SPECIALISATION
ALGORITHMS AND SOFTWARE
AI
Today’s rapid advancements in artificial intelligence are contributing to the increased autonomy of robots. Is
this a daunting or favourable development? In the specialisation in Algorithms & Software AI, you will delve
into the potential and limitations of deep learning, perception, cognition, navigation, and software
development to improve the decision-making process inside a robotic system.

In this specialisation, you will learn how robots make JOB OPPPORTUNITIES
decisions and transform external signals into With your expertise in machine learning for robotics and
autonomous, useful movements. Among some of the developing complex robotics algorithms, you will be
challenges you will tackle is enabling a robot to use its equipped to create and improve robots for industrial,
sensors to understand and respond to its surroundings. healthcare, or societal applications at a wide range of
How do you develop the right algorithms, and how do companies and institutions.
you implement those in a working prototype? You will
delve into algorithms for perception, cognition, Whichever career path you choose, you will be sure to
and navigation as well as into systems engineering, find exciting opportunities at many private and public
optimal estimation, and machine learning. Research organisations worldwide. You can work at industry
assignments in this specialisation centre on advanced defence and space manufacturing companies, such
sensor data analysis and programming robotic as Revolv Space and Benchmark, or automotive
controllers. engineering companies like IAV. What about kickstarting
your career at ASML or Philips? Or are you interested in a
Courses: career at a life sciences and health company, such
● Robot Perception, Cognition, and Navigation as Demcon?
● Image Processing and Computer Vision
● Optimal Estimation for Dynamic Systems
● Advanced Software Development for Robotics
● AI for Autonomous Robots: deep learning and
reinforcement learning
● Systems Engineering

TYPE OF DEGREE
On completing this master’s with a specialisation in
Algorithms and Software AI, you receive a Master’s
degree in Robotics. Also, you can title yourself Master of
Science (MSc). Your specialisation is mentioned
specifically on your diploma supplement, highlighting
your specialised knowledge and skills in Algorithms and
Software Artificial Intelligence.

"How can I make something move out of a line of code?

From placing a robotic arm on my guitar to programming
electronics that control motors—I thrive on making things
move."
- Jan-Pieter, student Master's in Robtics -
6 | Robotics

SPECIALISATION
MECHATRONICS AND PHYSICAL
AI
Ever wondered how a robot navigates the blend of mechatronics, computer science, and control theory? This
specialisation focuses on understanding robots as physical systems governed by laws of physics. You will dive
into developing a robot’s hardware, which allows the robot to move and interact with people and objects in an
intelligent way.

The focus of the specialisation is on the physical JOB OPPORTUNITIES

characteristics of robots and their control mechanisms. With your deep understanding of the physical aspects of
How does a robot function as a physical system—how robots, encompassing their mechanics, sensors, and
does it move, operate, and interact with a dynamic actuators, you will be equipped to create and improve
environment safely and effectively? Moreover, how can robots for industrial, healthcare, or societal applications
you integrate its physical attributes into the development at a wide range of companies and institutions.
of an intelligent control system? This requires delving into
different disciplines, such as mechatronics, control Whichever career path you choose, you will be sure to
theory, and computing. You will learn to address find exciting opportunities at many private and public
challenges related to modelling and simulating designs, organisations worldwide. What about starting your
physical prototyping, and the development of controllers career at a robotics company like Boston
Dynamics or iRobot? Or are you interested in a career at
Courses: an automotive company, such as Tesla or Toyota? You
● Modelling, Dynamics, and Kinematics can work at Philips, ASML, Thales, the Netherlands
● Design Principles for Robotics and Mechatronic Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO),
Mechanisms or Demcon.
● Control System Design for Robotics
● System Identification and Machine Learning
● Software Development for Robotics
● Systems Engineering

TYPE OF DEGREE
On completing this master’s with a specialisation in
Mechatronics and Physical AI, you receive a Master’s
degree in Robotics. Also, you can title yourself Master of
Science (MSc). Your specialisation is mentioned
specifically on your diploma supplement, highlighting
your specialised knowledge and skills in Mechatronics
and Physical Artificial Intelligence.

"At its core, a robot is a physical entity interacting with its environment. Regardless
of the intelligence embedded within a robot's design, it must adhere to the
fundamental principles of physics and mechanics."
- Dr. Federico Califano, programme mentor Mechatronics & Physical AI -
7 | Robotics

SPECIALISATION
HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTION
AND SOCIAL AI
How can you endow robots with the intelligence necessary to effectively interact with people and, eventually,
work together? Think of robot butlers, assistants, or customer service providers. In this specialisation, you will
learn to make human-robot interaction socially effective, natural, and of real added value to people and
organisations.

In this specialisation, you will build expertise in robot JOB OPPPORTUNITIES

cognition. How can you design robots capable of With your specialised knowledge of how robots interact
intuitively interacting with humans in a variety of with people in socially effective and acceptable ways,
settings, such as collaborative work in manufacturing or you will be well prepared to create robotic systems for
assisting patients in hospitals? You will explore methods industrial, healthcare, or societal applications at a wide
to design interfaces and behaviours by analysing range of companies and institutions.
gestures, speech patterns, and emotional expression.
Designing communicative behaviours for robots is Whichever career path you choose, you will be sure to
challenging because you have to deal with a lot of find exciting opportunities at numerous private and
limitations. For instance, how can you make a robot that public organisations worldwide. You can work at
conveys its intentions clearly enough for a person to healthcare technology companies like Intuitive
understand what it intends to do? Surgical and Medtronic. What about starting your career
at Philips, ASML, or the Netherlands Organisation for
Courses: Applied Scientific Research (TNO)? Or are you interested
● Tele-presence Robotics in a academic career in which you specialise even more
● Human-Robot Communication in your human-robot interactions?
● Human-Robot Collaboration
● Advanced Software Development for Robotics
● Robot Perception, Cognition, and Navigation
● Systems Engineering

TYPE OF DEGREE
On completing this master’s with a specialisation in
Human-Robot Interaction and Social AI, you receive a
Master’s degree in Robotics. Also, you can title yourself
Master of Science (MSc). Your specialisation is
mentioned specifically on your diploma supplement,
highlighting your specialised knowledge and skills in
Human-Robot Interaction and Social Artificial
Intelligence.

"Designing a robot doesn’t involve only the technical

aspect. The human touch is equally important. Take, for
example, the challenge of creating a telerobot connecting
people in elderly care homes with their families."
- Pauline, student Master's in Robotics -
8 | Robotics

NEED AND NICE-TO-KNOW

STUDENT INFORMATION
There are a couple of things you should know before you apply for the Master in Robotics. In addition, you will
find some nice-to-know information about this Master's.

TYPE OF DEGREE GET SUPPORT 24/7 DURING YOUR APPLICATION

When you have completed this Master's, you receive a Do you have questions about your transfer options,
Master’s degree in Robotics. Also, you can title yourself deadlines, starting dates or costs, to name a fewtopics?
Master of Science (MSc). Your specialisation and profile Collecting all relevant information to apply for a study
are mentioned specifically on your diploma supplement, can be daunting. Even though everything can be found
highlighting your specialised knowledge and skills. on our websites, the amount of information you need to
read can seem overwhelming. This is where chatbot Sam
NEED MORE CHALLENGE? comes in! Together with this handy and fast conversation
Broaden your horizon by adding an extra programme to method, you can browse through all the information you
your Master's. You have many opportunities to expand need to apply. Start up a chat!
your knowledge outside of your own Master’s. You could ut.onl/chatbot
choose to combine two master's programmes or take
part in one of our Master Honours Programmes.
ut.onl/robotics-extracurricular
9 | Robotics

You start your studies in September or February. If you are required to attend a pre-master's first, you can only
start the pre-master's in September and, upon completion, continue your master’s in February.

APPLY NOW! DO THE ONLINE ELIGIBILITY CHECK

Have you decided that you want to study the Master's in Find out if you are admissible to this Master's within five
Robotics at the University of Twente? Find out if you are minutes with our eligibility check! This e-check is created
admissible and apply via our website. for upcoming master's students with an international
ut.onl/robotics-admission bachelor's degree to verify that they meet the specific
admission requirements for this Master's. For students
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS with an international degree, it is mandatory to
The route to apply depends on your nationality and complete the e-check. Start the check, it takes about
educational background. Have you decided that you five minutes to complete it.
want to study the Master's in Robotics at the University ut.onl/check
of Twente? Find out if you are admissible using our
transfer tool.
ut.onl/transfertool

● Dutch UAS student: As a bachelor's student from a

university of applied sciences (HBO), it is necessary to
complete a pre-master's first.
● Dutch university student: You may be admitted to
this (pre-)master's on the condition that you still have
to pass your BSc degree. If you are a BSc Electrical
Engineering or BSc Mechanical Engineering graduate,
you are directly admissable.
● International student: For the minimum CPGA of
your country, please visit our master’s website.

ut.onl/countrylist

For the English language requirements tests, you need to

score a minimum overall score as well a minimum score
on each section of the tests. You can find the specific
subscores per test below:
● Academic IELTS: minimum overall score: 6.5,
minimum score on each section: 6.0
● TOEFL, internet-based (TOEFL-iBT): minimum overall
score: 90, minimum score on each section: 21
● Cambridge CAE-C (CPE): minimum overall score: 176,
minimum score on each section: 169

GET IN TOUCH  Student Services

Questions about a study programme of your  study@utwente.nl

interest? Whatever your question is, we will be  +31 (0)53 489 5489
happy to help you.
 +31 (0)6 51842633

Contact us! ut.onl/msc-contact

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TO STUDY AT UT?
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