Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
Whether in the motor of a washing machine, the generator of a power station or the microchip of a computer, electrical engineering and information technology are everywhere. Without them, neither mobile phones nor computers, aeroplanes nor cars would work, and our homes would remain cold and dark.
Electrical engineering and information technology are characterised by rapid change and constant innovation. High-performance electronic devices and systems play a key role in the economy and society. However, traditional industrial products, such as machine tools, automation technology and production plant, also contain numerous electrical and electronic components.
The traditional division of electrical engineering into high-voltage and low-voltage technology is now rarely encountered. The fields of study are highly diverse and provide a framework for a wide range of interests: automation technology, telecommunications and technical computing are key areas of application. In addition to the fundamental knowledge, these include electrical measurement technology, control engineering, digital technology, as well as analogue circuit technology and electronics with their respective applications. The boundaries between the individual fields are fluid. As applications become increasingly widespread, many further areas of specialisation are emerging.
Engineers specialising in electrical and information technology are highly sought-after specialists and managers on the labour market, with excellent career prospects; this is because, in terms of turnover and employment figures, electrical and information technology ranks among Germany’s three largest industrial sectors, alongside mechanical engineering and the automotive industry.
Areas of specialisation
Automation technology refers to the control and regulation of individual devices, such as a washing machine, a robot or a motor speed, as well as entire plants and systems, such as a car assembly line, an aeroplane on approach, or a distillation column in the chemical industry. In this process, a sensor records the required measured values, which are transmitted via electrical connections (bus system) to the controlling process computer, and the calculated control signals are output via actuators.
The course in the Automation Technology specialisation is organised into four sub-areas: control engineering, control theory, data technology and power electronics/drive technology.
- In the course on control engineering, students are introduced to the design and programming of programmable logic controllers, the operation of robots, the programming of numerically controlled machine tools, and the principles of various bus systems.
- The course on control engineering covers the fundamentals of control engineering and the programming of digital controllers.
- The course on data technology covers in depth the use of programming languages, the architecture and programming of microcontrollers, and the use of computers in real-time systems.
- In the field of power electronics and drive technology, the course examines the design and operation of various types of motors (DC motors, induction motors, synchronous motors), their control using power electronics, and their interaction with the system being controlled (drive technology).
Due to the interdisciplinary nature of automation technology, graduates go on to work in a wide variety of industrial sectors. These include medium-sized and large companies in the fields of electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and vehicle manufacturing.
Communications Engineering – the technology behind the connected world
Whether it’s smartphones, Wi-Fi, 5G/6G, satellite navigation, fibre-optic internet, radar, autonomous driving or the Internet of Things: communications engineering is now found in almost every technical system. It ensures that information is transmitted, processed and interpreted reliably, quickly and securely – often invisibly, but indispensably.
In the Communications Technology (KT) specialisation, you will learn how modern communications systems work – from physical transmission to intelligent signal processing and the planning and design of communications systems. You will study digital and analogue modulation techniques, high-frequency technology, antennas, error correction, signal processing and modern communications protocols. Topics such as 5G/6G mobile communications, Wi-Fi, GNSS, Software-Defined Radio (SDR), radar and sensor systems, optical communications (fibre optics & lasers) and algorithms in signal processing form an integral part of the programme.
Today, communications engineers work at the interface between hardware, software and mathematics. Typical tasks range from the development and simulation of transmission methods, the design of RF and antenna circuits, and the programming of microcontrollers, FPGAs and DSPs, to the implementation of complex communication stacks or the analysis of real-world radio systems. Activities in network planning, measurement technology, system testing, product development, technical consultancy and project management are also part of the role.
Teamwork is a given: communication systems are not developed in isolation, but by interdisciplinary teams comprising engineers, computer scientists and natural scientists. That is why we place great emphasis on practically-oriented projects and the development of social and methodological skills – abilities that are crucial in industry.
Our laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art measurement and development technology: modern RF test stations, spectrum analysers, network analysers, SDR platforms, antenna measurement systems, optical transmission systems and professional simulation software for high-frequency and communications systems. Working in small groups, you will apply what you have learnt directly – from the first radio signal to a fully tested communications system.
Thanks to close links with industry and research, the latest technologies, real-world problems and practically-oriented projects are continuously integrated into the teaching. Those who choose communication technology are opting for a specialisation with excellent career prospects, high technical relevance and a direct link to the key technologies of the digital future.
Machine learning, deep learning and artificial intelligence
No other field has shaped engineering more rapidly or more profoundly in recent decades than machine learning and artificial intelligence. Deep learning, as a sub-field of machine learning, has brought about a revolution over the last decade that is already bringing about lasting changes to our everyday lives, and this revolution is continuing at a rapid pace. Hardly any modern development can do without the application of these technologies. Within the engineering disciplines, electrical engineering is particularly closely intertwined with machine learning: autonomous driving, industrial and assistive robotics, and control and automation technology rely on the most precise possible perception and interpretation of the environment, as well as forward-looking planning. Other sub-disciplines of electrical engineering, such as energy and communications engineering, also benefit significantly from machine learning methods.
Why machine learning and electrical engineering?
The development of new, theoretically relevant machine learning methods is often an interdisciplinary endeavour involving mathematics, computer science and electrical engineering, frequently utilising methods from probability theory and statistics. Successful practical application of these methods always requires in-depth knowledge of the subject area in question (the ‘application domain’).
For applications in electrical engineering, the methods must be tailored to the specific circumstances, and model architectures must be adapted or redesigned and trained using suitable data. Whilst training can often be carried out on systems with high computing power, the deployment of the system onto end-users’ target systems must make do with significantly lower computing power. This leads to specialised architectures and implementation techniques.
Data provision, the interpretation of results and communication with end-users – in particular, fostering an understanding of what these technologies can and cannot achieve efficiently – also play a crucial role in this context.
What are the prospects?
Applicants with expertise in machine learning and a solid background in electrical engineering or computer engineering are in high demand across all sectors. Our graduates successfully apply machine learning in automation technology, automotive engineering, chip manufacturing, communications, logistics, the pharmaceutical industry and the supply industry.
Successful completion of the bachelor's degree with a specialisation in machine learning enables (provided the admission requirements are met) a seamless transition to the master's degree programme, in which the topics are explored in greater depth across various fields of application. Subsequently, a career in research, including a doctorate, is also possible. Currently, a number of doctoral candidates are conducting their research at the department across two institutes, working on topics centred around machine learning.
What content is covered in the programme?
In the bachelor's degree programme (“Electrical and Information Engineering with a specialisation in machine learning”), you will first acquire a solid foundation in electrical engineering and computer science. In addition, the mathematical foundations of machine learning, an overview of the most important machine learning methods, and the deployment of typical AI models on target systems are taught both theoretically and through practical exercises. Current hardware and software frameworks are also utilised in this process. Furthermore, you will learn the fundamentals of digital signal and image processing and create and programme autonomous systems yourself in various projects.
Computer Engineering has applications virtually everywhere – in business, industry, research and development, and administration – as well as in many areas of private life. As a computer engineer, you are not restricted to any particular region or field of application. Throughout your career, you will repeatedly be confronted with new and exciting challenges. And all this comes with excellent career prospects.
In both teaching and research, Technical Computer Science focuses on the hardware foundations of computer science, i.e. on the hardware and hardware-related issues of computing systems. This includes, in particular, the architecture, design, organisation and operation, as well as the technical application, of data-processing (DV) systems.
Many areas of application in research, business and administration require local – and increasingly global – network structures between computers, i.e. PCs, workstations and tightly or loosely coupled multi-computer units. Effective management of these networks is essential for stable and cost-effective operation, in order to enable transparent and secure interaction and communication capabilities that extend beyond the local area to a global scale.
Computer Engineering differs from ‘pure’ computer science mainly in its focus on hardware. The tasks are closely linked to the hardware and very often deal with the interface between hardware and software. For this reason, hardware and software development often go hand in hand within a single project. Another key area is that of so-called embedded systems, in which the computer as such is not visible – that is, systems for measuring, controlling and regulating other components. For example, you will find more than a dozen computers in a luxury car today. Data communication and the networking of computer systems also play a significant role.
The specialisation in Technical Computer Science aims to equip you with the professional skills required in all areas of data processing (in particular the hardware of data-processing systems, as well as high-level and system-oriented programming languages). It provides a comprehensive overview of the information technology aspects of electrical engineering. You will gain a thorough understanding of digital technology, computer architectures and microcomputers, data communication and computer networks, high-level languages and operating systems. Introductions to circuit design, communications engineering, signal processing, microelectronics and control engineering establish links with other areas of electrical engineering.
The Technical Computing specialisation is underpinned by the pillars of digital technology, computer hardware, data communications and software engineering. The fundamentals of digital technology include logic programming for integrated circuits, logic design methods and the use of professional hardware design tools. Technical Computer Science also deals with the functional structure of computers and associated devices, as well as the logical design of computers, devices and circuits (computer architecture, computer organisation, microprocessor technology).
Microprocessor technology plays a key role in this context, as it provides the foundation for computer technology. The programming of microprocessors and microcontrollers in machine-level and high-level programming languages is covered in lectures and internships.
The hardware component is complemented by object-oriented programming languages, modern software technologies and design principles, as well as lectures on operating systems (standard and real-time operating systems) and process data processing. You will also learn how digital image processing and pattern recognition methods can be used to analyse satellite images, detect screws on a production line or enable a mobile robot to find its way.
Students are not only familiarised with computer hardware, software processes and systems, but also with the fundamentals of current and future data and telecommunications systems. Multimedia, mobile communications, ISDN, GSM, UMTS, LAN and WAN (local and wide-area networks), the Internet, computer and network security, and much more are not merely empty buzzwords, but are brought to life and put to the test in practice during the course.
There is no single definition of the profession of electrical engineer, even within the field of information technology. Regardless of their specific area of responsibility, they seek appropriate, practical and cost-effective solutions, drawing on the latest scientific and technical findings. Furthermore, they also rely on intuition, imagination and creative thinking in their work. Engineers working in information technology deal with the generation, processing and transmission of information (speech, text, images, data), focusing in particular on the interfaces involved in the transmission of information between people, between people and machines, and between machines.
Information technology engineers develop, calculate, design and test new devices, equipment and systems – ranging from computer systems and microprocessors to mobile communications systems. Others plan, organise and optimise work processes, and oversee the manufacture, assembly, commissioning, maintenance and operation of information technology equipment and systems. They may also work in the sales of these products and related services, in providing technical advice to customers on applications, or in procurement and materials management.
How does a degree programme specialising in General Electrical Engineering differ from the other specialisations or degree programmes?
The General Electrical Engineering programme allows you to combine selected course content from all other specialisations. Choosing modules based on your personal interests enables a broad thematic scope to your studies, whilst the Bachelor’s programme does not require specialisation in a specific subject area. This paves the way for future specialisation in all areas of electrical and information technology.
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