The world needs engineers with vision. At URI’s College of Engineering, you’ll find opportunities to work alongside visionary researchers developing technologies that will improve lives, expand knowledge, and traverse new frontiers.

Engineer your success! Engineering students play a central role in the new technologies being developed here. Guided by faculty mentors, they’re improving access to clean drinking water in rural communities around the world, developing new sensor technologies for robots, and discovering biomedical technologies that help identify and treat disease. Our students participate in internships around the world, some working on multinational teams to discover sustainable energy solutions or design fuel-efficient automotive systems. Become part of a research community that advances human potential—and believes in your potential to make your mark on the world.

Engineering degrees are some of the most popular international studies in the world. No matter what branch of Engineering and Technology you plan to specialise in, you can be sure the competition will be on.

Engineering studies offer a great entry on the job market, but you will have to prove that you’re best suited for the job. That’s why studying at one of the best engineering schools in Europe can give you the competitive edge and the skills to prove yourself in the field you choose to follow.

Find Masters in Engineering abroad

To help with your decision process, we’ve gathered data about top engineering schools in Europe from QS World University Rankings, US News & Global Report, Times Higher Education and AcademicInfluence.com. Check out their top 10 European engineering schools rankings and their extended lists, if you want to go more into details.

1. QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021: Engineering and Technology

• University of Cambridge, UK
• ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland
• University of Oxford, UK
• Imperial College London, UK
• EPFL – Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Switzerland
• Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
• Politecnico di Milano, Italy
• Technical University of Munich, Germany
• KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
• Politecnico di Torino, Italy

Find the full list of top engineering schools and colleges on the TopUniversities website.

2. U.S. News & Global Report – Engineering Universities 2022

• Aalborg University, Denmark
• ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland
• Imperial College London, UK
• Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
• Polytechnic University of Milan, Italy
• EPFL – Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Switzerland
• Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
• KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
• University of Cambridge, UK
• KU Leuven, Belgium

Don’t forget about the full Engineering ranking list on the U.S. News website.

3. World University Rankings 2022 by subject: Engineering

• University of Cambridge, UK
• University of Oxford, UK
• ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland
• Imperial College London, UK
• EPFL – Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Switzerland
• Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
• Technical University of Munich, Germany
• RWTH Aachen University, Germany
• University College London (UCL), UK
• The University of Manchester, UK

The complete ranking of engineering universities is available on Times Higher Education official website.

4. Academic Influence Rankings – Engineering

AcademicInfluence.com prides itself with their real-time objective rankings compiled using machine learning and web search algorithms that minimise bias in rankings. The rankings consider alumni published papers, industry citations, and references to schools, programmes and school departments.

Find below the list of top engineering schools selected from the compiled list of results:

• University of Cambridge, UK
• University of Edinburgh, UK
• Technical University of Berlin, Germany
• University of Glasgow, UK
• Imperial College London, UK
• ETH Zurich, Switzerland
• King’s College London, UK
• University of London, UK
• Technical University of Munich, Germany
• University of Paris, France

See the full Academic Influence engineering list worldwide on the official website.

If you want to study from the comfort of your home, check out online Bachelors and Masters in Engineering.

Here are other European engineering schools we recommend:

• University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Austria
• Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium
• Aarhus University, Denmark
• Institut Polytechnique de Paris, France
• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany

Find Bachelors in Engineering abroad

Engineering Universities in Germany: A Guide for International Students (2021/22)

Your personal overview of the top universities in Germany to study engineering for international students

Germany is a haven for engineering students. With some of the best engineering universities in Europe, it is one of the most sought after countries to study engineering in Europe. In fact, Germany is home to internationally top-ranked universities, ranked 3rd in the world (behind the US and the UK) in top universities. Moreover, there is a great variety of engineering degrees to choose from.

This article will provide you an overview of some of the best engineering universities in Germany, tell you what you need to apply, and illustrate the step by step process. Also included will be links to additional resources to assist you in preparing required documents.

Our goal is to help you choose the best engineering study program for you. First, you will need a general introduction to the German higher education system:

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List of Engineering Universities in Germany

More than one million students in Germany are enrolled in STEM subjects. Most of them (over 750,000) study engineering sciences. A special feature compared to other countries is that students in Germany can choose from various types of higher education institutions that offer engineering sciences. As illustrated in the previous section, these various institutions have different education styles. This provides students with the freedom to learn and study how they choose to, finding the perfect study program for their interests. Take a look at the many institutions below which offer engineering degree programs:

Technical Universities (Technische Universitäten)

© א (Aleph). Type of license: CC BY-SA 2.5.

There are 17 Technical Universities (TUs) in Germany:

1. RWTH Aachen.
2. Technical University of Berlin.
3. Technical University of Braunschweig.
4. Technical University of Chemnitz.
5. Technical University of Clausthal.
6. Brandenburg Technical University of Cottbus-Senftenberg.
7. Technical University of Darmstadt.
8. Technical University of Dortmund.
9. Technical University of Dresden.
10. Technical University of Bergakademie Freiberg.
11. Hamburg University of Technology.
12. Technical University of Hannover.
13. Technical University of Ilmenau.
14. Technical University of Kaiserslautern.
15. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.
16. Technical University of München.
17. Technical University of Stuttgart.

Programs in English offered by Technical Universities (TU)

Other Universities (non TUs)

© Robert Gommlich. Type of license: CC BY-SA 4.0.

Besides the Technical Universities (TUs), many other universities also offer engineering sciences though they may not focus only on technical study programs. Check some of them out below:

1. University of Augsburg.
2. University of  Bayreuth.
3. University of  Ruhr-Bochum.
4. University of  Bremen.
5. University of  Duisburg-Essen.
6. University of  Erlangen-Nürnberg.
7. HafenCity University Hamburg (HCU).
8. Helmut Schmidt University Hamburg.
9. University of  Kassel.
10. University of  Kiel.
11. Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg.
12. University of  the Bundeswehr München.
13. University of  Paderborn.
14. University of  Rostock.
15. University of  Saarland.
16. University of  Siegen.
17. University of  Ulm.
18. University of  Wuppertal.

Engineering programs in English offered by Non-TUs

University of Applied Sciences (incl. the THs)

© Thilo Vogel. Type of license: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Over 100 Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) in Germany offer engineering courses. At almost all major universities of applied sciences in Germany you will find faculties for engineering. We have listed a handful of them below:

1. FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences.
2. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences.
3. Berlin International University of Applied Sciences.
4. Beuth University of Applied Sciences Berlin.
5. Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
6. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences.
7. Munich University of Applied Sciences.
8. RheinMain University of Applied Sciences.
9. Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.

Additionally, there are a number of UAS that already have the technical focus in their name and call themselves “Technische Hochschule” (TH) which is Technical University of Applied Sciences in German:

1. Bingen University of Applied Sciences (TH Bingen).
2. Deggendorf Institute of Technology (TH Deggendorf).
3. Cologne University of Applied Sciences (TH Köln).
4. Ingolstadt Technical Academy (TH Ingolstadt).
5. Lübeck Technical Academy (TH Lübeck).
6. Mittelhessen University of Applied Sciences (TH Mittelhessen).
7. Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm Technical Academy (TH Nuremberg).
8. Eastern Bavaria Regensburg Technical Academy (OTH Regensburg).
9. Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences (TH Rosenheim).

Engineering programs offered by Universities of Applied Sciences

Dual Universities (work-study)

Another special feature are the so-called dual universities (Duale Hochschulen). Students who study here are employed by a company (usually as an apprentice or trainee) and are enrolled at the university at the same time. That’s why they are called “dual” – because they combine study and work. Some dual universities that offer engineering sciences (so far, exclusively in German) are:

1. Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University.
2. Duale Hochschule Gera-Eisenach.
3. Sachsen University of Cooperative Education.

In addition to these universities, dual studies are also possible at many universities of applied sciences which cooperate with industry partners.

Further ReadingColleges in Germany: A guide for US and other international students→ Read article

Top-ranked Universities for Engineering

Just because international students can study at a public university for free doesn’t mean that they will sacrifice quality in their education. Public universities in Germany offer world-class programs that are internationally top-ranked. The distinguishing factor which pushes Germany to the forefront is that students don’t have to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars to receive that education. Take a look at some of the top-ranked universities in Germany for engineering below:

Further ReadingGermany in University Rankings→ Read article

Requirements for an Engineering Degree

Generally, there are three main requirements international students need to meet to be eligible for a degree program in Germany. We have taken the guesswork out of such research for you and outline application requirements in all of the engineering study programs on our StudyFinder. To see if you meet the most basic requirements to apply to an engineering university, check the requirements below:

1

A First Academic Degree in a relevant subject

Depending on the study program you are applying to, you will have different requirements for your previous education. For engineering, it is important that applicants have a relevant degree or relevant courses in respect to their preferred study program. For example, if you are applying for a biochemical engineer master’s program, a previous degree in biochemistry or another relevant top would be required.

• Bachelor’s Education Requirement: an entrance qualification certificate.
• Masters Degree Requirement: a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Ph.D.: a master’s degree or equivalent.

2

A Language Certificate

Students have the option to study in English or in German. A language certificate must be demonstrated as proof of language proficiency to partake in the study program.

3

A Visa or Residence Permit

About ⅔ of international students who come to study in German need a visa. Each country has its own visa requirements for a student visa.

The above requirements illustrate the bare minimum needed to be eligible to apply to an engineering degree program. However, each study program sets its own individual application requirements which can demand more than the absolute minimum requirements outlined in this section. Additional requirements can include but are not limited to:

• Extra-curricular activities.
• Internships/Traineeships/Apprenticeships.
• Volunteer work.
• Academic achievement.
• Motivation letter.

Further ReadingMaster’s Requirements in Germany→ Read article

Cost of Attendance

Public universities in Germany generally do not charge tuition. This also applies to non-EU students. Because public universities dominate the higher education landscape, all top-ranked universities are public. In fact, the top-ranked universities for engineering listed in this article, are all public. Though, note that the University of Stuttgart and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology fall under a special exception as they reside in the German state of Baden-Württemberg.

The state of Baden-Württemberg in the south of Germany charges a marginal tuition fee to all non-EU students. However, over 60% of the engineering programs on our StudyFinder are without tuition fees. Private universities in Germany, like anywhere else, do charge tuition. In addition to private universities and Baden-Württemberg, there are a couple of other exceptions when it comes to free tuition to note. All of these costs are illustrated below:

German Higher Education Costs

Tuition Fee	vs.	Semester Contribution
pays for study program		pays for administrative costs, social services provided by university, local public transportation ticket for unlimited use throughout semester
averages 5,000 – 7,000 €  per semester	averages 200 – 300 € per semester
charged by private universities and specialized professional degrees (e.g. L.LM, MBA, etc.)*	Charged by all universities

*In the southwest of Germany lies the state of Baden-Württemberg. Baden-Württemberg has a mandatory tuition fee of 1,500 € per semester  to all non-EU students.

Keep in mind that while some programs are not tuition-free, you shouldn’t overlook them on your program search. Should you be interested in a program that charges tuition, keep your many funding options in mind. There are many scholarships available for international students. Also, be sure to refer to DAAD Scholarships for international students in Germany.

Application Process

Applying to any study program can be time consuming. The collection of official documents that need to be submitted is the culprit of this long process. Therefore, we advise that you develop a timeline for your application with personal deadlines dated weeks before the actual deadlines from universities and admissions offices. We have simplified the steps as much as we can to provide you with a general overview of what the application process looks like for someone who may not know where to start:

1

Search for your study program

This process requires a significant amount of research as well as knowledge to know how to find a great comparison of different engineering programs. We have taken the liberty to do this entire step for you and collected all of this data (language requirements, admissions requirements, deadlines, program info, etc). Our StudyFinder is the largest database of English-language study programs, so make sure to use it to your disposal.

2

Collect required documents

Once you have narrowed down the selection to your top programs, you should observe all of the requirements to apply and submit all documents by the submission deadlines. Be sure to begin this process early as some documents, such as official notarized documents and certified translations, may take longer to acquire. If you are applying via uni-assist, be sure to use their online platform to guide you through the process.

3

Submit application

The final step is to submit all official documents to your desired universities. If you are applying via uni-assist, then you only need to submit such required documents once. If you are applying directly to universities as well as other programs which use uni-assist, be sure to submit requested data to all parties. This may include the submission of hard copies via mail as well as digital copies. Consult the admissions office at your preferred programs for further process inquiries.

Summary Box

Searching for the perfect engineering program can be stressful but we have taken the research and guesswork out of the process for you. With our StudyFinder, informational articles, and university rankings, you are sure to find your dream engineering program. Here are a few important things to remember:

• Engineering programs are offered by universities, universities of applied science, and technical universities. Make sure to look at all program offerings so you aren’t missing what could be your dream engineering degree.
• Students should meet three requirements to be eligible to apply to engineering programs: a previous degree or education qualification, a language certificate, and a visa. These three things are the bare minimum to be considered. Candidates should be prepared to have additional qualifications such as academic achievement, internships, and volunteer work, among other things.
• The top-ranked engineering universities in Germany are public. This means that they also follow the rule of public institutions in Germany in that they do not charge tuition fees. Keep in mind that there are exceptions for specialized as well as for the universities in Baden-Württemberg.