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Vocational Training and Courses of Study in Sensor Technology

Sensor technology plays an important part in practically all areas of everyday life. In entertainment electronics or in automotive engineering - wherever you look sensors have taken over functions to make life easier or to optimize production processes. Acceleration sensors, for instance, protect CD and DVD players or increase safety in ABS and ESP systems for motorized vehicles.

Often, mechatronics systems - combinations of mechanics, electronics, and intelligent signal processing - assume these sensor functions. The manufacture of the sensor elements themselves is in turn carried out by applying microsystem technology - along with microelectronics, key technologies of the 21st century.

Another application of microelectronics is miniaturization, reducing the dimensions of components by the power of ten and thus opening the way to other technical advances. Microsystem technology can be considered the further development of microelectronics in non-electronic areas. More than 600,000 people are employed in the development and production in areas of microtechnology. Technically sophisticated and complex production processes are required to produce microtechnological components, which in turn demand qualified and responsible personnel.

Mechatronics systems and their integrated microsystems are used in electromedicine, process technology, automotive engineering, and food technology, to mention just some areas of application. There is hardly a field of technology, medicine, or environment in which these systems do not play a major role. Meanwhile nanotechnology has also found its way into sensorics. Thus, a plethora of excellent opportunities are available for qualified professionals.

To prepare young talent for these highly innovative fields, vocational training and courses of study are being offered. The requirements depend on the qualification to be attained.

• The industrial training courses with a degree as Microtechnologist is available since 1998 with various specialties:
  
  Mechatronics technicians can specialize in production, automation, or medical technology. Microtechnologists can specialize in semiconductor or microsystem technology. Their job is to plan and organize the production of microchips, set up production equipment, and monitor product quality.
  
  A prerequisite is an understanding of natural sciences and technology. The applicant must have the equivalent of a Realschulabschluss (˜ secondary school (UK) or high school (US)).
  
  The vocational training courses take 3 years and end with a final examination by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
  
• The courses of study at universities or universities of applied science (Fachhochschulen) in mechatronics and microtechnology are diverse. Degrees can be obtained as Bachelor, Master or Diplom-Ingenenieur (˜ Graduate Engineer) with various specialties.
  
  When selecting the university, you should consider what exactly is being offered: specific courses in microsystem technology or mechatronics, or just lectures on these subjects as part of a more general course of study, such as electrotechnology or mechanical engineering.
  
  The standard period of study at a German university to attain graduation (Diplom) is ten semesters, at a German university of applied science (Fachhochschule) eight semesters. A bachelor degree takes six or seven semesters; and a masters degree demands three or four additional semesters.
  
  The following table lists courses of study at various German institutions.
  
  Please note that the list is not necessarily complete. Also, be aware that the courses and lectures are generally in German (see courses of study). Therefore, be sure to ask about language requirements. You may also want to check the websites of the institutions of interest (they often have an English version and an internal search engine - the URLs have not been included since they are subject to frequent changes).
  
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