Decisions and guidelines

Decision to establish the education programme

This syllabus was established by the Board of the Faculty of Science and Technology on November 7, 2023 to be applied as of July 1, 2024.

The Master Programme in Embedded Systems at Uppsala University (UFV 2009/647) is in effect as of July 1, 2010, according to a decision by the Vice-Chancellor.

Translations

Degree of Master of Science (60 credits) is called "Magisterexamen" in Swedish.

Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) is called "Masterexamen" in Swedish.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university. The main field of study must be engineering, mathematics or computer science.

Also required is:

• 20 credits in mathematics; and
• 30 credits in computer science, including courses in programming and computer architecture.

Language requirements

Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. This requirement can be met either by achieving the required score on an internationally recognised test, or by previous upper secondary or university studies in some countries. Detailed instructions on how to provide evidence of your English proficiency are available at universityadmissions.se.

Aims

The Master Programme in Embedded Systems provides students with the necessary knowledge to construct embedded computer systems and analyse whether these systems have the properties required for the desired functionality. Embedded systems can always be conceptualised as parts of larger technical systems. The range of application in products used throughout society is vast, including cell phones, washing machines, cars and aircraft. They may not look like computers, but they contain dozens-to-thousands of microprocessors that run upwards of millions of lines of programming code. They are called embedded computer systems.

Courses within the programme address design methods, construction and analysis of embedded systems, particularly their software.

Learning outcomes

Objectives of the Degree of Master of Science

The Swedish Higher Education Act

The Swedish Higher Education Act contains provisions about the higher education institutions that are accountable to the Government.

Degree of Master (60 credits) [Magisterexamen]

Objectives of the Degree of Master of Science (60 credits)

The Higher Education Ordinance

According to the Higher Education Ordinance the Degree of Master (60 credits) has the following learning objectives.

Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Master (60 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including both an overview of the field and specialised knowledge in certain areas of the field as well as insight into current research and development work, and
• demonstrate specialised methodological knowledge in the main field of study.

Competence and skills

For a Degree of Master (60 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to integrate knowledge and analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information
• demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues autonomously as well as to plan and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined time frames
• demonstrate the ability in speech and writing to report clearly and discuss his or her conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based in dialogue with different audiences, and
• demonstrate the skills required for participation in research and development work or employment in some other qualified capacity.

Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Master (60 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to make assessments in the main field of study informed by relevant disciplinary, social and ethical issues and also to demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work
• demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and
• demonstrate the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for his or her ongoing learning.

Degree of Master (120 credits) [Masterexamen]

Objectives of the Degree of Master of Science (120 credits)

The Higher Education Ordinance

According to the Higher Education Ordinance the Degree of Master (120 credits) has the following learning objectives.

Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including both broad knowledge of the field and a considerable degree of specialised knowledge in certain areas of the field as well as insight into current research and development work, and
• demonstrate specialised methodological knowledge in the main field of study.

Competence and skills

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information
• demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues critically, autonomously and creatively as well as to plan and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined time frames and so contribute to the formation of knowledge as well as the ability to evaluate this work
• demonstrate the ability in speech and writing both nationally and internationally to clearly report and discuss his or her conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based in dialogue with different audiences, and
• demonstrate the skills required for participation in research and development work or autonomous employment in some other qualified capacity.

Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to make assessments in the main field of study informed by relevant disciplinary, social and ethical issues and also to demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work
• demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and
• demonstrate the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for his or her ongoing learning.

Layout of the programme

Description of the programme

General description of the Master programmes in technology

The Master programmes in technology at Uppsala University are coherent two-year programmes with the possibility to graduate with a degree of Master of Science (60 credits) when the requirements for this degree are met. The programmes contain recommended courses of study to assure the quality of the degree, presenting students with a choice of courses closely aligned with the learning objectives of the Higher Education Ordinance. There are also designated elective courses with opportunities for specialisation through successive selections of courses. The programme ends with a degree project.

Each academic year is divided into four study periods, two during the autumn semester and two during the spring semester.

Second-cycle courses involve a considerable amount of independent work and responsibility for one's own learning. This results in increased depth and complexity within the main field of study. Students also acquire the ability to communicate in English, both orally and in writing.

Description of the Master Programme in Embedded Systems at Uppsala University

This program offers a structured range of courses leading to a degree of Master of science with embedded systems as the main field of study. The courses offered are primarily courses in systems engineering, computer engineering and computer science. The main field of study can be supplemented with courses in, for example, mathematics and electronics, as well as open, individual in-depth courses in various fields. Students can also take courses at other higher education institutes, within or outside the country.

The programme courses

Study plan

The following in-depth levels are used for the courses in the study plan:

G1N first cycle, has only upper-secondary level entry requirements

G1F first cycle, has less than 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements

G1E first cycle, contains specially designed degree project for Higher Education Diploma

G2F first cycle, has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements

G2E first cycle, has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements, contains degree project for Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science

A1N second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements

A1F second cycle, has second-cycle course/s as entry requirements

A1E second cycle, contains degree project for Master of Arts/Master of Science (60 credits)

A2E second cycle, contains degree project for Master of Arts/Master of Science (120 credits)

The main field of study

The focus of the main field of Embedded Systems is about constructing embedded computer systems, and analysing whether the systems contain the required characteristics for desired functionality.

Embedded systems can always be regarded as parts of larger technical systems. A wide variety of products in society is controlled by computers, for example mobile phones, washing machines, cars and planes. They do not look like computers, but contain many microprocessors running many lines of program code. They are called embedded systems.

A course can and should be classified as belonging to the main field of Embedded Systems if mostly dealing with at least one of the following areas:

• Methods required for the design, construction, and analysis of embedded systems, particularly their software.
• Methods for the efficient organisation of processes involved in the implementation of the above. Examples of courses within this category are industrial engineering, production management, industrialisation, quality and environmental engineering and project management.

Degree project

Common guidelines and instructions for degree projects apply to all programmes in technology at Uppsala University. Forms and instructions for students are available on the Faculty website https://www.teknat.uu.se/education/student-en/.

Degree

In order to be entitled to a Master's degree, a Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish "Kandidatexamen", from an internationally recognised university, is aquired. In the Swedish system there are two Master's degrees; Master of Arts/Science (60 credits) and Master of Arts/Science (120 credits).

Master's degree, 60 credits (Master of Science)

In order to be entitled to a Master of Science (60 credits) the following requirements have to be fulfilled: Completed courses totalling 60 credits (one year full-time studies). Completed courses totalling 45 credits at the second cycle (advanced level), whereof at least 30 credits within the main field of study. At the most, 15 credits is allowed to be from the first cycle. Within the main field of study a degree project of 15 credits minimum, is required.

Master's degree, 120 credits (Master of Science)

In order to be entitle to a Master of Science (120 credits) the following requirements have to be fulfilled: Completed courses totalling 120 credits (two years of full-time studies). Completed courses totalling 90 credits at the second cycle (advanced level), whereof at least 60 credits within the main field of study. At the most, 30 credits is allowed to be from the first cycle. Within the main field of study a degree project of 30 credits minimum, is required.

Other directives

Admission to a later part of the programme

In order to be admitted to a later part of the programme the student must:

• fulfil the general and specific entry requirements for the programme.
• have 15 credits of courses relevant to the programme, at Master's (advanced) level, in addition to the Bachelor's degree.
• have sufficient prior knowledge to be able to follow the programme at the level at which the student is admitted, which means that the student is able to study at least 15 credits from the programme outline (for the semester to which the student is admitted). The other 15 credits are specified in the individual study plan.

All points above must be satisfied, and the courses completed (modules do not count), at the latest by the deadline for supporting documentation of qualifications (see below). Students can only be admitted to a later part of a programme or a specialisation within a programme if there are available places in the programme in the semester in question.

An individual study plan for the first semester should be established by the programme study counsellor.

For studies starting the autumn semester the application period is 15th of March - 15th of April. Supporting documentation of qualification for the application may be submitted no later than 1st of June (for autumn semester). For studies starting the spring semester the application period is 15th of September - 15th of October. Supporting documentation of qualification for the application may be submitted not later than 1th of December (for spring semester). If the specified dates for the application deadline or completion date fall on a public holiday, the deadline is postponed to the nearest weekday. After the last application day, it is possible to submit a late application until the 1st of June (for autumn semester) and 1th of December (for spring semester). Late applications will be handled in the order they are received.

If the number of applicants is larger than the number of available places according to the dimensioning applicable, the selection criterion of average grade on prerequisite courses from a higher education institution (courses relevant to the programme) is used.

Grading system and assessment

The form of assessment and the grading system are shown in the course syllabus. Information about exam registrations are available at the virtual learning environment (this does not apply to exams at other higher education institutions than Uppsala University).

For more regulations see "Guidelines on working conditions for first- and second-cycle students at Uppsala University" as of 2017-07-01.

Inclusion of course credits towards a Master of Science degree

Some courses may not be included in the same degree, due to content overlap. The course content is shown in each course syllabus and the Graduation Office decides which courses may be included in the degree.