English-taught Masters in Automotive Engineering in Germany for International Students
Germany is the perfect destination to pursue a Masters in Automotive Engineering. Two primary reasons behind this are Germany’s quality education and excellent job prospects for automotive engineers. All German universities offering automotive engineering programs are accredited by the state government. A handful of these universities provide English-taught postgraduate degrees in automotive engineering (the majority offer German-taught). International students who wish to study Masters in Automotive Engineering in Germany can apply to any one of these universities.
Germany is the world’s biggest automation market and an innovation hub. It is home to many of the world’s leading automakers, including BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and others. They are renowned worldwide for producing the most cutting-edge, reliable, and safe vehicles. Together, these industries employ 786,109 people, making Germany the largest employer of automotive engineers. Working for these globally reputed firms is a career goal for many automotive engineers. A Master’s in Automotive Engineering from Germany increases your chances of getting hired by these companies.
Masters in Automotive Engineering in Germany: An overview
| Degree type | M.Sc. or M.Eng. |
| Duration | 1.5 to 2 years |
| Public university fees in Euros/year | 104 to 3,000 |
| Private university fees in Euros/year | 12,900 to 15,900 |
| Medium of teaching | German, English |
| Salary of automotive engineers in Germany | 51,083 Euros/year (Payscale) |
Curriculum of German Masters in Automotive Engineering
The duration of English-taught Master’s in Automotive Engineering in Germany is three to four semesters. The course usually comprises lectures, exercises as well as a written or oral examination. The curriculum contains both compulsory and a few elective subjects. Students must attend these subjects to fulfill semester average credit points to be able to clear the semester.
The syllabus usually covers the following technological areas in the automotive industry
- Vehicle dynamics
- Energy efficiency
- Acoustics
- Mechatronics
- Structural fatigue
- Durability
- Safety
- Driver assistance systems
The program concludes with the master’s thesis after the third semester. You can complete your thesis either at the university or at a company.
The Master’s in Automotive Engineering provides in-depth knowledge of industrial design approaches and research topics with regard to real-world vehicle requirements, market developments, and manufacturing requirements.
It imbibes graduates with the skills and current technologies to successfully plan, develop and manage various systems in the field automotive industry. The professional knowledge they gain with a master’s allows them to work in a global workplace and deal successfully with challenges in the field.
Best German universities for Masters in Automotive Engineering in English
DAAD lists 14 English-taught courses under Masters in Automotive Engineering. The following table contains popular German universities that deliver the course in English.
| University Name | Course Offered | University Type | Duration |
| RWTH Aachen University | Automotive Engineering (M.Sc.) | Public | 1.5 years |
| Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt | Automotive Production Engineering (M. Eng.) | Public | 1.5 years |
| Master of Automotive Production Engineering (MAPE), (M.Sc.) | |||
| Chemnitz University of Technology | Automotive Software Engineering (M.Sc.) | Public | 1.5 years |
| Esslingen University of Applied Sciences | Automotive Systems, (M.Eng.) | Public | 1.5 years |
| Design and Development in Automotive and Mechanical Engineering (M.Eng.) | |||
| FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences | Master of Science in International Automotive Engineering (M.Sc.) | Public | 1.5 years |
| SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences | Engineering and Sustainable Technology Management – Focus on Mobility and Automotive Industry (M.Eng.) | Private | 2 years |
| EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht | Master’s in Automotive Management (M.Sc.) | Public | 2 years |
Fees
| University Name | Course Offered | Fees (Euros/year) |
| RWTH Aachen University | Automotive Engineering (M.Sc.) | 600 (semester contribution) |
| Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt | Automotive Production Engineering (M. Eng.) | 104 (semester contribution) |
| Master of Automotive Production Engineering (MAPE), (M.Sc.) | ||
| Chemnitz University of Technology | Automotive Software Engineering (M.Sc.) | 542 (semester contribution) |
| Esslingen University of Applied Sciences | Automotive Systems (M.Eng.) | 3,000 (tuition fees) and 420 (semester contribution) |
| Design and Development in Automotive and Mechanical Engineering (M.Eng.) | ||
| FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences | Master of Science in International Automotive Engineering (M.Sc.) | 600 |
| SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences | Engineering and Sustainable Technology Management – Focus on Mobility and Automotive Industry (M.Eng.) | 12,900 (tuition fees) |
| EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht | Master’s in Automotive Management (M.Sc.)* | 15,900 (tuition fees) |
*EBS offers the degree as a fast-track and double degree option.
Living costs for international students in Germany
The following section provides an estimate of the minimum living costs for international students in Germany. It covers the costs that a student must pay to study in Germany, such as rent, food, utilities, and personal expenses. This cost can average 861 Euros per month i.e. around 10,332 Euros per year.
| Particulars | Cost in Euros/year |
| Rent | 4,200 |
| Food | 1,848 |
| Transportation | 1,392 |
| Utilities | 384 |
| Health insurance | 1,152 |
| Personal expenses | 1,356 |
Eligible students can also apply for various government and university-funded scholarships. Click the link to know more about scholarships for master’s programs in Germany.
Eligibility for Masters in Automotive Engineering in Germany
To be eligible for admission to a Master’s in Automotive Engineering degree, a bachelor’s degree in automotive engineering, mechanical engineering or equivalent is a must. If you require additional subject knowledge before starting your master’s, you can enroll in a pre-master program. The SRH university offers one such 6-month program for 6,450 Euros.
German universities ask for the following documents for admissions:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Proof of English language skills (TOEFL, IELTS, etc.)
- Passport
- Official transcripts
- German language proficiency at level B1 (only a few public universities)
An internship certificate, recommendation letter, motivation letter, etc., are some other optional requirements for admission. Some universities like RWTH Aachen University also require a copy of the GRE test certificate. Students should submit all notarized copies of official transcripts. You can get them stamped by a German diplomat or at a German Embassy in your home country. The notary stamps should be clearly visible and legible.
For English proficiency you can submit any one of the following test scores
- TOEFL IBT test score 87 to 90
- IELTS test score: 5.5 to 7.0
- Cambridge test (grade A, B, or C)
- Duolingo 95
Interested students can submit their applications through the university application tool or Gyanberry.
Career options after a Masters in Automotive Engineering
A master’s program in automotive production engineering is designed to provide students with skills to take up specialist and managerial roles in the automotive industry. They are appointed by automotive industries as
- Project managers
- Application engineers
- Design engineers
- Plant managers
- Manufacturing engineers
With experience higher-level positions can be obtained like
- Engineering manager
- Manufacturing director
- Senior engineer
- Product engineering manager
- Consultant
Germany is one of the strongest countries in the world producing high-tech automotive products. It is at the forefront of autonomous driving technology. The decentralized nature of the automobile sector has led to the development of strong R&D and business networks in Germany. Research institutes, universities, and companies collaborate for research in the field. Collaboration and networking create huge employment opportunities for automotive engineers in Germany.
Many automotive engineers, therefore, stay back after graduation to work in Germany. To extend their stay, they can apply for a residence permit. It gives them extra 18 months to hunt for a suitable job in Germany. Automotive engineers in Germany earn an average of 51,083 Euros per year (Payscale). With a Masters in Automotive Engineering and a few years of experience, the pay can easily reach 6 figures.