Automotive Engineering (MSc)

The Master's programme in “Automotive Engineering (MSc)" at RWTH Aachen University is the only English-taught programme of many public Master's programmes in mechanical engineering; the others are given in German. They are three-semester programmes that follow a seven-semester mechanical engineering Bachelor's programme. The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is among the most acclaimed in the world and one of the largest in Europe. Automotive Engineering is an essential part of the institutes and research entities. Education and research in this field have a long tradition in Aachen, with the Institute for Automotive Engineering celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2027. More details about the fascinating and extensive facilities, research activities and industrial projects at our institute are waiting for you to explore on our website at www.ika.rwth-aachen.de. The Master's programme in “Automotive Engineering (MSc)" was originally introduced in 2000, and it attracts a vast number of students each year. We are happy to say that they are from all corners of the world, with a multitude of qualifications and backgrounds. In this programme, you will be taught the technological basics and in-depth knowledge of the conception and the development of passenger cars and commercial vehicles as well as the conception and development of motorcycles and off-highway vehicles (e.g. agricultural vehicles). This comprises technical vehicle design with regard to market, legislative, and manufacturing requirements. Course modules cover all major research and development domains such as chassis, body, drivetrain, safety, driver assistance systems, thermal management, electronics, connected and automated driving and others. An important focus is on autonomous driving. Graduates will be proficient in relevant technological areas like vehicle dynamics, energy efficiency, acoustics, mechatronics, structural fatigue, and durability. The programme provides in-depth knowledge of industrial design approaches and research topics with regard to real-world vehicle requirements, market developments, and legislative constraints. The Master's thesis is usually embedded in a real project on state-of-the-art topics with industrial partners or different partners in publicly-funded projects (e.g. EU funding). After graduation, you will hold a highly regarded Master's degree with a multitude of possible career opportunities. You may work in research, industry, consultancies or other sectors. You could also continue towards a German Dr-Ing degree or continue in PhD degree programmes around the world. In any case, our graduates are very sought-after by many employers in Germany and beyond. The programme duration is three semesters and consists of two semesters of compulsory and elective courses. A 22-week thesis concludes the programme in the third semester. The course language is English, and modules usually comprise lectures and corresponding exercises as well as a written or oral examination. Some modules are laboratory courses with practical hands-on experience. The final grade is the credit-weighted average of all prior modules, excluding enrolment conditions. As of 2026, the programme features the following modules (most have 5 or 6 CP): Compulsory subjects (38 CP) Alternative Vehicle Propulsion Systems Automotive Engineering III – Active Vehicle Safety and Driver Assistance Systems Battery Storage Systems Internal Combustion Engines – Design and Mechanics Machine Dynamics of Rigid Systems Processes and Principles of Lightweight Design Structural Design of Vehicles Elective subjects (22 CP) Advanced Finite Element Methods for Engineers Applications of Laser Technology Automated and Connected Driving Challenges - Research Project Automated Driving Automotive Engineering Practical Course Automotive System Evaluation Bots and Vehicles in Agriculture Digitalisation in Rail Vehicle Technology Environmental Sustainability in Transport Engineering Fatigue Design of