The curricula are skill-based and geared toward a defined graduate profile. The lecturers see themselves as student guides in their learning process and integrate project-based and research-based learning in their courses. Activating teaching methods and additional virtual teaching and learning environments foster the exchange between teachers and students and students among themselves. The (partly interdisciplinary) projects integrated in the curriculum as well as the final theses are often carried out in cooperation with companies.

The degrees prepare students for an increasingly international working environment. There are different possibilities to gain experience abroad (semester abroad, internships abroad, etc.). The TH Cologne and the faculty have various international cooperation partners. Students benefit in teaching and research from the personal international contacts of the professors and instructors.

The faculty has 50 laboratories for practicals, project work, research and final theses. The Plant and Process Engineering Institute has a laboratory for process engineering and membrane processes, a laboratory for process control engineering and process automation, a laboratory for reaction engineering and process development, a laboratory for plant design and energy process engineering as well as a laboratory for water and wastewater engineering.

The professors teaching the degree course are very much involved in the research activities of the department. The wide range of research activities is closely linked to teaching. Students are involved in current issues from business and industry through project work. Student final theses can be written as part of ongoing research projects.

The Cologne University of Applied Sciences is a member of the Hochschulgründersetz Cologne e.V. founders’ network of (hgnc e.V.) and offers a variety of (network) events, workshops and competitions for students of the faculty. Various support associations help students in the form of company and graduate networking services. The TH Cologne also takes part in the nationwide "Gründerwoche Deutschland" campaign week.

The module structure and learning objectives of the degree courses were developed in the context of the graduate profile defined in curriculum workshops. The analysis of the professional fields by discipline-specific industries serves as a basis. The learning objectives and module contents are all aligned with one another and build on one another as the degree course advances. Ongoing assessment of integration of the courses across semesters ensures that skills are acquired.