Program Overview

---

Engineering Structures Master of Science (M.Sc.)

The master's degree program in Engineering Structures at KIT offers an in-depth, research-oriented education in the fields of structural engineering, building materials technology, and geotechnics. The standard period of study is 4 semesters and you will earn 120 ECTS credits.

Program Details

What you can expect in our master's program

The central component of the course is the engineering application of the qualifications acquired in the bachelor's degree program, supplemented by in-depth and extended knowledge and methods. There are four study profiles to choose from, which you can use to sharpen your professional profile. The wide range of modules allows you to design your studies flexibly and individually.

The four study profiles on offer represent the different characteristics of the job profile. There is a choice:

• Construction Engineering
• Modeling and Simulation in Construction Engineering
• Building Preservation, Building Materials and Building Physics
• Geotechnics

You choose one of these study profiles for your Profile Studies. Each profile comprises a combination of five compulsory modules (30 CP) and seven compulsory elective modules (42 CP). The choice of study profile is made under the guidance of a mentor during the first semester.

In the Supplementary Studies (18 CP), you can sharpen your profile and think outside the box. It is divided into the Subject-Specific Supplement (12 CP) and the acquisition of Interdisciplinary Qualifications (6 CP).

In the Subject-Specific Supplement (12 CP), you can choose freely from all modules of the degree program and in this way deepen your knowledge within your profile or look beyond the horizon into other subject areas. You can choose from over 60 modules.

To obtain the Interdisciplinary Qualifications (6 CP), you can choose courses from the respective course catalog of the House of Competence (HoC) or the "Studium Generale, Forum Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft" (FORUM) or language courses from the Language Center (SpZ).

Program Structure

• Semesters 1-3:
  • Profile Studies (12 modules of 6 CP each, 72 CP total)
    • Profile Basics: 5 compulsory modules (30 CP)
    • Profile Specialization: 7 compulsory elective modules (42 CP)
  • Supplementary Studies (3 modules of 6 CP each, 18 CP total)
    • subject-specific supplement (2 modules of 6 CP each)
    • interdisciplinary qualifications (6 CP)
• Semester 4:
  • master's thesis with presentation (30 CP)

Sample Study Plan

• Profile: Modeling and Simulation in Construction Engineering
  • 1st semester:
    • Profile Basics:
      • compulsory: Design and Construction of Components in Reinforced Concrete (6 CP)
      • compulsory: Non-linear Analysis of Beam Structures (6 CP)
      • compulsory: Surface Structures and Dynamics of Structures (6 CP)
      • compulsory: Grundlagen Basics of Finite Elements (6 CP)
    • Profile Specialization:
      • compulsory elective: Numerical Methods in Structural Analysis (6 CP)

Career Prospects

Depending on your career goals and personal interests, a master's degree will qualify you for management positions at a construction company, engineering office, or public building authority for tasks in construction management, construction planning, or design. Civil engineers with a master's degree have excellent career prospects and many fields of activity; they can be found in management positions in the following sectors:

• Structural and civil engineering
• Engineering offices
• Public administration
• Consulting firms
• Railroads
• Postal services
• Insurance companies
• The energy industry
• Software companies
• Several others

Admission and Language Requirements

Admission Requirements

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

• a successfully completed bachelor's degree (or at least an equivalent degree) in Civil Engineering (or a course with essentially the same content) at a university, university of applied sciences, university of cooperative education, or at a foreign university.
• The program must have been completed within a standard period of study of at least three years and with a minimum number of 180 ECTS credits.
• minimum knowledge and minimum achievements in the areas of:
  • statics and mechanics amounting to at least 30 CP
  • mathematics to the extent of at least 20 LP
  • building materials and constructions of at least 18 CP
  • structural engineering of at least 10 CP
  • geotechnical engineering of at least 10 CP

Language Requirements and Certificates

For the master's degree program in Engineering Structures, you need sufficient knowledge of the German language. Your German language skills must correspond to at least level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Characteristic Features of the Degree Program

Characteristic Features of Engineering Structures M.Sc. at KIT

• future-oriented engineering degree program
• study in small, well-supervised groups
• research-oriented teaching through active involvement in research projects and engineering projects
• integration into the Eucor university network enables participation in courses at the universities of Freiburg, Basel, Strasbourg, Colmar, and Mulhouse

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

Teaching Calendar and Course Catalog

Teaching Calendar

• ST 2025:
• WT 2025/26:
• ST 2026:
• WT 2026/27:
• ST 2027:
• WT 2027/28:
• ST 2028:
• Lectures will not take place:
  • from 12-24 to 01-06
  • the week after Pentecost
  • on all public holidays in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg

Course Catalog

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

Statutes and Regulations

Current Admission Regulations Engineering Structures M.Sc.

• 2024 KIT 030 Satzung zur Änderung der Satzung für den Zugang zu dem Masterstudiengang Funktionaler und Konstruktiver Ingenieurbau – Engineering Structures am Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
• 2020 KIT 012 Satzung für den Zugang zu dem Masterstudiengang Funktionaler und konstruktiver Ingenieurbau – Engineering Structures am Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)

KIT Admission and Enrollment Regulations

• 2025 KIT 060 Neubekanntmachung der Zulassungs- und Immatrikulationsordnung des Karlsruher Instituts für Technologie (KIT)

Current Studies and Examination Regulations Engineering Structures M.Sc.

• 2025 KIT 012 Satzung zur Änderung der Studien- und Prüfungsordnungen des Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) aufgrund der Neugestaltung der Abschlussdokumente
• 2023 KIT 029 Satzung zur Änderung der Regelung über die mündliche Nachprüfung in den Studien- und Prüfungsordnungen des Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
• 2022 KIT 037 Satzung des Karlsruher Instituts für Technologie (KIT) über die Änderung der Studien- und Prüfungsordnungen zur Anwendbarkeit der Satzung zur Durchführung von Online-Prüfungen am Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
• 2022 KIT 016 Satzung des Karlsruher Instituts für Technologie (KIT) zur Änderung der Regelungen über den Nachteilsausgleich in den Studien- und Prüfungsordnungen gemäß § 32 Abs. 4 Nr. 5 LHG in der Fassung des 4. Hochschuländerungsgesetzes (HRÄG)
• 2019 KIT 036 Studien- und Prüfungsordnung des Karlsruher Instituts für Technologie (KIT) für den Masterstudiengang Funktionaler und Konstruktiver Ingenieurbau – Engineering Structures

Previous Studies and Examination Regulations Engineering Structures M.Sc.

• 2023 KIT 029 Satzung zur Änderung der Regelung über die mündliche Nachprüfung in den Studien- und Prüfungsordnungen des Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
• 2022 KIT 037 Satzung des Karlsruher Instituts für Technologie (KIT) über die Änderung der Studien- und Prüfungsordnungen zur Anwendbarkeit der Satzung zur Durchführung von Online-Prüfungen am Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
• 2022 KIT 016 Satzung des Karlsruher Instituts für Technologie (KIT) zur Änderung der Regelungen über den Nachteilsausgleich in den Studien- und Prüfungsordnungen gemäß § 32 Abs. 4 Nr. 5 LHG in der Fassung des 4. Hochschuländerungsgesetzes (HRÄG)
• 2014 KIT 019 Satzung zur Umsetzung des Übereinkommens über die Anerkennung von Qualifikationen im Hochschulbereich der Europäischen Region vom 11. April 1997 gemäß §§ 32 Abs. 2, 4 und 36a LHG in den Studien- und Prüfungsordnungen am KIT
• 2013 KIT 029 Studien- und Prüfungsordnung des Karlsruher Instituts für Technologie (KIT) für den Masterstudiengang Funktionaler und konstruktiver Ingenieurbau – Engineering Structures

Module Handbook

• Module handbook Engineering Structures Master according to 2019 studies and examination regulations
• Public view Engineering Structures Master in the Campus Management System
  • Link (German)
  • Link (English)