Bachelor of Science Sustainable Systems Engineering SSE

The Bachelor's Program

Basic Information

Structure & Content

The bachelor's program Sustainable Systems Engineering teaches the basics and methods of engineering sciences and sustainable development from an engineering perspective

• Physics and Materials Technology
• Mathematics and Systems Engineering
• Electrical Engineering and Energy Technology
• Chemistry and Process Engineering
• Society and Technology

In subsequent semesters, the course builds on these foundations to offer a methodical and technical specialization in sustainable development topics from an engineering perspective:

• Energy systems including renewable energy
• Resilience (Resistance and adaptability of systems, e.g. after accidents or an environmental disaster)
• Sustainable materials

In addition to expertise, other key engineering skills will be acquired such as simulation techniques, lifetime analysis and programming languages as well as, according to your interests, various soft skills such as presentation techniques and project planning. All of these are important skills for your career.

Special Features of the Bachelor's Program 

First semester - arrive, study and then decide

You do not know which of the three bachelor's degree programs offered by the Faculty of Engineering (Microsystems Engineering, Embedded Systems Engineering or Sustainable Systems Engineering) is right for you? You cannot decide? You do not know what exactly each subject entails?

No worries! The first semester for each of the courses mentioned above are identical and designed so that you get familiar with all three subjects. After two semesters, you can easily change majors without having to extend your studies or losing any time!

We would love to help. Please contact our academic advisers with any questions you may have.

System Design Project with robotic competition

As part of the "System Design Project", the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Freiburg organizes a robotic competition every year: first semester students work in groups of four for the title of the fastest, most innovative and most creative robot.

Equipped with a nearly 250-euro Lego robot kit, the students compete against each other in multidisciplinary groups of four. The task is to build a vehicle that independently runs on a course unknown to the participants. In the run-up to the teams, only the degree of difficulty of the route, such as track length and gradients, is known.

In 2018, the participants had to overcome the following challenge: their robots should complete a course as quickly as possible. They had to stop in front of a barrier where they were loaded with a ball, which had to be placed at the end of the train in a container. In addition, the robots were to turn in front of obstacles or push them out of the way.

Smart, Micro, Green - Engineering in Freiburg

Smart – stands for robots that act independently, for computers that learn to interpret images or algorithms that become faster and smarter. Simply put, smart stands for computer science.

Micro – is meant literally here. The tiniest technical systems emerge that inconspicuously take on complex tasks in everyday life, medicine and industry. Without even knowing it, you are constantly dealing with microsystems. They make our lives healthier, safer, more comfortable, more versatile and, to say the least, easier.

Green – Freiburg is known worldwide for being the Green City. Since 2015, the Faculty of Engineering has been active from an engineering perspective with its own department for sustainability research. How can renewable energy be generated, fed into the grid and stored? How do we develop materials and systems that are produced and used in an energy- and resource-efficient way and that can adapt optimally to difficult environmental conditions or disasters?

Studying engineering in Freiburg always means that you benefit from all three areas of research, no matter which area you choose. Smart, micro and green technologies are becoming more and more in demand - acquire the necessary competencies to solve the social and technical questions of the future as engineers and computer scientists!

Application & Admissions

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the Student Service Center, which coordinates  applications for most bachelor's programs, directly and not us! You will also find information on how to apply and enroll there.

Admission requirements

This is a study program without specific admission requirements (free admissions). Nevertheless, you need

• A university entrance qualification (e.g. high school diploma or Abitur)
• Proficiency in German language at a very good level (minimum of C1 on the European reference framework required for application)
• A passion for technology and solving modern, complex challenges, as well as a strong aptitude for mathematics and physics, are also important requirements for successful studies in Sustainable Systems Engineering.