Master's Programme in Embedded Systems

120 credits

Programme syllabus, TIS2M

A revised version of the programme syllabus is available.
Code
TIS2M
Finalised by
The Faculty Board of Science and Technology, 9 November 2016
Registration number
TEKNAT 2016/123
Responsible faculty
Faculty of Science and Technology
Responsible department
Department of Information Technology

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 10, 2015 to be applied as of July 1, 2016. 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:

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

Language requirements

All applicants need to verify English language proficiency that corresponds to English studies at upper secondary (high school) level in Sweden ("English 6"). This can be done in a number of ways, including through an internationally recognised test such as TOEFL or IELTS, or through previous upper secondary (high school) or university studies.

The minimum test scores are:

  • IELTS: an overall mark of 6.5 and no section below 5.5
  • TOEFL: Paper-based: Score of 4.5 (scale 1–6) in written test and a total score of 575. Internet-based: Score of 20 (scale 0–30) in written test and a total score of 90
  • Cambridge: CAE, CPE

Learning outcomes

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

The Swedish Higher Education Act

Second-cycle courses and study programmes shall be based fundamentally on the knowledge acquired by students during first-cycle courses and study programmes, or its equivalent.

Second-cycle courses and study programmes shall involve the acquisition of specialist knowledge, competence and skills in relation to first-cycle courses and study programmes, and in addition to the requirements for first-cycle courses and study programmes shall:

  • further develop the ability of students to integrate and make autonomous use of their knowledge
  • develop the students‘ ability to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, and
  • develop the students‘ potential for professional activities that demand considerable autonomy, or for research and development work.

The Higher Education Ordinance

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

Degree of Master (120 credits) [Masterexamen]

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) after one year. 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. It also leads to students acquiring 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)

GXX first cycle, in-depth level of the course cannot be classified

AXX second cycle, in-depth level of the course cannot be classified

For courses with few students (five or less) the teacher responsible for the course may change the mode of instruction in joint consultation with the students.

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 http://www.teknat.uu.se/student.

Main Field of Study

Education in the main field of technology is available both as first-cycle courses and second-cycle courses, both as courses in Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Programmes, as well as independent courses.

For a Master of Science degree in technology, the main field of technology is used for Master of Science in Engineering. For courses within Master programmes in technology, specific main fields of study are used. These are Bioinformatics, Renewable energy production, Embedded systems, Industrial engineering and Molecular biotechnology. They are connected to the main specialisations of the programmes. The main fields of study constitute a specific part of the broader definition of the main field of technology and thereby fulfil the requirements for the main field of technology.

The Main Field of Technology

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

  • Methods for development, construction, commissioning, verification, use or maintenance of physical systems of practical use to improve the living conditions of mankind, or equivalent for components of such systems. The components need not be physical, but can take the form of algorithms or software.
  • Methods for efficient organisation of the processes involved in implementing the elements referred to in the above paragraph. Examples of courses that fall within this category are quality engineering, production management and technology-based business development.

A course that fulfils the above criteria can be classified also in another main field of study, given that all criteria of the additional main field of study are fulfilled.

A course mostly dealing with a different main field of study than technology can and should be classified also as technology if it contains elements that describe how the main content of the course can be applied in practice in a context of technology (defined by the above criteria). These elements should form a significant part of the course, they should be clearly indicated in the course syllabus, be taught at a level corresponding to the course level and be part of the examination. A decided double classification in technology should be reconsidered if the course differs from these criteria.

The Main Field of Embedded Systems (second-cycle)

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

A Bachelor degree, equivalent to a Swedish degree of at least 180 credits (i.e. three years of fulltime study), is required in order to obtain a Master of Science degree.

Master of Science (60 credits)

In order to be entitled to a Master of Arts/Science (60 credits) the following requirements have to be fulfilled: Finished courses at the second level totalling 60 credits (one year of full time studies). Of the courses included 15 credits maximum is allowed to be from the first cycle. Not, however, courses already included in the underlying first cycle degree (i.e. Degree of Bachelor). In addition to this, a main field of study of 30 credits minimum at the second level, including a degree project of 15 credits minimum is required.

Master of Science (120 credits)

In order to entitle to a Master of Arts/Science (120 credits) the following requirements have to be fulfilled: Finished courses at second cycle totalling 120 credits (two years of full time studies). Of the courses included 30 credits maximum is allowed to be at first cycle. Not, however, courses already included in the underlying first cycle degree (i.e. Bachelor's). In addition to this, a main field of study of 60 credits minimum at second cycle, including a degree project of 30 credits minimum is required.

Other directives

Admission to a later part of the programme

Admission to a later part of a Master programme in technology normally requires at least 15 credits from relevant second-cycle courses, in addition to a Bachelor’s degree, having been approved by the time of application. Application to a later part of the programme should be submitted no later than May 1 for the autumn semester and no later than December 1 for the spring semester.

Grading system and assessment

The form of assessment and the grading system are shown in the course syllabus.

Unless special circumstances apply, students have the right to have their examinations or other assessed work marked and graded within a maximum of 25 calendar days, but at least 14 calendar days before the make-up examination. Any student who has twice taken and failed to pass an examination for a course or course component, which entails, under the Higher Education Ordinance, that s/he has a right to have another examiner appointed, but who cannot be assigned a new examiner for special reasons, has the right to undergo another form of examination. (According to Guidelines regarding Student Working Conditions at Uppsala University as of 2010-01-01).

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.

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