Mechanical Engineering and Production

The mechanical engineering and production sector is one of Germany's most important employers. Only by continually improving and developing their products and competencies can the companies in this sector enjoy continued success over the long term.

One challenge here is the successful implementation of digitalisation to enable improved coordination of internal processes and the optimal integration of new information and Internet technologies into company processes, thus creating added value for customers.

To master this challenge these companies require employees who are not only very well-trained but also flexible and adaptable, with up-to-date management and soft skills. These qualities are necessary for employees and companies to successfully help shape the far-reaching economic and social changes of the future.

Mechanical and production engineers are highly sought after by employers in a range of sectors:

• Machine and plant engineering      
• Vehicle manufacturing and supply     
• Biomedical engineering    
• Building equipment       
• Energy engineering        
• Traffic engineering        
• Aeronautical and marine engineering      
• Technical service, testing and certification       
• Engineering service provision
• Software development and production      
• Consulting
• Official testing and certification processes    
• Education and training    
• Technical editing

In the core segment of the degree course (semesters one to three), you will acquire foundational theoretical and practical engineering knowledge in mathematics and physics, technical mechanics, construction, and applied computer science. The following semesters will build upon this foundation. You will learn to analyse technical tasks at various levels of abstraction and to identify solutions, both individually and as part of a team.

In the second segment of the degree course (semesters four to seven), you will expand upon this knowledge (e.g. in courses on electrical drive engineering and measurement and control engineering) and intensify your focus on a particular area by choosing a specialisation. You can choose from four options:

• Digital Engineering and Mobility
• Energy Technology
• Development and Design
• Production Technology and Management

A wide range of electives enables you to further specialise in one of the following areas:
plant development, calculation, digital production, energy efficient production, design technology, power plant design, micromobility, renewable energy systems, production technology, product and production management, robotics and applied artificial intelligence, and service engineering.

For students in the cooperative degree programme, the fourth semester is an additional internship semester. The projects, essays, and final theses are also carried out in close cooperation with the participating companies.

The main internship, which generally takes place in the seventh semester (in the eighth semester of the cooperative degree programme), and the Bachelor thesis involve extensive contact with industry, preparing students for their transition into the professional sphere.

You’ll need a strong interest and good or very good grades in maths and the sciences to be suitable for this course, and you should be able to think in the abstract and have well-developed analytical skills.

You’ll find it easier to get on in your studies and settle into the world of work afterwards if you are an organised and self-disciplined person. Practical experience and skills in technical drawing, metal processing, electronics, mechatronics and/or programming are a distinct advantage.

Interested – but not quite sure yet whether this is the right course for you? Our self-assessment test can help you make up your mind. Take it here: HAW Navigator.