The Electronic Engineering degree programme aims to produce master’s graduates who, thanks to a broad and well-founded technical and scientific grounding, are able to keep pace with scientific and technological developments and contribute directly to them; To this end, it aims to introduce students to the challenges of design and research, training engineers who can enter high-tech scientific and industrial sectors across a wide range of topics, ranging from sensors and micro- and nanoelectronic devices to optical and optoelectronic devices and their applications in sub-micrometre integrated circuit systems and in measurement and control systems for industrial and civil applications.

Role in the workplace and skills:

Typical professional fields for Master’s graduates in Electronic Engineering include innovation and production development, advanced design, planning and scheduling, the management of complex systems, and basic and applied research, with particular emphasis on electronic measurement and control instrumentation, process control systems, basic and/or complex components, and integrated systems for the processing and handling of electrical signals.

SKILLS

Graduates holding a Master’s degree in Electronic Engineering possess the skills required for advanced design and research and development activities in the field of the manufacture of electronic devices and integrated electronic circuits, electronic measurement instrumentation, electronic systems for control, automation and industrial communications, biomedical equipment, and energy recovery and environmental protection. In general terms, graduates are able to tackle design, development and experimental verification challenges in high-tech scientific and industrial fields, such as those involving sensors, micro- and nanoelectronic devices, optical and optoelectronic devices, sub-micrometre integrated circuits, and measurement and control systems for industrial and civil applications.

Career prospects:

Graduates may find employment with companies specialising in the design and manufacture of electronic and optoelectronic components, equipment and systems, manufacturing industries, including the mechanical, energy and biomedical sectors; engineering firms, organisations or consultancies involved in the design and development of product innovation and production process innovation; and sectors of the public administration and service companies that apply electronic technologies and infrastructure for the processing, transmission and utilisation of signals in civil, industrial and information technology contexts; may undertake independent design and/or production of electronic and optoelectronic systems, microelectronic and microelectromechanical systems, components and systems for the recovery of wasted energy, and wired and wireless industrial automation and communication systems.

The Electronic Engineering degree programme aims to produce master’s graduates who, thanks to a broad and well-founded technical and scientific grounding, are able to keep pace with scientific and technological developments and contribute directly to them; To this end, it aims to introduce students to the challenges of design and research, training engineers who can enter high-tech scientific and industrial fields across a broad range of topics, ranging from sensors and micro- and nanoelectronic devices to optical and optoelectronic devices and their applications in sub-micrometre integrated circuit systems and in measurement and control systems for industrial and civil applications.

To meet these educational requirements, the curriculum of the Degree Programme in Electronic Engineering, building on the previous undergraduate studies—which comprise a comprehensive range of core subjects (mathematics, classical and modern physics, supplemented by the fundamentals of computer science, signal theory, electronics, control and communications)— provides the theoretical and design content of the more specifically electronic disciplines (analogue and digital electronics, electronic devices, solid-state electronics, microelectronics, optoelectronics, sensors and electronic instrumentation, wired and wireless industrial communications).

These specific skills are complemented by in-depth knowledge in the field of solid-state physics, essential for understanding electronic and optoelectronic devices, by further knowledge of discrete mathematics, and by comprehensive supplementary study in the field of automatic control for the design of automated systems and processes.

Students are allocated a reasonable number of credits to freely choose topics that may complement their Master’s studies, in accordance with their own interests and consistent with the educational pathway undertaken; a substantial number of credits are also made available to them to complete their studies with a thesis that is well-structured and enriched by original contributions.

Finally, credits are provided for undertaking further training activities in business and management to facilitate entry into the world of work, and for the opportunity to carry out part of the dissertation as part of a work placement.

Consequently, completion of the degree provides the skills required for advanced design and research and development activities in the field of electronic devices and integrated circuits, electronic measuring instrumentation, electronic systems for control, automation and industrial communications, biomedical equipment, and energy recovery and environmental protection.

Graduates holding a Master’s degree must be able to promote technological innovation within their professional activities and relationships; to this end, they must be able to use at least one European Union language, in addition to Italian, fluently in both written and oral communication, including specialist technical terminology. This will be facilitated by the use of texts and teaching materials in languages other than Italian, and courses may be delivered in English.

Subject to current legislation and the resources available at the time the programme’s academic regulations are drawn up (launch), the programme may be structured into different curricula in order to further improve the alignment of the professionals trained with the diverse needs of the labour market.

Entry requirements

To enrol on the Master’s Degree programme in Electronic Engineering, applicants must hold a three-year Bachelor’s degree or university diploma, or an equivalent qualification obtained abroad that has been recognised as suitable. Admission to the programme is subject to meeting the academic requirements and to an assessment of the candidate’s individual academic preparedness, which will be carried out as specified below. Any required supplementary coursework must be completed before the assessment of the candidate’s individual academic preparedness takes place.

Academic requirements

Admission to the Master’s Degree programme in Electronic Engineering is open to graduates under the system established by Ministerial Decree 270/04 or the previous system established by Ministerial Decree 509/99 who, during their previous university studies, have obtained a minimum number of ECTS credits in specific subject areas and scientific disciplinary sectors (SSD), as detailed in the programme’s Academic Regulations. The definition of these curricular requirements is based on the Bachelor’s degree in Electronic and Telecommunications Engineering (class L8 – Information Engineering) awarded by the University of Brescia. However, it is sufficiently broad not to preclude enrolment by graduates of other degree programmes under the former Ministerial Decree 509/99 or Ministerial Decree 270/04 frameworks – including those from other universities – who share a significant proportion of the core and distinctive content with the relevant degree programme.

For holders of a three-year university diploma and for graduates under the system prior to Ministerial Decree 509/99 (for whom the modules completed are not quantified in university credits) or for candidates holding a suitable qualification obtained abroad, given the wide variety of possible structures and content of their previous academic background, the assessment of curricular requirements will be carried out on a case-by-case basis in relation to the modules undertaken and their content.

Finally, the Board may establish specific requirements for the study plans of students enrolled on the Master’s Degree programme in Electronic Engineering, as described in the programme’s Academic Regulations.

To be admitted to the Master’s Degree programme in Electronic Engineering, knowledge of a European Union language in addition to Italian is also required. The required proficiency levels and the assessment methods are set out in the programme’s Academic Regulations.

Suitability of prior academic background

The procedures for assessing the suitability of prior academic background are set out in the programme’s Academic Regulations, based on the student’s previous university studies, taking as a reference the results obtained by the student in completing the qualification used to gain entry to the programme.

Admission procedures

Admission to non-single-cycle Master’s degree programmes is governed by the legal provisions relating to the university system and by the ‘Regulations for Admission to Master’s Degree Programmes’.

Admission procedures for students holding a qualification obtained abroad are governed by legislation, ministerial guidelines and University regulations.

Admission to the Master’s degree programme will be decided by an unappealable decision of the relevant Degree Programme Board, based on verification of fulfilment of the curricular requirements, following an assessment of the candidate’s academic record, and verification of personal aptitude, as specified in the Degree Programme’s Academic Regulations. The candidate will only be admitted if both assessments are passed. To carry out these assessments, the Degree Programme Board may appoint a dedicated Assessment Committee.

Freshers’ Orientation

The degree programme takes part in the freshers’ orientation initiatives organised at both the macro-area and University levels, which are detailed on the relevant page of the University portal; this page also provides access to the specific initiatives for each macro-area. These initiatives are coordinated by a working group comprising the Rector’s Representative for Orientation, the Departmental Representatives for Orientation and staff from a dedicated organisational unit (U.O.C. Orientamento). The design and delivery of the orientation activities, developed by the U.O.C., are certified to the UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 standard.

Routine activities, news and the latest initiatives can be found on the dedicated page

Student Guidance

Ongoing Student Guidance

Tutoring initiatives are organised at University level in accordance with the annual tutoring plan, which is drawn up each year by the University Tutoring Committee and approved by the Academic Senate. The Tutoring Service contributes to ongoing guidance with the aim of ensuring students progress smoothly through their studies and identifying the critical issues that contribute to drop-out rates. The administrative management of the student tutoring service is certified to the UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 standard and is provided as part of the services supporting the right to education by a dedicated organisational unit.

Tutoring

Characteristics of the final examination

The final examination consists of the preparation, presentation and defence, before a designated Examination Board constituted in accordance with the University’s Academic Regulations, of a wide-ranging thesis, developed independently and in an original manner, with a significant personal contribution. Whilst preparing for the final examination, the student will be assigned to the supervision of one or more supervisors with whom they will agree on the thesis topic. Should the student have undertaken a work placement or internship, the final examination will normally focus on the work carried out and the results achieved at the host organisation (public or private company, research centres or university laboratories, institutions, professional bodies). The thesis will involve the production of a written and/or project-based piece of work, which may also be written in a European Union language other than Italian, in accordance with the provisions of the degree programme’s Academic Regulations.

The work involved in preparing for the final examination—which may be theoretical, experimental or project-based—provides an opportunity to apply and explore, including in an interdisciplinary manner, the concepts and skills acquired; to learn and utilise new techniques and tools for investigation and analysis; to acquire further practical skills; and to independently develop interpretative frameworks and models.

The final examination aims to assess the student’s technical and scientific maturity, the competence, comprehension and independent judgement acquired, the ability to apply knowledge and skills, any innovative contributions made through independent research and analysis, technical ability and effective communication.

Procedure for the final examination

The final examination consists of the preparation, presentation and discussion, before a designated examination board, of a piece of work carried out independently. The final examination is governed by the ‘Regulations for the conduct of the final examination and final assessment for Master’s degree programmes within the Department of Information Engineering’.