Master's Degree Programme in Mechanical Engineering: Digital Manufacturing

General Requirement

You are an eligible applicant for Master’s-level studies if

• you have a nationally recognized first cycle degree – normally a Bachelor’s degree – from an accredited institution of higher education,
• your degree corresponds to at least 180 ECTS (European credits) or to three years of full-time study,
• your degree is in a relevant field for the Master’s degree programme that you’re applying to. Please check the section on track-specific admission requirements for detailed degree requirements.

Language Requirements

Applicants must have excellent English language skills and a certificate that proves those skills. You can indicate your language skills by taking one of the internationally recognized English language tests. 

Applicants must reach the minimum required test results to be considered eligible to the University of Turku. No exceptions will be made. Read more about the language requirements here.

Study right

It is not possible to have more than one Bachelor’s or Master’s study right at the same Faculty. Therefore, when accepting an offered study place, the student will lose any previous BSc. or MSc. study right at the Faculty of Technology at the University of Turku.

Before you start preparing your application, always read the full admission requirements on the application portal Studyinfo.fi

The applicant’s previous degree based on which s/he is seeking admission to the Master’s Degree Programme in Mechanical Engineering must be in a relevant field of study. Relevant fields for the Digital Manufacturing specialisation track are

• mechanical engineering
• systems engineering
• industrial engineering
• production engineering
• manufacturing
• additive manufacturing engineering

In addition to the education diploma and language certificate, you should include testimonials of any relevant work experience in your application.

You may apply only to one specialisation track within the Master’s Degree Programme in Mechanical Engineering.

Annually 10 students are admitted to the Master's Degree Programme in Mechanical Engineering.

The decision of admission will be based on

• the relevance of the applicant’s awarded degree(s)
• the amount, relevance, and grades of the courses in the degree(s)
• the language test result (see Language requirements)
• the motivation letter
• possible answers to the optional questions included in the application
• possible relevant work experience
• possible interview

Please tell in the motivation letter why you are applying to the Master's Degree Programme in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Turku, and especially why you have chosen the particular track.

It is possible to have only one Bachelor’s or Master’s study right at the Faculty of Technology. Therefore, when accepting an offered study place, the student will lose any previous BSc. or MSc. study right at the same faculty.

The Master’s Degree Programme in Mechanical Engineering: Digital Manufacturing is a two-year programme of 120 ECTS credits.

• Joint mechanical engineering studies 20 ECTS
• Digital Manufacturing studies 20 ECTS
• Thesis and project 40 ECTS
• Minor or Thematic Studies 20-25 ECTS
• Other studies 15-20 ECTS

Curriculum is published in the study guide.

The unit is conducting research on digital manufacturing, with a focus on additive manufacturing and 3d printing. This concentrates on improving the efficiency of different processes involved typically those of powder bed fusion and surface engineering together with laser based processes like laser welding, -hybrid welding, -cutting, -marking and and surface engineering.

The other part is concentrated on quality assurance of these technologies with in-situ sensoric and its use via AI and ML disciplines, with which we collaborate with smart systems and computers sciences.

Our view point for digital manufacturing consists of digital design and optimization by utilizing the advantages of modern manufacturing processes together with digital control of the manufacturing and the final quality.

The master thesis process starts typically with the identification of a problem (often from the real world), and a literature review to find traces of a solution. This is followed by experimental design i.e. either modeling or practical. Experimental work is performed e.g. a product is designed and manufactured. Later the results are analysed and final conclusions are drawn. The final result may be a service, a product, an improvement to a process, or even a new process.

After completing this programme the students shall:

• Have acquired a broader understanding of various traditional and state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies such as welding, machining, cladding, thermal and cold spray, etc. along with an in-depth understanding of the next-generation digital manufacturing technologies such as direct energy deposition, powder bed fusion, material jetting, etc. to utilize them for creating sustainable and digital industries; 
• Be able to transform innovative ideas in the field of digital manufacturing into viable business solutions;
• Have gained a basic understanding of material science and engineering concepts relevant to digital manufacturing to succeed in developing novel materials for various digital manufacturing processes;
• Have attained a broader understanding of various surface and coating methods for modifying the surfaces of the digitally manufactured components for various industrial applications;
• Have acquired a broad understanding of explaining how and why production is simulated and learned to recognize opportunities for virtual manufacturing in the industry.
• Be able to independently and creatively engage in industrial collaborations via various means such as project/assignment/thesis etc. to utilize the theoretical concepts learned during the program and be able to critically think beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries to find innovative solutions to real-world industrial problems with new ideas;
• Be able to formulate research questions in the field of digital manufacturing, draw up plans accordingly and execute it during the thesis work by conducting scientific, ethical, and societally relevant research work as preparatory training for doctoral research studies in digital manufacturing.

After completing this programme the students shall acquire the following skills:

• In processing the raw material (powder, wire, liquid, etc.) using various heat sources such as laser, electron beam, arc, plasma, and light to create 3D printed components
• In analyzing and developing new raw materials for 3D printing and related technologies
• In applying appropriate post-treatment (thermal and mechanical) methods to obtain finished 3D printed components
• In characterizing raw materials and 3D printed parts using basic and advanced material characterization techniques
• In using some of the fundamental tools in virtual manufacturing

After completing this programme the students shall gain the competence in following areas:

• Materials processing 3D printing technologies which uses various heat sources such as laser, electron beam, arc, plasma, light to create 3D printed components
• Tools to analyze and develope new raw materials for 3D printing and related technologies
• Tools to post treat (thermalyl and mechanically) the 3D printed parts
• Basic and advanced material characterization techniques to study raw materials and 3D printed parts
• Fundamental tools for virtual manufacturing

Digital manufacturing (also termed as 3D printing or Additive Manufacturing, AM) is considered as one of the key pillars in creating a sustainable and digital industrial era through the ongoing industrial revolution, Industry 4.0 along with Big Data and Internet of Things.

Industries around the globe are thriving for maturing various digital manufacturing technologies and are facing a serious deffciency of skilled engineering trained in such a highly demanding field. Therefore, after completing this program the students are well trained to solve real challenges in various industrial sectors including but not limited to aerospace, space, automotive, bio-medical, marine, nuclear, power and energy etc.

After successfully finishing this program the student can go to industries as well trained

• 3D printing process specialist,
• design specialist,
• materials specialist,
• characterization specialist,
• surface engineering specialist

After successfully finishing this programme the student can also opt for a research career by enrolling in a Ph.D. program with specialization in 3D printing, process monitoring, materials processing using laser and plasma, thin and thick coatings, tribology, biomaterials, etc.

Graduates from the programme are eligible to apply for a position at the University of Turku Graduate School, UTUGS. The Graduate School consists of doctoral programmes, which cover all disciplines and doctoral candidates of the University.