Mechanical Engineering B.Sc.

 

Automobiles must conserve more energy, production methods must be more efficient, and material usage cheaper and more environmentally sustainable. Highly specialized machines are needed to meet this consistently growing demands.

Mechanical engineering's task is to develop them and create suitable solutions for almost all fields of application. It relies principles from natural science and engineering such as mathematics, thermodynamics, and materials science.

The Bachelor course of study at RWTH is designed to reflect these current demands.

It combines a challenging core curriculum with future-oriented and interdisciplinary projects. It does not limit itself to teaching only current content but rather also teaches fundamental, theoretical underlying concepts and methods that have endured the test of time

Through the strong connection of research and teaching students receive training that matches the level of development as well as many practical experiences over the course of seven semesters.

They learn to combine technical facts with profitability and user safety.

This enables them to later master tasks in various fields of application within engineering under various technical, economic, and social conditions.

Starting in the fifth semester students can specialize and select from one of the career fields offered:

• Production technology develops complex processes, which make it possible to conduct cost-effective production with longterm, consistant quality – and at every scale: from individual tools to complete production plants.
• Product development focuses on the optimization of products in mechanical engineering. The spectrum ranges from materials to industrial design.
• Energy and process engineering deal with the provision and transition of energy and materials. For example, crude oil is turned into cosmetics, biomass into fuel, wind power and sunlight into energy.
• Textile and plastics technology is dedicated to the manufacture and processing of plastics and textile materials. This is how, for example, technical building components are developed from fibers and products for living are made from plastics.
• The goal of transportation engineering is to optimize all methods of transport – from private vehicles to railcars to aircrafts.

 

Degree Content

Curriculum

Semester	Content
1	Introduction to Mechanical Engineering, Mechanics I, Machine Design I, Mathematics I, Physics, Chemistry, Communication, and Organizational Development
2	Mechanics II, Introduction to CAD, Principles of Electronics für Mechatronic Systems, Thermodynamics I, Mathematics II, Computer Science
3	Mechanics III, Materials Science I, Thermodynamics II, Machine Design II, Mathematics III, Metrological Lab
4	Machine Design III, Materials Science II, Fluid Mechanics I, Numerical Mathematics, Simulation Technology
5	Heat and Mass Transfer, Control Engineering, Business Engineering
	Subjects from the selected career field
6	Quality and project management
	Project – 6 weeks
	Subjects from the selected career field
7	Internship and Bachelor's thesis

For a curriculum overview that is always up to date, please visit the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.

Internship

The combination of theory and practice is a fixed component of teaching at RWTH. It starts with a six-week pre-internship, which offers an initial look at metal processing. During the sixth semester students work on their own project. If they wish they can work with an external partner. During the seventh semester, students complete the second, 14-week internship. In the end the future engineers will have spent a total of 20 weeks in industry. This is often the first step in their professional futures.

Programs Abroad

Budding engineers are trained at RWTH for the global market. Aside from an above average technical education, they also need international skills. Experience abroad is often a deciding factor for one's career path.

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering offers study and internship opportunities worldwide. Partnerships with renowned international universities make it possible to conduct a stay during Bachelor's studies in, for example, Europe, the USA, Mexico, Korea, Japan, or China. Additional possibilities to prepare for an international career include double degree programs listed under "Master's Degree Prospects." Students in a double degree program study at RWTH and another renowned international partner university, receiving two academic degrees at the end of their studies.

RWTH students profit not only from the Faculty's exchange programs but also from the University's strategic partnerships with international universities. They can, for example, complete short stays at one of the IDEA League universities while completing a term paper. The UROP Abroad program, the only one of its kind in Germay, offers the possibility to participate in research projects at international universities during Bachelor studies. These stays abroad are partially funded by RWTH-specific funding.

All of RWTH's partnerships programs are listed on the study abroad pages. Subject-specific offers are published on the Faculty's webpage about international programs.

 

Prerequisites

Prerequisites for the Subject

The goal of the course of study is an education of comprehensively educated engineers with the above described profile, which makes a job in widely differing positions possible. Students will find the following helpful in their studies: ability to think abstractly and analytically, to break down complex structures and to formulate and illustrates one’s own thoughts. Thus good math knowledge and the ability and curiosity for formal, in particular mathematic, analyses are helpful. Good knowledge of the English language also aids in a student’s success in the program as well as in career prospects.

Enrollment Prerequisites

1. Self Assessment
Proof of participation in the "Mechanical Engineering" Self Assessment must be provided at the time of enrollment but not when applying.

2. Pre-internship
Six week pre-program internship in accordance with the Internship Guidelines of the Exam Regulations . The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Internship Office will provide detailed information. There you can find out what steps to take, if you cannot fulfill the internship requirement.

 

Career Prospects

From the automotive sector to process engineering, career prospects for mechanical engineers are good around the world. This is primarily because they learn to apply principles and have acquired the necessary methodological knowledge. Such an education background is the optimal equipment for the later career path – even beyond one's original specialization. RWTH's worldwide reputation in mechanical education and the institute's contacts in industry add to this optimal preparation.

Due to their well-founded fundamental education and their high level of problem solving skills, RWTH graduates particularly work in research and development. However, even careers that don't appear technical at first glance can be attractive, for example in consulting agencies, in sales, or in key account management. Aside from the classic mechanical engineering branches, interdisciplinary fields of applications such as bionics, mechatronics, or therapy technology offer outstanding entry-level opportunities.

 

Master's Degree Prospects

After finishing this Bachelor's course of study, students can choose from eight different Master's programs:

• General Mechanical Engineering
• Energy Engineering
• Product Development
• Transportation Engineering and Means of Transport
• Plastics and Textile Technology
• Aeronautical and Aerospace Technology
• Production Technology
• Process Technology

Ideally students pursue the same specialization as in their Bachelor's studies.

Together with leading French universities, a Japanese and a Spanish university, the T.I.M.E. double Master's program is offered. Here – depending on the partner university – students can select different subjects. Furthermore, RWTH awards a double degree in production engineering and automotive engineering together with the renowned Chinese Tsinghua University.

With the appropriate planning – and possible additional requirements – students can pursue other Master's courses of study, such as automation engineering, sustainable energy supply, or biomedical engineering.

 

Examination Regulations

Regulations that apply for all Bachelor and Master courses of study as well as detailed information about the necessary documentation of required language skills can be found in RWTH’s Comprehensive Examination Regulation. Examination regulations are only published in German as they are legally binding.

Subject Specific Exam Regulations regulate academic goals, the course of study layout, and exam procedures. The appendix to the regulations contains the description of the modules, from which the course of study is composed.

 

Faculty

The Mechanical Engineering course of study is offered by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. It is one of the largest and most renowned faculties of mechanical engineering in Europe. The diversity of the institutes in the Faculty and its research focuses is reflected in its course offerings in various courses of study. Students can select from a number of various elective subjects.