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Deutsch Who is this M.Sc. for – and what do you need to bring?
This practice-integrated M.Sc. in Industrial Engineering suits you if you want to grow at the interface of technology and management over 24 months (120 ECTS). Typical profiles include: early-career mechanical, electrical or mechatronics engineers aiming for operations, production or technology management roles in Germany/EU; graduates in industrial engineering who want to deepen systems and mechatronics expertise; working professionals in manufacturing or supply chain who prefer a work-integrated master’s while contributing to projects in Berlin or Stuttgart.
Admission requirements
To qualify, you generally need a prior university degree and the ability to study in the programme’s teaching language. The study model is practice-integrated.
- First university degree: A completed higher-education degree (e.g. Bachelor or equivalent) that qualifies for postgraduate study. Subject relevance and any required prior knowledge are determined by the responsible Steinbeis School.
- Work-integrated study (PKS): You study in a practice-integrated format (Project Competence Study). A suitable company project is typically part of the programme; employment or a host organisation is usually expected. Details are set during admission.
- Language of instruction: The programme is offered in English or German, depending on cohort. You must provide recognised proof of proficiency in the teaching language at an academic level; the accepted certificates and minimum scores are specified by the School for your intake. If the cohort is taught in German, formal proof of advanced German may be required.
- International degrees: Admission with foreign qualifications is possible if your degree is equivalent to a German first degree. Submit full transcripts and, where applicable, certified translations. An individual recognition check is part of the process.
- No Abitur needed: For a master’s programme, the decisive criterion is your first degree; school-leaving certificates like the Abitur are not sufficient on their own.
- On-campus format: Attendance in Germany is expected. Teaching takes place on campus; locations commonly include Berlin and Stuttgart (availability depends on cohort planning).
Personal requirements
Success in a practice-integrated master’s depends on structured self-management and steady progress on your project. Plan for 15–20 hours per week of study and project work alongside employment during teaching weeks, plus intensive blocks on campus when scheduled. You should be comfortable with engineering fundamentals (mathematics, mechanics, materials or control basics), and able to translate between technical and business stakeholders. Clear technical writing and presentation skills in English or German are essential for reports and project documentation. If you apply from abroad, plan realistically for on-site phases in Germany, time-zone coordination with your team, and a reliable setup for any online components the School may use.
What will you study in the Industrial Engineering (M.Sc.) at Steinbeis University?
The M.Sc. Industrial Engineering at Steinbeis University combines engineering depth with business skills over 24 months and 120 ECTS. The programme is offered in a practice-integrated format: you work on real projects throughout your studies and complete a master’s thesis that builds on this project work. Steinbeis is a private, state-recognised (staatlich anerkannt) university in Germany. It operates as a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences), which means strong practical focus and applied research.
Engineering foundations and systems: You strengthen core engineering methods that industrial engineers use to design, model and improve systems. Typical content includes subjects such as systems engineering, manufacturing systems and industrial automation.
Data, quality and operations: You learn how to run efficient operations using quantitative methods. Expect modules on operations research and analytics, quality and process management, and production planning and control.
Management, finance and strategy: To bridge technology and business, you cover topics like technology management, project and risk management, and managerial finance for engineering decisions.
Digitalisation and sustainability in industry: You address how Industry 4.0, IoT and sustainability requirements change plants and value chains. Content typically spans digital transformation in manufacturing and sustainable operations.
Specialisation: The current specialisation option is Mechatronics — ideal if you want to integrate mechanics, electronics and control into products and production systems.
Electives: Depending on the school delivering your cohort, you can choose electives that align with your project and career goals (for example deeper technology management or process optimisation topics). Availability can vary by location and intake.
Capstone and practice: The Steinbeis Project Competence Study (PKS) model ties your studies to a concrete company or innovation project from day one. The master’s thesis documents and evaluates your project’s solution using academic methods.
How does studying in the Industrial Engineering (M.Sc.) work?
Teaching language: German or English depending on cohort
Steinbeis runs programmes either in German or English depending on the delivering school, the intake and the cohort. Language of instruction is fixed per cohort. If your track is in English, you typically provide proof of English (e.g. IELTS/TOEFL). For German-taught tracks, recognised certificates such as TestDaF, DSH or Goethe are usually required. Always check the language of your specific intake before you apply.
Study model and where you will study
The degree is delivered as a practice-integrated on-campus programme. Teaching and project coaching are organised primarily at Steinbeis sites in Berlin and Stuttgart. Berlin offers a large industrial innovation ecosystem and international community; Stuttgart is Germany’s automotive and manufacturing hub with easy access to global players and Mittelstand suppliers. Steinbeis also operates further teaching sites; availability for your cohort can vary by school.
Learning format, group sizes and support
Learning combines seminars, workshops and supervised project work. You study in compact, application-oriented blocks typical for a university of applied sciences, with smaller groups that allow close interaction with faculty and project coaches. The PKS model ensures continuous supervision of your company or innovation project throughout the two years.
How you will be assessed
Assessment reflects the applied character of the programme. You can expect a mix of graded project reports and presentations tied to your real-world project, plus academic components such as written exams, case studies or term papers in the subject modules. The master’s thesis and its defence complete the programme.
What does the Industrial Engineering (M.Sc.) cost?
As a private, state-recognised university, Steinbeis charges tuition for this master’s programme. Fees are generally structured for the full 24-month/120-ECTS course and may be invoiced per semester or in monthly instalments by the responsible Steinbeis school. In addition to tuition, plan for one-off administrative items such as enrolment or examination fees where applicable. If you pay from abroad, international bank transfer costs and currency conversion can add small overheads to your budget.
Living costs depend on where you study:
- Berlin: budget roughly €1,000–€1,300 per month for a modest student lifestyle (room in a shared flat, health insurance, local transport, food, study materials).
- Stuttgart: plan around €1,100–€1,400 per month due to higher housing costs in the region.
Some Steinbeis schools and partner organisations offer scholarships or company co-funding tied to the practice project. Availability varies by cohort and employer engagement; evaluate this early if you aim to combine study with an industry project.
What careers and recognition does the Industrial Engineering (M.Sc.) offer?
The degree awards 120 ECTS credits under the Bologna framework. Steinbeis University is state-recognised in Germany; degrees are officially recognised nationwide. The programme itself holds programme accreditation by FIBAA within the German Accreditation Council system for the current period. In practice, this means transparent quality standards, international comparability of credits and learning outcomes, and eligibility for further study (e.g. doctoral routes where your professional and academic profile fits institutional requirements).
With its engineering-management profile and the PKS practice focus, typical roles include:
- Industrial engineer or manufacturing engineer in automotive, machinery, electronics or process industries
- Operations or plant manager, production planner, or quality and process improvement lead
- Technology and mechatronics specialist in automation, robotics or product industrialisation
- Supply chain engineer or industrial data/operations analyst (Industry 4.0, IoT, MES)
- Consultant for operations excellence, digital factory and technology management in Germany and the EU
Salaries vary widely by sector and region in Germany. Graduates entering production or supply-chain roles in large companies tend to start higher than in SMEs; project experience from the PKS model is a strong asset when negotiating entry level or progressing internally.
Who is the Industrial Engineering (M.Sc.) right for – and who not?
This master’s suits engineering-minded graduates and professionals who want to bridge technology and management and solve real problems inside companies while they study. The mechatronics option is attractive if you want to work at the intersection of mechanics, electronics and control.
- You want an applied master’s at a university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) with continuous project work.
- You aim to study in Germany’s industrial centres (Berlin or Stuttgart) and build networks with manufacturers and tech suppliers.
- You value a practice-integrated (PKS) study model and a thesis tied to a real business or technology challenge.
- You plan for management-track roles in operations, production, supply chain or technology management.
- You are looking for a 120-ECTS master’s that is recognised across Germany and comparable internationally under Bologna.
There are also clear situations where this programme is not the best fit. Read these carefully before you decide.
- You need a guaranteed English-only track: Steinbeis runs cohorts in German or English depending on intake; if you cannot study in German and your chosen cohort runs in German, this will not work.
- You prefer a purely academic/research-oriented environment (e.g. laboratory research with little company contact). The focus here is strongly applied and project-driven.
- You are looking for the lowest-cost option in Germany. As a private university, Steinbeis charges tuition that is typically higher than public universities.
- You cannot relocate or commute to on-site teaching. This is an on-campus, practice-integrated programme with attendance required.
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