Study Power Engineering in Germany

Pursuing a degree in this field will provide you with expertise in especially the following areas:

• Analysis, assessment, and optimisation of energy systems
• Thermal, electrical, chemical, and biological processes for energy conversion and storage
• Modern methods of measurement
• Model design and simulation for power technology

A good understanding of mathematics, physics, and chemistry will help you understand these study contents. A basic knowledge of computer science is useful for modules in information technology.

Most German higher education institutions offer a very flexible course scheme, so you can choose modules according to your interest and focus on, e.g., mechatronics, thermodynamics, material science, or environmental technology.

Degree programmes in power engineering can be studied at both universities and universities of applied sciences. If you want to dip your toes into the professional world while you study, many higher education institutions also offer the option of a dual study programme. For a Bachelor’s degree, you need either a general higher education entrance qualification, a subject-specific higher education entrance qualification or an advanced technical college entrance qualification – or the equivalent. Most higher education institutions do not have any further admission restrictions. Nevertheless, some may implement their own admission procedures and require aptitude tests, for example. Usually, you can start a Master’s programme after successfully completing a Bachelor’s programme in at least a similar field.

Most higher education institutions do not expect you to complete an internship prior to studying. However, a pre-study internship can help you familiarise yourself with the contents and fields of work and is recommended by most higher education institutions. If you do not have the opportunity to gain practical experience before your studies, you can do so during your studies: You will most likely have practical phases or one or more practical semesters.

For completing a Bachelor’s degree, you should generally expect at least six semesters. However, the standard period of study is often at least seven semesters due to the practical semesters. A Master’s degree can then normally be completed in three to four semesters.

When choosing your higher education institution, you should pay attention to the name of the degree programme: Since power engineering covers a wide range of topics, the name of the degree programme can vary (e.g. electrical engineering or energy management). Often, however, similar contents are behind the different names – but not always! Therefore, enquire about the specific study contents and compare them with each other; perhaps you will find a higher education institution with a specialisation that interests you. As a rule, however, you are quite flexible in the composition of your study content in most programmes.

By the way: If you don’t have a general higher education entrance qualification or are generally unsure of your maths skills, you can often take advantage of a pre-semester maths course to prepare you for your studies. Many higher education institutions offer these courses. Your knowledge of English will also be in demand: some specialised literature can only be found in English. Depending on the higher education institution, you can even study the degree programme entirely in English!

Most public higher education institutions in Germany do not charge tuition fees (at least for Bachelor’s programmes). This means that you might not have to pay a lot for your studies compared internationally. However, you will need to pay a semester contribution, which consists of the costs for administration, the student union and often also a ticket for local public transportation. Depending on where you study, this ticket may be valid for the city, the region or even for all of Germany. Ask your higher education institution whether such an offer is currently available. These contributions vary between the higher education institutions and are usually between 100 and 400 euros. If you want to study at a distance or at a private higher education institution, you should expect to pay tuition fees which are often rather high.

The biggest item in your personal budget, however, is the cost of living, especially rent. There are big differences between the cities in Germany; in cities with popular higher education institutions and in large cities, you should always expect a significantly higher rent. However, you can live comparatively cheaply with a room in a student hall of residence or in a shared apartment. It is important that you look for accommodation on time; this applies especially to student halls of residence, as there may be waiting lists. Here, you can find information on local halls of residence and the respective application process for most cities. How much extra money you need to live depends entirely on your lifestyle.

To finance your studies in Germany, you should also find out about scholarships. There are many different scholarship programmes and excellent grades are not the only deciding factor. You can learn more about scholarships here and find suitable programmes directly on My GUIDE.

With the knowledge gained during your studies, you will be able to work in, e.g., these areas:

• Planning, construction, and optimisation of energy supply facilities
• Research and development of renewable energies and innovative technologies
• In project management and quality management

You can use your new skillset, for example, in energy supply companies, energy machinery and plant construction companies, licensing and supervisory authorities, engineering and planning offices, research institutions, technical sales or in energy consulting and energy management.

Further knowledge of project management, construction and quality assurance as well as consulting can become important for your future career.