Mechanical Engineering
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Subjects & modules

Study modes

The course of studies is offered by the Rheinischen Fachhochschule Köln in FT (=Full time) and in CU (= Continuing Undergraduate) modes.

Leading on from the bachelor course, post-graduate studies can be undertaken, in particular the “Master of Engineering” course offered by the RFH Cologne.

6-semester course, day-time studies (FT = Full Time)

The nominal course duration for the full-time mode, including bachelor thesis, is six semesters. There are no fees per se for the internships. Internships are done before or between lecture periods in the semester.
Students enrolled in this government accredited course are generally entitled to BAföG.
Degree: Bachelor of Engineering / Mechanical Engineering


8-semester course, concurrent with employment (CU = Continuing Undergraduate)

The RFH has a long tradition of offering this type of study. It is aimed at people in employment, who wish to gain further qualifications without leaving their job. Being employed, however, is not a prerequisite. Many students use the available time through the day to earn money or take care of their families.

The nominal course duration, including bachelor thesis, is eight semesters for the CU-mode. There are no fees for the duration of internships. Internships are done before or between lecture periods in the semester.
Degree: Bachelor of Engineering / Mechanical Engineering


The course structure

The obligatory subjects
Mathematics and the natural sciences are indispensable. Not surprisingly, then, mathematics, engineering mechanics and materials technology are particularly strongly represented during your basic studies. If you have an aversion to these subjects, you should give some further consideration to your choice of studies. To brush up on your knowledge of mathematics, we offer you one-week bridging course prior to the commencement of studies. You should definitely keep this in mind.

The standard subjects
You gain broad insights into everything you need to know as a mechanical engineer. Catchwords, here, are engineering design and production technology as well as computer science in mechanical engineering - an integral part of modern mechanical engineering.

The complementary subjects
Expertise alone is not sufficient these days. Therefore, the above-mentioned range of topics is complemented with lectures such as business management, quality management and project management as well as a foreign language.

The electives
The RFH offers numerous attractive elective subjects - from other disciplines of engineering science, too – from which you have to choose three (with the possibility of enrolling in as many others as you like and having these listed in your academic record). You may combine some of these subjects into a major strand, which can also appear on your academic record. Currently we are offering the following major strands in mechanical engineering:

Practical applications
All lectures are complemented through laboratory tasks, project work or exercises, all in small groups, and all designed to put into practice the knowledge acquired in lectures and understand it better.

The 'treats'
We provide the opportunity for you to spend your fourth semester of the course studying abroad at one of our partner universities. In doing so, you can organise your studies in such a way that you avoid any loss of time. Furthermore, you can enrol in additional subjects from the extended list of electives on offer, which results in further qualifications that can also appear on your academic record. Examples are further foreign languages or negotiation/elocution.

The final thesis
Thorough practical relevance is only gained, if you compile your bachelor thesis in situ within an industrial firm by solving a real-life problem. We have organised the course in a way that leaves enough time for you to accomplish this, despite the demands of attending lectures.