- Degree
- Master of Science in Automotive Engineering
- Course location
- Aachen
- Teaching language
- • English
- Languages
- The Master's programme in Automotive Engineering (MSc) is an international Master's programme taught in English. German language proficiency is not required. However, you will realise that knowing some German is very helpful in daily life in Aachen, and we recommend taking a dedicated language course if you have no knowledge of German language at all.
If you speak German well, you may request to select elective modules from the German catalogue.
- Full-time / part-time
- • full-time
- Programme duration
- 3 semesters
- Beginning
- Winter semester
- Application deadline
- If you hold a degree of a non-EU or non-EEA country, the application period starts at the beginning of December each year. The deadline is 1 March.
If your degree is from an EU or EEA country, the application is possible from beginning of May to 15 July.
The deadline is strict and you need to apply on time with these documents:
• University completion certificate (Bachelor's degree certificate or equivalent): If you are in your final year of studies, you can submit it after acceptance and before enrolment.
• Transcript of records: Don’t worry if the transcript does not yet cover the last year of your Bachelor's. In that case, we would like you to include a list of the remaining modules that you will take during that final year.
• Detailed overview of module descriptions (or syllabus, etc.)
• Curriculum vitae
• Non-EU/EEA citizen (excluding students in Germany): The GRE General Test certificate is required (Home Test or Test Centre, Verbal 145, Quantitative 160, Analytical Writing 3, or higher). Please get in touch with us if you cannot take the GRE in your country (e.g. due to war/crisis/restrictions) or if it is a major obstacle for other reasons beyond your control. We will see if an alternative is possible for you.
- Tuition fees per semester in EUR
- None
- Combined Master's degree / PhD programme
- No
- Joint degree / double degree programme
- No
- Description/content
- The international Master's programme in “Automotive Engineering (MSc)" at RWTH Aachen University is the only English-taught programme of many public Master's programmes in mechanical engineering; the others are given in German. They are three-semester Master's programmes that follow a seven-semester mechanical engineering Bachelor's programme. The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is among the most acclaimed in the world and one of the largest in Europe. Automotive Engineering is an essential part of the different institutes and research entities.
Education and research in this field have a long tradition in Aachen, with the Institute for Automotive Engineering celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2027. More details about the fascinating and extensive facilities, research activities and industrial projects at our institute are waiting for you to explore on our website at www.ika.rwth-aachen.de (https://www.ika.rwth-aachen.de).
The Master's programme in “Automotive Engineering (MSc)" was originally introduced in 2000, and it attracts a vast number of applicants each year. We are happy to say that they are from all corners of the world, with different qualifications and a multitude of backgrounds.
In this programme, you will be taught the technological basics and in-depth knowledge of the conception and the development of passenger cars and commercial vehicles as well as the conception and the development of motorcycles and off-highway vehicles (e.g. agricultural vehicles and bots). This comprises technical vehicle design with regard to market, legislative, and manufacturing requirements. Course modules cover all major research and development domains such as chassis, body, drivetrain, safety, driver assistance systems, thermal management, electronics, connected and automated driving and others. An extensive focus is on autonomous driving. Graduates will be proficient in relevant technological areas like vehicle dynamics, energy efficiency, acoustics, mechatronics, structural fatigue, and durability.
The programme provides in-depth knowledge of industrial design approaches and research topics with regard to real-world vehicle requirements, market developments, and legislative constraints.
The Master's thesis is usually embedded in a real project on state-of-the-art topics with industrial partners or different partners in publicly-funded projects (e.g. EU funding).
After your graduation, you will hold a highly regarded Master's degree with a multitude of possible career opportunities. You may work in research, industry, consultancies or other sectors. You could also continue towards a German Dr-Ing degree or continue in PhD degree programmes around the world. In any case, our graduates are very sought-after by many employers in Germany and beyond.
- Current information
- You are welcome to get in touch for individual and confidential support with any question, especially if you are from a country or region of conflict or crisis, or if you suffer from other constraints. This also applies to problems with the GRE requirement. If you prefer a personal conversation over e-mails, available video call tools include Zoom, Webex, Google Meet and Adobe Connect (via DFNconf). Meetings can be arranged according to your own needs.