This English-language Master's at RWTH Aachen is the faculty’s sole public mechanical engineering master’s programme offered in English; the other public master’s tracks in the faculty are taught in German. It is a three-semester programme designed as a continuation of a seven-semester Bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is one of Europe’s largest and most highly regarded, and automotive engineering has a long-established presence on campus—the Institute for Automotive Engineering will mark its 125th anniversary in 2027. You can find more about the institute’s labs, research and industry collaborations at www.ika.rwth-aachen.de.
The curriculum combines core technological foundations with advanced topics in vehicle conception and development for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, motorcycles and off‑highway vehicles (e.g., agricultural vehicles and bots). Course modules address major R&D areas such as chassis, body, drivetrain, safety, driver‑assistance systems, thermal management, electronics, connected and automated driving, and related fields. A particular emphasis is placed on autonomous driving. Graduates gain technical competence in vehicle dynamics, energy efficiency, acoustics, mechatronics, structural fatigue and durability.
Students typically complete a master’s thesis embedded in a current project in cooperation with industrial partners or within publicly funded research (for example EU-funded projects). Since its introduction in 2000 the programme has attracted many applicants from around the world, and graduates go on to careers in industry, research institutes, consultancies or pursue doctoral studies such as the German Dr.-Ing. or PhD programmes internationally. RWTH alumni from this programme are in high demand by employers in Germany and beyond.
Key facts & entry requirements
Overview
This full-time MSc programme begins each October and runs over three semesters (90 ECTS in total). The first two semesters comprise taught coursework (30 ECTS each) made up of required and elective modules, while the third semester is dedicated to a 22‑week, 30‑ECTS master’s thesis. Teaching is in English; modules typically combine lectures and exercises and are assessed by written or oral exams, with several practical laboratory courses included. The final degree grade is the credit-weighted average of all completed modules (excluding any enrolment-condition modules).
Key modules (2025 curriculum)
Compulsory subjects (38 ECTS) include:
Representative elective options (22 ECTS) include:
Learning outcomes
Graduates will be able to design and evaluate modern vehicle systems across propulsion, energy storage and structural domains; apply lightweight design and machine-dynamics principles; and assess active safety and advanced driver assistance systems. The curriculum also develops computational and experimental skills (e.g., finite element analysis, calibration, lab-based testing) and introduces topics in digitalisation, automated driving and sustainability. The 22‑week thesis, typically supervised by a faculty member and often conducted in collaboration with industry or R&D partners (and, under conditions, possible on-site at an industrial partner), consolidates research and project management abilities in a real-world context.
Practical experience and additional learning opportunities
Many electives are taught by industry lecturers and include company visits. Each year there is an excursion/technical visit week in May/June following Whitsun (the holiday that begins seven weeks after Easter). Some students will have enrolment-condition modules to complete during their studies; these must be finished before registering for the master’s thesis.
Program at-a-glance (requirements and structure)
You are a strong candidate if you hold (or are completing) a Bachelor's degree in mechanical or automotive engineering; your degree must be awarded by the time you enrol in the Master’s programme. You may apply before your degree is officially conferred — we will assess applications based on the actual content and level of your completed coursework, not only on course titles. Each of the topics listed below corresponds to a module from our own Bachelor’s programme in mechanical engineering (and several specific automotive modules).
If your prior studies lack some required topics, we commonly impose enrolment conditions that require you to take missing modules during your Master’s studies in Aachen. These conditional modules are typical and can extend your study time by up to one semester. However, if the missing content exceeds 30 CP (credit points), we will have to reject the application. There is no minimum GPA threshold and we do not create a ranked list of applicants — if your academic background matches the programme’s requirements, you are welcome to apply. An industrial internship of 16 weeks is also required; if you haven’t completed it yet, you may do it after enrolment (up until registration of your Master’s thesis), and prior relevant internships or technician qualifications can be submitted to the Internship Office for approval.
Regarding standardized testing: applicants who are non-EU and non-EEA citizens must submit a GRE General Test certificate with their application (EU/EEA citizens and students from German universities of any nationality are exempt). Minimum GRE scores expected are Verbal Reasoning 145, Quantitative Reasoning 160 and Analytical Writing 3. We recognise that taking the GRE can be difficult for some applicants due to local restrictions or other circumstances — if this applies to you, contact the course coordinator (masterprog@ika.rwth-aachen.de) to discuss possible alternatives or support.
Admission requirements (concise)
Winter Semester (International)
1 March 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 July 2026
Graduates are prepared for technical and research careers across the automotive and mobility sectors — including vehicle development, powertrain and battery systems, safety and driver assistance, autonomous driving, and consulting. Strong ties with industry and the option to embed your thesis in real projects make graduates attractive to employers in Germany and internationally.
The Master's also provides a clear path to further research: many alumni continue to doctoral programmes (including the German Dr.-Ing.) or enter R&D roles at universities, research institutes and industry research centres.
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TU Bergakademie Freiberg — Freiberg
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