English 
Deutsch Who this German-taught B.Eng. suits — and what you need to qualify
This programme targets international applicants who want to bridge engineering and business and study on campus in Cologne. Typical profiles include: recent secondary-school graduates aiming for roles in production, supply chain or technical sales; working technicians or junior engineers in Germany who seek an academic upgrade via the part-time route; and skilled professionals with vocational training who plan a formal entry into engineering management through recognised non-traditional access.
Admission requirements
Teaching language is German. You study in person in Cologne with small groups and extensive lab work. Depending on your background, you can qualify via several routes:
- General higher education entrance qualification: Allgemeine Hochschulreife, fachgebundene Hochschulreife or Fachhochschulreife.
- Admission via professional/vocational route in line with the applicable Berufsbildung university access regulations.
- Equivalent foreign school-leaving certificate recognised as a university entrance qualification in Germany (recognition based on KMK decisions).
- Language requirement: applicants with a foreign entrance qualification must provide proof of sufficient German for study. Exact levels and accepted certificates are defined in the university’s admissions regulations.
- Mathematics and physics readiness: solid prior knowledge is expected; preparatory offerings in maths/physics are available for engineering entrants.
- Curricular practice components: a six-week subject internship must be completed by the time you register your bachelor’s thesis; if you choose the 210-ECTS track, a full praxis semester in a company is integrated.
- Start dates and study models: summer or winter intake; full-time (180 or 210 ECTS) or part-time (180 or 210 ECTS) on campus.
Note: Detailed documentation requirements, recognition of prior learning and deadlines follow the university’s general admissions framework for bachelor’s programmes.
Personal requirements
Success in this degree relies on strong self-management and a genuine interest in both circuits, machines and materials as well as costs, finance and operations. Expect a quantitative core: confidence with formulas, data and problem solving will help you progress through labs and projects. If you are arriving from abroad, plan time to build academic German, including technical terminology used in lectures, lab safety briefings and exams.
- Workload guide: full-time averages 35–40 hours per week in lecture periods (contact hours, labs, group work, self-study); part-time typically 15–20 hours plus evening/weekend sessions.
- Consistency over cramming: weekly study blocks for maths/physics and project milestones are essential.
- Teamwork and communication: many modules involve lab teams and company projects; clear written and oral German supports smooth collaboration.
- Hands-on mindset: you will work with equipment, CAD and measurement setups; curiosity and care for detail are key.
If you are balancing a job, create a realistic plan for peak phases (exam periods, project deliveries, and the practice semester) and secure employer support where possible.
What will you study in the Industrial Engineering (B.Eng.) at RH Cologne – University of Applied Science?
The programme is taught in German. If you apply with a non-German school-leaving certificate, you must provide proof of sufficient German proficiency for degree study. The university lists German as the required teaching and examination language; specific test formats are not named here.
You combine core engineering with business and management from day one. As a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences), RH Cologne focuses on applied learning in labs and projects. You choose a technical track in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering, and complete a practice-oriented bachelor’s thesis with an oral defence (Disputation). The 210-ECTS variant includes an integrated praxissemester (industry placement), while all variants include a six-week subject-related internship during your studies.
Engineering foundations and methods: You build the mathematical and scientific base for engineering decisions, typically through modules such as engineering mathematics, physics/technical physics and technical/computer science. Project management and scientific work strengthen your method skills for later projects and your thesis.
Business and management: You learn to read financials and run operations. Typical contents include industrial business administration, cost accounting, finance and investment, logistics, corporate management and business law. You will also take Technical English to communicate across functions and borders.
Track-specific engineering: - Electrical track: fundamentals of electrical engineering, electronic components and circuits, power electronics, control engineering, sensor and control systems, electrical machines and drives, and electrical energy systems – supported by automation, drives and energy systems labs. - Mechanical track: materials science, design engineering (Konstruktionslehre), technical mechanics, CAD, machine tools and manufacturing processes, automation in mechanical engineering, production technology – supported by physics, materials and production labs.
Practice and projects: Lab courses every study phase, project work in teams, and application-focused modules tie theory to real industrial problems. The university’s student workshop “POOLHAUS” offers 400 m² of tools and space for your own builds and prototypes. The bachelor’s thesis is frequently completed in cooperation with a company.
Electives and specialisations: You can specialise in areas such as Sales Management, Laser Technology, Production Management (mechanical track), Tool and Manufacturing Technology (mechanical track), Automation Technology (electrical track) or Energy Technology (electrical track). Alternatively, you may study without a fixed specialisation and assemble electives (“schwerpunktfrei”).
RH Cologne is a staatlich anerkannt (state-recognised) private university of applied sciences. The degree follows the Bologna system with 180 or 210 ECTS and awards the Bachelor of Engineering.
How does studying in the Industrial Engineering at RH Cologne – University of Applied Science work?
You study on campus in Cologne with strong practical elements, small groups and close contact to teaching staff. You can complete the degree full-time or part-time (berufsbegleitend), with options of 180 ECTS (no integrated placement) or 210 ECTS (with a mandatory praxissemester).
Teaching language and what you need to prove
The teaching and examination language is German. Applicants with foreign entry qualifications must provide a recognised proof of German sufficient for degree study. The university expects language competence adequate for lectures, labs and exams; accepted test formats are not listed here.
Study model and where you will study
This is a campus-based programme in Cologne. RH Cologne operates several sites across the city: administration and seminar rooms near Schaevenstraße/Lindenstraße; modern engineering labs and computing facilities on Vogelsanger Straße; and the POOLHAUS workshop on Vitalisstraße. Cologne is a large Rhine metropolis with a strong industrial base (automotive, energy, chemicals) and excellent transport links, which benefits internships and projects.
Learning format, group sizes and personal support
You learn in lectures, seminars, exercises and many lab sessions. Classes run in small groups—typically around 30–40 students—allowing direct interaction, frequent questions and individual feedback. Practice projects with regional companies are firmly integrated, helping you build a network early.
Assessments and how you will be examined
Assessment formats reflect applied learning: written exams and quizzes in core subjects; lab reports and practical demonstrations in laboratory courses; project work and presentations; and finally a practice-oriented bachelor’s thesis with an oral Disputation. In the 210-ECTS route you complete a supervised praxissemester in industry.
On-campus attendance and enrolment implications
Regular on-campus attendance in Cologne is required for lectures, labs and projects. If you plan to relocate from abroad, schedule enough time for accommodation search and the administrative steps that come with on-site study in Germany. Programme participation requires enrolment at RH Cologne; all formalities are handled directly with the university after admission.
What does the Industrial Engineering cost?
The engineering faculty is state-refinanced. That means no private tuition fees are charged for this bachelor’s programme. You only pay the usual semester contribution as specified in the university’s fee regulations. The 210-ECTS option adds a supervised industry placement semester but does not change the tuition status.
Payment is made per semester from Germany or abroad according to the university’s processes. RH Cologne offers guidance on scholarships and financing options; many students also use part-time work alongside their studies, especially in the part-time track.
Living costs depend on your lifestyle and housing. Cologne is a major city with a competitive rental market. Plan for rent (shared flats or student housing), health insurance, local transport and study materials. Labs and the POOLHAUS are provided on campus; any special project materials are typically arranged within the university infrastructure.
What careers and recognition does the Industrial Engineering offer?
You earn a Bachelor of Engineering with 180 or 210 ECTS, fully aligned with the Bologna framework. RH Cologne is a state-recognised Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences); ECTS credits and the degree title are internationally understandable for master’s admission and employer evaluation. The applied profile—labs, project work, internship—translates well to early-career roles in Germany and the EU.
With your mix of engineering depth and business competence you work at the technical–commercial interface. Typical paths include:
- Technical sales or key account management for machinery, automation or energy solutions
- Operations, production and manufacturing engineering in the mechanical or electrical sector
- Supply chain and logistics, procurement and industrial project management
- Process improvement, industrial engineering and quality management in manufacturing
- Consulting roles focused on technology, cost optimisation and investment planning
Graduates commonly enter Germany’s core industries—machine building, automotive, energy and automation—where interdisciplinary profiles are in demand. For academic progression, related master’s programmes (e.g. technical management or specialised engineering fields) are a straightforward next step in Germany and across the EU.
Who is the Industrial Engineering right for - and who not?
This degree suits you if you want to unite engineering and business, enjoy hands-on lab work and projects, and plan to start your career in Germany or the EU. The choice between electrical and mechanical tracks lets you align studies with your technical interests.
- You want an applied Fachhochschule education with labs, projects and small groups.
- You aim for roles at the interface of technology and management, from production to technical sales.
- You appreciate a programme with no private tuition fees and strong company links in the Cologne region.
- You want the option of a 210-ECTS route with an integrated industry placement.
There are also clear limits. Read these to avoid a mismatch before you apply from abroad.
- You do not speak German at an academic level. The programme is taught and examined in German; proof of proficiency is required.
- You cannot relocate to Cologne or attend labs and on-site sessions regularly. Distance learning is not offered.
- You are looking for a fully English-taught industrial engineering bachelor in Germany. This is not an English-track programme.
- You seek a narrow, single-discipline degree (only pure business or only pure engineering). This curriculum deliberately combines both.
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