BSc Mechatronics

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland

Program Overview

The BSc Mechatronics Trinational at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) is a unique bachelor's program that blends mechanical engineering, information technology, and electrical engineering, delivered across Switzerland, Germany, and France with classes in German, French, and English. It's perfect for ambitious students who thrive in international teams, love hands-on projects, and want real-world industry experience from day one—think of it as building your career while earning a 210 ECTS Bachelor of Science FHNW degree that opens doors across three countries.

Curriculum Structure
Years 1-2 (Semesters 1-4): You'll kick off in Mulhouse, France, at the University of Upper Alsace (UHA), diving into foundational engineering principles with an eye on intercultural teamwork right away, followed by an 8-week Industry Training Period I in a French-speaking country to boost your language skills and business savvy. Back at FHNW in Muttenz, Switzerland, for semester 2, you'll tackle core modules like mechanical engineering basics and introductory electrical engineering, then head to Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) in Lörrach, Germany, for semester 3, where information technology fundamentals come alive through practical projects. Semester 4 cycles back to UHA, solidifying these disciplines before a 13-week Industry Training Period II, where you apply concepts to a company-set challenge, like conceptual problem-solving in mechatronics.

Years 3-4 (Semesters 5-7): The cycle repeats with advanced depth at each location—Muttenz for sophisticated mechanical and electrical integration, Lörrach for IT-driven automation, and Mulhouse for project management—building your expertise in technical project leadership and intercultural communication. After semester 6, a final 12-week Industry Training Period III plus 14-week bachelor's thesis in the same company lets you tackle a comprehensive mechatronics topic, often abroad, turning theory into real innovation like optimizing boat propulsion systems.

Focus Areas: Technical project management in mechatronics, intercultural team-building, management and communication skills, with hands-on industry training across mechanical engineering, IT, and electrical engineering.

Learning Outcomes: Graduates master interdisciplinary mechatronics at the intersection of mechanics, electronics, and software; excel in international project leadership; and gain practical expertise through three extended industry placements, making them versatile problem-solvers ready for global teams.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): This FHNW-accredited Bachelor of Science FHNW program meets Swiss standards for applied sciences degrees, with seamless recognition across Switzerland, Germany, and France due to its trinational structure and partnerships.

Reputation (Employability): Graduates land roles in high-demand sectors like automotive, aerospace, medical tech, and automation, with alumni like Simon Koch at Siemens praising the program's project management and language skills for career acceleration; real-world placements make you job-ready, as companies value this unique blend.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BSc Mechatronics Trinational is built on a foundation of extensive practical training integrated throughout your entire degree. Rather than waiting until the end of your studies, you'll work on real industry projects from semester one, applying what you learn in lectures to actual business challenges right away. This approach is highly valued by companies because you're not just learning theory—you're solving genuine problems that matter.

Over the course of your three-year degree, you'll complete three substantial industry training periods. After your first semester, you'll spend 8 weeks abroad gaining exposure to a different country and culture while developing language skills. Between your fourth and fifth semesters, you'll tackle a 13-week industry project designed by a real company, working on a conceptual solution to their specific problem. Finally, you'll complete a 12-week industry training phase followed by your 14-week bachelor thesis—both conducted full-time in a company, which means you could even work abroad during this critical final stage.

The programme gives you access to state-of-the-art facilities and research infrastructure across three universities. Here's what's specifically available to support your learning:

- Control Technology Lab featuring modern control systems, PLCs, test plants, and industry-oriented infrastructure including everything from simple motor control systems to high-bay warehouse models and elevator systems
- Institute of Automation with its multidisciplinary expertise in control technology, industrial automation, building automation, and mechatronics—actively involved in your coursework and research projects
- FHNW Muttenz Campus hosting over 4,500 students with the School of Engineering offering laboratory and simulation infrastructure designed for cutting-edge mechatronics work
- Intercultural training elements embedded from day one, helping your cohort develop teamwork skills across language and cultural differences
- Language and communication training integrated into your technical studies—German-speaking students learn French, French-speaking students learn German, with English available as a second foreign language
- International faculty and lecturers from all three countries (Switzerland, Germany, France), meaning you experience different teaching methodologies and industry approaches firsthand

The practical design of this trinational programme—moving between Mulhouse (France), Muttenz (Switzerland), and Lörrach (Germany)—ensures you're not just studying mechatronics in one context. You're building expertise that qualifies you to work across three countries, and your career options span automotive engineering, aerospace, medical technology, robotics, automation, electronics, and dozens of other high-demand sectors.

Progression & Future Opportunities

In the BSc Mechatronics Trinational at FHNW, you'll dive straight into hands-on learning from day one, blending mechanical engineering, IT, and electrical engineering across campuses in Switzerland, Germany, and France. You'll build real-world skills through integrated industry training periods that let you apply classroom knowledge in actual companies, plus access to cutting-edge labs and facilities at the Muttenz campus, home to the School of Engineering.

This practical focus ramps up with:

- Industry training periods: Three mandatory internships—8 weeks after semester 1 in a French-speaking country to boost cultural and language skills; 13 weeks between semesters 4 and 5 on a company-set project; and 12+14 weeks after semester 6 combining situational analysis with your bachelor's thesis, often abroad with full support from program directors.
- State-of-the-art labs at the Institute of Automation: Work in specialized laboratory and simulation infrastructure for modern control technology, industrial automation, building automation, mechatronics, robotics, sensors, actuators, and advanced methods like model predictive control or Kalman filters—perfect for designing robots, drones, or automated systems.
- Control Technology Lab: Hands-on practice with industrial control systems, realistic vertical integration, and mechatronic applications in a modern setup.
- Group and interdisciplinary projects: Team-based technical projects in mechatronics from the start, fostering intercultural collaboration across German, French, and English, plus elements in project management, systems engineering, and process management.
- Muttenz campus facilities: Spacious park-like campus with engineering-focused resources for 4,500 students, including labs tailored to the trinational program.