Application-oriented degree course with balanced teaching of practical and theoretical skills; Extensive training in laboratories for the consolidation and application of learnt content; Project work/Bachelor’s thesis/Master’s thesis with predominantly industry-related tasks and practically oriented research projects; Strong emphasis on practical relevance and employability of graduates.

The department maintains contacts with more than 45 partner universities worldwide. This gives students a wide range of opportunities to gain international experience and make contacts during a semester abroad. Some professors teach in partner universities all over the world. There are also international guest lecturers and numerous incomings to enrich the students in the department.

Modern labs with a wide range, e.g. combustion engines with multiple engine test benches, Automotive Measurement Technology, Turbo Engines, Cooler Test Bench, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Machine Tools, Metal Working (Forming Analysis), Newly Equipped Materials Engineering laboratory for the examination and analysis of metallic materials, Robotics, Automation, Control Engineering, CAD, FEM, CFD, Modal Analysis, Rapid Prototyping. Very well-equipped mechanical workshop. In recent years, about half a million euros has been invested in the ongoing modernisation of the laboratories and workshop.

Research on application-related topics, e.g. component optimisation, development of robot kinematics for high-speed applications, etc.; Research projects through the Central Innovation Programme for SMEs (ZIM) and research projects of the Institute of Automotive Engineering and Mechatronics; Participation in technology transfer in cooperation with the Steinbeis Foundation.

The Master´s degree programme in Mechanical Engineering has had a focus on entrepreneurship since winter semester 2021/22. In addition, the start-up centre STARTKLAR offers courses and workshops on the topic of start-up and assists students with general start-up questions.

Since 2014, students in the department have participated in the Formula Student competition, in which various teams of students compete in international competitions with racing cars they have designed, constructed and built themselves.