Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program overview
Program Profile
| Name of the program degree | Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering |
| Name of the program | Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering |
| Program Code | 8520103 |
| Vietnam Qualifications Framework Level | 7 |
| Length of Program | 2 years |
| Mode of Delivery | Full-time |
| Language of Delivery | English |
| Total credits | 60 credits |
| Home College | College of Engineering and Computer Science |
Program Purpose
The purpose of the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering program is to develop mechanical engineering researchers and professionals with an in-depth understanding of fundamental and advanced principles of mechanical systems, design, analysis, and manufacturing, while fostering significant exposure to research and practical applications. The program aims to produce graduates who can contribute to society as innovative, ethical, and well-rounded professionals, capable of leading technological advancements and addressing complex engineering challenges. Upon graduation, students will be prepared to work in research and development, advanced manufacturing, design engineering, consulting, and academia, contributing to sustainable development and industrial transformation at both local and global levels.
Program Educational Objectives and Program Learning Outcomes
1. Program Educational Objectives (PEOs)
The educational objectives of the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering program are that, within three to five years after graduation, graduates are expected to:
- PEO1: Demonstrate advanced technical competence in mechanical engineering by applying cutting-edge knowledge, analytical reasoning, and
engineering judgment to design, analyze, and implement complex systems and technologies in industry, academia, or entrepreneurial ventures. - PEO2: Engage in research and development activities that contribute to scientific innovation, technological advancement, or interdisciplinary applications of mechanical engineering in areas such as robotics, manufacturing, automation, energy systems, and systems engineering.
- PEO3: Take on leadership roles in engineering teams, research projects, or professional organizations, fostering effective collaboration and promoting ethical, sustainable, and inclusive practices in diverse and dynamic environments.
- PEO4: Pursue continued learning and professional growth through advanced studies, certifications, scholarly publications, or leadership in engineering driven initiatives that contribute to national development and global technological transformation.
2. Program Educational Objectives (PEOs)
Knowledge
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
- PLO1: Demonstrate in-depth and systematic knowledge of advanced mechanical engineering principles, mathematics, and scientific methods to model, analyze, and solve complex engineering problems.
- PLO2: Integrate interdisciplinary and up-to-date knowledge in engineering and related fields to design and evaluate solutions in academic, industrial, or applied research settings.
- PLO3: Exhibit comprehensive knowledge of contemporary issues, sustainable practices, and innovations relevant to the mechanical engineering profession.
Skills
Graduates will be able to:
- PLO4: Apply critical thinking and advanced problem-solving skills to design, implement, and optimize solutions for complex, open-ended engineering problems with consideration of technical, environmental, and economic constraints.
- PLO5: Design and conduct independent research or major design projects, including formulating hypotheses, selecting methodologies, analyzing data, and synthesizing findings.
- PLO6: Communicate effectively in academic, technical, and professional settings through research papers, technical documentation, and oral presentations tailored to diverse audiences.
- PLO7: Work collaboratively and lead effectively in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, demonstrating project management, innovation,
entrepreneurial mindset, and adaptability. - PLO8: Independently acquire and apply emerging knowledge, tools, and technologies in mechanical engineering through lifelong learning and professional development.
Attitudes
Graduates will demonstrate:
- PLO9: A commitment to ethical conduct, professional responsibility, and integrity in research and engineering practice.
- PLO10: Awareness of the social, environmental, and global impacts of engineering solutions, and a dedication to responsible and sustainable innovation.
Curriculum structure
| No. | Curriculum Components | Number of Credits |
| I | COURSE WORK | 30 |
| I.1 | Required courses | 19 |
| 1 | Philosophy | 3 |
| 2 | Research Communication | 4 |
| 3 | Major course 1 | 4 |
| 4 | Major course 2 | 4 |
| 5 | Major course 3 | 4 |
| I.2 | Elective courses | 11 |
| Students select 3-4 project-based courses | ||
| II | RESEARCH WORK* | 30 |
| 1 | Research Proposal | 5 |
| 2 | Research Project 1 | 5 |
| 3 | Research Project 2 | 5 |
| 4 | Master Thesis | 15 |
| TOTAL | 60 |
* The research component is designed to equip students with advanced research capabilities and prepare them to contribute original and impactful knowledge to the field of mechanical engineering. Students are expected to produce at least two high-quality publications in Scopus-indexed journals or conference proceedings, based on their research work under faculty supervision.
For more detailed information about our MSc. in Mechanical Engineering curriculum framework, please read here.
Course description
3 credits
Pre-requisites: none
This course introduces fundamental knowledge of philosophy. Topics include characteristics of Western philosophy, Eastern philosophy and Marxist philosophy; advanced content on Marxist-Leninist philosophy in the current period and its role in worldview and methodology; interrelationship between philosophy and science; the role of science in social life.
4 credits
Course Description: This course introduces and discusses practical aspects of research communication skills, including technical paper writing and oral presentation. Students will learn about effective scientific communications through extensive practical training including written, spoken, and individual exercises.
4 credits
Pre-requisites: Control Systems
Course Description: The course will cover: components of robotic systems; selection of coordinate frames; homogeneous transformations; solutions to kinematic equations; velocity and force/torque relations; manipulator dynamics in Lagrange’s formulation; digital simulation of manipulator motion; trajectory planning; obstacle avoidance; controller design using the computed torque method; and different controllers for manipulators.
4 credits
Pre-requisites: Undergraduate level in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering program with a minimum grade of C
Course Description: This course aims to provide student with an overview and the foundation of the multidisciplinary research field of the next generation of computing. It covers the sensing technology, the mechanism behind sensing data, embedded computing, and methods to analyze sensing data.
4 credits
Pre-requisites: Undergraduate Control System courses
This course introduces methods for analyzing and designing nonlinear control systems. Topics covered include mathematical models of nonlinear systems, fundamental differences between the behavior of linear and nonlinear systems, phase plane analysis, Lyapunov stability, input-to-state stability, input-output stability, passivity analysis, feedback linearization, and application to nonlinear circuits and control systems. Nonlinear control design, including Lyapunov-based control, energy-based control, Cascaded control, passivity-based control, input-output linearization, adaptive control and backstepping, are also covered in this course.
4 credits
Pre-requisites: Advanced Machine Learning
Computer Vision is the area of engineering and computer science concerned with the use of artificial vision tools to collect and process information in order to provide automatic systems with some autonomy. The objective of this course is to present an insight into the world of machine vision that goes beyond image processing algorithms and traditional computer vision approaches. Students will acquire knowledge and an understanding of artificial vision from a practical implementation perspective and gain the capability to design physical vision systems. Various aspects will be examined, as time permits, and some of the main approaches currently found in the literature will be discussed, opening the door to many research themes.
4 credits
Pre-requisites: Statistics and Probability (R), Data Mining, Web Programming, JavaScript, Python
Visual media are increasingly generated, manipulated, and transmitted by computers. When well designed, such displays capitalize on human facilities for processing visual information and thereby improve comprehension, memory, inference, and decision making. Yet the digital tools for transforming data into visualizations still require low-level interaction by skilled human designers. As a result, producing effective visualizations can take hours or days and consume considerable human effort.
In this course, we will study techniques and algorithms for creating effective visualizations based on principles and techniques from graphic design, visual art, perceptual psychology, and cognitive science. The course is targeted both towards students interested in using visualization in their own work, as well as students interested in building better visualization tools and systems. In addition to participating in class discussions, students will have to complete several short programming and data analysis assignments as well as a final programming project.
4 credits
Pre-requisites: Undergraduate level in Statics, Dynamics, and Strength of Materials
Course Description: Introduction to linear finite element static analysis for discrete and distributed mechanical and aerospace structures. Prediction of load, deflection, stress, strain, and temperature distributions. Major emphasis on underlying mechanics and mathematical formulation. Introduction to computational aspects via educational and commercial software (such as MATLAB and ANSYS). Selected mechanical and aerospace applications in the areas of trusses, beams, frames, heat transfer, and elasticity. A selection of advanced topics such as dynamic modal analysis, transient heat transfer, or design optimization techniques may also be covered, time permitting.
4 credits
Pre-requisites: Undergraduate level in Manufacturing processes, Mechanical design
Course Description: You will develop a rich knowledge of 3D printing technologies, devices, capabilities, materials and applications. You will learn the trade-offs between various 3D printing processes and technologies, along with the various related software tools, processes and techniques, such as 3D scanning, injection molding and casting. You will explore the broad range of 3D printing applications, including biomedical, aerospace, consumer products, and creative artistry, to mention a few.
4 credits
Pre-requisites: Undergraduate level of Solid Mechanics, Dynamics, Thermodynamics
Course Description: Continuum mechanics is the basis for a vast array of problems in modern and classical engineering. The focus of this course is the development of the fundamentals of continuum mechanics and thermodynamics which will allow for the description of complex phenomena in solids, fluids, and mixtures (solid-fluid) and quickly take us to modern and exciting topics of coupled problems in multiphysics problems in solids as well as the mechanics of soft and biological materials. Most natural phenomena are nonlinear, so the main aim of this course is the development of an adequate framework to model nonlinear phenomena in solids. The models that will be developed to capture physical phenomena can be solved analytically or numerically; towards the latter, a connection of the proposed modeling with the Finite Element Method in the context of multiphysical modeling will be covered.
4 credits
Pre-requisites: Linear Algebra
Course Description: This course offers an introduction to optimization models and their applications, ranging from machine learning and statistics to decision-making and control, with emphasis on numerically tractable problems, such as linear or constrained least-squares optimization. The course covers two main topics: practical linear algebra and convex optimization.
3 credits
Pre-requisites: Mechanics of Engineering Materials
Course Description: This course provides in-depth knowledge of advanced materials used in modern mechanical engineering applications. It covers the structure–property relationships, design principles, processing techniques, and performance evaluation of metals, polymers, ceramics, composites, and smart materials. Emphasis is placed on materials selection for high performance applications in aerospace, automotive, biomedical, robotics, energy, and manufacturing industries. Students will also be introduced to emerging materials research areas such as nanomaterials, biomaterials, and additive manufacturing materials.
3 credits
Pre-requisites: Undergraduate level of Solid Mechanics and Mechanical Design
Course Description: This course introduces the fundamental principles and advanced applications of biomaterials and their integration into medical devices. It covers the structure–property function relationships of metallic, polymeric, ceramic, and composite biomaterials, as well as the design, manufacturing, and evaluation of medical devices. Emphasis is placed on biocompatibility, mechanical performance, degradation mechanisms, regulatory requirements, and ethical considerations. Students will engage in case studies and project based learning to connect material properties with medical device performance and patient outcomes.
5 credits
Students identify a relevant and challenging research topic in mechanical engineering, conduct a comprehensive literature review, and define research questions or hypotheses. They develop a detailed research proposal outlining objectives, methodology, expected outcomes, publication plan, and timeline. The proposal must be approved by a faculty advisor and the graduate research committee.
5 credits
Students conduct a research project related to the proposed research proposal under faculty supervision. The project may involve theoretical analysis, software development, experimental work, or applied research. Deliverables include a project report and potentially a draft or submission to a Scopus-indexed publication.
5 credits
Students conduct a research project related to the proposed research proposal under faculty supervision. The project may involve theoretical analysis, software/hardware development, experimental work, or applied research. Deliverables include a project report and potentially a draft or submission to a Scopus-indexed publication.
15 credits
Students synthesize their research into a comprehensive thesis that demonstrates innovation, scholarly depth, and relevance to mechanical engineering. The thesis is expected to consolidate findings from the research proposal and the research projects. Students must defend the thesis before a committee and meet the graduation requirement of two Scopus indexed publications, with at least one led by the student based on their thesis or research projects.
