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Free University of Bozen-Bolzano

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Master in

Industrial Mechanical Engineering

Our two-year master programme will provide you with the competencies in mechanical and industrial engineering you need for the current industrial revolution! 

Course description

This Master of Science (“laurea magistrale”) trains industrial mechanical engineers able to work in a wide range of areas and interdisciplinary projects combining mechanical and digital manufacturing engineering skills with management and logistics competencies.

By paying particular attention to the latest engineering technologies and AI developments in manufacturing started with the industry 4.0 revolution, beyond a common training on advanced mechanical and industrial engineering subjects, students have the chance to highly customise their competencies choosing among the following tracks (pre-defined study plans):

  • Computational Mechanical Design
  • Digital Manufacturing and Automation
  • Digital Manufacturing and Management
  • Logistics and Production (double degree with the OvGU Magdeburg)

The first three are offered entirely in Bozen-Bolzano and are characterised by a strong connection with companies. The fourth is offered as a double-degree programme with the Otto von GuerickeUniversity Magdeburg (OvGU, Germany) where students spend one to two semesters and earn also the OvGU Master of Science degree as “Wirtschaftsingenieur in Logistik” (Management Engineering – Logistics).

This programme is grounded in South Tyrol while maintaining a strong international outlook. This is guaranteed by being taught entirely in English with teaching staff as well as students coming from Italy, Europe and the entire world.

Courses combine theory and engineering practice. Lecture halls are equipped with modern technologies to allow hybrid and remote teaching, and e-learning tools are adopted to complement and support the lectures. Laboratory and project activities are seamlessly integrated into the programme’s activities and students have access to state-of-the-art software tools and equipment in the Smart Mini Factory and the Mechanical Lab, among others. Courses are taught by unibz leading research professors, supported by experts from relevant industries. In-class learning is further enriched by excursions to trade fairs as well as local, regional and international companies.

The master is offered as a full-time programme, though thanks to the modern teaching tools adopted, an increasing number of students are able to work in South Tyrolean companies during their studies.

Upon graduation, students can take the Italian state examination for the profession of Ingegnere Industriale Senior (Senior Industrial and Mechanical Engineer) and after passing this examination to join the Ordine degli Ingegneri (Italian Chamber of Engineers) - Section A.

Go to the admission information

Online Info Sessions

We offer online information sessions in the coming months during which the master programme will be presented and where interested students can address their questions to professors and students. The Info Sessions take place on the following days:

  • Thursday, 19 December 2024, 17:00 (CET): register here

Hands-on Engineering

DM 3D Printing – Fablab

DM 3D Printing – Fablab

 Collaborative Robotics – Smart Mini Factory

Collaborative Robotics – Smart Mini Factory

 Coordinate Measuring Machine – Mechanical Lab

Coordinate Measuring Machine – Mechanical Lab

 Four-Axis Parallel Robot – Smart Mini Factory

Four-Axis Parallel Robot – Smart Mini Factory

Exoskeleton – Smart Mini Factory

Exoskeleton – Smart Mini Factory

Courses will definetely be starting

At a Glance

Degree class: LM-33
ECTS credits: 120
Duration of the course: 2 years
Courses will be taught in: English
Places available: 40 EU + 10 non-EU
Campus: NOI Techpark Bozen-Bolzano
Tuition fees: ca. €1200 per year

Structure of the Programme

The first part of the programme (40 ECTS credits) provides students with the fundamental master-level mechanical and industrial engineering knowledge. This combines traditional and novel mechanical engineering subjects, including mechanical and mechatronic design, manufacturing technologies and simulation, with management and systems engineering courses including contents in project, process and technology management as well as robotics and control.

The second part of the programme (50 ECTS credits) is dedicated to deepening students’ knowledge in the subjects of the selected track (pre-defined study plans(*)), carrying out a study (term) project, and attending elective courses of up to 15 ECTS credits. These subjects are reported in the following.  

  • Computational Mechanical Design, including the following characterising subjects: machine design, finite element analysis (FEA), dynamics of mechanical systems (MBD), computational thermo-fluid dynamics (CTFD), and design with composite materials;
  • Digital Manufacturing and Automation, including the following characterising subjects: electric drives and control systems, mobile robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) applications in industry, and digital factory and industrial maintenance;
  • Digital Manufacturing and Management, including the following characterising subjects: digital transformation, sustainability management, artificial intelligence (AI) applications in industry, business software, digital factory and industrial maintenance, and management control and business planning;
  • Logistics and Production (offered as a double-degree programme with Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg), including the following characterising subjects: supply chain practice – ERP, logistic strategies and methods, business decision making, management control and business planning, digital transformation, sustainability management, and digital factory.

The third and last part of the programme (30 ECTS credits) is dedicated to the research for and the writing of the master thesis. Students have the option of carrying out their master thesis in house at unibz or in cooperation with local or international companies. Previous theses have been carried out at companies and research centers such as BMW, 3M, Intercable, Progress, Leitner, and Fraunhofer Italia.

(*)students not enrolled in the double-degree program may submit their own study plan, compliant with the rules (ordinamento) of the study programme for approval to the course council.

THE FOUR TRACKS AT A GLANCE

Study project syllabus

In all tracks students need to do a study project (term project) in the third semester which allows them to put into practice the theory and knowledge acquired. Study projects are individual or team projects and are carried out at unibz or companies. It is also possible to combine the study project with an internship. More specific information can be found in the syllabus.

study project

People

Degree Course Director: Prof. Yuri Borgianni (photo)
Student Representative in the Course Council: Carlo Iob

Exchange Programmes and Internships

This master programme offers exchange programmes with the Technical University of Munich (Germany), Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (Germany), University of Girona (Spain), Technical University of Graz (Austria), KU Leuven (Belgium), University of Antwerpen (Belgium), Brno University of Technology (Czech Republic), University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Chiang Mai University (Thailand). Beyond this, the free mover programme is a gateway to universities all over the world!

The Master at Magdeburg and Beyond

Excursion to Brenner Base Tunnel

Fair Visits: SPS Italia – Smart Production Solutions

Excursion to Field Factory of Brenner Base Tunnel

Lab Visit at Technical University of Munich

The Master at Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg (OVGU, Germany)

Career Opportunities

Our graduates are able to design and analyse mechanical systems and structures, to define and manage the suitable production systems, as well to manage materials procurement, operations and logistics. In doing so, the programme provides students with the tools for a career as an engineer or a consultant. This includes research and development, engineering design, calculation and analysis, manufacturing, automation technology, production systems procurement, production, operations management, internal and external logistics and quality assurance.

Well prepared and ready for the job market. On the website of AlmaLaurea you can check statistical data about graduates’ satisfaction and their employability.

Go to the survey (in italian)

Gallmetzer Andreas

Head of 3D Innovation

As the head of a research and development department, it is important to understand complex topics and relations, and to familiarise oneself with them as quickly as possible. The Master in Industrial Mechanical Engineering allowed me to gain these skills very well from a wide ranging variety of high quality courses. Living up to the motto “think global act local”, I was able to improve my knowledge of English and simultaneously establish contacts with internationally operating local companies.

Giacomo Roman

PhD Student BMW ProMotion Programme

As a PhD student in the BMW ProMotion programme I have the opportunity to contribute to shaping the future of mobility by combining my passion for sustainability with real life-challenges faced by the companies. This master equipped me with a broad spectrum of scientific competencies by means of a variety of targeted lectures combined with practice-oriented exercise classes. Moreover, thanks to the Double Degree Program offered in collaboration with the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, I was able to build a strong international network, which allowed me to make a seamless transition into the industry.

 

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studying at unibz

Studying at unibz

Living in South Tyrol, Housing, Scholarships, Single Subject Courses and more

International applicants 3

Coming to unibz from Abroad

Everything you need to know as a degree-seeking applicant or as an incoming exchange student

Application and Admission

You can find all you need to know in order to apply and gain admission to this study programme by browsing through the information below.

Early Bird Application

Application: 03/03 - 06/05/2025 (by noon local time)
Language exams (online): 17/03/2025 (registration: 03 – 09/03/2025) and 16 - 17 and 22 - 23/04/2025 (registration: 24/03 – 08/04/2025)
Publication of ranking lists: by 27/05/2025
Payment of the 1st instalment of the tuition fees: by 05/06/2025 (by noon local time)
Enrolment: from 11/07 - 14/10/2025 (by noon local time) 

Late Application (only for EU citizens)

Application: 28/05 - 21/08/2025 (by noon local time)
Language exams (online): 23 - 27/06/2025 (registration: 28/05 – 15/06/2025) and 28/07/2025 (registration: 11 – 20/07/2025)
Publication of ranking lists: by 04/09/2025
Payment of the 1st instalment of the tuition fees: by 12/09/2025 (by noon local time)
Enrolment: from publication of the ranking list until 14/10/2025 (by noon local time) 

Additional Application Session (only for EU citizens)

The faculty can open additional application sessions for single study programmes in August and in September if there are available places. More information on additional sessions will be published in due course.

Preparatory courses and Freshers Days

Intensive language courses: 01 - 19/09/2025 (Monday to Friday, 6 h/day)
Freshers Days: 29 - 30/09/2025

1st semester

Classes: 29/09 - 23/12/2025
Exams (extraordinary session): 11 - 23/12/2025
Holidays: 24/12/2025 - 06/01/2026
Classes: 07 - 24/01/2026
Exams: 26/01 - 21/02/2026

2nd semester

Classes: 02/03 - 02/04/2026
Holidays: 03 - 06/04/2026
Classes: 07/04 - 13/06/2026
Exams (extraordinary session): 14 - 23/05/2026
Exams: 15/06 - 11/07/2026

Autumn session

Exams: 24/08 - 26/09/2026

The Advisory Service provides support regarding your choice of study. In many cases a simple call or a short request is enough to get the relevant information (Tel. +39 0471 012100).