How do we keep satellites in orbit, stabilise the energy grid, or design safe autonomous vehicles? What does it take to control complex systems in a rapidly changing technological world? If you are interested in how systems interact with their environment from robotics and energy networks to biomedical devices and spaceflight, the Master's degree in Systems and Control at the University of Groningen provides the tools to analyse, design, and manage these systems.
The Master’s degree in
Systems and Control focuses on understanding and controlling
complex dynamical systems by breaking them down into networks of
simpler components. You will learn how inputs (via actuators) and
outputs (via sensors) shape the behaviour of systems across fields
such as robotics, energy, healthcare, and transportation. The
programme is grounded in mathematics and engineering, and it is
interdisciplinary with connections to biology, medicine, economics,
and the social sciences.
This international two-year programme
trains you in both theory and application, preparing you for
careers in high-tech industry, research and innovation, or doctoral
study.
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.
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.
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Mechanical Engineering | All Research universities | No additional requirements |
Electrical Engineering | All Research universities | No additional requirements |
Aerospace Engineering | All Research universities | No additional requirements |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Applied Mathematics | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
Mathematics | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
Industrial Engineering and Management | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
Chemical Engineering | University 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 |
Astronomy | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:Minor: Informatics and Instrumentation |
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.
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 |
01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
15 October 2026 | 01 February 2027 | |
EU/EEA students | 15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 |
01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
15 October 2026 | 01 February 2027 | |
non-EU/EEA students | 15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 |
01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
15 October 2026 | 01 February 2027 |
Specific requirements | More information |
---|---|
language test |
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. |
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.
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 |
01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
15 October 2026 | 01 February 2027 | |
EU/EEA students | 15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 |
01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
15 October 2026 | 01 February 2027 | |
non-EU/EEA students | 15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 |
01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
15 October 2026 | 01 February 2027 |
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.
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.