Studies & Degrees in Mechatronical Engineering
Mechatronical Engineering Study Programs
Mechatronic engineering (also written mechatronics, and listed here as mechatronical engineering) combines mechanical engineering, electronics, control and computing in a single degree. The aim is to design machines and products in which these parts work as one system. The Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya (UVic-UCC) gives everyday examples: household appliances, vehicles, robots, biomedical instruments and automated systems.
Students take the mathematics and physics common to all engineering degrees, then mechanics, hydraulics and pneumatics, electronics and programming. Later courses bring the parts together in robotics, sensors and connectivity, process automation and prototyping. Project work and laboratory hours take up much of the timetable.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degrees in Spain. An official bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits. The Grado en Ingeniería Mecatrónica of UVic-UCC lasts four academic years and is taught on campus. The university states that the degree, launched in 2009, was the first of its kind at a Spanish university. The Universidad de Zaragoza offers the same degree title at its Escuela Universitaria Politécnica de La Almunia (EUPLA), about 30 minutes from Zaragoza. According to the school, this degree qualifies graduates for the regulated profession of Ingeniero Técnico Industrial in the field of industrial electronics.
- Bachelor's degrees elsewhere. At the University of Wollongong in Australia, mechatronic engineering is a major of the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), which takes four years full time and is accredited by Engineers Australia. HZ University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands teaches a four-year bachelor's degree in Engineering in English, with Mechatronic Engineering as one of four study tracks. In Latin America the degree is longer: Ingeniería Mecatrónica at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Bogotá has 179 credits over 10 semesters.
- Master's degrees. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. Graduates in mechanical, electrical or electronic engineering often use a master's in mechatronics, robotics or automation to change field.
- Technician level. In the United States, mechatronics technicians typically need an associate degree or a postsecondary certificate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Spain trains technicians in this area through vocational training (FP).
Programme names vary. The Universidad de Guadalajara, for example, calls its degree Ingeniería en Mecatrónica Inteligente. Elsewhere mechatronics appears as a specialisation inside mechanical, electronic or industrial engineering, so compare study plans and not only titles.
Where to study mechatronic engineering
SpainExchange lists 22 active schools for this subject. Spain has six and Mexico four; Australia has two, and Germany, Austria, Guatemala, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Denmark, China, Brazil and Colombia are among the countries with one.
In Spain the list includes UVic-UCC, the Universidad de Zaragoza, the Universidad de Sevilla, Florida Universitària near Valencia, the Universidad Católica de Ávila and the E.T.S. Ingeniería del Diseño in Valencia. In Mexico it includes the Universidad de Guadalajara, the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP), the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara and the Universidad de Sonora. Other examples are the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, the University of Wollongong, Griffith University, HZ University of Applied Sciences and Newcastle University.
Degrees are normally taught in the language of the country. UVic-UCC notes that some optional courses are given in English, and HZ teaches its programme in English. The University of Wollongong asks international applicants for IELTS Academic 6.0 or an equivalent.
Costs
Fees differ widely between public and private universities and between countries. As one example, UVic-UCC listed a price of €95.95 per credit for its mechatronics degree when this page was checked in October 2026. Always confirm the current price with the school.
Careers
Graduates work on automated production lines, robotics, vehicles, medical devices and consumer products, in design, commissioning and maintenance. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics describes mechatronics technologists and technicians as people who install, repair, upgrade and test electronic and computer-controlled mechanical systems, and projects their employment to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035. It has no separate category for mechatronic engineers; robotic engineers are counted with mechanical engineers, an occupation projected to grow 11 percent over the same period. These are US figures and do not describe other labour markets.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a mechatronic engineering degree take?
Four years in Spain (240 ECTS credits), Australia and the Netherlands, taking the programmes above as examples. Degrees in Latin America are often longer: the programme at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia lasts 10 semesters.
Is mechatronics a regulated engineering profession in Spain?
It depends on the degree. The EUPLA of the Universidad de Zaragoza states that its Grado en Ingeniería Mecatrónica qualifies for the profession of Ingeniero Técnico Industrial in industrial electronics. Ask each university which professional rights its degree gives.
Can I study mechatronic engineering in English?
Yes, for example at the University of Wollongong or at HZ University of Applied Sciences, whose Engineering bachelor's degree is taught in English. Spanish degrees are taught mainly in Spanish or Catalan, sometimes with optional courses in English.
What is the difference between mechatronics and mechanical engineering?
Mechanical engineering concentrates on machines, materials and energy. Mechatronics adds electronics, control and programming from the start, so that graduates can design a complete automated system.