Studying mechanical engineering in Germany

Jorinne Sturm looks at the national education system....

The German education system can be difficult to understand, especially for international students considering studying there. In 2016, there are around 240 state and 100 private colleges such as universities, technical universities, art, film and music colleges as well as universities of applied sciences. Each one of these institutions has different admission requirements. One of such differences are the required language skills. In some of the universities good knowledge of the German language is a necessity. In some universities courses are also offered in English. Many institutions also require a secondary school qualification equivalent to the German ‘Abitur’. And last but not least there is the difference in tuition fees – some universities have them, others do not.

Altogether there are about 14,500 courses offered in Germany. Around half of these lead to a first degree. 5,800 of the courses offer a subsequent degree. The universities in Germany are open to students from all countries. There are currently two million enrolled students, of which 12.5% come from an international background. Germany is in the top three of the world’s top ranked favorite countries to study – right after the US and UK.

University Degrees in Germany

Until recently the classic German education system offered degrees like the ‘Diplom’, ‘Magister’ and ‘Staatsexamen’. In 1999, a contract was signed by 29 European education secretaries within the Bologna process to ensure the compatibility of higher education across nations. Since then, most German institutions offer Bachelor and Master degrees – only a handful still offer the classic models.

The most common Bachelor degrees are the Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc) and the Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) which generally take three years to complete. With a Bachelor it is possible to get a direct start into the industry.

A Master can be completed after the Bachelor degree. Some Bachelor graduates find it more convenient to do a part-time Master whilst working, others prefer to study full-time. In general, the Master program takes one to two years to complete. Students who decide to continue their studies choose to do so because they want to deepen their knowledge in a specific area or because they want to specialize in a particular field of work.

Why Engineering Sciences Play Such a Crucial Role in Germany

One of the reasons behind the good reputation of Germany is the quality of German products. Germany is well-known for its manufacturing of high-end goods. Products associated with the mechanical and automotive engineering industry as well as those of electrical and optical manufacturing processes are especially successful on the world market. Mechanical engineers from Germany have always had an excellent reputation and are high in demand worldwide. ‘Made in Germany’ is a quality cachet.

Mechanical Engineering is the second highest ranked favorite education program in Germany. The reputation of German Engineering comes from a long tradition of high-quality education and the demand for engineers remains unbroken – in Germany and worldwide. On top, German university degrees, especially in engineering sciences, are highly respected by employers around the globe.

In order to study Mechanical Engineering, students must have outstanding grades in Mathematics, Physics and possibly Chemistry depending on the university. An important part of the Mechanical Engineering program is material science which is needed when designing and manufacturing systems.

Language Constraints and How to Overcome Them

For many international students, language is the main obstacle when considering studying in Germany. If they do decide to go to Germany, there are two options. The first option is to learn the language. For those whose secondary school qualification is not recognized to be equivalent to the German “Abitur”, a so called one-year “Studienkolleg” must be completed. This course prepares students for the study of the chosen university program.

Nevertheless, it can be quite daunting to follow lectures in a language you have only been learning for a short time. The other option is to choose a program that is offered in English. Another thing to consider is that the courses offered in German are usually very well-frequented and with more than 600 students enrolled in the first semester, such as in Mechanical Engineering, this can lead to a shortage of personnel to answer questions and addressing issues. This is a vast difference to studying at a private college which has tuition fees. Their programs are tailor-made to fit the needs of international students (who might be spending their first time abroad), are offered in English and have a better staff-student ratio.

International Mechanical Engineering Study Programs in Germany

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is one of the largest research and teaching institutions in the world. This is due to the merger of the former University of Karlsruhe and the Karlsruhe Research Center in 2006. The university’s roots date back to 1852. More than 11,000 of the 24,000 students at the KIT are enrolled in engineering sciences. At KIT, there is a German taught Mechanical Engineering program. In 1999, the first English taught Bachelor of Science Program in Mechanical Engineering was established by the Mechanical Engineering College of the KIT: The Carl Benz School of Engineering (CBS). It strives to offer up to 50 students per class an education and training in close cooperation with the industry, to nurture and prepare new leaders in the field of engineering. The course majors from which the students can choose are Automotive Engineering, Global Production Management, Energy Engineering and Railway Systems Technology. German language classes, intercultural training as well as German Business Etiquette and application workshops prepare the international students for the German or international labor market. This unique concept comprises high-quality lectures by excellent professors of the KIT combined with an individualized all-in-one service package, support and mentoring in order to develop the professional profile of students.

The German education system seems overwhelming at the beginning. But at the end it pays.

For more information visit www.carlbenzschool.de