Fontys University of Applied Sciences
Mechatronics (BSc)
- Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Venlo, Netherlands
BSc
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
15 Aug 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
Feb 2028
TUITION FEES
EUR 2,695 **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* International students: 15 November. Dutch students: 31 January.
** for EEA students | € 13.080 per year for non-EEA
Key Summary
About: You’ll study control techniques for robot-controlled products and machines, combining theory with hands-on labs, robot builds, simulations and company projects. Fontys emphasizes interdisciplinary teamwork with Mechanical, Electrical & Electronic and Industrial Design students, small-team guidance, and immersion in the Brainport (Eindhoven) or Greenport (Venlo) regions. Supervisors help you build research skills, expertise and creativity.
Career Outcomes: Graduates move into robotics, automation, control systems and systems design. Potential roles: system architect; robotic-aid designer; high-tech equipment designer; mechatronic project manager; and management or project management positions. You can continue to a master’s at Fontys or via the TU/e hbo top programme.
Robotics is developing at a rapid pace. This requires an always up-to-date educational program that fits in with the fourth industrial revolution. We train you to be a specialist in the systematic design of control techniques for robot-controlled products and machines. Interesting theory lessons will be alternated with developing your technical skills in practice and carrying out projects in which you create innovative products.
Why study Mechatronics at Fontys
- Projects with assignments from the business world
- Work together with students from different studies, such as Mechanical Engineering and Electrical & Electronic
- Engineering in Eindhoven or Industrial Design Engineering in Venlo
- You will be personally guided by our small team of teachers who put your passion first
- Immerse yourself in the Brainport (Eindhoven) or Greenport (Venlo) region of the Netherlands
- Your study supervisor helps you to develop research skills, subject expertise, and creativity.
How does your week look
Studying is hard work. That’s okay, as long as there’s variety in what you do. At Mechatronics, we’ve got you covered:
- One time you're following a class in one of our labs
- The next moment you’re working on a robot or simulation
- You work on projects in collaboration with a company
- Always together with your fellow students and/or under the guidance of our teachers.
What will you do at Mechatronics?
1st year of study (propaedeutic phase)
Already in the first year, you start putting theoretical knowledge into practice by running projects. In order to realize a product, for example, a robot, you combine Mechatronics related subjects like:
- Mechatronic design
- Electrical networks
- Mechanics
- Digital design
- C-programming
- Mathematics
- Integrated design techniques
- General engineering skills
- Communication and presentation techniques
In the first year, you will have around 25 classes a week. The learned theory and the acquired skills are immediately used in laboratory work and projects. Especially in the first year, the projects are based on gamification: principles and techniques on how to improve teamwork and learning how to do projects. A future Mechatronics engineer has excellent knowledge and skills but he/she also needs to be a perfect team worker.
2nd year of study (core phase)
As from the second year, you expand your knowledge and skills in mechatronics. This is called the core phase of the programme. See "Subjects per semester Mechatronics" for more information. In the 2nd year, you also start to do projects with students from other Engineering disciplines like Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.
Project-based learning has a strong relationship with subject-specific courses. The projects all have a link with real-time assignments from the industry. In the second year you will take part in EXPO (= Engineering eXPerience Organisation) projects; in the 3rd and 4th year IPD (= Integrated Product Development) projects.
3rd year of study (core phase)
In the first semester of the 3rd year, you will work and study in mechatronics related company (first internship). You will be involved in mechatronics assignments that will have university level. In the second semester of the 3rd year, you will do your minor programme: for 1 semester you will study subjects related to your major mechatronics or you can choose to do subjects that are not related to your major (e.g. Business Engineering). Fontys will help you in finding a minor that suits your interests best.
4th year of study (exam phase)
In the final year of your bachelor programme mechatronics, the first semester will be a specialization programme: robotics or control systems. In the 2nd semester, you will do your final graduation project: again you will work and study in a company but at the same time, you need to write your bachelor thesis report.
Linked to the bachelor programme Mechatronics is the knowledge centre Mechatronics & Robotics. This centre has close connections with many companies in the Brainport Region: Europe's leading innovative top technology region, the place to be for every Mechatronics student.
What are your going to learn
As a mechatronic engineer, you are able to work in different teams and dynamics. You will know both mechanical, software and electrical engineering fundamentals. Collaborating in international and/or multidisciplinary teams comes natural to you! You’re a logical thinker. You think about how to make equipment safer or more user-friendly and design it accordingly – think for example of an automated car wash, a smart production robot, or an advanced automated guided vehicle. Mechatronics is essential for modern society. There’s a great need for well-trained mechatronic engineers.
Unfortunately, Fontys University of Applied Sciences does not offer any scholarships for this programme. However, students who are citizens of any EU/EEA country, Switzerland or the UK may be eligible for loans or grants via duo.nl.
A degree in mechatronics can lead to lead to management positions, including project management.
You can have an important role in the development of high-tech equipment for operating theatres or devices that make a production process safer, more precise, faster and cheaper. You’ll be involved in the latest developments in the field of robotics and control techniques.
Think of positions such as:
- System architect
- Designer of robotic aids for people with disabilities
- Designer for high-tech equipment.
- Project manager of a mechatronic design team
Of course, you can also continue studying and take a master's course at Fontys or a technical university.
Fontys offers master's degrees in Digital Technology Engineering and in System Design.
Agreements have been made with TU/e for an hbo top programme, which makes it easy to move on to a master's programme at the university.