Major: Electrical Power Engineering (EPEN)

 

General information on Master Degree Program

Read the information regarding the course of studies and a possible curriculum.

 

Program requirements: Major Electrical Power Engineering (EPEN)

The domain and subject-specific skills and competences attained at master’s level build upon the skills and competences at bachelor’s level. The master phase of the programme provides a high level of specialisation, a research-related training and in-depth domain-specific knowledge at a professional level. Electrical Power Engineering is in many respects a typical system science. Students will understand systems by combining their in-depth knowledge in selected domains of Electrical Power Engineering and that of other disciplines. They are able to apply theoretical concepts of system identification, modelling and optimisation.

Graduates with a Master degree in Electrical Engineering, Information Technology and Computer Engineering and th major "Electrical Power Engineering" are able to analyse problems related to electrical power and to communicate these problems to others in scientific formulation. Using knowledge acquired in lectures as well as experience gathered in exercises, graduates develop models for Power Systems and their components in order to solve technical-scientific questions. They understand their responsibility as well as the importance of an electricity supply that is safe, reliable, economical and environmentally friendly. Using concepts acquired during their studies, graduates create solutions that address the aforementioned challenges. They understand which steps are required to realize a theoretical solution. Graduates gathered experience in managing projects within a multicultural team and are able to apply their knowledge during their future career. Graduates are able to communicate both written and verbally in current technical language and terminology while speaking, writing and understanding predominant German as well as English.

In order to achieve these goals, the Master Program utilizes the following basic teaching forms:

• Lectures – a serial presentation of material including the treatment of specific methodologies
• Tutorials – the solidifying and deepening of expert knowledge and capabilities by solving problems associated with lecture material
• Seminar work – the elaboration of complex questions and scientific knowledge. Basic knowledge is presupposed. Students give oral presentations in the seminar
• Intensive Courses – compact intensive courses composed of lectures and tutorials.
• Important additional options for gaining technical competence are available such as
• Term and master projects in small groups and as individuals
• Excursions – expert guided tours of technical installations and facilities outside the university
• Practical (e.g. laboratory) work directly related to lectures
• Industrial experience and practice of 18 weeks minimum

Finally, the master thesis demonstrates the capability of the individual to work at a professional level contributing to research projects, i.e. to plan, conduct and report a programme of original research.

The Master Program is mainly consisting of electives, which allow students to specialize in Electrical Power Engineering. The knowledge acquired in lectures and tutorials is normally tested in written (occasionally oral) examinations, while students achieve accreditation for seminars, projects and laboratory exercises. Group work in projects and presentation in seminars is also intended to enhance their interdisciplinary and social skills. Students must independently complete a master’s thesis (six months); these are normally in an area of specialization and often part of a larger research project.

 

The study program Electrical Power Engineering c omprises three semesters of lectures, tutorials and lab courses, along with an industrial internship of at least 18 weeks and a final master thesis in the fourth semester. In total, the program amounts to 120 ECTS credits.

The study program is mainly built up of two module groups, each containing a list of required elective courses: catalogue CORE and catalogue ELECTIVE focus on the study profiles Electrical Appliances, Electrical Drive Trains, Electricity Grids, Electro Mobility, Power Systems Engineering and Economics and Renewable Energies.

Study profiles show you useful combination of modules. They are intended as proposals. However, other combinations within the respective major are possible.

The curriculum is complemented by a broad offer of laboratories, project works and seminars. In addition, there is an area of eligible courses which comprises the full master program of the faculty, hence including courses from all study programs. Finally there is an area of free elective courses from the entire RWTH course program, including language courses, courses in economy, law or soft-skill courses and block lectures.

 

Study Plan (recommended)

Master of Science in "Electrical Engineering, Information Technology and Computer Engineering"; Major Electrical Power Engineering (German-English version):

1. Semester

Modules	Credits	Total
5 compulsory elective modules from catalogue CORE or ELECTIVE of the major Electrical Power Engineering (EPEN)	20	32
1 elective module from catalogue GENERAL from the entire offer of the faculty	4
LABORATORY or PROJECT from the catalogue of the major Electrical Power Engineering (EPEN)	4
S EMINAR from the offer of the faculty	4
Module Scientific Integrity	0

2. Semester

5 compulsory elective modules from catalogue CORE or ELECTIVE of the major Electrical Power Engineering (EPEN)	20	32
1 elective module from catalogue GENERAL from the entire offer of the faculty	4
2 modules from catalogue ADDITIONAL	8

3. Semester

Industrial internship (18 weeks)	18	26
Seminar relating to the internship	4
1 module from catalogue ADDITIONAL	4

4. Semester

Master thesis incl. master colloquium	30
Total	120