winter-semester course options
These are the four courses I am considering for the winter semester. All four are listed for WS in the current MSCE study handbook.
Workload is an estimate. TUM plans roughly 30 hours per ECTS, so it includes lectures, exercises, revision, and assessment preparation.
Software Architecture for Distributed Embedded Systems, EI71036
Official course page · Steinhorst · 5 ECTS · CE/CS
An embedded-software design course centred on UML, object-oriented design, architecture and GoF/pattern-oriented patterns. The useful twist is that the patterns are considered under embedded constraints hardware access, concurrency, resource management, safety, reliability, event handling, service access, configuration, and distributed applications. It has weekly exercise sheets and a final exam.
Approximate workload: 150 hours total. Expect about 3 contact hours/week (2 lecture + 1 tutorial), plus a steady weekly exercises/review commitment. This looks like the most software-design-oriented and comparatively predictable option.
Satellite Navigation, EI04328
Official module description · Günther · 6 ECTS · CS
GNSS from signals to receiver algorithms: position/time/velocity determination, satellite orbits and constellations, modulation and codes, acquisition and tracking, propagation errors, accuracy, relativity, and terrestrial reference systems. The official description names a 4-SWS lecture with integrated exercises, and the assessment is oral.
Approximate workload: 180 hours total the module description breaks this down as 60 contact + 120 self-study hours. This is likely theory- and derivation-heavy, with mandatory exercises; allow a meaningful preparation block for the oral exam.
Network Planning, EI7356
Official course page · Schupke · 5 ECTS · CS
An optimization-focused communications-network course: routing, flow and capacity design, circuit/packet network dimensioning, resilience and redundancy, multilayer and multiperiod planning, access/mobile networks, simulation, and availability analysis. Exercises include modelling and solving problems with AMPL and planning tools. The grade is a 60-minute written final; an optional midterm can improve it.
Approximate workload: 150 hours total. The historical module breakdown is 45 contact + 105 self-study hours. Budget extra time for AMPL/model-building exercises; it is a good fit if you enjoy mathematical modelling and practical network optimisation.
Time-Varying Systems and Computations, EI5052
Official course page · Diepold · 6 ECTS · CE
A mathematically intensive bridge between linear systems and numerical linear algebra. It uses time-varying state-space representations to study large-scale tasks such as matrix-vector multiplication, inversion, and factorization. Teams implement project tasks in Matlab using an agile workflow. The stated grade split is 50% oral final exam and 50% homework/project.
Approximate workload: 180 hours total. The course page lists 3 SWS, so roughly 45 contact hours is a reasonable baseline; the remaining time is substantial independent study, homework, and team-project work. This is probably the least predictable workload because project coordination can spike near milestones.