Mechanical Engineering Schools and Programs in Germany

Mechanical Engineering Studies in Germany

Mechanical engineering, Maschinenbau in German, is taught at universities and technical universities across Germany as a Bachelor of Science followed by a Master of Science. Students combine mathematics, natural sciences and computer science with engineering subjects. Leibniz Universität Hannover describes the core of the degree as mechanics, production engineering and thermodynamics. Practical experience is part of the route: the programmes described below require or recommend an internship, often before the first semester.

SpainExchange lists 7 schools in Germany under Mechanical Engineering, one each in Aachen, Duisburg, Hanover, Kassel, Munich, Stuttgart and Wuppertal. All seven are universities.

How the degree is organised

The bachelor's degree takes six or seven semesters and the master's degree usually four. Examples from the schools listed here:

• Universität Stuttgart: Bachelor of Science in six semesters, taught in German, starting in the winter semester. Admission is unrestricted, the application deadline is 15 September and an internship is required before the start of studies
• Technische Universität München (TUM): Bachelor of Science in six semesters and 180 ECTS credits in Garching, taught in German. Applicants go through an aptitude assessment, and new students need proof of at least eight weeks of manufacturing internship. The Master of Science carries 120 ECTS credits, asks for German or English and can be started in the winter or summer semester
• Leibniz Universität Hannover: Bachelor of Science in six semesters and Master of Science in four, both taught in German, both without restricted admission and both open in the winter and summer semesters. A pre-study internship is recommended
• Universität Kassel: Bachelor of Science in seven semesters, taught in German, starting in the winter semester, without restricted admission. It includes a basic internship, preferably completed before the degree, and 14 weeks of professional practice in the later part of the degree

The Universität Duisburg-Essen lists a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. in Maschinenbau, both in German, on its Duisburg campus. At RWTH Aachen University the subject has its own faculty, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, with bachelor's and master's programmes. The Bergische Universität Wuppertal offers a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. in Maschinenbau in its Fakultät für Maschinenbau und Sicherheitstechnik (faculty of mechanical engineering and safety engineering).

Admission and language

The bachelor's degrees named above are taught in German. Hannover asks international applicants for German at C1 level. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) states that most higher education institutions require at least B2 level of the CEFR. The TestDaF is offered in around 100 countries, and the DSH is taken in Germany. English matters more at master's level: TUM's master's degree accepts German or English.

Several programmes have no admission restriction. Stuttgart, Hannover and Kassel do not restrict the number of places, while TUM selects through an aptitude assessment and takes applications from 15 May to 15 July for the winter semester. Plan the internship early, because it often has to be completed before or shortly after the start of the degree.

A school-leaving certificate from an EU or EEA country or Switzerland that gives access to university there is usually accepted. Applicants with other certificates may first need a Studienkolleg, a preparatory course. Applicants from outside the EU apply through uni-assist or directly to the university, depending on the institution.

Costs and visa

According to DAAD, state higher education institutions generally charge no tuition fees for bachelor's degrees and most master's degrees. There are two exceptions among the states of the schools listed here:

• Baden-Württemberg, the state where Stuttgart is located, charges non-EU citizens €1,500 per semester
• In Bavaria the institutions decide. TUM states that fees for students from non-EU and non-EEA countries are usually €2,000 or €3,000 per semester for bachelor's degrees and €4,000 or €6,000 for master's degrees

All students pay a semester contribution of between €70 and €430. DAAD estimates living costs at between €900 and €1,200 per month.

Citizens of EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland only need a valid identity card. Students who need a visa apply at the German embassy or consulate in their home country. As of 1 January 2025 they had to prove funds of €992 per month, and a visa can take months to be issued.

Careers

TUM describes mechanical and plant engineering as one of the pillars of the German economy and one of its drivers of innovation. Graduates work in the development, design and production of machines and technical products, and in fields such as energy and process engineering.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a mechanical engineering degree take in Germany?

The bachelor's degree takes six semesters at Stuttgart, TUM and Hannover and seven at Kassel. A master's degree adds four semesters at Hannover.

Do I need German to study Mechanical Engineering?

For the bachelor's degrees at the schools listed here, yes. Hannover asks international applicants for C1 level. TUM's master's degree accepts German or English.

Is an internship required?

Often. Stuttgart requires an internship before the start of studies, TUM asks for at least eight weeks of manufacturing internship, and Hannover recommends one.

Is admission restricted?

Not at Stuttgart, Hannover or Kassel. TUM selects applicants through an aptitude assessment.