Dependable HW/SW Systems is an international postgraduate PhD program. Over a period of three years, the program broadens students' expertise in the field of highly dependable, embedded and distributed Hardware/Software Systems and further qualifies them for autonomous scientific research.

The program of study includes both profound research activities with supervision of an experienced researcher and a proposal of different tutorials in relevant areas of technology. The program is restricted to the years 2010 untill 2012. The participant should submit their thesis after tree years for the successful graduation.
Flyer (deutsch) / Flyer (english)

Particularly at the beginning of the program, students attend modules to deepen their knowledge of a broad spectrum of topics such as the specification, design, and test of complex electronic systems. These modules comprise courses, tutorials, or seminars. All modules are held in english language. In the course of the program, the emphasis is increasingly put on individual research activities which must contribute to the state of the art of a specific research area. The results of this research are summarized in a disssertation written in english language. Finally, the program closes with an extended oral assessment where students must present their dissertation and discuss their results.

Facts

Duration: 3 years

• Intended Degree: PhD (Philosophiae Doctor)
• The program is consistently held in English language.
• Credits to aquire: 180Tutorials, Seminars: 30 Credits
• Dissertation and oral assessment: 150

Admission Requirements

• University Degree in an appropriate course of studies (EE, CS, CE) with a regularduration of at least 8 semesters. A Bachelor degree usually is not sufficient.
• Proof of English language skills on the basis of an aptitude test (e.g. Internet-assisted TOEFL min. 79 points)
• 2 Letters of Recommendation
• The program capacity is limited to 20 students a year.

Applications

Applications must include

• A complete application form
• Two passport pictures
• Curriculum Vitae
• Certificates of eligibility for studies
• A thesis summary (e.g. Master's Thesis)
• Proof of english language skills
• Sworn declaration concerning attendence of previous PhD programs
• A informal cover letter that outlines the student's research interests on one page

Decisions on admission are met within three months. Upon acceptance, students must immatriculate at the Brandenburg University of Technology.

Information for candidates from foreign countries

Adhere to the application formalities described above.

Application Procedure:

• Each application is checked by the office for foreign students which accepts or rejects it depending solely on the sufficiency of the respective university degree.
• Upon acceptance by the office for foreign students the application is checked by the PhD committee.
• Upon acceptance, it is the responsibility of the student to contact BTU professers who may act as a mentor throughout the program. The mentor must be a professor at the BTU whose qualifications adequately match the students intended focus of research. The PhD committee makes suggestions.
• Admission for the PhD program requires a mentor.  Without prior assignment to a mentor immatriculation is not possible.

Neither admission to the program nor immatriculation at the BTU warrant any grant. Students fund their studies autonomously. However, with the admission to the PhD program students may apply for a grant at the DAAD.

Modules PhD DS

As a general rule, a module contains 2 - 4 block tutorials with a duration of 0,5 - 2 days each.
The PhD committee steadily checks for new tutorials on the basis of the university's course program and (in case of acceptance) assigns them to corresponding modules. On the basis of this assignment students select the individual content of their modules. The test is part of the module.

The content of each module is tested either by individual tests for each tutorial or by a comprehensive module test. In the latter case, the test is run by the PhD committee or a designated group of 1-2 professors; it is executed as an oral discussion and has seminar character.

The following modules are currently offered for the PhD program. At the beginning of each semester, each of these modules is populated with currently available courses. As the need arises, particular tutorials can be assigned to several modules (adequate content provided). The list is announced publicly in a timely manner.

• Formal Methods in System Design (6 Credits)
• Embedded Software Technology (6 Credits)
• Processor and SoC Design and Optimization (6 Credits)
• Hardware Test and Fault Tolerant Computing (6 Credits)
• System Re-configuration and Repair (6 Credits)
• Dependable Distributed and Wireless Systems (6 Credits)
• Stream Data Processing (6 Credits)
• Dependable Signal Processing (6 Credits)
• Real-Life Systems (6 Credits)

Please mind that modules typically cannot be passed during one semester; however, completion within one year is recommended.

Depending on the students' actual demands, the PhD committee may adjust the module catalog by adding new modules or by dropping them from the catalog.