Mechatronics

Mechatronics experts have a wide choice of potential career paths. A large number of organisations in the mechanical and electrical engineering and automotive sectors now use mechatronics engineering in product development and are keen to recruit specialists, giving rise to a wealth of opportunities for mechatronics graduates in design and development, process and production planning, production engineering, manufacturing and assembly, quality control and sales.

Industrial and professional associations regard mechatronics specialists as desirable employees with very good career prospects. The current shortage of qualified engineers for specialist roles is set to continue, in Germany, in Europe and across the globe.

This Bachelor’s degree course encompasses seven semesters, during which students learn key principles in mechanical and electrical engineering, focusing specifically on basic components of mechatronics systems, sensors and actuators, control engineering and information technology.

The opening segment of the course provides students with key knowledge and skills in mathematics, mechanics, electrical engineering, digital technologies, systems design and IT, and places special emphasis on familiarising students with the use of computer-assisted methodologies.

The course’s second phase gives you the opportunity to focus on areas of your own choosing via the appropriate modules. We are currently developing focal emphases in the following areas:

• Robotics
• Drive dynamics
• Adaptronics

The course’s final semester is spent completing an industrial experience phase in a company or organisation. This enables students to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during their course and gain insights into the world of work in its technical, organisational and economic facets and contexts. This phase concludes with your Bachelor thesis.

You’ll need to be interested in working with computers and with electronic devices and into discovering interdisciplinary interconnections among aspects and functions of engineering subdisciplines. You’ll be at an advantage if you have focused on scientific or technical subjects at school, perhaps by doing projects, advanced or supplementary courses in maths, physics or computer science. You should be keen to learn and to find out more about your subject.

Interested – but not quite sure yet whether this is the right course for you? Our self-assessment test can help you make up your mind. Take it here: HAW Navigator.

Higher education entrance qualification

You can apply directly for this course if you hold one of the following qualifications:

• Fachhochschulreife
• Allgemeine Hochschulreife  
• Fachgebundene Hochschulreife (subject-specific HE entrance qualification)
• Meister*in (vocational qualification – master tradesperson)
• Fachwirt*in (certified specialist)

Applicants who do not hold a higher education entrance qualification but have completed vocational training (Berufsausbildung) and at least three years of subsequent work experience can apply under Section 38 of the Hamburg Higher Education Act, which sets out special provisions for these applicants (Besonderer Hochschulzugang für Berufstätige).

Find out more at Applying for a Bachelor's degree course / Selection criteria.

Knowledge of the English language

Applicants must also demonstrate that their English skills are at the B1 level as set out in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (please see the Admissions Policy).

Pre-course experience

Students on this course are required to complete 13 weeks of pre-course experience. You don’t need to have completed it before you enrol, but you must have done so by the time you complete your second year of study. We strongly recommend that you fulfil this requirement before you begin the degree course.

International applicants

If you completed your schooling outside Germany and want to study here for a Bachelor’s degree, you need to hold an academic school-leaving qualification which entitles you to admission to higher education; that is, it needs to be comparable to a German Abitur or Fachhochschulreife. The organisation uni assist will check your certificates from school and any degree-level studies to establish comparability. You are also required to have proof of German at level C1 – for example, in the form of a TestDaF certificate. You can find more information about HAW Hamburg’s application criteria at International applicants.