Program Overview

Automotive Engineering M.Sc.

Key Info

Basic Information

• Degree: Master of Science
• Start of Studies: Winter Semester
• Standard Period of Studies: 3 semesters
• ECTS Credits: 90
• Language: English

Admission Requirements

• First university degree, required qualifications according to the examination regulations
  • A first recognized university degree, through which the necessary education background for the Master course of study can be proven.
• Proficiency in English
  • You must provide documentation of your language skills for the language of instruction at the time of enrollment.

Admission to First Semester

• Open (No NC)

Admission to Higher Semesters

• Open (No NC)

Language Requirements

• See Course of Study Description

Dates and Deadlines

• Overview

Program Description

Within this program, students are taught the technological basics and in-depth knowledge in the conception and the development of passenger cars and commercial vehicles, and optionally of motorcycles and off-highway vehicles. This comprises technical vehicle design with regard to market, legislative, and manufacturing requirements. Course modules cover all of the vehicle’s main domains such as chassis, body, drivetrain, safety, driver assistance systems, and others. Graduates will be proficient in relevant technological areas like vehicle dynamics, energy efficiency, acoustics, mechatronics, structural fatigue, and durability.

The program provides in-depth knowledge of industrial design approaches and research topics with regard to real-world vehicle requirements, market developments, and legislative constraints.

Degree Content

This three-semester program consists of two semesters of compulsory and elective courses; a 22-week Master's thesis concludes the study program in the third semester. The courses are taught in English and usually comprise lectures and adjacent exercises as well as a written or oral examination. The Master's thesis can be written in English or German language, with basic knowledge of German required for the registration of the Master's thesis. The students have the possibility to attend a German language course during their studies, a time slot is reserved for German language courses.

• Compulsory subjects add up to 44 credits
• Elective course of 16 credits are to be taken within the first two semesters
• The Master's thesis itself is worth 30 credits
• The final grade is the credit-weighted average of all prior modules

Prerequisites

A prerequisite for starting studies is a first university degree, with which the necessary background education can be proven, as determined in the exam regulations. The exam board determines whether it fulfills the entrance requirements.

Career Prospects

The program’s goal is to provide qualification for most demanding positions in the automotive sector. This includes jobs in industrial, research and development, and other private or public organizations. Jobs in traffic systems technologies and traffic guidance/organization are also possible.

The outstanding reputation of the Institut für Kraftfahrzeuge (ika) in the automotive world and of RWTH Aachen University as a top university underlines the excellent prospects for Master's program graduates.

Module Handbook and Examination Regulations

The module handbook provides a description of all modules of a degree program and offers a comprehensive insight into the program contents.

The examination regulations are comprised of legally binding provisions on learning objectives, prerequisites for study, the course structure and processes, and examination procedures.

Faculty

The Master course of study in Automotive Engineering is offered by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and hosted by the Institute for Automotive Engineering (ika) of RWTH Aachen University, which is one of Europe’s leading institutes in automotive engineering.

Academic Advising

• Advising and Services for School Students and Prospective Students
• Advising for Students
• Departmental Academic Advisors
• Student Councils Within Faculties
• Advice & Assistance

Formalities

• Legal Information for Starting Studies in the First Core Semester
• Legal Information for Starting Studies in Higher Core Semesters

Information before Beginning Studies

• First-Year Orientation

International Prospective Students

• Prospective International Students

Additional Information

The course of study has its own homepage, where you can find all the information about the course of study layout. The module handbook and examination regulations provide detailed information on the program's structure and requirements. The faculty and academic advising services are available to support students throughout their studies.