NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology
MSc in Mechatronics and Automation | Specialisation in Maritime Autonomous Systems
Alesund, Norway
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* *EA/EEA/Swiss applicants: March 1. Other applicants: December 1.
* There are no tuition fees for students from the EU/EEA + Switzerland. For non-European students, tuition fees are being charged according to Category 2 in our website.
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
Robotics and Intelligent Systems (RIS) or Maritime Autonomous Systems (MAS)
Dive into the world of intelligent machines
The Master’s programme in Mechatronics and Automation Engineering blends mechanics, electronics, and programming to create cutting-edge, intelligent machines.
You will design, build, and program systems for real-world applications.Work on industry projects that range from creating software and simulating surgical operations, to building underwater drones for monitoring gas pipelines and fish farms.
Join a new generation of engineers who turn ideas into reality, and contribute to sustainable, innovative solutions in our increasingly automated world.
Recommended background - Marine Autonomous Systems (MAS)
For the MS study direction, the recommended background is less strict. In addition to the study programmes listed above for the RIS study direction, students from mechanical engineering, renewable energy, ship design, and most other engineering disciplines have a suitable background, but it is recommended to have some competence in electrical or mechanical engineering, preferably both.
Stipends and Loans for Master´s Degree Students
NTNU does generally not offer any stipends/scholarships or loans. However, we recommend that you investigate if there are any funding opportunities yourself. Below are some stipends, loans, and scholarships from third parties that are applicable to certain students at NTNU.
- Erasmus Mundus: scholarships for EU students
- Anglo-Norse Society: £2,500 is awarded each year to the best qualified British citizen receiving admission to a master´s degree at NTNU. You do not need to apply.
- EU loans: Some EU countries offer their citizens favorable loans to help them finance a master's degree in an Erasmus+ Programme country
- NORPART MA Scholarships: NTNU offers five scholarships to students from Ethiopia who will pursue an MPhil in childhood studies in the academic year 2023/2024 (Note: Changes to this scholarship scheme may arise if the motion to introduce tuition fees in Norway passes)
- GSEP - Global Sustainable Electricity Partnership: Scholarship for outstanding master 's-level students from developing countries in fields related to sustainable energy development.
Financial support for Non-EU applicants
At NTNU in Ålesund, we are committed to supporting international talent.
To ease the financial burden we offer paid student assistant jobs where you can secure up to 240 hours of paid work per year.
This means earning up to 45,000 NOK annually while gaining valuable professional experience.
We only guarantee a limited number of assistant jobs, and will hire based on an application process.
Apply now and invest in an opportunity that enriches your education and supports your success!
This master's degree program extends over two academic years (4 semesters) and constitutes a course load of 120 ECTS credits. It is possible to take one semester abroad during your studies.
- First and second semester consists of two courses common to the study programme, and two courses unique for the study direction (specialization).
- In the third semester you specialize further through a programme course, a complementary course, and a specialization project.
- In the fourth and final semester you complete your master thesis.
Program structure specialization Marine Systems
1st semester
- Fundamentals of Automation and Mechatronics Engineering 7.5 credits
- Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing 7.5 credits
- Modelling and Simulation of Marine Systems 7.5 credits
- Fundamentals of Systems Engineering 7.5 credits
2nd semester
- Experts in Teamwork 7.5 credits
- Digital Twins for Predictive Maintenance 7.5 credits
- Applied AI and Control 7.5 credits
- Computer Aided Engineering 7.5 credits
3rd semester
- Mechatronics and Systems Integration 7.5 credits
- Elective complementary course 7.5 credits
- Marine Systems Engineering Project 15 credits
4th semester
- Master Thesis in Marine Autonomous Systems 30 credits
NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology is the largest university in Norway and is also the main institution for education and research in engineering and technology.
For more information and a listing of various global rankings, please see Wikipedia, which shows that NTNU is listed among the top 100-350 universities in the world in 2023 and 2024, and first in the world ranking of universities with the biggest corporate links in 2017.
On Master in Mechatronics and Automation, you will have courses covering topics such as mechatronics, robotics, artificial intelligence, product design, industry 4.0, systems engineering, and digital twins.
You will learn to design, implement, and apply automated mechatronic systems, for example:
- industrial and collaborative robots
- solutions for automated and digitized production
- maritime mechatronic systems like autonomous ships
Throughout the master's programme, you get to work on real-world challenges and build your own mechatronic systems in the laboratories. These are often fully functional scale models of large cyber-physical systems, for which you will also develop a digital twin.
Such a setup, with both a digital twin and a scale model, is referred to as a digital triplet. This provides you with an excellent opportunity to gain experience with 'hardware-in-the-loop' in addition to simulation using a digital twin.
Marine Autonomous Systems
The specialisation Marine Autonomous Systems is about mechatronic systems that operate in the ocean, both above and below the sea surface.
You get an in-depth introduction to the use and design of mechatronic systems in maritime operations. You get to learn and work hands-on through a "megaproject" where you work with a large maritime project. Your courses will be linked to the project and give you additional knowledge, tools, and skills related to tasks addressed in the project.
This project structure is typical in the maritime shipbuilding industry, and the project will be carried out in collaboration with the maritime sector.
Relevant projects that you can get the opportunity to work with through your master can be:
- retrofitting smaller vessels with renewable energy systems and electrical drive
- make control systems that can be applied on for example autonomous ships, autopilots, and remote control,
- design and operate digital twins of vessels
- design and prototype subsea robotics
With a Master's Degree in Mechatronics and Automation, you get a broad engineering competence with a specialization in mechatronics and automation.
This competence is in high demand in technology companies across Norway. For example, this expertise can be applied in the ongoing digital transformation within the maritime sector or in the manufacturing industry, where automated production solutions and 'smart products' are crucial to ensure the competitiveness of Norwegian companies.
Student mentor
As a new student on Mechatronics and Anutomation you will get a student mentor the first semester of your studies. The mentor is a student from your study programme who will share their experience and assist you if you have any queries.
The student mentor will arrange social gatherings and give practical information in smaller groups that you are part of automatically.
Student organisation - Archimedes
In the buddy week you will be welcomed by the student organisation Archimedes.
Throughout the academic year you will be invited to social and professional events such as cabin trips, climbing, hikes, skiing trips, quiz and professional days. All members of the student organisation have access to Archimedes´ sailboat located not far from campus. Archimedes is also the student organisation of other study programmes at NTNU in Ålesund, so you get to know students outside the study programme that you’re enrolled to.
Student community at NTNU in Ålesund
With its 2500 students, the student community in Ålesund is tight-knit and welcoming. There are various organisations and activity groups that students engage in. The student organisations are based on volunteering and provides valuable experience in management, event planning, and marketing. The students have their own meeting place at Banken studenthus located at campus, were you’ll find pub/café, concert scene and can take part in events like quiz and movie nights.
Why Ålesund?
NTNU in Ålesund is located between fjord, mountain, and ocean. Here you get the perfect combination of city life and outdoor life. The region has fantastic nature and close access to everything from strolls in open coastal landscape, surfing on waves in open sea, to climbing on spectacular mountain peaks in the majestic Sunnmøre Alps. Summer like winter, the nature experiences are for everyone all year around.
Ålesund in a beautiful port with several islands that stretch out in the ocean. Located North in the western fjord landscape surrounded by the majestic Sunnmøre Alps.
Teaching and learning activities
The study programme is centred around contextual student-active learning activities. Some examples may include:
- Lectures with an emphasis on interaction and discussion
- Tutorials and demonstrations
- Written assignments
- Practical laboratory work with supervision
- Flipped classroom methodology
- Projects
- Presentations
- Dialog-based bidirectional feedback between teachers and students
- Facilitated guided self-study
- Practical industry work at a company
Digital tools are used to a large extent, e.g., for modeling, simulation, visualisation, design, implementation, collaboration, documentation, etc.
Learning activities and teaching methods in each course are facilitated and adapted to the digital society of today, where teachers carefully balance digital activities for asynchronous consumption (self-study), live presentation, and online interactivity as needed. However, it must be emphasised that the study programme to a large extent requires students to be physically present on campus to achieve the intended learning outcomes.
Most of the classes are on the same floor in the engineering lab building, to enable blended learning activities, allowing for switching quickly from a teacher-oriented learning activity (e.g., a lecture), to a student-oriented learning activity (e.g., a lab exercise) in a single class. A dedicated lab room is dedicated solely for students of the master students and serve the role as an identity area.
Workload
The expected average student workload for the study program is 41 hours/week, corresponding to 1700 hours for a study year.
Excursions
Smaller voluntary excursions free of charge may be arranged by the study programme.
Practice studies & work experience
The study programme does not include practice studies in the formal sense, cf.
However, students will be exposed to much industrial practical learning activities on campus, and the master thesis is typically completed in collaboration with a company or other external actors. Moreover, both study directions may involve shorter periods of activities off campus at a company, and in the study direction Robotics and Intelligent Systems, students will generally complete a specialisation project as an internship doing an industrial project with a set number of days off campus at a company.
All students must have completed a minimum of 6 weeks of work experience, which must be approved by the Faculty, before they can start their master's thesis.