Germany is a haven for engineers, with a plethora of manufacturing firms. More than eight engineering institutions in Germany are ranked among the top 100 in the QS Global Rankings for Engineering and Technology in 2021.
Overall, the number of specialties such as automotive engineering, car engineering, etc., research & development, and technical developments given at engineering institutions in Germany are reasons why students want to study in Germany.
- International students may anticipate the highest education and cutting-edge engineering infrastructure at public institutions with minimum expenditures and heavily subsidized rates.
- As engineering wages in Germany continue to rise, the country is becoming a popular destination for overseas students looking to pursue a career, with various opportunities available.
- Engineers in Germany may find work at BMW, Volkswagen, Daimler, Samsung, Siemens, and Sony. They are all significant German corporations that are always in need of engineers.
- In addition, automotive and mechanical engineering have long been taught in German institutions. Around 5,000 qualified mechanical and automobile engineers are needed in Germany. Mechanical engineers make around 40,000 to 45,000 EUR at the start of their careers.
- However, in recent years, biomedical, robotic systems, and energy science engineering have gained traction.
Germany's Best Engineering Schools
German engineering universities have extensive contact with industry, allowing students to gain real-world experience. This extensive practical training makes German engineering more in demand than engineering institutions in the United States. Here is a list of the finest engineering universities in Germany:
University | QS Global Ranking 2022 | Degrees Offered |
Technical University of Munich (TUM) | 50 | 3 bachelor's degrees, 7 postgraduate degrees, and 5 doctorate programs |
Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin) | 159 | 9 undergraduate degrees, 18 postgraduate degrees, and 3 PhD degrees |
RWTH Aachen University | 165 | 10 postgraduate degrees, 8 certifications and 4 doctoral degrees |
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) | 136 | 1 bachelor's degree, 8 masters degrees, and 2 PhD degrees |
Technische Universitat of Dresden (TU Dresden) | 194 | 2 bachelors degrees and 3 masters degrees |
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg | 322 | 2 undergraduate degrees, 11 postgraduate degrees, and 1 PhD degree |
Engineering Schools in Germany: Degree Options and Specializations
In Germany, there are two types of higher education institutions: engineering universities, also known as research universities, and the more contemporary Fachhochschulen (University of Applied Sciences), also known as Universities of Applied Sciences.
- Fachhochschulen provides a diploma degree but no Ph.D. program and concentrates on certain engineering elements. The average time required is 4-5 years.
- Universities offer Diploma and Doctorate degrees and a theoretical approach to engineering. The average time required is 6-7 years.
- There are also automation technology institutions, similar to trade schools, in Bremen, Bochum, Berlin, Cologne, Chemnitz, Dresden, Darmstadt, Freiberg, Magdeburg, Stuttgart, Rostock, Ilmenau, Merseburg, Halle, Wernigerode, Mittweida, Flensburg, Karlsruhe, Siegen, and Braunschweig.
Here are some of the most popular engineering degrees and specialties in Germany:
Education level | Degree | Specialization |
Undergraduate | Bachelor BSc | Material Engineering Bioengineering Chemical engineering and process engineering Electrical engineering and information technology Mechanical engineering Material science and engineering Civil Engineering Civil, Geo, and Environmental Engineering Electrical and Computer Engineering |
Postgraduate | MSc | Aerospace Engineering Automotive Engineering Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology Electrical Engineering and Information technology Robotics System Engineering Textile Engineering |
Doctorate | PhD | Mechanical Engineering and Geo resources and Materials Engineering Electrical Engineering and Information Technology Civil Engineering Advanced Manufacturing Engineering |
Postgraduate Engineering Programs in Germany
Postgraduate engineering programs are primarily taught in English, with a few exceptions that are partially or entirely taught in German.
The programs typically span 1.5 to 2 academic years and cover a wide range of practical and knowledge-based education. The following information provides an overview of engineering colleges in Germany that provide master's programs.
Program | University | Duration (years) | Annual fees(€) | Instruction Language |
MSc Computational Engineering | FAU | 2 | No | English |
MSc Energy Science and Engineering | TU Darmstadt | 2 | No | English and German |
MSc Aerospace Engineering | TUM | 2 | 35,694 | English |
MSc in Mechanical Engineering | TU Berlin | 2 | 3,000 | English |
MSc General Mechanical Engineering | RWTH Aachen University | 1.5 | 1200 | German |
Eligibility Criteria for Masters in Engineering in Germany
Students may be interested in studying in Germany, but before making any preparations, they should confirm their eligibility for engineering. Here are a few things that you should be aware of before pursuing education in Germany:
- Academic qualification: An overseas student wanting to study in Germany must have a bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and a satisfactory academic standing.
- English Language Prerequisites: TOEFL (internet-based) minimum score: 88/ IELTS: 6.5
- German language requirements include a TestDAF certificate or a B1 level German language certificate.
Documents needed: All master's degree applicants must provide the following documents:
- Motivational letter
- Recommendation letter
- Bachelor's degree certificate completed resume
- Academic transcripts giving a detailed description of the grading system in use
- Language competence in English and German
German engineering master's degree costs and financial aid
Tuition is not charged at public colleges. Private institutions in Germany, on the other hand, charge tuition fees ranging between 24,000 and 35,000 euros for postgraduate engineering degrees.
There are resources for locating financial institutions and organizations that provide scholarships to help support these initiatives. BAföG and Bildungskredit are two influential organizations in Germany that offer interest-free loans or grants to overseas students.
Scholarships at German Engineering Schools
Germany's public universities offer nearly no tuition costs, but there are still several alternatives for scholarships to pay programs and semester fees. These scholarships can help with tuition (if attending a private college), entry, semester, or library costs.
Consider the following popular scholarship schemes in Germany:
Scholarship | Organization | Eligible students | Scholarship Amount (€) |
Merit-based Scholarship | Jacobs University | All undergraduate programs | 15,000 |
Heinrich Boll Scholarships in Germany for International Students | The Heinrich Böll Foundation | All postgraduate and PhD programs | 750-1,000/month |
DAAD Annual Scholarship | Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst - German Academic Exchange Service | All programs | 15,500 |
RISE Germany | RISE (Research Internships in Science and Engineering) | All engineering undergraduate programs | 750/month |
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Scholarships in Germany for International Students | Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung | All postgraduate and doctoral programs | 1,100/month |
FES Scholarships | The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung | All postgraduate programs | 1,000/month |
The Scope of Engineering Colleges in Germany
Engineer employment in Germany is pretty outstanding. In Germany, the average engineering professional makes roughly €10,600 per month. The minimum is €5,840, while the maximum is roughly €14,000.
- Work experience influences the pay structure in the German market. A candidate with two years of experience earns 32% more than a newcomer. Furthermore, a mid-level experience increases the reward by 14% to 21%.
- On the other hand, engineers in Germany confront a gender pay disparity, with males earning 7% more than females.
- Every 15 months, engineering businesses in Germany give a 9% compensation increase. This is a positive trend, considering the rest of the globe only sees a 3% gain every 15 months.
- Engineers should expect to earn 5% more than those working in the private sector.
In actuality, the following are the likely employment titles and median earnings after graduating from Engineering institutions in Germany:
Job roles | Annual package (in EUR) |
Ceramics Engineer | 10,100 |
Instrumentation Engineer | 10,800 |
Broadcast Engineer | 11,100 |
Electrical Engineer | 11,400 |
Engineering Project Director | 12,300 |
Engineering Production Manager | 13,400 |
Wind Energy Engineer | 10,700 |
Field Engineering Manager | 13,000 |
Genetic Engineer | 13,300 |
Engineering institutions in Germany give an international student not just a world-class education but also the opportunity to follow a sub-stream of interest.
Several technical institutions in Germany will assist foreign engineering hopefuls in visiting as many schools as they like and studying at a low cost, making Germany your one-stop destination for the cheapest world-class engineering colleges from around the world.