Delft University of Technology

What you'll study

This programme is project-centred and integrates theoretical courses with laboratory work and a substantial capstone project with the Project MARCH student team. Core themes include actuation and transmission design for wearable systems, advanced control and real-time embedded systems, biomechanics and human factors, sensors and perception for wearable robotics, and safety and certification for medical/industrial devices.

• Mechatronic design for wearables: modular joint and linkage design, lightweight structures, materials selection, and power management for portable systems.
• Actuators and drives: electric motors, series/parallel elasticity, quasi-direct drive, transmission alternatives and thermal management in constrained form factors.
• Control theory and real-time implementation: model-based control, impedance/admittance control, adaptive and robust controllers, torque control and low-latency software architectures.
• Biomechanics and human–robot interaction: gait analysis, musculoskeletal modelling, comfort and ergonomics, intention detection and assist-as-needed paradigms.
• Sensing and perception: inertial measurement units, force/torque sensing, wearable EMG/EEG interfaces, sensor fusion and state estimation for lower-limb and upper-limb systems.
• Machine learning for wearable robotics: pattern recognition for intention estimation, learning-based control adaptations and predictive assistance strategies.
• Safety, standards and clinical/regulatory considerations: risk assessment, fail-safe architectures, usability testing and pathways to certification for assistive devices.
• Project and thesis: collaborative development within Project MARCH or an industry-linked research group, covering system integration, iterative prototyping, user trials and validation.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a relevant bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, robotics, mechatronics or a closely related discipline. Strong fundamentals in dynamics, control systems, signal processing and programming are required. Practical experience in embedded systems, CAD and laboratory instrumentation is highly desirable.

Typical application documents include a CV, academic transcripts, a motivation letter outlining relevant project experience (for example robotics projects, internships or student teams), and references. International applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English through an accepted test or institutional proof of prior education in English. In some cases, selection may include assessment interviews or a portfolio review of technical work.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles in industry, research and entrepreneurship where wearable robotics and assistive technology are developed. Common career paths include:

• Robotics engineer or systems engineer in companies developing exoskeletons, prosthetics, rehabilitation devices or industrial augmentation systems.
• Control systems engineer specialising in real-time embedded control for wearable platforms.
• Biomechanics or human–robot interaction specialist within clinical research institutes or multidisciplinary development teams.
• R&D engineer in medical device companies or mobility-tech startups, advancing prototype development and productisation.
• Academic researcher or PhD candidate in robotics, wearable technologies or rehabilitation engineering.
• Technical consultant or project manager for firms evaluating exoskeleton deployment in industrial or healthcare settings.

Why study at Delft University of Technology

TU Delft offers a strong technical environment with established research groups in robotics, control engineering and biomechanics. The university is home to multidisciplinary facilities and labs that support prototyping, mechatronics testing and human-subject experiments, and it encourages collaboration between engineering faculties and medical partners.

Project MARCH is a prominent student-led initiative at TU Delft focused on designing competitive, fully instrumented exoskeletons; collaborating with the team gives students authentic end-to-end experience in system integration, testing and public demonstration. The programme benefits from TU Delft's industry links in the Netherlands and across Europe, opportunities for multidisciplinary project work, and an emphasis on practical skills that prepare graduates to move rapidly into development or research roles in wearable robotics and related fields.