Shaping technical excellence

Secure your study place in Mechanical Engineering

Our remarkable Master’s degree programs in mechanical engineering provide advanced education in the design, analysis and manufacturing of mechanical systems. They combine theory with practical research opportunities and prepare you for leadership roles in engineering industries and academia.

Shaping technical excellence

Secure your study place in Mechanical Engineering

Our remarkable Master’s degree programs in mechanical engineering provide advanced education in the design, analysis and manufacturing of mechanical systems. They combine theory with practical research opportunities and prepare you for leadership roles in engineering industries and academia.

Academic Profile

Prepare for your dream Master’s degree program

Expand your expertise with the German Engineering College (GEC) and take the crucial step towards your Master’s program at RWTH Aachen University. Fulfil the essential academic requirements and gain deep insights into mechanical engineering to secure exclusive admission to your dream Master’s program.

Check out our Master’s degree programs

Design your tailored experience

Explore a diverse range of modules developed in close collaboration with the renowned institutes of RWTH Aachen University. The GEC ensures optimal preparation aligned with your personal goal and academic background. Each module is designed to provide comprehensive knowledge and help you meet the essential academic requirements.

Benefit from personalized guidance from your program manager to navigate the ideal course selection.

  • kinematics of a continuous medium with large deformations
  • strain, stretch, and rotation measures
  • stress tensors (Cauchy, Kirchhoff, first and second Piola-Kirchhoff)
  • balance relations: conservation of mass, linear and angular momentum, energy, entropy production
  • general principles for constitutive equations

  • The strong form of the initial boundary value problem
  • The weak form of the initial boundary value problem
  • Space discretization and the Finite Element Equations
  • Triangle elements (with implementations)
  • A beam element (with implementations)
  • Time integration (with implementations)

  • Introduction, Basis, Systems, the Control-Loop
  • System Modelling
  • Laplace Transform
  • Frequency domain methods
  • State-Space Models
  • Solutions to ODEs
  • Stability
  • Controller Design

  • Selected trigonometric methods
  • Applied linear algebra
  • Mathematical representations of rotations
  • Planar, spherical and spatial mechanisms
  • Joint variants and degree of freedom calculation
  • Mechanism analysis and synthesis
  • Velocity and acceleration relations in mechanisms
  • Equivalent dynamics systems
  • Representation of dynamic systems
  • Normal modes of single-degree-of freedom systems
  • Normal modes of multiple-degree-of-freedom systems

  • Metal springs
  • Technical design and calculations of metal spring types
  • Connection elements
  • Material bonding and variations of soldering, welding, adhesive bonds
  • Engineering design and variations of shaft hub-connections
  • Design variations of power transmission drives
  • Variations of technical couplings, brakes and clutches

  • Vector Analysis and Integral Theorems
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Probability

  • Introduction to Tensor algebra and analysis
  • Cauchy stress tensor, coordinate transformation, Mohr’s circle
  • Deformation and strain tensor
  • Material behaviour, elasticity in 3D case, thermal expansion
  • Equilibrium conditions and motion equations
  • Bending of beams, differential equations of the deflection curve, shear stress in bending problems
  • Torsion, shear stress in thin-walled structures with open and closed cross sections
  • Energy methods in elastostatics, strain energy and conversation of energy, principle of virtual forces
  • Stability in elastostatics, bifurcation of equilibrium state, buckling

  • Kinematics of the mass point (KMP)
  • Kinematics of the rigid body (KRB)
  • Kinetics of the mass point (KMP)
  • Kinetics of the rigid body (KRB)
  • Energy methods (EM): Principle of virtual work; Principle of D’Alembert; Lagrange equations of motion
  • Vibrations (Vbr): free undamped vibration; free damped vibration; forced undamped vibration

  • From Taylorism to Industry 4.0
  • Business Process Modelling
  • Production Optimization
  • Lean Production – Production Systems
  • Structured Innovation Process
  • Variant management
  • Product Planning and Engineering
  • Technology Planning
  • Manufacturing and Assembly Planning
  • Process Planning
  • Materials Management
  • Production Planning and Control
  • Global Production Networks
  • Factory Planning

  • Introduction and general principles of thermodynamics
  • Properties of substances
  • Energy balance
  • Second law of thermodynamics
Formats

Engineer
your path

As every student’s journey is unique, we designed three different GEC formats to suit your individual needs and preferences. All of them have the same goal: your successful Master’s admission.

Compact

Opt for the express route

6 months

online

English-taught

up to 30 ECTS

5 courses

–

–

–

GRE General Test replacement

RWTH certificates

fee-based

scholarships available

Application deadline: June 15, 2025

Co-Study

Take the GEC alongside your Bachelor’s degree

up to 3 years

online

English-taught

up to 30 ECTS

5 courses

integration into the Bachelor’s program at the home university

–

–

GRE General Test replacement

RWTH certificates

fee-based

scholarships available

Application deadline: June 15, 2025

On-Campus

Close your Bachelor chapter in Germany

2 years

online and on-site

English-taught

up to 40 ECTS

6 courses + internship at RWTH

integration into the Bachelor’s program at the home university

2-bed accommodation

RWTH student ID and public transportation card

GRE General Test replacement

RWTH certificates

fee-based

scholarships available

Application deadline: June 15, 2025

6 months

online

English-taught

up to 30 ECTS

5 courses

GRE General Test replacement

RWTH certificates

fee-based

scholarships available

Application deadline: June 15, 2025

up to 3 years

online

English-taught

up to 30 ECTS

5 courses

integration into the Bachelor’s program at the home university

GRE General Test replacement

RWTH certificates

fee-based

scholarships available

Application deadline: June 15, 2025

2 years

online and on-site

English-taught

up to 40 ECTS

6 courses + internship at RWTH

integration into the Bachelor’s program at the home university

2-bed accommodation

RWTH student ID and public transportation card

GRE General Test replacement

RWTH certificates

fee-based

scholarships available

Application deadline: June 15, 2025

Listen to former GEC students

Discover the unique benefits of the German Engineering College (GEC) through the experiences of our students. Hear firsthand how the GEC has helped them achieve their academic and career goals, providing a seamless pathway to the prestigious Master’s programs at RWTH Aachen University. Watch the video to learn more about how the GEC can unlock your potential and set you on the path to success.

Aus datenschutzrechtlichen Gründen benötigt YouTube Ihre Einwilligung um geladen zu werden.
Application Process

Start your journey to success with us

Are you ready to enter the world of engineering excellence? Your journey to success begins with your application for the GEC. It is simple, quick, and free of charge. Become a GEC student now!

1. Prepare your documents

Gather all required documents, such as your transcript of record, proof of English proficiency, and other documents listed below.

2. Submit you application

If you’re applying for the GEC Compact, fill out and submit the online application form. For the GEC Co-Study or GEC On-Site formats, please contact your respective Academy Office for detailed application instructions.

3. Application review

Our admissions team will carefully review your application to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria and have submitted all necessary documents.

4. Get invited to a personal interview

Receive the invitation to a personal interview. It is a chance for us to get to know each other and determine if the GEC is the right fit for you.

5. Receive your admission

After a successful interview, you will receive your official admission offer with detailed information about the next steps, including payment instructions.

6. Start your journey

Once you have accepted your admission offer and paid the program fee, you will begin your tailored path to Master’s admission through the GEC.

You are most suitable for the GEC if you:

  • are an enrolled Bachelor student (B.Sc. Eng, B.Sc. Tech) or a Bachelor graduate (B.Sc. Eng, B.Sc. Tech)

  • are proficient in the English language (equivalent to Level B2 of CEFR)

  • have a minimum of 6 months of practical experience (work, internships, research, etc.)

Get the following documents ready for your application:

  • Transcript of records

  • Motivation letter

  • CV

  • Proof of work experience

  • Proof of English language proficiency (students or graduates of an English taught Bachelor program do not need to provide a proof of English language proficiency)

    • TOEFL iBT: 90 points
    • IELTS: 6.0 band score
    • CEFR: B2
    • For Chinese students: CET Band 4: 480 points

  • University degree certificate (if applicable)

Frequently Asked Questions

Many international undergraduate programs do not meet the high academic standards of RWTH Aachen University. As a result, international students are admitted to Master’s programs on the condition that they fulfill additional academic requirements during their Master’s studies. With the GEC, you meet these requirements before even applying, allowing you to gain unconditional admission and focus fully on your Master’s program.

Yes, successful completion of the GEC guarantees you admission to our Master’s programs offered by RWTH International Academy.

The GEC offers several advantages over direct application to a Master’s program. It ensures that you meet all academic admission requirements in advance, guaranteeing admission without conditions. It also replaces the need to take the GRE test for application. Additionally, outstanding students receive a 50% scholarship for their desired Master’s program.

You will select up to three preferred Master’s programs during the application process for the GEC. This allows us to tailor the program to your specific academic and career goals, ensuring the best possible fit for your future studies at RWTH Aachen University.

The GEC is designed for Bachelor’s students and graduates aiming to pursue a Master’s program in Germany. Explore the detailed applicant profiles under your preferred GEC package (Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Battery Systems Engineering) to kickstart your engineering journey.

Yes, you need to prove proficiency in English. Typically, this is achieved through recognized English language proficiency tests. For specific requirements and accepted certificates, please refer to the detailed information provided under your preferred GEC package (Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Battery Systems Engineering).

It is not mandatory to prove any proficiency in German language.

Yes, it is possible to apply for the GEC before completing your Bachelor’s degree. We understand that students may be in different stages of their undergraduate studies when considering the GEC. Please feel free to reach out to us for personalized guidance and to discuss your specific situation in more detail. We’re here to help you navigate the application process and explore your opportunities with the GEC.

If you are interested in the GEC Compact, you can apply via our application form. Please ensure you have all the required documents listed under your preferred GEC package (Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Battery Systems Engineering). For the GEC Co-Study or GEC On-Campus formats, please contact your respective Academy Offices for detailed application instructions.

Once your application documents are complete, your academic achievements will be checked from our admission committee. If your achievements are convincing, you will be invited to an online interview in zoom to get to know each other and answers and open questions.

The GEC Compact and GEC Co-Study programs run from July to October, with examination periods in November-December and January-February. For the GEC On-Site program, online courses occur in August-September of the third year, while the on-site component starts in August of the fourth year and continues until the following spring.

Even if you have taken similar courses, they probably do not meet RWTH’s academic standards. Our courses are equivalent to the German-taught Bachelor modules at RWTH Aachen University and fulfill the necessary academic requirements. By completing them, you will avoid conditional admission to your desired M.Sc. program.

You have a total of three attempts for the exam in each course.

The GEC is designed to meet your individual needs, so costs vary based on the specific package and format you choose. For detailed information, please contact us directly.

Absolutely! We offer various scholarships for the GEC program. Contact your respective Academy Office to inquire about eligibility. Moreover, upon completing the GEC, outstanding students have the opportunity to receive a 50% scholarship for their desired Master’s program.

GEC participants receive extensive support throughout their journey. You will have personal contact with dedicated advisors to guide you through every step of the process. An information guide will be provided to help you navigate the program requirements and opportunities. We host regular info sessions to ensure you are well-informed and integrated into the community. Additionally, you will receive regular updates and general support to address any questions or concerns. Ongoing consultation is available to assist with academic and personal matters, ensuring you are fully supported in achieving your goals.

Contact

How can we
help you?

We’re happy to answer any questions you may have on our GEC program. Feel free to send us an e-mail or book an online consultation via zoom.

We’re excited to connect with you!

Souphaphone Phanpaseuth

Program Manager
RWTH-GEC@academy.rwth-aachen.de

Our Academy Offices

Our Academy Offices in China, India and Mexico (for all of Latin America) advise on our educational programs, enter into collaborations with universities and other educational partners and recruit outstanding talent. With their profound understanding of your cultural and educational background, the teams pave your way to an excellent education at RWTH Aachen University. Get in touch with our Academy Offices Directors for exclusive consultation and cooperation opportunities!

Zufeng Wu

Director China Office
chinaoffice.academy-rwth.de

Dr. Sandeep Patil

Director India Office
iamacademyindia.academy-rwth.de

Melanie Ostfeld

Director Latin America Office
latin-america.academy-rwth.de