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Offered by top Universities, Masters in Automotive Engineering in Germany is usually a 1.5-2 year duration program. For students seeking higher studies in Germany, the program is available mostly as an MSc in Automotive Engineering. A masters in automotive engineering deals with an extensive study involving automotive design principles.
The overall program fee for a Master of Automotive Engineering at one of Germany’s leading universities might range from 500 EUR to 30,000 EUR. This can cost anywhere from 44,500 to 26 lakhs for an Indian student. With such a significant investment, one can expect greater profits from the world’s largest vehicle manufacturer. With a masters in automotive engineering degree in Germany, an automobile engineer may expect to earn roughly 54,000 to 1.4 Cr yearly, compared to around 6 lakhs in India. The overall program fee for a Master of Automotive Engineering at one of Germany’s leading universities might range from 500 EUR to 30,000 EUR. This can cost anywhere from 44,500 to 26 lakhs for an Indian student. With
Why Study Masters in Automotive Engineering in Germany?
- Higher education at public universities in Germany is offered for free. However, international students are required to pay the semester fee and the other administrative costs and living expenses.
- Although most of the masters in automotive engineering programs in Germany are offered in the German language, there are a few English-taught study programs as well.
- Germany is referred to as the world’s automotive hub of innovation. It is recognized for its outstanding automotive industry and excellence in engineering.
- According to the German Association of Automotive Industry, more than 800,000 people are employed directly and almost 2 million people are indirectly employed by the automotive industry. This makes it one of the biggest industries in Germany.
- In 2018, the employment in the automotive industry in Germany rose for the seventh year in succession and reached the highest level since 1991.
- The automotive industry accounts for one-third of the R&D expenditure in Germany. The expenses on R&D peaked at roughly 25.7 billion EUR in 2017. By 2025, Germany aims at spending an annual 3.5% of its GDP on research and development.
- According to reports, the estimated revenue of the industry in Germany was 579.9 billion EUR with 71.1% of the revenue generated by the manufacture of motor vehicles in Germany.
- Automotive professionals in Germany observe a salary increase of approximately 8% every 15 months.
- Three of Germany’s largest carmakers- Volkswagen, Daimler, and Audi, pay an average of over 60,000 EUR annually to their employees.
Masters in Automotive Engineering in Germany: Top Universities
There are a number of universities in Germany that offer Masters in Automotive Engineering. The table below shows the top-ranking German universities according to QS for Engineering & Technology in 2020 that offer masters degree in automotive engineering.
| QS Engg. & Tech Rankings 2020 | University | Program Name | Language of Instruction | Duration (in years) | Annual Fee (in EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Technical University of Munich | MSc in Automotive Engineering | German | 2 | 258 |
| MSc in Transportation System | English | ||||
| 45 | TU Berlin | MEd in Automotive Engineering | German | 2 | 615 |
| 51 | RWTH Aachen University | MSc Automotive Engineering | English | 1.5 | 582 |
| MSc Automotive Engineering and Transport | German | ||||
| MEd Automotive Engineering | German | ||||
| 139 | Universität Stuttgart | MSc Vehicle and Engine Technology | German | 2 | 3,000 |
| 345 | Technische Universitat Braunschweig | Master Automotive Engineering | German | 2 | 716 |
Apart from these top-ranking universities, other German universities offering Masters in Automotive Engineering are:
| University | Program Name | Language of Instruction | Duration (in years) | Annual Fee (in EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamburg University of Applied Sciences | MSc Automotive Engineering | German | 1.5 | 670 |
| FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences | MSc International Automotive Engineering | English | 1.5 | 19,500 |
| University of Cologne (TH Koln) | MSc Automotive Engineering | German | 1.5 | 540 |
| Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt | MEng Automotive Engineering | German | 1.5 | 900 |
| University of Duisburg-Essen | MSc Automotive Engineering and Management | German | 1.5 | 638 |
| Munich University of Applied Sciences | MSc Automotive Engineering | German | 2 | 895 |
| Esslingen University of Applied Sciences | MEng Automotive Engineering | German | 1.5 | 3,000 |
| Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences | MSc Automotive Engineering | German | 2 | 706 |
As per the above details, an important take away for international students is to understand that many German universities offer education with German as their primary mode of education. Hence, before applying to any of these universities you must ensure that you have certain German language proficiency. In some cases, you can also opt for a preparatory language course which can be studied before the classes for masters in automobile engineering begin.
MS Automotive Engineering in Germany: Highlights
Masters in Automotive Engineering in Germany deals with all aspects involved in vehicle manufacturing such as design, manufacturing & distribution processes, and sales. A master’s in automotive engineering provides students with a basic understanding of engineering sciences and provides specializations in automotive fields such as Environmental Effects of Vehicle Powertrain, Advanced Automobile Electronic Systems, Vehicle Acoustics, Vehicle Integration, Crash Simulation, Powertrain, and Transmission Calibration or Global Automotive Homologation.
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| Course Type | Full-time |
| Course Duration | 1.5 to 2 years |
| Degree Types | MS |
| Eligibility | Relevant bachelors |
| Entrance Exams | Language proficiency and GRE |
| Tuition fees | 500-3000 Euro |
| Top Recruiters | Volkswagen, BMW, Daimler, Continental, or Bosch |
| Average Salaries | 5100-13,160 Euro/month |
Masters in Automotive Engineering in Germany Admissions
Applying at universities in Germany for admissions is open for the summer or the winter semesters. Students can visit the official website of DAAD for a list of universities and the courses. Admission applications at most universities are available through the uni-assist portal. Some universities might also require an international student to get preliminary review documentation or Vorpüfungsdokumentation (VPD) issued by uni-assist.
Masters in Automotive Engineering in Germany Admission Requirements
To be eligible for a masters in automotive engineering in Germany, international students must have:
- A bachelors degree in automotive engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field of study.
- Degrees must be from a recognized university.
- Scores of standardized tests such as GRE are mandatory for international students to submit (for a few programs)
- Meet the language requirements- English or German
Eligibility for MS Automotive Engineering Admissions in Germany
The table below shows the minimum requirements for admissions into a masters in automotive engineering in Germany:
| University | Program | English Proficiency Scores | German Proficiency | Additional Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technical University of Munich | MSc in Automotive Engineering | — | TestDaF- Level 4/ Goethe Certificate B2/ DSH | Aptitude assessment; preliminary review documentation (VPD) |
| MSc in Transportation System | TOEFL (iBT)- 88; IELTS- 6.5 | — | ||
| TU Berlin | MEd in Automotive Engineering | — | DSH-2 or DSH-3/ Goethe Certificate C2/ TestDaF | — |
| RWTH Aachen University | MSc Automotive Engineering | TOEFL (iBT)- 90; IELTS- 5.5 | — | GRE- Verbal Reasoning 145, Quantitative Reasoning 160 and Analytical Writing 3 |
| MSc Automotive Engineering and Transport | — | DSH Stage 2/ TestDaF/ Goethe Certificate C1 | 145 credit points from mathematics, engineering and natural science subjects; 20-week internship in engineering | |
| Universität Stuttgart | MSc Vehicle and Engine Technology | — | TestDaF level 4/ Goethe Certificate C2 | — |
| Technische Universitat Braunschweig | Master Automotive Engineering | — | DSH 2/ TestDaF/ Goethe Certificate C2 | at least ten weeks internship |
| Hamburg University of Applied Sciences | MSc Automotive Engineering | — | Goethe Institut C1, TestDaF 4, telc C1 Hochschule, DSH2 | — |
| FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences | MSc International Automotive Engineering | TOEFL (iBT)- 92; IELTS- 6.5 | Goethe Institute “Zertifikat Deutsch” at level B1 | GRE (83% in quantitative part) |
| Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt | MEng International Automotive Engineering | TOEFL- 72; IELTS- 6.5 | Goethe-Certificate level A1 | practical experience in the field of design or testing of mechatronic systems for vehicles; project work on vehicles |
| Hochschule Esslingen | MEng Automotive Engineering | — | DSH Level 2 or 3/ TestDaF | — |
| TH Koln | MSc Automotive Engineering | — | TestDaF/ DSH 1/ Goethe-Zertifikat C2 | — |
Documents Required
While applying for masters in automotive engineering in Germany, applicants are required to complete their admission application online and submit the following documents-
- Completed admission application form
- Copy of academic transcripts from all educational institutions with their English or German translations
- Scores of standardized tests to study in Germany
- CV/ Resume
- Letter of Motivation
- Preliminary Documentation (VPD) (for required universities)
- Additional documents such as internship certificates, job references, recommendation letters (if required)
- Copy of passport
Student Visa to Germany
For studies in Germany, it is mandatory for an international student to have a student visa. The visa application cost is around 75 EUR (6256 INR). The visa permits you to obtain a resident permit to stay in Germany. The checklist for a German student visa includes:
- An application form with a cover letter stating the purpose and duration of stay
- A valid passport
- Two recent photographs
- Acceptance letter from a German university
- Academic transcripts and certificates
- A German language proficiency certificate or proof that you intend on pursuing a language course in Germany
- Proof of a valid private or public health insurance
- Proof of economic status to study in Germany with the availability of about 8,700 EUR per year)
Students would be required to appear for a visa interview at the German Embassy in respective home countries. Usually, it takes about 25 days in the processing of a visa. Students must make sure to submit all the required documents with the visa application.
Masters in Automotive Engineering in Germany Costs
Compared to other places such as the United Kingdom and the United States, studying abroad in Germany is far more cost effective. Pre-arrival charges, program fees, and the cost of living are all included in the costs of studying in Germany. These anticipated costs are discussed in the section below.
Pre-arrival Costs to Germany
The pre-arrival costs to Germany usually include one-time expenses. These include expenses such as registration fees for standardized exams required for admissions, application fees for a student visa to Germany, airfare, etc. The table below shows the estimated pre-arrival expenses to Germany.
| Expenses | Fee (in EUR) |
|---|---|
| TOEFL Fees | 136-224 |
| IELTS Fees | 166-170 |
| GRE Fees | 183-206 |
| GMAT Fees | 143 |
| German Test Fees | 100 |
| Student German Visa Application | 60-75 |
| Airfare | 600-1500 |
| Health Insurance | 80 |
Tuition Fee for Masters in Automotive Engineering in Germany
The chart shows the total program fees which include the tuition fees for some universities along with other mandatory expenses such as semester fees, administrative fees, etc. 
As visible, TU Munich has the lowest program fee, 516 Euro (~46,000) while the University of Stuttgart has the highest program fees, 6000 Euro (~5.3 lakhs) among the top universities offering masters in automobile engineering in Germany.
Cost of Living in Germany
The cost of living comprises expenses such as travel and accommodation in Germany, meals, books & supplies, and other personal expenses. The estimated cost of living in Germany are:
| Expenses | Cost per month (in EUR) |
|---|---|
| On-campus accommodation | 300 |
| Off-campus accommodation | 400-420 |
| Books and Supplies | 30 |
| Meals and Beverages | 165-200 |
| Internet and Telephone | 35 |
| Transportation | 82 |
| Miscellaneous | 70 |
Masters in Automotive Engineering in Germany with Scholarships
Since many public German Universities do not charge the tuition fees, there are other expenses that are to be paid by the student. The universities or DAAD offers certain international scholarships to study in Germany. Students can apply for these scholarships to help with the costs while studying masters in automotive engineering.
| Scholarship | University | Scholarship Amount | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scholarship for International Students | Technical University of Munich | 500 EUR- 1,500 EUR per semester | Currently enrolled graduate students; Awarded based on merit and low income |
| Studienabschluss-Stipendium for International Students at RWTH | RWTH Aachen University | 500 EUR per month | International students completing a degree program at RWTH Aachen; Have a GPA of 2.5 |
| Deutschlandstipendium | Universität Stuttgart | 300 EUR per month | highly talented students at Stuttgart |
| Scholarships for highly committed students | Sponsored by German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) | 1,800 EUR per semester | International master student at HAW Hamburg; Completed one semester at the university; GPA of 2.5 |
| Excellence Scholarships | Hamburg University of Applied Sciences | 1,800 EUR per semester | International master student at HAW Hamburg; Completed one semester at the university; GPA of 2.2 |
| Deutschlandstipendium | Technische Universitat Braunschweig | 300 EUR per month | Awarded based on talent and achievement for two semesters |
For more scholarships to study in Germany, Click Here.
Masters in Automotive Engineering in Germany: Jobs
Germany is one of the top 4 automobile manufacturers in the world alongside the United States, China, and Japan. Germany is home to global automotive companies like Volkswagen, BMW, Daimler, Continental, or Bosch. The combined market capitalization of these automobile companies exceeds 200 billion EUR making the automobile the main driver of the German economy.
A person working in the automotive industry in Germany earns an average salary ranging from 61,400 EUR to 158,000 EUR annually. Automotive professionals with 5+ years of experience tend to earn on average 36% more than freshers or employees with less than 5 years experience. Also, professionals with a Masters in Automotive Engineering degree earn 29% more than those with a bachelor’s degree.
Some of the top jobs in Germany for masters in automotive engineering graduates are:
| Occupation | Average Annual Salary (in EUR) |
|---|---|
| Automotive Engineer | 101,000 |
| Automotive Technician | 71,600 |
| Automotive Test Engineer | 126,000 |
| Vehicle Examiner | 83,500 |
| Technical Advisor | 103,000 |
| Motor Vehicle Inspector | 111,000 |
| Diesel Engine Specialist | 76,100 |
| Automotive Project Engineer | 102,000 |
| Alignment Technician | 84,100 |
| Auto Parts Manager | 134,000 |
The average salaries of automotive engineering graduates in Germany vary drastically not only on the basis of automotive careers but also depending on the city of residence. The chart below depicts a few of the German cities with the average annual salary of master in automotive engineering graduates. 
Furthermore, students with a master’s in automotive engineering can also apply for the doctoral-level of studies. They can apply for Ph.D. in Germany in areas of automobile engineering, vehicle engineering, etc. Germany’s expenditure on R&D makes it a popular option among students.
As a global industrial powerhouse, Germany is a hotspot among various popular automobile producers. To ensure that their graduates are able to meet the professional demands, the engineering schools in Germany maintain a strong cooperation with these automobile production companies.
Ingolstadt has the base camp of Audi, Stuttgart has the central command of Daimler/Mercedes, Wolfsburg has VW and BMW in Munich. Colleges in every one of these urban areas have affiliations with the enormous automakers.
While numerous universities abroad offer top Automotive Design and Engineering courses, German Universities appear to be the top choice among students. This is why studying a master’s in automotive engineering in Germany is one of the best options.
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