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Education Master's and PhD degree programmes Systems and Control
Header image Systems and Control

Systems and Control

Flying to the moon, monitoring and stabilizing the energy grid, using cruise control in a car, employing a crane to unload a container ship: these are typical examples of methods within Systems and Control.

Systems and Control is an engineering discipline that is concerned with analyzing and influencing dynamical systems that interact with their environment via inputs (influenced via actuators) and outputs (measured via sensors). It is highly multidisciplinary because the underlying mathematical models and methods cover many different domains. These include electronics, mechanics, chemistry, biology, medicine, economy, and social sciences.

The Master’s degree programme in Systems and Control at the University of Groningen focuses on complex systems and networks, which means systems are analysed and controlled by breaking them down into interconnections between simpler systems. Understanding how the interplay between simple systems can lead to novel emergent behaviours is important and highly relevant in many application fields.

Facts & Figures
Degree
MSc in Systems and Control
Course type
Master
Duration
24 months (120 ECTS)
Croho code
60359
Language of instruction
English
Start
February, September
Faculty
Science and Engineering
Why study this programme in Groningen?
  • You learn from internationally-leading experts in Systems and Control
  • You can choose between more fundamental, mathematical courses and more application-oriented courses
  • You benefit from the close collaboration between applied mathematics and engineering within the Faculty of Science and Engineering
  • You gain hands-on experience through a design project within a company or international research institution
  • In the Netherlands, you will be entitled to use the title of ir (ingenieur)
Programme

Curriculum

This is a 2-year master's programme, where in the first year you will follow 5 core courses and 7 elective courses (5 ECTS each), while in the second year you will participate in a design project (20 ECTS) and a research project (40 ECTS).

The majority of courses will be taught by staff members of the Jan C. Willems Center of Systems and Control which encompasses the following research groups:

  • Systems, Control and Optimization (SCO), Bernoulli Institute for Mathematics, Computer Science and Artificial intelligence
  • Discrete Technology and Production Automation (DTPA), Engineering and Technology Institute Groningen (ENTEG)
  • Smart Manufacturing Systems (SMS), ENTEG
  • Optimization and Decision Systems (ODS), ENTEG

Furthermore, the final research project will be carried out within one of these groups.

Study abroad

  • Study abroad is unaccommodated
Entry requirements

Transfer options

Transferring from...

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Applied MathematicsUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
MathematicsUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
AstronomyUniversity of Groningen

No additional requirements

More information:

Minor: Informatics and Instrumentation

Industrial Engineering and ManagementUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
Chemical EngineeringUniversity of Groningen

No additional requirements

More information:

Chemical Engineering students are recommended to follow the bachelor course Linear Systems (WBMA043-05) in 2b to check if the master in Systems and Control is a good fit

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Aerospace EngineeringAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Mechanical EngineeringAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Electrical EngineeringAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements

Admission requirements

Holders of a comparable diploma (as determined by the Admissions Board) from other universities are also admissible. They may request an individual admission decision. Students that enter the master's degree programme in Systems and Control should have sufficient knowledge of mathematics, basic control theory, and engineering, are expected to know some programming as well as a minimal level of English.

Registration procedure

The Admissions Board is responsible for assessing the eligibility of students for admission to the educational programmes, including prospective international students, applicants from the Bachelor's programmes, pre-Master's programmes for students from the Dutch universities of applied sciences (HBOs), and students from Dutch universities.

Holders of an HBO degree from the Netherlands do not have direct access to Master programmes and need to complete a pre-master programme.

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202501 September 2025
15 October 202501 February 2026
EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
15 October 202501 February 2026
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
15 October 202501 February 2026

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
language test
  • IELTS (Academic) – 6.5, no less than 6.5 on each section
  • TOEFL IBT (internet based test) – 90
  • Cambridge English – CAE or CPE certificate with a minimum score of 180

More information: https://www.rug.nl/fse/programme/admissions/msc/language-requirements?lang=en

other admission requirements

Holders of a comparable diploma (as determined by the Admissions Board) from other universities are also admissible. They may request an individual admission decision. Students that enter the master's degree programme in Systems and Control should have sufficient knowledge of mathematics, basic control theory, and engineering, are expected to know some programming as well as a minimal level of English.

Registration procedure

The Admissions Board is responsible for assessing the eligibility of students for admission to the educational programmes, including prospective international students, applicants from the Bachelor's programmes, pre-Master's programmes for students from the Dutch universities of applied sciences (HBOs), and students from Dutch universities.

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202501 September 2025
15 October 202501 February 2026
EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
15 October 202501 February 2026
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
15 October 202501 February 2026
Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
EU/EEA2024-2025€ 2530full-time
non-EU/EEA2024-2025€ 24200full-time

Practical information for:

After your studies

A Master’s degree in Systems and Control opens up many interesting job opportunities. Your ability to analyse complex systems or networks in a multidisciplinary environment and your knowledge of available methods to control such systems make you a highly sought-after employee in both established high-tech companies and technology start-ups. You could also deepen your theoretical knowledge by pursuing a PhD in Systems and Control at the University of Groningen or at another internationally-leading university in the field of systems and control

Examples of companies regularly hiring students with a systems and control background are ASML, Philips, Tennet, and many companies within the Innovation Center Drachten. Examples of research institutions are National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL) and TNO.

Research

This Master's programme is a research-oriented master which means that the lectures are taught by active researchers, who continuously update the course content to reflect the recent advances in the field.

Furthermore, you will have the opportunity to work on an individual research project during the second year under the supervision of one or more researchers from the research groups within the Jan C. Willems Center for Systems and Control.

Apply nowBrochureEventsContact
Campus TourMore information
Master's Weekdiverse locatiesMore information

Contact

  • studyscience@rug.nl Study Science (E-mail for students who are interested in a Campus Tour or who have other general questions)
    Email: studyscience rug.nl

Study associations

TBV Lugus

Students of Industrial Engineering and Management have their own study association, known as Lugus.
Lugus organizes various activities for its members, both social, educational and career-oriented. In addition, Lugus provides study aids in the shape of summaries and organizes regular book sales. Nearly all students of Industrial Engineering and Management join Lugus, which now boasts more than 550 members. This number is rising every year..
https://www.tbvlugus.nl/home
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