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Last Updated: February 12, 2021

Top Engineering Colleges in Germany

If you are asked to think of a country which is genuinely invested in the field of engineering, Germany is the country that is very likely to be your answer. Wondering why?

Just hear us out: the country spends almost 2.8% of its GDP on research and development, a majority of which is pledged towards engineering, the country is home to some of the finest automobile manufacturing companies in the world, and it has an extremely high demand for skilled workers. It should therefore not come as a surprise to you that almost one-third of its international students are enrolled in engineering courses.

Another reason why it is a popular destination for aspiring engineers all over the world is that most of the German universities have abolished or had minimum tuition fees. So now that you have decided to fly down to Germany to pursue engineering, let us help you out by listing down some of the best engineering colleges in the country.

Around 40,000 Engineers graduate every year from German Colleges but more Engineers retire every year. Hamburg and Stuttgart have highest number of Engineering jobs. A mechanical Engineer with 1-2 year experience on an average can make around 50,000 Euro/year.

1. Technical University of Munich:

This is one of the best engineering colleges in the country and boasts not only of an amazing and helpful faculty but world class research centers as well. The university has research centers for cancer, food and nutrition and catalyst research. Engineering students have countless options to choose from such as aerospace, medicine, nuclear energy and so on.

An applicant, trying to get into the college, is expected to open an account and fill in the key details, send along his academic transcripts and if the course is taught in German or French, he will have to show evidence that proves he is fluent in these two languages. It won’t be necessary if the course is taught in English. However, he will then have to appear for IELTS or TOEFL in which he has to score a 6.5 and 88 respectively.

The winter semester applications start in April and that for the summer semester begins in November.

As the name suggests, the Technical University of Munich is famous for being the best university for engineering in Germany. The Technical University of Munich offers other courses as well, but their main focus has been on engineering since time can tell.

Technical University offers an excellent program in Automotive Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics, Ecological Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, to name a few. All engineering courses will be awarded an MSc degree after successful completion of the course. There are no undergraduate courses available for engineering at the Technical University of Munich. Instead, a bachelor's degree is an important requirement to get admitted for a master's course at the university.

Entry Requirements

Fees structure

The fees for studying at Technical University depend entirely on the campus you would be studying at. The fees for studying at Munich, Garching, and Weihenstephan are up to €200, for the students applying to Straubing, the fees add up to €70, and go up to €100 for students at Heilbronn.

It is important to remember that the fees may be subject to an increase in case of currency fluctuation. Moreover, if you choose courses that are more intensive than a simple master's course, the fees you pay would most definitely increase.

2. Technische University Berlin (TU Berlin)

Occupying the 47th position in the top engineering colleges of the world, TU Berlin is another University that attracts many international students who wish to study engineering. It is the second best engineering college in the country, but what makes it all the more elite is that it is a member of an elite club, known as the TU9 which has nine best German technological institutes. This allows the students at the TU to participate in student exchange programs and is a part of some of the best engineering colleges in Europe.

3. Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen

This university gives its students exactly what they’d expect from a world class educational institute. Options to choose from a wide variety of engineering courses, a chance to participate in the student exchange program as it is a part of the elite TU9 club like the TU in Berlin and a highly qualified and experienced faculty. If you are looking forward to entering one of the best German engineering colleges, you must have Rheinisch on your list. According to the Queens World Ranking, Rheinisch is the 53rd best engineering college in the world.

If you're interested, you can visit the official website of the university and make an application along with submitting the necessary documents. You might have to prove your French and English proficiency depending upon the language in which your preferred course is taught.

You might want to consider the Master's Degree in mechanical engineering at the RWTH Aachen University, since it is a highly ranked program that has no GPA requirement, as of now.

At RWTH, engineering courses are only provided as a masters degree. With the medium of the German language for your studies, you would only get to choose the course on General Mechanical Engineering (MSc). But when it comes to the English medium of studying, there are many more options such as Automotive Engineering, Civil Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, and many more. Requirements to get admitted aren't plenty.

Entry Requirements

Fees structure

As for the tuition fees, it doesn't cost more for foreign students than it does for German nationals. The fees for international students will be declared at the time of application by the university and the fees are paid per semester.

It seems like the best source of information on this is pre-planning and contacting places like Dean's office at RWTH Aachen University will be helpful. Moreover, scholarships can come in the form of grants and loans from the German Academic Exchange Service, the US Fulbright Commission, the German National Academic Foundation, and cultural institutions or political foundations.

4. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

Every student who has ever harbored the dream of becoming an engineer has certainly hoped for enrolling into this university. After all, it is one of the most prestigious engineering colleges of the world and one of the best in Germany. If you think it is just the infrastructure and stellar faculty, then you have to take a look at the different options available to you - green mobility, energy engineering - you just name it and KIT has something or the other for you.

Like all other universities, aspiring students will have to visit the university’s website and fill in the details along with submission of the necessary documents and transcripts and might have to furnish proof of their German and English language skills.

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology has been a part of the top 11 universities in Germany for a long time. They have a long-standing tradition of providing excellent studying opportunities and blending them with a high level of national research. Even though Karlsruhe is reputed for its research more than anything, they don't compromise their academics section either.

This is visible in the wide range of courses they provide, although their focus has been on delivering the best technology-related studies. Unlike the previous universities, Karlsruhe provides courses related to engineering at an undergraduate level, as well as postgraduate.

The courses offered at the undergraduate level by the university are diverse. You can choose between Electrical engineering and information technology, Mechanical engineering, Materials Science and Technology, Mechatronics and Information Technology, and Mechanical Engineering (International). Except for Mechanical Engineering, all courses are delivered in German and at the end of any of these courses, you would be awarded a BSc degree.

Entry Requirements

As for the postgraduate level, the courses offered aren't any different from the ones at the undergraduate level. Students have a choice between Mechanical engineering, Materials Science & Technology, and Mechatronics & Information Technology. The medium of language delivery is German for all courses. At the completion of either of the courses, you would be awarded an MSc degree.

Entry Requirements

Fees structure

The tuition fees for German nationals (as well as EU nationals) are free. But such is not the case for international students (students who aren't EU or German nationals). The fee is €1,500 for all courses, be it undergraduate or postgraduate.

5. Universitat Stuttgart

Another university that engineering students aspire to be a part of is the Universitat Stuttgart which currently is placed in the 107th position according to the QS world ranking. Providing the students everything that they might need - from infrastructure to innumerable engineering options - there is nothing that the university will not bring in for its students. Although it is an all round excellent university, it enjoys a stellar reputation, especially in the field of engineering. The admission procedure is very similar to the other universities that we have mentioned above.

6. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich

This university is one of the rare ones that combine the old world charm with the 21st-century technology so that it’s engineering students get the best of both worlds. Apart from being a popular college among international students, it is also famous as a strong research university. It ensures that its syllabus is updated and in sync with what is being taught in the best engineering colleges throughout the world.

This is a public research university that is renowned for its academic diversity and support. It is indeed a popular destination for graduate students, with a growing number of master programs taught in English, whereas bachelors and masters programs are taught in German. When it comes to engineering, Ludwig university only provides an individual with the opportunity to apply for their software engineering program that is increasingly difficult to get into. The software engineering program is also known as the "Elite Graduate Program".

The engineering courses at this university are going to be in German and applicants will have to be proficient at it, although it is not a pressing requirement. The university delivers courses in English as well, but they prefer for their students to have some knowledge about the German language. Just like the Technical University, all engineering courses at Ludwig Maximilian University are at the Master's level.

Getting into the university is no easy feat. A potential student has to be especially good at their field of choice since they only choose the best candidates that apply. The cut-off criteria aren't mentioned clearly, nor are the exact entry requirements are given in detail as of yet. The entry requirements to get into the Ludwig Maximillian University are as follows:

Entry Requirements

Fee structure

The fee structure at Ludwig University is different from than usual fee structures. At Ludwig, you would be paying the fees based on the semester you join in. Therefore, the students applying for the summer semester will pay a little more than the students applying for the winter semester.

Fees for the summer semester are €145, whereas for the winter semester the fees stand at €140.

It is difficult to get in, and this is more so for EU students. Nonetheless, one needs to have excellent grades. The program website provides all the details on the admission procedures. There aren't any tests that are required, and the tuition and fees are very affordable especially when you compare with studying in the United States or over in the United Kingdom.

As an international applicant, if you have questions about admission procedures, tuition, or anything else regarding your enrolment at LMU Munich, you can contact the International Office.

7. University of Heidelberg:

Located in Heidelberg, the college’s aim is to help create a tradition for the future. Incorporating the best infrastructure, the latest syllabus and enviable options for engineering students, this university had to be on this list.

University has invested heavily and research; this university commonly features in the best engineering colleges in the country. It is well known for its scientific reputation and the highly intellectual professors and students that have made the university what it is today.

8. University of Duisburg-Essen

The University of Duisburg-Essen is the first university to establish in Germany during the 21st Century. They have been ahead in research as well as education since time can tell. Just as the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, the University of Duisburg-Essen provides courses in a wide range. Engineering courses are available at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, although the courses aren't different at all.

The engineering courses that the University of Duisburg-Essen offers are Civil Engineering, Communications Engineering, Electrical, and Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electro-technology and Information Technology, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nano-engineering, and much more. As mentioned above, all these courses are available as undergraduate and postgraduate courses, at the end of which you would be awarded a BSc or an MSc degree.

Entry Requirements for undergraduate courses

Entry Requirements for postgraduate courses

Fees structure

The fees at the University of Duisburg-Essen is waived off for German/ EU nationals and the same goes for international students. Although, every student has to pay a Social and student body contribution, which is amounts to € 320.


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