International Automotive Engineering (MEng) Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt

Courses are held completely in English. The thesis can be written in German.

The increasing use of electronics in drive, in chassis, and in equipment of modern automobiles as well as the replacement of whole subsystems by technologies such as X-by-wire are important milestones in the automotive industry. The vehicles of tomorrow will be different. Take the higher voltage electrical and electronics systems for example. A 42 volt battery in place of today's 12V system is one change that is coming. Digital wiring harnesses are another.
Therefore, there is a demand for new skills in design and development. Engineers who have solid knowledge in the interface between mechanics, electronics, and computer engineering will be sought after. The Master's programme in International Automotive Engineering provides an opportunity for students to gain a deep understanding in those engineering disciplines upon which the life cycle of the production automobile is based.
The programme is conceived so as to offer a focused graduate course of study covering manifold aspects of automotive engineering. These aspects range from the potential of control units used in automobiles to driver assistance systems. The theoretical foundations of industrial practice and practical applications of the theory of automotive electronics, and control theory, development methodologies, etc. will be presented in a well-balanced fashion.
Furthermore, the rapid increase in the amount of economic activity taking place across national boundaries has changed the job requirements of engineers. Particularly in the automotive industry, employees who are familiar with methods of communication and cooperation in international teams and who have learnt to gain access to foreign cultures are in demand. Therefore, due to the multicultural composition of the trainee group, the language of instruction is English.
The Master's programme addresses qualified and dedicated students from all countries with an undergraduate degree in an engineering discipline or in computer science. The programme particularly addresses students who want to take on responsibility for tasks in development, organisation, and management in the automotive industry.

• Applicants with a Bachelor's degree from outside of Germany must first apply via uni-assist by 15 June for the following winter semester and by 1 December for the following summer semester at the latest.
  If you acquired your Bachelor's degree outside of Germany, uni-assist has to verify your eligibility to study in Germany and to convert your grades to the German grade system. You will have to submit all required documents to uni-assist online. The process takes four to six weeks.
• PRIMUSS – THI application portal: from 2 May until 15 July for the following winter semester and from 15 November until 15 January for the following summer semester
  You will have to apply online at the PRIMUSS university application portal. In case of admission, you will have to send all required documents by post later on.

Please note that application deadlines might change. Please check the THI website to get up-to-date information regarding the application periods.

Since winter semester 2024/25, THI charges fees of currently 500 EUR per semester for students from third countries (citizenship outside the EU and European Economic Area).

The fees are planned to increase to 1,200 EUR per semester (Master's programmes) from summer semester 2026 onwards. When more details are available, you will find further information on our homepage.

THI students who started their studies earlier are not affected by this reform.

Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt does not cooperate with recruitment agencies. Applicants will have to apply on their own. Apart from the uni-assist fee, there is no application fee.

To stay updated on the most recent study orientation dates, please visit www.thi.de/go/events-studyorientation.

In particular, the Master's programme teaches the engineering-scientific approach within the range of automobile development. It explains the language and symbols to be used in automobile projects. However, scientifically-oriented work in a Master's programme means that students learn independently and take on responsibility themselves.
Several modules are offered to deepen and enlarge the knowledge gained during undergraduate studies. Students will take part in a team project, which will be completed in international and intercultural teams in the labs of the university. The Master's thesis must be written in the fourth semester.

An internship of 12 weeks may be inserted between semesters. Programme advisers will assist students in finding an appropriate internship.

1,200 EUR

Since winter semester 2024/25, THI charges fees of currently 500 EUR per semester for students from third countries (citizenship outside the EU and European Economic Area).

The fees are planned to increase to 1,200 EUR per semester (Master's programmes) from summer semester 2026 onwards. When more details are available, you will find further information on our homepage.

THI students who started their studies earlier are not affected by this reform.

All students will have to pay a student union fee of 72 EUR per semester.

Student organisations estimate that the cost of living is approx. 990 EUR or more per month, depending on individual needs and expectations. Mandatory health insurance in Germany will cost a student around 145 EUR per month.

Usually, non-EU students will have to provide proof of financial means with a blocked account for visa purposes. It should contain approximately 992 EUR per month for up to 12 months.

Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in an engineering discipline or in computer science

Due to the large number of applications, we are forced to apply a strict selection procedure in which we evaluate how well an applicant fits the programme. The aptitude procedure is carried out by the selection committee in two stages. In the first stage, the professional qualification is assessed by a curricular analysis of the documents submitted (Bachelor’s certificate). Modules from fundamental areas (automotive engineering, electrical and communications engineering, microcontrollers and signal processing, programming, and software engineering) in which the skills required for the Master’s degree programme in International Automotive Engineering must be acquired are considered. In the second stage, motivation, professional qualifications, and communication skills are determined and assessed in an interview. Applicants with sufficient marks in stage one will be invited to the aptitude interview for stage two. The aptitude interviews are held in June and July for applicants applying to the winter semester, and in January and February for those applying to the summer semester.

The Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt can only make a legally binding decision about your eligibility for your desired study programme after reviewing the documents you submit with your application. We can’t provide a definitive assessment or evaluate your chances of acceptance until we have your full application, including your educational history.

Furthermore, it is possible to find out if you’re qualified to study in Germany before applying. Detailed information is available at the following link: www.uni-assist.de/en/tools/check-university-admission.

Additionally, you can find out about the qualification requirements via the study and examination regulations (=Studien- und Prüfungsordnung = SPO). Find these on the following page under the respective statutes: https://www.thi.de/en/university/university-profile/university-management/legal-department/.

Thank you for your understanding. You are very welcome to apply, and we will check your application documents.

Applicants applying for an English-language Master's programme must provide proof of sufficient English language skills at level B2. Proof of having passed an examination must be submitted by the time of enrolment at the latest. A list of all accepted certificates can be found here: https://www.thi.de/en/university/university-profile/university-management/legal-department/general-statutes/.

Proficiency in German at level A1 must be certified by the end of the first semester. We strongly encourage students to acquire a comprehension of the German language at an A2 level via a compulsory language course.

For your admission, there is no requirement to formally prove German language skills. You may start with little or no German language proficiency. However, German is the official national language in Germany. The transition from your home country to the German university system and everyday life will be made easier the more German you know. Furthermore, German skills will greatly increase your chances in finding a student job and or an internship at a German company.

• Applicants with a Bachelor's degree from outside of Germany must first apply via uni-assist by 15 June for the following winter semester and by 1 December for the following summer semester at the latest.
  If you acquired your Bachelor's degree outside of Germany, uni-assist has to verify your eligibility to study in Germany and to convert your grades to the German grade system. You will have to submit all required documents to uni-assist online. The process takes four to six weeks.
• PRIMUSS – THI application portal: from 2 May until 15 July for the following winter semester and from 15 November until 15 January for the following summer semester
  You will have to apply online at the PRIMUSS university application portal. In case of admission, you will have to send all required documents by post later on.

Please note that application deadlines might change. Please check the THI website to get up-to-date information regarding the application periods.

There are different scholarships available to enrolled students, such as the Deutschlandstipendium. All students will have to look and apply for specific scholarships themselves! Most scholarship programmes are based on performance (grades, voluntary work, etc.) The economic situation of applicants is usually not taken into consideration. A certain level of German language skills (at least B2) is required for many scholarships.

The International Office also offers scholarships. Enrolled international students will be notified of the call once a year via the communication channels of the university.

International students at Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI) are strongly advised to start gaining practical experience early to earn money during their studies and improve their job prospects. Besides looking for working student positions, students are also encouraged to seek low-level jobs in gastronomy or similar sectors to earn money and improve their German language skills. In addition to internship positions posted on the university platform, students should actively consider research and teaching assistant roles at THI. Please note that international students face legal limits on the number of working days allowed (see Study and work).

The International Welcome Center offers workshops and events in English to help international students prepare for their entry into the German market, especially in preparing for the internship search and applications.

Important: German employers expect students to take the initiative in applying for jobs and to have a good command of German. For internships, a minimum German language level of B1/B2 is required, while for entry-level jobs after graduation, B2/C1 is generally expected. Therefore, international students should start learning German as early as possible to increase their employability.

Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt does not run any student residence halls / dorms. You will have to start looking for accommodation on your own as soon as possible. At least 500 EUR per month should be budgeted for accommodation.

Here are some facts about finding accommodation in Ingolstadt or Neuburg.

The Career Service at Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt provides services for current students on how to start their careers, e.g. workshops to prepare for the German job market.

• Service point and counselling
• Online info session for admitted degree-seekers
• Support with city registration and residence permits
• Orientation days and networking events
• Mentoring programme
• German courses and language support programmes
• Cultural events, excursions, and company tours
• Workshops to prepare for the German job market
• Student clubs, such as N.I.C.E. (Network & International Culture Exchange)

Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI) is an institution that specialises in business and technology and is characterised by innovative study concepts and modern facilities. We are currently training over 8,000 students in more than 70 study programmes in engineering, computer science, business, life sciences and sustainability.
Our students will graduate as sought-after specialists and managers. An extremely dynamic and successful region with a distinctly strong economic structure provides for excellent framework conditions. The relatively small student body guarantees individual guidance, a familial atmosphere, and close cooperation between students and professors.
One of the core features of studying at our university is its orientation towards practical application. Internships and projects, as well as continuous cooperation with regional companies, are fundamental components of every study programme.
The Ingolstadt campus was completed in 1999, and a new tract of buildings opened in 2014. In 2021, the Neuburg campus opened its doors with its Faculty of Sustainable Infrastructure. Modern equipment and facilities create an atmosphere that adds to students' success and enjoyment. Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt is proud of its commitment to offer the highest possible level of quality in research and education. It is possible to explore Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt by visiting the interactive 360° THI campus tour.

The campus is only a short walk from Ingolstadt's appealing old city. The view from the lecture halls is of a castle and other medieval buildings. Ingolstadt lies in the centre of Bavaria, one of the most prosperous German federal states, and it is only an hour by car from the metropolitan areas of Munich and Nuremberg. The opportunities to take part in leisure activities in the area – which is close to the Alps as well as to the beautiful Altmühl valley – are unlimited. With the headquarters of Audi (the international automotive company) and a large number of innovative corporations in the city, Ingolstadt is proud to be one of the strongest economic regions in Germany. Opportunities to participate in sports activities are provided by the university as well as by various amateur and competitive sports clubs. Bavarian charm and the Bavarian way of life – including summer evenings in beer gardens and the diverse cultural events on offer – make daily life in Ingolstadt particularly attractive for students.