Internships
Practical work experience (industrial internship) lasting 6 weeks is generally a prerequisite for admission to the Bachelor's degree programme. Further details on the work placement are set out in the work placement regulations. The internship must cover at least three of the following areas of work, each lasting at least two weeks:
Bachelor's degree programme
Students on the Bachelor's degree programme in Industrial Engineering and Management with a specialisation in Mechanical Engineering must provide evidence of an internship in at least three of the following areas of work, each lasting a minimum of one to a maximum of four weeks:
1. machining production processes: e.g. sawing, filing, drilling, thread cutting, turning, planing, milling, grinding, ...
2. forming manufacturing processes: e.g. cold forming, bending, straightening, pressing, rolling, drawing, cutting, punching, riveting, forging, ...
3. primary forming manufacturing processes: e.g. casting, sintering, plastic injection moulding, ...
4. joining and separating processes: e.g. soldering, welding, flame cutting, gluing, ...
5. manufacturing, testing, measuring and assembly procedures as well as quality assurance procedures in the production process
Students on the Industrial Engineering and Management degree programme specialising in Electrical Engineering must provide evidence of a pre-study work placement in areas of activity 6 and 7, as well as in one of the above-mentioned 5 areas of activity, in each case in a partial scope of at least one to a maximum of four weeks per area of activity.
Master's programme
Students commencing their Master's degree from the 2018/2019 winter semester must complete a 10-week compulsory internship, which is credited with 10 credit points in the degree programme (ungraded).
The aim of the internship is to provide students with exemplary knowledge of the processes of operational practice and to give them an insight into the organisation and working methods of industrial production. An important aspect of the work placement is also to understand the social environment of the company. Students should understand the company in which they work as a social structure, familiarise themselves in particular with the relationship between managers and employees and expand their social skills.
The internship should be completed during the lecture-free period of the Master's programme. Proof of the complete internship must be provided and recognised by the Internship Office before registering for the Master's thesis. The content of the internship and the student work to be completed in the Master's programme (student research project, Master's thesis) must be different. When submitting the internship report, the student must submit a signed declaration stating that there are no thematic overlaps with the student research project or Master's thesis.
The internship is characterised by: Integration of the intern into the working environment of engineers or appropriately qualified persons with a predominantly developing, planning or directing activity character. Further information on internships can be found on the website of the Internship Office.
Recommendations and further information
We recommend completing part of your internship abroad in order to be prepared for future requirements in global, international markets. The International Office can provide information on financial support for an internship abroad.
The prescribed periods of the industrial placement are to be regarded as a minimum. It is recommended that students undertake further internships on a voluntary basis.
A work placement certificate issued by the company in which the work placement was carried out, stating the nature and duration of the work, must be submitted for recognition. Furthermore, the intern must prepare work reports on the activities carried out during the internship.
The work reports should be a minimum of two to a maximum of three A4 pages (including pictures/illustrations) per week. The internship will be recognised by the internship coordinator of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering or the internship coordinator of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Electrical Science, Electrical Engineering and Mathematics.
As a rule, completed training in the field of Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering is also recognised for the internship.