Program structure

The master's degree program in Mechanical Engineering offers you the opportunity to deepen your knowledge in two chosen subject areas, but also to expand in the direction of natural sciences, economics and society. In terms of specialization, you have choices in the areas or design, production, materials, mechatronics, enegry and automotive engineering. You should have a comprehensive basic knowledge or mathematics, physics and technology from a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related program in order to build on this in the master's program with in-depth knowledge of the chose areas of application. The teaching of state-of-the-art methods and interdisciplinary qualifications will make it easier for you to transfer to professional life.

The master's degree program offers your numerous options. It is divided into the following areas:

• Elective Mechanical Engineering (22 CP): in this subject, you take the modules Mathematical Methods, Data Science, Modeling, Simulation and Design, in which you can choose from numerous elective courses on the respective topics. You also choose a laboratory course in which you can put the knowledge you have acquired into practice.
• Interdisciplinary Elective (20 CP): here you broaden your horizons and take modules of an interdisciplinary nature, for example Business and Law, Technology and Society or classic interdisciplinary qualifications.
• Specialization (24 CP): you choose two specializations from almost 20 offerings, such as Microsystems Technology, Supply Chain Technologies or Robotics & AI. Of the 24 CP, you will take at least 8 with more fundamental modules of the chosen specialization.
• Master's thesis (30 CP): At the end of your master's studies, you will complete your master's thesis, a scientific paper usually from one of your specializations, which will enable you to apply and eepen the knowledge and skills you have acquired. It requires independent research, analysis and the preparation of a written theses. The maximum working time is six months.

The particular about the master's degree program in Mechanical Engineering at KIT is the lively international exchange activities. You can apply for a double degree program with France, Argentina or China or spend one or two semester abroad with ERASMUS+.

Stays abroad

KIT offers a wide range of options for stays abroad, from individual courses to a year abroad. Especially if you are interested in a longer stay abroad, it is advisable to contact the International Students Office early on.

The master's degree in Mechanical Engineering provides an insight into current technologies, an in-depth understanding of the technical content and an application-oriented specialization. After completing your master's degree, you will have the opportunity to enter a wide range of industries, such as vehicle technology, special machinery and plant engineering, power plant engineering, production engineering, intelligent automation or materials engineering. The tasks range from research and development, project management, quality management, construction and commissioning, production management to consulting and sales.

Those with a good master's degree can apply for a doctorate and later work as a “Dr.-lng.” in science and industry.

Characteristics features of Mechanical Engineering M.Sc. at KIT

• can be studied in German or English (or both)

• master's orientation phase

• study abroad via Eucor, GEARE and ERASMUS+

• double degree programs with France, Argentina, South Korea and China

• mechatronics application center for your own experimental work

• good networking with research and industry partners all over the world

What KIT has to offer

• central campus close to the city forest and right next to the city center
  
• 24-hour library offering single and group working places
  
• wide range of inexpensive catering options (dining hall, cafeteria, Koeri and Pizzawerk)
  
• numerous interdisciplinary offers for personal and professional development, e.g. Lernlabor, Schreiblabor and Perspektivenlabor
  
• study abroad, e.g. via Erasmus
  
• excellent university sports facilities with a large selection of sports
  
• comprehensive cultural offerings with university orchestras, choirs and theater groups
  
• extensive support for career entry and self-employment
  
• internationally oriented degree programs and diverse exchange programs
  
• modern laboratories and practical teaching methods
  
• Lernraum app
  
• diverse student initiatives, clubs and opportunities to actively participate in campus life
  
• stay in touch after graduation via the alumni network
  

Admission requirements

The requirements for admission to the master's degree program in Mechanical Engineering are based on the current admission regulations:

• bachelor's degree
  A bachelor's degree in an engineering or natural sciences program at a university, university of applied sciences, university of cooperative education or a foreign university. The degree program must have been compelted within a standard period of study of at least three years and with a minimum number of 180 ECTS credit points.
• minimum knowledge and minimum achievements
  To be admitted to the master's degree program in Mechanical Engineering, you must demonstrate certain minimum knowledge from your bachelor's degree program. Specifically: Theoretical engineering fundamentals (in particular higher mathematics, engineering mechanics and thermodynamcis): 37 CP
• Appliocation-related engineering fundamentals
  (in particular machine design, materials science and fluid mechanics): 26 CP
• Electrical engineering and information technology fundamentals
  (in particular measurement and control engineering, electrical engineering, mechatonics and computer science): 12 CP
• Internschip
  An internship of at least twelve weeks, which is recognized by the Praktikantenamt of the KIT-Department of Mechanical Engineering. A work placement certificate must be submitted for this, stating both the duration of the internship and the content. If the internship is missing, admission can be granted on the confition that it is compelted during the first three semesters, at the latest by the time the master's thesis is registered.

Students who cannot provide proof of the above-mentioned academic achievements can qualify for the degree program by taking an entrance test. This test takes pleace in March for the summer semester and in September for the winter semester. Registration is possible online.

Language requirements and certificates

For the master's degree program in Mechanical Engineering, you need sufficient knowledge of German or English. Your German language skills must be at least level C1 and your English language skills at least level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Proof of sufficient German language skills

Your school-leaving certificate is sufficient proof of your German language skills if

• you obtainted it at a German-speaking school in Germany or abroad
• you are a graduate of a bilingual secondary school in Germany or abroad and have passed a bilingual German examination, such as the AbiBac or the Gemischtsprachiges International Baccalaureat (GIB)
• you obtained your degree at a foreign school, but there is another official agreement with the respective country on the recoginition of your school-leaving certificate or language certificate as proof of language proficiency for university studies in Germany

A complete list of foreign school-leaving and language certificates that are recognizes as proof of sufficient German language skills can be found on the webste of the Kultusministerkonferenz (Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany).

If you have not obtained your higher education entrance qualification (HZB) at one of the above-mentioned institutions, you must provide a separate language certificate - regardless of your nationality. Only the following are accepted

• the passed „Prüfungsteil Deutsch“ of the Feststellungsprüfung,
• the passed DSH with an overall result DSH-2,
• the passed TestDaF level 4 in all four parts of the examination (reading comprehension, listening comprehension, written expression, oral expression)
• a comparable, recognized certificate of sufficient German language skills

To find our which other recognized certificates can be accepted by KIT as comparable, please contact

• as a German or German-equivalent applicant: Studierendenservice
• as an applicant with non- EU citizenship: International Students Office

Proof of sufficient English language skills

The following is sufficient proof of your English language skills

• your Abitur certificate, if you have taken English for at least five years up to graduation and your final or average grade of the last two years of English lessons corresponds to at least the German grade 4 (sufficient) or at least 5 points or
• a degree from a university with English as the sole language of instruction and examination, whereby English must be the only and official language of the completed degree program noted in the diploma supplement, the transcript of records or the degree certificate
  

Otherwise, only the internationally recognized English tests listed in the KIT admission and enrollment regulations are accepted as proof. These are

• Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) with at least 90 points in the internet-based test or

• IELTS with an overall score of at least 6.5 and no section below 5.5 or

• University of Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or

• University of Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) or

• UNIcert at least level II

Please note:
Language certificates are extremely important application documents that can prevent your enrollment if you do not submit them on time. Therefore, check early on in the application process whether you have the necessary language certificates for your degree program and, if necessary, plan to take one of the language tests mentioned above. The deadline by which you must submit language certificates corresponds to the enrollment deadline stated in your admission offer. In justified cases, you can apply for an extension of this deadline. The extension can be granted until the start of the lecture period at the latest.

Additional contacts:

• KIT-Department for Mechanical Engineering
• Academic advisor
• Examination board
• Information about exchange programs and studying abroad
• Student representatives MACH/CIW

• Course catalog current term
• Course catalog current term PDF (English)
• Archive of previous catalogs