The practice-oriented and industry-oriented teaching in mechanical engineering and automotive engineering is based on intensive personal contact between students and professors. Students are directly involved in the research and industrial projects, which allows them to see the benefit of what they have learnt and apply it in practice. The recognised in-depth training in the Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Engineering programmes provides students with a deep understanding of digital product development and manufacturing.

The department has partnerships with 25 universities in all parts of the world. Interested students can benefit early on from the advice of an internationally experienced professor regarding timetable, possible contents and funding opportunities of a period abroad. In addition to a pure study period and practicals, the international partnerships and research projects of the department also offer opportunities for short stays a broad to write final dissertations or earn academic credits.

The laboratories cater for the entire digital product development process: Components are developed in the "Computer Aided Design" courses, which are then manufactured in the "Computer Aided Manufacturing" laboratory using CNC 5-axis milling machines 3-D printing. There is a crash system with crash dummies, a wind tunnel and a modern test centre for engines and drives for vehicle engineers. CAE tools are used here for flow and crash simulation and for the optimisation of restraint systems. Students can download specialist e-books from the library free of charge.

Current research projects focus on crash safety of vehicle structures and seats, 3-D pressure, environmentally friendly drives, electric mobility (see proTRon student team), app-supported telematics systems (with the Toyota Institute) and as part of the Nürburgring Academy, interdisciplinary projects in biomechanics and accident research are currently underway. Projects on sub-areas of autonomous driving and virtual acoustics address current Bundeswehr issues. Students are involved in all projects.

The "Gründungsbüro" start-up service offers regular introductory courses on self-employment as well as further training courses, thus also providing students from other disciplines with the necessary knowledge to successfully start their own business. This has already enabled several successful student start-ups.

Students can in parallel train to become "specialists for occupational safety"and "fire protection officers". Dual degree programmes with numerous regional companies are on offer, which earn students an apprenticeship diploma and a bachelor's degree. Thanks to our own sports facilities and the gym on campus, the adjacent forest and the riverbank of the Moselle, as well as the academic sailing group, we very much focus on athletic pursuits.