Switzerland is an exporting nation and mechanical engineers are players in its top league. As professional experts, they develop, design, produce and sell machines, analyse processes and optimise them.

The operation of modern machinery and appliances involves a combination of mechanics, electronics and information technology. The course is designed accordingly. In the first instance, the natural scientific and technical bases are imparted. Students then go on to develop their studies in such a way that they are able to adapt later to the constantly changing technological conditions in their professional career and make a correct assessment of developing trends.

A choice of three study specialisations is available. Applied laser technology deals with the development of laser systems and their use in production. The mechatronics system specialisation focuses on the combination of multi-body dynamics, technical information technology and system integration. Materials technology deals with plastics, processing metals with the use of heat, and memory metals.

The building of machines is Switzerland’s leading wealth creator in the manufacturing sector, the most important industrial employer and by far its biggest exporter. The tasks of mechanical engineering are many and various. Possible areas of employment for mechanical engineers include: machine tool building, plant and power plant construction, the aerospace industry, areas within bio-medical and micro-engineering, and power and process engineering.