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Studies & Degrees in Robotics Engineering

Robotics engineering is the branch of engineering that designs, builds, programs and maintains robots and other automated machines. It is an interdisciplinary subject: a robot has a mechanical body, electronic circuits, sensors and motors, and software that decides what the machine does. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics describes robotic engineers as engineers who plan, build and maintain robots, including how a robot uses its sensors and how those sensors fit into the design. Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) defines robotics as embodied intelligence, which covers both artificial intelligence and physical intelligence.

Students therefore learn parts of three older disciplines: mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, and computer science. A typical programme starts with mathematics, physics, circuits and programming, and then moves on to control systems, sensors and actuators, kinematics, computer vision, motion planning and machine learning. Laboratory and project work take up a large share of the timetable. At WPI, for example, students write software in Python and C++ and use the Robot Operating System to coordinate sensors, motors and decision-making.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree. In the United States the first degree is the Bachelor of Science. WPI offers a BS in Robotics Engineering that is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, and a combined BS/MS that can be completed in five years. In Spain a bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits and takes four years. Robotics is usually combined with electronics or automation: the Universidad de Sevilla and the Universidad de Málaga jointly teach the Grado en Ingeniería Electrónica, Robótica y Mecatrónica (240 credits, four years), which has four specialisations, one of them in robotics and automation.
  • Master's degree. A master's deepens one area, such as autonomous vehicles, medical robots or human-robot interaction, and ends with a thesis or a capstone project. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. WPI teaches its MS in Robotics Engineering on campus and online.
  • Doctorate. A PhD is the route into research and university teaching. WPI states that it was the first university to offer degrees in robotics from the BS through to the PhD.
  • Short and technical courses. Graduate certificates cover the foundations in a few courses; the WPI certificate has 15 course credits. Technicians who operate, test and maintain robotic equipment typically need an associate's degree or a postsecondary certificate, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Where to study robotics engineering

The SpainExchange directory currently lists two active schools for this subject, one in the United States and one in Spain: Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts, and the Universidad de Sevilla. Few universities have a department named after robotics. Many more teach the subject as a specialisation inside mechanical, electrical, electronic or computer engineering, so it is worth checking those degrees as well.

The language of instruction follows the country. WPI teaches in English, and its robotics degree is a STEM-designated degree, which qualifies international students for extended work authorisation in the United States through Optional Practical Training (OPT). The degree in Seville is taught mainly in Spanish; the university plans curricular itineraries in English and requires students to prove English at CEFR level B1 before the degree is awarded.

When comparing programmes, look at the balance between mechanics, electronics and software, the hours in the laboratory, the final project and whether the degree is accredited (ABET in the United States) or official (in Spain).

Careers

Graduates work as robotics engineers, automation and control engineers, embedded software developers, machine vision engineers and research engineers. WPI lists automation, manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, energy, agriculture, search and rescue, material handling, education and defence among the industries that use robots.

Official statistics rarely count robotics engineers separately. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics includes them in its description of mechanical engineers, an occupation whose employment it projects to grow 11 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. A degree from an accredited programme is usually necessary to become a licensed professional engineer in the United States.

Frequently asked questions

Is robotics engineering a separate degree or part of another engineering degree?

Both exist. Some universities, such as Worcester Polytechnic Institute, award degrees named Robotics Engineering. Others teach robotics as a specialisation within electronic, mechanical or computer engineering, as the Universidad de Sevilla does in its degree in electronics, robotics and mechatronics.

How long does it take to study robotics engineering?

In Spain a bachelor's degree takes four years and has 240 ECTS credits, and an official master's adds 60 to 120 credits. In the United States, WPI offers a combined BS/MS that takes five years.

Which school subjects do I need for robotics engineering?

Mathematics and physics are the base, and programming helps. The first year of a degree normally covers mathematics, physics, circuits and computing before the robotics courses begin.

Can I study robotics engineering in English in Spain?

The degree at the Universidad de Sevilla is taught mainly in Spanish, with itineraries in English planned by the university. Students must also prove English at CEFR level B1 before the degree is awarded.