Mechanical Engineering – Creating Added-Value

The wealth of a country without natural resources lies in the creativity and intelligence of its inhabitants. Whereas service and industry only manage and distribute that which already exists, engineers readily face the challenges posed by the working life and human demands – they develop new solutions and they create new products and new value. The miniaturisation of computers and mobile phones was possible only due to the availability of new production techniques – but in reality our journey into the micro-cosmos and nano-world is just beginning. At the other end of the scale, engineers are required to research the macro-cosmos with its new materials and computational methods. This pertains to traditional areas such as combustion engines, automobile construction, machine tools, and power plant technology, as well as to production engineering, precision engineering and micro-technology, aeronautics and space engineering, and medical technology.

Master programme in Mechanical Engineering

The German university system is currently adapting its syllabus to satisfy the requirements of a Bachelor/Master degree system. This consecutive system offers students completely new perspectives in terms of organising their own educational and career paths. The Master programme follows the primary professionally qualifying degree (Bachelor, Diplom, or Polytechnic Diplom) and prepares undergraduates to take on responsible positions in private companies and in R&D institutes. A Master degree is the prerequisite for doctoral studies, giving students access to the top positions in science and industry. The BTU’s Master Degree Programmes are closely linked to real research topics. Students are increasingly exposed to R&D challenges, and have the opportunity to independently develop their own approaches. They learn and practice the related working methods and operations. In academic terms, the Master degree at the BTU Cottbus thus equivalent to, or better than the German-Diplom.

Goals

Building on a first qualifying degree for professional practice and work experience, the Master programme teaches students how to use the related instruments and methods and prepared them to conduct scientific work, to critically assess scientific findings, as well as to independently cultivate their own scientific approaches. Depending on the specific degree programme structure, this is achieved by either expanding existing knowledge and competencies, or by focusing on a field of specialisation. The Master degree is the formal prerequisite to commence doctoral studies.