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The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course Automotive Engineering under the number 164216c. Who is the part-time distance learning course in Automotive Engineering at Wilhelm Büchner University suitable for?
The part-time distance learning course in Automotive Engineering (Bachelor of Engineering) is aimed at technically interested individuals who aspire to a career in the automotive industry or related engineering fields. It is particularly targeted at professionals with relevant technical training, junior staff in vehicle construction, career changers from mechanical engineering, as well as school graduates with university entrance qualification who want a practice-oriented study. The course also supports those already working in the industry who want to advance their careers through an academic foundation, such as technicians, master craftsmen, or business administrators.
What admission criteria must you meet for the Automotive Engineering degree programme?
To enrol in the Bachelor's degree programme in Automotive Engineering, the following formal requirements must be met:
- General university entrance qualification (Abitur) or
- Subject-specific university entrance qualification or
- Entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences or
- a university entrance qualification recognised as equivalent by the Hessian Ministry of Science and the Arts
- alternatively: passed university entrance examination (HZP) after two semesters of performance
- alternatively:
- Master craftsman certificate, business administrators, technician qualification – without additional entrance examination
- Professionally qualified: at least three years of vocational training (final grade 2.5 or better), at least intermediate school leaving certificate and two years of full-time employment
Credit transfer for prior achievements (e.g. technician qualification, chambers of industry and commerce certificates, already completed academic credits) is possible and can shorten the duration of study.
You should have basic knowledge of mathematics; an optional preparatory mathematics course is offered. Initial professional or school experience in the fields of technology, mechatronics, or mechanical engineering is also helpful.
Which personal qualities and competencies are recommended?
Independence and good time management are particularly important in distance learning. For the focus of study in Automotive Engineering, you should bring technical understanding and interest in mobility, innovation and digitalisation. Communication skills, problem-solving competence and analytical thinking support you in project work and interdisciplinary modules. Curiosity about current developments – from alternative drive systems to smart mobility – is advantageous. Practical experience in automotive engineering is helpful but not a mandatory requirement.
What content can you expect in the Bachelor's distance learning course in Automotive Engineering?
In the distance learning course Automotive Engineering (Bachelor of Engineering) at Wilhelm Büchner University of Applied Sciences, you will acquire a broad engineering education with a technical focus on automotive engineering. The course combines fundamentals from mechanical engineering, mechatronics, computer science and electrical engineering with specific expertise related to the automotive industry.
- Fundamental modules: Mathematics, natural sciences, electrical engineering, computer science, business administration, intercultural communication
- Core competencies in automotive engineering: Design theory, machine components, technical mechanics, materials engineering, vehicle dynamics, vehicle structure and design
- Technology & methods: Manufacturing technology, computer aided engineering, vehicle safety, measurement and control technology, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics
- Practical modules: Laboratory exercises in areas such as vehicle drives or manufacturing technology, professional practical phase
- Specialisations for individual profiling:
- General automotive engineering (e.g. transmission technology, internal combustion engines, systems engineering)
- Electromobility (among others electric drives, high-voltage systems, power electronics)
- Product management, patent engineering, sales engineering, industrial design
- Elective modules on current topics such as hydrogen technologies, sensor technology and actuator technology, energy efficiency, software engineering or big data
- Final phase: Project work and bachelor thesis including colloquium
Right from the start, an introductory project supports you with time management and self-organisation. Throughout the entire course, both specialist knowledge and methodological and communicative skills are purposefully developed.
How is the distance learning course in Automotive Engineering organised at WBH?
The distance learning course is modular and allows maximum flexibility. You begin with an online introductory event where you get to know the study organisation, lecturers and fellow students. The seven semesters are structured into modules, which you can work through individually according to your prior knowledge and learning pace. A digital campus and a personal AI learning companion are available to you around the clock.
- Duration of study: 7 semesters (42 months) – free extension of up to 21 months possible
- Start of study: At any time, flexibly to your desired date
- Examinations: term papers, exams (also possible online), oral examinations
- Professional practical phase: In the 5th or 6th semester; own professional experience can be credited
- Laboratory components: Practice-oriented lab phases e.g. on vehicle dynamics and vehicle drives – mostly as block events, partly online
- Support and feedback: Regular submitted assignments are corrected individually; feedback is provided digitally and in person
- Flexible study: Learning materials as e-books, exercises on the online campus, webinars, on-demand videos
You can take the examinations flexibly – at exam locations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland or online. By choosing your specialisation from the 6th semester, you design your individual qualification profile.
In which fields does the degree open up career opportunities?
With the Bachelor of Engineering in Automotive Engineering, you are capable of taking on engineering tasks in various fields of the automotive industry. The course prepares specifically for the digital and sustainable transformation of automotive engineering. Your career opportunities include, among others:
- Development and design at automobile manufacturers and suppliers
- Research and innovation, e.g. in electromobility or autonomous driving
- Quality management, production planning and process optimisation
- Testing centres, expert services and technical inspection
- Technical product management, sales or industrial design in the mobility sector
- Patent affairs and innovation management
- Activities in authorities, certification bodies or application-oriented research institutions
Graduates find their professional perspective in a stable, future-oriented job market with good salary prospects. Leadership and interface positions as well as the path to self-employment are open. Further academic career paths, such as a Master’s degree in automotive engineering, are also possible.
What does the place of study look like in this distance learning course?
The course takes place mostly online and is designed for flexible integration into professional life. You study location-independently via the digital campus of Wilhelm Büchner University of Applied Sciences. Laboratory and practical modules can be completed as on-site events at partner institutes or partly also digitally. Examinations are taken either online or at numerous exam centres in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The university itself is based in Darmstadt (Hessen), where additional on-site offerings can be utilised.
What costs and financing options should you expect?
For the distance learning course in Automotive Engineering at Wilhelm Büchner University of Applied Sciences, tuition fees of €237 per month apply. The total cost for the seven-semester course is €14,193. The price includes all learning materials, support services as well as flexible access to the online campus.
- Free extension: An extension of up to 21 months is possible at no extra cost.
- Recognition of prior achievements: Already completed further education, professional experience or study achievements can be credited towards the course – this reduces the cost (for every five recognised ECTS, one monthly fee is waived).
- Financing: Instalment payment, educational loan, BAföG (depending on individual situation), scholarships and tax deductibility are possible.
- Family friendliness: Discounts during parental leave and flexible study times to reconcile with family or work
You should examine the exact financing conditions depending on your personal situation.
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