Overview This interdisciplinary Master's programme is designed for students who hold a Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline or in computer science. It builds broad technical expertise needed to develop, build and operate complex products and systems commonly found in industrial engineering and the automotive sector. The curriculum equips graduates with both the theoretical foundations and practical skills required for advanced industrial development as well as academic research.
A distinctive feature of the programme is its very large proportion of project work, giving students hands-on experience in solving real-world, cross-disciplinary problems. Many projects are carried out in cooperation with leading industry partners or research institutes, offering practical experience, networking opportunities and exposure to current industrial practices. The course also places strong emphasis on the human side of engineering: working effectively in interdisciplinary teams and developing skills to lead and manage such teams are an integral part of the training. Courses are delivered in English and German, so international students should be prepared for a multilingual academic environment and collaborative, team-focused learning.
Entry requirements
The curriculum begins with a targeted bridging semester that balances the prior background of each student. Those holding a Bachelor's in an engineering discipline complete 15 CP of computer science–oriented modules in semester 1 and then finalize their engineering grounding with one or two engineering modules worth 5 CP. Conversely, students coming from a computer science–related Bachelor's take 15 CP of engineering modules in the first semester and add one 5‑CP computer science module to round out their computing foundation. This ensures all students enter the core curriculum with complementary competencies across both domains.
After the introductory semester, the program focuses on interdisciplinary topics that sit at the intersection of engineering and computer science. Teaching is organised into four main areas:
Graduates will gain hands‑on experience in applying computational and engineering methods together, be able to lead or participate in cross‑disciplinary projects, and understand both technical and human dimensions of digital systems.
In the third semester students choose specialised lectures across application domains (e.g. process engineering, logistics, mechatronics, power engineering, medical engineering) and technological domains (e.g. visualization, interaction, interoperability, security, reliability). Concurrently they join a digital engineering project—often linked to faculty research or industry partners (for example collaborations with institutes such as Fraunhofer IFF)—where they can contribute to ongoing research, use industry‑grade resources, and potentially co‑author scientific publications or take part in academic events. The program concludes with a scientific Master’s thesis on a current digital engineering topic, which ideally builds on the third‑semester project work.
Requirements (concise)
Below are the places to check for admission rules and application steps, plus brief guidance for international applicants. Always consult these pages for the most current and official information.
The university’s central page for international applicants explains general admission criteria, required documents, and the application process:
Details specific to the master’s programme — including programme-specific entry requirements and application deadlines — are available here:
For information about the faculty, module structure, staff and any course-related questions, refer to the faculty’s programme homepage:
Quick guidance for international applicants:
Winter Semester (International)
15 May 2026
Summer Semester (International)
15 November 2026
Graduates are prepared for roles in advanced industrial development and academic research where cross-disciplinary expertise in engineering and computer science is required. Typical career paths include digital systems/product development engineer, research engineer, systems integrator, or roles in R&D teams within industries such as automotive, industrial engineering, manufacturing and medical engineering.
The programme’s close ties to industry and research partners, hands-on project experience, and opportunities to participate in research publications increase employability and provide strong professional networks that can help graduates move directly into specialised development positions or continue into doctoral studies.
Trier University of Applied Sciences — Birkenfeld
Technische Universität Braunschweig — Braunschweig
Furtwangen University — Villingen-Schwenningen
University of Siegen — Siegen