FAQs on Master programmes in Engineering
In our chat forum our expert answered many questions about Master programmes in Engineering:
1. Degree Courses
2. Requirements
3. Application
Young Engineer, Bild: DAAD
What is the typical duration of a Master degree in Engineering at a recognized German university?
The normal duration of a Mter program in Germany is three to four semesters. Germany has many well known universities with a very high reputation in the field of engineering.
Is there a German type of accreditation for Engineering Mster programmes that I should be aware of?
No, but you can be sure that each course, which is offered at a German university was checked thoroughly by one of the certified agencies that are monitored by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Study Programmes in Germany.
Are there are any universities offering a Dual Degree Program in Science and Business Administration?Yes, there are. Our database for international programmes found 33 results.
What is the best German university for Master’s in Engineering in English?
There is no such “best” university in Germany because it all depends on your personal qualifications and academic interests. The ranking organised by Centre of University Development/ Centrum für Hochschulentwicklung (CHE) Gives you a pretty good idea of the strength and weaknesses of each university offering Master’s programmes in Engineering.
I noticed that some university programmes in English charge more tuition than programmes in German. Why? Is it a general situation that Master programmes in English are more expensive?
It’s not really about the language but mainly because of the contents of these programmes that some are more expensive than others. The education in Germany is organised by each federal state. Also, universities are free to charge extra fees for their programmes. But at the same time you are also free to choose the degree programme of your interest.
Do I need good German language skills to get a job in Germany after finishing my Master’s degree?
It depends on the company and the job you wish to apply for whether you will need German or not. But as you will be interacting with German customers sooner or later in any case and also will be having a lot of German colleagues it will come in very handy if you do know the language.
After completing basic level German in my home country, can I now pursue the advance level along with my Master program in Germany?
There are a lot of universities that accept students with a lower level of German language than DSH. In this case the university offers language courses beside the technical courses. There are also a lot of Master’s programmes with English as the language of instruction. You can find them in the DAAD database for International programmes.
Is a Master’s degree from a German University accepted for future recruitment or further doctoral studies in USA, Canada or South East Asia?
Yes, usually it is also accepted in many other countries. To be sure you should directly ask the university where you want to pursue your doctoral studies later on. Have you ever thought about doing your Ph.D in Germany? Many universities offer excellent programmes, which you can search for in the database called “Research Explorer”.
What criteria should a student from abroad consider when finalizing a German university degree? Are there any more issues I should be aware of beforehand?
Yes, there are certain issues you should consider already during your preparations. Of course your main aim is to study but there is also a life outside university. You should not only decide for a certain university because of its reputation but also because of the city it is located in. Some people rather like to life anonymously in a big city, while others prefer a familial atmosphere in a small town. As Germany has such a big variety of universities all across the country you should make your choice carefully and also take these “soft facts” into account.
How many months am I allowed to do internships? Will the university help me with getting the same?
In many programmes an internship is only required during a Bachelor’s degree, the Master programmes very often do not have an internship included in their curriculum. But the faculties normally help their students to find a company although the application process for itself is a learning process which the students need to complete by themselves.
Is there any English language master with scholarship?
Currently German universities offer more than 500 Master programmes in English. None of them comes with a scholarship because funding is granted separately from different organisations. For further information please check the DAAD scholarship database.
2. Requirements
What are the basic requirements needed to study in Germany? Do I have to learn German before being admitted to an university?
First of all you need to show proof of a Bachelor’s degree, that you have completed successfully in a similar field of studies of the prospective master. The language requirements depend on the degree course and the university. There are three options:
1. The language of instruction is 100 % German, then a certificate of DSH is needed.
2. The language of instruction is 100 % English, then a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a similar certificate is needed. The level depends on the university and the degree course.
3. The language of instruction is half German and half English, then usually both language certificates are needed. Again, it all depends on the university.
Is it also possible to do a Master in Engineering if I have relevant working experience but done my Bachelor’s in other subjects?
Relevant experience you might have gained from a job might be accepted, but usually the universities look at first at the Bachelor’s certificate. So this also depends a little bit on the university and your particular academic background.
I had medium results during my engineering studies but a lot of working experience due to an internship. Which university will accept my application for a master’s program?
Again it all depends on the university you wish to study at, if your working experiences makes up for the medium results you achieved during your studies. Please get in contact with your favourite university and ask them for further information.
Is there any age limit for both admission to a Master program as well as a doctorate?
No, there is no age limit.
I got a “Zertifikat Deutsch Diplom” in 2004. Is it still valid?
You will have to refresh at least the placement test like Test of German Language/Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache (TestDaF).
3. Application
Is there a list of the admission rates for some of the popular German universities, that you know of?
No, such lists do not exist. If you would like to find out more about this, you should get in contact with your favourite universities and ask them about their admission rates.
I have a list of nearly 15 universities offering courses of my interest. Should I apply for all or just a few of them?
Before you send 15 applications you should think twice if each of them is really necessary. You should only apply to those universities you are really interested in and make your choice carefully.
When should I start my application process for Master studies in Germany and what specific requirements are there for Master programmes?
Usually Master programmes start either in summer (1st of April) or in winter (1st of October). You should at least apply three months before this date, as the visa-application takes usually two months.
Is it on first come first serve basis?
Definitely not! Applicants are selected due to their academic results and documents they have handed in. In general, all students who have applied before the deadline ended are part of this selection process and have a chance to get accepted. But due to a limited amount of seats in many cases not all applicants will get a seat.
Should I translate my documents to German?
Usually it’s okay if you submit your documents either in German or English language. Any other language must be translated to again either German or English.
I want to transfer my credits to Germany during undergraduate studies. Is that possible?
Usually credits from a bachelors degree can not be transferred to a master-degree.
I am enrolled in a Master program in Software Engineering in Sweden. Can I shift my credits to any German university?
This depends on the German university you wish to study at. If the German degree program is similar to the one in Sweden, you might be able to shift the credits. For further information please contact the university directly.
At my university I have Grade Point Average of 6.5. What is the minimum requirement for a German university application?
According to the German grading system with 1 being the best and 4 being the worst grade, many universities expect at least grade 2.5 from those students wishing to pursue their master’s studies.
How much money do I have to pay throughout the whole application process?
If you must apply directly at the university, usually this whole process doesn’t cost you anything except the money for postage. If you are applying via uni assist the first application costs approx. 55 Euros.
