Study Printing Technology, Media Technology in Germany

Various areas of study belong to this field:

• In printing technology, special attention is given to printing processes, typesetting, and reproduction technology as well as aspects from mechanical and plant engineering.
• Media technology is more concerned with the design and production of audio-visual media such as videos, audios, animations, etc.
• In packaging technology, the focus is on understanding and assessing materials and processes to develop ideal – and nowadays also environmentally friendly – packaging. This includes packaging construction and design, printing and refining techniques, packaging manufacturing, and machine packaging, as well as storage and transportation techniques.

The focus of your course is dependent on your interests – electronic printing, 3D printing, creative aspects, graphic arts, or computer science – the choice is yours. You can also choose to include management modules in your curriculum to learn how to competently work with a budget.

In particular, the Master’s programmes in this field of study often include both technical and business modules. By choosing your classes, you can decide how much focus you would like to place on methods for developing business models, on marketing products and services or on methods of personnel management, project and work organisation. Especially if you are aiming for a management position later on, qualifications that enable you to act entrepreneurially and plan strategically are crucial.

Previous knowledge in mathematics, the natural sciences and computer science is helpful. But even if you have the feeling that you no longer have solid knowledge in these areas – for example, if your school days were a while ago – you can still find your way into the degree programme. Many higher education institutions offer preparatory courses in mathematics and physics, for example.

Formally, you need a general or subject-specific higher education entrance qualification or a university of applied sciences entrance qualification for a Bachelor’s degree programme. However, it is also possible to study without a German Abitur or an equivalent under certain conditions; the best thing to do is to ask your chosen higher education institution!

Most higher education institutions have an obligatory industrial internship of several weeks (e.g. 16 to 20 weeks). A pre-study internship, on the other hand, is rarely required as an application prerequisite.

Although some Bachelor’s programmes have an NC, i.e. a minimum grade for successful applications, you will also be able to find admission-free programmes. Therefore, if your grades are not so good, you don’t have to worry.

On average, a Bachelor’s programme in printing and media technology lasts six to seven semesters, and a Master’s programme three to four.

If you choose a degree programme at a public higher education institution, you will probably not have to pay tuition fees! There are a few exceptions for individual degree programmes or for certain countries of origin. However, if you are a little flexible, you will most likely be able to find a tuition-free course of study. If you want to study at a private higher education institution, however, you will usually have to pay high tuition fees.

At all public higher education institutions, however, you will have to pay the so-called semester contribution. This usually amounts to between 100 and 400 euros and is due at the beginning of the semester. Sometimes your semester contribution covers a ticket for local public transport or you can purchase a discounted ticket. Depending on where you study, this 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.

If you have not yet made a final decision on a particular degree programme, you could also take the average rent in the respective city into consideration. Rents can vary greatly in Germany. You can assume that you will have higher rental payments in large cities and cities that are popular with students than in small towns. You can also do some research to see if the local “Studierendenwerk” has any free hall of residence places – living in a hall of residence can be very affordable, but in popular big cities, it is not uncommon that you will be on the waiting list for a few years. Here, you can find information on local halls of residence and the respective application process for most cities. Otherwise, your monthly costs depend a lot 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.

Depending on your personal focus during your studies, you can either enter the traditional printing industry, such as newspaper publishing or find a job in software companies and advertising agencies after graduation. Overall, the sector is strongly shaped by digital transformation. So, while in the publishing industry you can still work on the production of books and magazines in the traditional way, many graduates are more concerned with the production of electronic media, with multimedia or database-supported publishing. Skills in IT are becoming increasingly important. A degree in packaging technology opens ample opportunities, e.g., in the paper and cardboard industry.

Generally, engineering graduates earn very good salaries. Various factors are decisive for your starting salary, such as the sector or the size of the company.