Frequently Asked Questions

AI&ES IS AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL MASTER’S. WHICH DEPARTMENTS ARE INVOLVED?

The master program AI&ES is offered as a joint co-operation between 7 TU/e departments:

• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering  
• Applied Physics  
• Mathematics and Computer Science  
• Biomedical Engineering  
• Built Environment  
• Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences

The department of Electrical Engineering is the leading department for the master program AI&ES.

WHAT IS THE DURATION OF THE AI&ES MASTER PROGRAM?

The duration of the program is two years (120 ECTS).

WHAT KIND OF DIPLOMA DO I GET WHEN I FINISH MY MASTERS’ DEGREE AI&ES?

When you finish your Masters’ degree AI&ES you are Master of Science (MSc) in Artificial Intelligence and Engineering Systems with a certificate for the chosen track.

GENERAL – ALL STUDENTS

WHEN AND HOW CAN I ENROLL FOR THE MASTER AI&ES?

For a start in September, you can enroll via Studielink from October 1st onwards, until the 1st of May. If you are an international student, please have a look at https://www.tue.nl/en/education/become-a-tue-student/.

If you wish to start in February, you can enroll via Studielink from October 1st onwards until the 31st of October. Please mention clearly in your application that you wish to start in February and contact ESA@tue.nl or IO@tue.nl (if you are an international student) stating you wish to start in February. Please be aware that starting with the Master program in February is not advised. We highly recommend starting your studies at the beginning of the academic year. Starting in the second semester may make it difficult for you to plan all the courses required to complete your Master’s program within two years.

WHAT IS THE APPLICATION DEADLINE?

For a start in September, the deadline to enroll via Studielink is May 1st. For a start in February, you can only enroll via Studielink between October 1st and October 31st.

GENERAL – ALL STUDENTS

WHAT ARE THE ADMISSION CRITERIA?

For the accurate admission criteria requirements, please check the Program and Examination Regulations (PER/OER) AI&ES which can be found on the the online Education Guide AI&ES – Regulations -  PER(OER) & RE - Downloads section.

WITH WHICH BACHELOR-DEGREE CAN YOU BE DIRECTLY ADMITTED IN THE MASTER’S PROGRAM?

The following Bachelor's degree certificates from the TU/e or any of the Dutch universities of technology (Delft University of Technology or University of Twente) provide direct access to the Master programs:

•  Applied Physics
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

For students with a different BSc program, there are specific additional requirements to resolve deficiencies, the form and weight of which depends on the learning outcomes and contents of the BSc program. Deficiencies with respect to the AI&ES admission criteria can potentially be resolved in an AI&ES pre-master program or through homologation.

STUDENTS OF OTHER UNIVERSITIES

I DIDN’T TAKE THE RIGHT ELECTIVES DURING MY BACHELOR, BUT I STILL WANT TO ENROLL IN THE MASTER AI&ES. IS THIS POSSIBLE?

Upon application, as part of the admissions procedure, it will be checked whether there are deficiencies and if so, what are these exactly. If the number of deficiencies is no more than 15 ECTS, the students are admitted to the master program AI&ES. The missing subjects will replace (some of) students' free elective courses through homologation.

Should the deficiencies exceed 15 ECTS, the students may need to complete a pre-master program AI&ES first, adapted to the existing deficiencies, as determined by the Departmental Admission Committee, before being allowed into the master program AI&ES.

IS THERE AN AI&ES PRE-MASTER PROGRAM? WHAT DOES IT CONSIST OF?

Yes, like all pre-master programs at TU/e, the AI&ES pre-master program consists of a maximum of 30 ECTS worth of courses, and it will take you about 6 months to  one year to complete. You are eligible to be admitted to the AI&ES pre-master program at TU/e, if you have a relevant Bachelor’s degree certificate from an institution of higher education (HBO or WO in the Dutch education system). You will need to comply with the mathematics and English proficiency requirements at TU/e.

The AI&ES pre-master program is described in the online Education Guide. Students who have completed the entire pre-master program AI&ES can continue in the master program AI&ES.  

TU/E STUDENTS

Students with a TU/e Bachelors in Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering will be admitted directly. For students with a different bachelor’s program, there will be specific additional requirements to resolve deficiencies, the form and weight of which depends on the choices made in the bachelor’s program.

WHAT IS THE AI&ES CURRICULUM?

During the two years of your Master program you will follow core courses (30 ECTS), courses that are related to the track you have chosen (20 ECTS), free elective courses (15 ECTS). In addition, the curriculum includes  an interdisciplinary team project (10 ECTS) and a final graduation project (45 ECTS). The program has six specialization options, called tracks, each of which prepares for a specific application area.

WHICH COURSES FORM THE CORE OF THE MASTER AI&ES? WHAT TOPICS WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THE PROGRAM?

The core courses are all scheduled in the first year of the program, thus ensuring a solid disciplinary foundation. he core courses are designed specifically for AI&ES students and address artificial intelligence in an engineering context. The core courses are designed to cover six relevant core topics for AI&ES engineers:

Topics 1, 2 and 3 are each covered by one compulsory core course that are all scheduled in the 1st quarter (Q1).

For topics 4, 5 and 6, you can choose one out of two possible core courses. In this way you can tailor your program to your own interests and bachelor background.

The research groups where you want to do your graduation project may require a specific choice of core courses so you should discuss your choices with your track mentor or intended graduation supervisor. Any core course that is not part of your personalized core course program, may of course be chosen as a free elective course if you wish to do so.

WHY DOES THE AI&ES PROGRAM HAVE TRACKS?

A track is a path through the AI&ES-program which prepares for applying AI in a specific area of engineered systems. There are six tracks:

1. High-tech systems and robotics
2. Mobility
3. Healthcare
4. Smart cities
5. Science and Discovery
6. Manufacturing systems

Each track includes four track specialization courses worth a total of 20 ECTS. The specialization courses bridge AI and ES and prepare for further research projects in the selected track.

The specialization courses aim to cover four themes, namely:

• Domain-specific knowledge
• AI in Engineered Systems
• Data Cultivation
• Learning and Intelligence

Track structure:

IN WHICH SUBJECTS CAN I SPECIALIZE IN THIS MASTER? WHICH SPECIALIZATIONS CAN BE CHOSEN?

You can specialize in one of the six AI&ES tracks:

1. High-tech systems and robotics
2. Mobility
3. Healthcare
4. Smart cities
5. Science and Discovery
6. Manufacturing systems

ARE ALL COMBINATIONS OF BACHELOR DEGREE AND TRACKS POSSIBLE?

Yes, all combinations of a bachelor entrance degree and a specialization area (track) are possible. Depending on the bachelor program that you followed, you may need more, less or no extra courses to strengthen your domain knowledge in a specific track. Specialization and elective courses offer such knowledge, and specific domain knowledge differs per track. All programs of examinations and selected courses need approval from the Examination Committee AI&ES.

HOW MANY ELECTIVES ARE SCHEDULED IN THE AI&ES MASTER?

The elective space consists of three courses worth a total of 15 ECTS.

HOW ABOUT ELECTIVES FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS?

You may continue studying more subjects from other expertise areas of Artificial Intelligence and Engineering Systems or study subjects from other areas you find interesting. You may use your elective courses to study technical or non-technical topics of your choice to broaden your perspective including courses from other departments at TU/e, different universities in the Netherlands, or universities abroad. Advice on elective courses can be given by your mentor. Your complete program of examinations needs approval by the Examination Committee AI&ES.

WHEN DO I NEED TO CHOOSE THE FREE ELECTIVE COURSES?

There is no mandatory deadline to finalize your choices for your free elective courses. Prior to starting your graduation project, you need to have compiled a program of examinations that satisfies all program requirements. From a practical point of view, you can begin the program with core subjects only and gradually start making choices as you learn more about each of the specialization areas. Consult your mentor for advice and options.

WHAT GUIDANCE IS OFFERED IN CHOOSING MY FRE ELECTIVES?

Being part of the TU/e Graduate School, you will be assigned a mentor to assist you on your professional development and study choices.

HOW CAN AN INTERNATIONAL COMPONENT BE EMBEDDED IN THE PROGRAM?

Going abroad for part of the program is possible but requires careful planning. Options are:

• Graduation project abroad

You can do your graduation project outside of the Netherlands. In most cases, a (potential) supervisor might have connections with foreign institutions, who might be looking for students to conduct a graduation project, therefore it is always advised to check on the possibilities with your (potential) supervisor.

• Courses abroad

You can also go abroad for elective courses. If you are interested in going abroad for courses talk to your mentor and the International Office EE about the possibilities. 

CAN I DO AN INTERNSHIP?

No, doing an internship is not possible as part of the AI&ES program. Experience with working in a company can be gained by carrying out (a part of) the graduation project within a company or external organization.

HOW DOES THE MASTER AI&ES COMPARE TO EXISTING MASTER PROGRAMS AT TU/E OR IN THE NETHERLANDS?

The Master AI&ES combines AI methods and techniques (including advanced data analysis techniques) with engineering systems. This means that this master’s program has the distinguishing feature to use AI tools and techniques in the interdisciplinary engineering practice that focuses on the design, control, diagnosis, manufacturing, management, and optimization of complex systems as they occur in different application domains.

ARE THERE POSSIBILITIES FOR A PHD OR PDENG POSITION AFTER THE AI&ES MASTER?

The Master AI&ES enables you to continue with a PhD or PDEng.

WHAT KIND OF JOB COULD I FIND AFTER FINISHING THIS MASTER?

Graduates in Artificial Intelligence and Engineering Systems will have knowledge and skills in the field of AI, such as machine learning and deep learning and have developed a scientific perspective towards problem solving in engineering. This forms an excellent basis for a successful career in positions where AI and engineering are combined. AI&ES graduates will most likely work in either industry or academia.

WHAT ABOUT THE JOB MARKET PROSPECTS?

The demand on the labor market for higher educated people in science and technology is high and still growing. This certainly applies for technicians trained in Artificial Intelligence and Engineering Systems. Graduates from TU/e often have a job at the time they graduate; within three months they all find a job.

HOW DOES THIS MASTER RELATE TO DATA SCIENCE AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (DS&AI), THE MASTER OF DATA SCIENCE?

TU/e offers two Artificial Intelligence Master’s programs. The Master DS&AI focuses on foundations, development, and research in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. The master Artificial Intelligence and Engineering Systems (AI&ES), an interfaculty master, focuses on application of AI to complex engineering systems, e.g. in the areas of high-tech systems, robotics, health or mobility. Their areas of interest are complementary: Artificial Intelligence technology will find application in Engineering Systems, while Engineering Systems problems and solutions feed Artificial Intelligence research.

HOW IS EAISI INVOLVED?

The Eindhoven Artificial Intelligence Systems Institute (EAISI) coordinates AI-related research and education, organizes meetings and activities for all students, lecturers, and researchers in Artificial Intelligence active at TU/e to meet and exchange ideas and develop and advance the field AI together in a multi-disciplinary way. Both Master’s programs are part of these initiatives.

WHAT WILL THE PROGRAM COST?

The costs of following the AI&ES master are comparable to the costs of other master programs TU/e offers. For more details, refer to this webpage.

DO YOU HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS?

Various scholarships are open to students wishing to follow a Master’s program at TU/e. A requirement of most scholarships is that you have been admitted to a Master’s program before you may apply for the scholarship. It is therefore important that you take note of the scholarships deadlines and apply well in advance to the TU/e Master’s program of your choice in time to meet the scholarship deadline.
Students from countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) may be eligible for a grant or loan from the Dutch government. Check the website of DUO  if you qualify for student finance.