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Deutsch Who this M.Eng. suits – and what you need to get in
This part-time Master in Electrical Engineering is designed for working engineers who want to deepen their expertise while staying employed. Typical candidates include: full-time electrical or energy engineers seeking advancement into technical leadership; mechatronics or medical engineering graduates who want to pivot into automation or embedded systems; lighting engineers aiming to formalise experience with an academic specialisation in illumination. Because teaching is in German and on-site classes run every second Saturday in Hagen (NRW), you should either live within travel distance in Germany or be willing to commute regularly.
Admission requirements
To qualify, you need a relevant first degree and the ability to follow German-language, on-site teaching. In detail:
- First degree: Bachelor or Diplom in Electrical Engineering or a comparable field (e.g. Mechatronics, Energy Engineering, Medical Engineering).
- Credit scope: with 180 ECTS you enter the 6-semester track (120 ECTS Master). With 210 ECTS you enter the 5-semester track (90 ECTS Master).
- Language of instruction: German. You need advanced academic German (typically C1 level) for lectures, assignments and exams; formal proof of proficiency is required under the university’s regulations.
- On-site attendance: classes are scheduled every second Saturday (approx. 09:00–16:30) in Hagen. Regular participation is mandatory or strongly recommended.
- Foreign qualifications: international degrees are admissible if they are equivalent in level, content and credits to the required German Bachelor/Diplom. Expect to submit official transcripts, Diploma Supplement (if available) and certified translations; the university decides on equivalence and placement (5- vs. 6-semester route).
- Admission without Abitur: an Abitur is not required for the Master. Eligibility is based on a completed, relevant first degree; professional experience is welcome but not formally listed as a substitute for a first degree.
Intakes are possible in summer and winter. Tuition and semester contributions apply; budget separately for travel to on-site sessions.
Personal requirements
Plan for about 15 hours per week of self-study during the semester, plus biweekly full Saturdays on campus. You will succeed if you are disciplined in time management, can sustain steady progress over several semesters, and communicate proactively with lecturers when you fall behind. Solid fundamentals in mathematics, signals and systems will help in modules like System Theory and Digital Signal Processing. For the 6-semester route, employer support is advantageous because the integrated practice project is typically completed within your job role. Finally, ensure your German is strong enough to read technical materials, write reports and participate in exams; even with prior industry experience, language gaps quickly become a bottleneck in an engineering Master.
What will you study in the Electrical Engineering M.Eng. at the Institute for Collaborative Studies?
The programme is taught in German. To participate, you need advanced German skills; universities typically expect proof at about C1 level (for example DSH, TestDaF or a Goethe-Zertifikat). Academically, you build applied engineering depth: systems and mathematics, core electrical and information engineering, and leadership and quality methods, plus an applied thesis.
This is a berufsbegleitendes Verbundstudium – a blended model combining independent study with regular on-site Saturdays. In Germany, a Fernstudium means distance learning; here it is combined with classroom days. The degree is awarded by a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences), focusing on practical application.
Systems, maths and signals: You strengthen mathematically oriented system thinking and analysis. Typical modules include Higher Mathematics, System Theory and Digital Signal Processing.
Embedded, mechatronics and communications: You deepen design and implementation skills for complex systems through Embedded Systems, Mechatronic Systems and Communication Systems. Sensor Technology ties measurement and control to real-world applications.
Engineering tools and management: You apply Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) and tackle organisational topics through Quality Management and Leadership. These build the decision-making and process skills expected in technical lead roles.
Electives and profiling: You shape your profile via elective blocks from Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or Lighting Technology. In addition, the programme offers study directions such as Automation and Lighting to align with your job context.
Practice project, thesis and colloquium: In the six-semester route, a supervised practice project (usually with your employer) and a seminar are included before the Master’s thesis. Both routes conclude with a written thesis and a defence (colloquium) – typically with an industry-relevant topic.
How does the Electrical Engineering distance programme work?
This is a part-time blended distance programme: you study from home with structured materials and attend on-site sessions in Hagen, Germany roughly every second Saturday. Two standard durations exist: 5 semesters (90 ECTS) or 6 semesters (120 ECTS). Because of the mandatory on-site days, this is not a fully remote course.
Teaching language and language certificates
Teaching is in German. You should be fluent in academic German; the university will require proof of language proficiency for non-native speakers. Commonly accepted certificates in Germany include DSH, TestDaF or a Goethe-Zertifikat, typically at C1 level.
Learning format and study materials
You receive complete study units at the start of each semester for structured self-study. Expect around 15 hours per week. Classroom components consolidate learning through lectures, exercises and practical tasks aligned with the self-study materials.
Exams and where you take them
Exams include written tests, oral exams and written assignments. The final phase comprises the Master’s thesis and a colloquium. Examinations and teaching activities are organised on site; no online proctoring or international exam centres are advertised. Plan to sit assessments in Germany.
Mandatory on-site sessions in Germany
On-site sessions take place about every second Saturday during the semester, usually 09:00–16:30 (CET/CEST). Attendance is generally compulsory or strongly recommended. If you live outside Germany, you must be able to travel to Hagen on these dates.
Weekly workload, time models and time zones
Choose between two time models tied to your entry qualification: 6 semesters (120 ECTS) with an integrated practice project and seminar, or 5 semesters (90 ECTS) without them. Live activities run in the German time zone (CET/CEST). A purely remote programme requires no visa; here, regular in-person Saturdays mean you may need to clarify visa/residence requirements for study-related travel.
What does the Electrical Engineering programme cost?
Budget for a modest programme fee per semester plus the usual university enrolment and re-registration contributions. The specific programme fee is currently €95.76 per semester (5-semester route) or €79.80 per semester (6-semester route). Over the standard duration, this adds up to roughly €1,105 in total for programme-related fees.
The university also charges regular semester contributions (administrative and student services), which are separate and payable each semester; the exact amounts change periodically. Fees are typically invoiced per semester. International payments are possible via standard bank transfer; check any foreign transfer costs with your bank. There are no monthly instalments by default, as billing is semester-based.
The 6-semester option includes an integrated practice project; the 5-semester option does not. Both routes culminate in the Master’s thesis and colloquium without additional thesis tuition beyond the standard semester fees.
What careers and recognition does the Electrical Engineering programme offer?
You earn a Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) from a public German University of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschule). The programme follows the Bologna framework with ECTS credits (90 ECTS in 5 semesters or 120 ECTS in 6 semesters). As a second-cycle degree, it is widely comparable internationally for further study and professional mobility.
In Germany, the Master grants access to higher civil service and may enable entry to doctoral studies, subject to institutional requirements. Internationally, employers recognise the practice-oriented profile of a Fachhochschule degree; it signals readiness to apply current engineering methods in industry.
Typical roles after graduation include:
- Systems and product development engineer in automotive, electronics or mechatronics
- Signal processing, communications or embedded systems engineer
- Technical project lead or engineering team lead, including quality and process roles
- Lighting technology specialist or building systems engineer
- Application engineering or technical sales for complex B2B products
Salaries vary strongly by country, sector, and prior experience. In German-speaking markets, experienced M.Eng. graduates in electrical engineering often progress into mid-level leadership with corresponding salary steps; internationally, the degree is read as a Master-level engineering qualification aligned with industry practice.
Who is the Electrical Engineering programme right for - and who not?
This programme suits working engineers who want to deepen applied expertise without pausing their career. The blended model supports continuous learning while you apply new methods directly in your job.
- Professionals in electrical engineering, energy engineering or mechatronics seeking an industry-focused Master’s
- People who value structured self-study plus regular classroom consolidation
- Those able to attend bi-weekly Saturday sessions in Hagen (NRW)
- Engineers aiming for leadership responsibilities through modules in quality management and people management
- Candidates looking to profile in Automation or Lighting while keeping broad electrical and information engineering coverage
There are also clear exclusion points. Read these carefully if you plan to study from abroad or in English.
- You need a fully online, 100% remote Master’s with online exams; this programme has mandatory on-site Saturdays in Germany
- You do not speak German at an advanced (C1) level and cannot provide proof of proficiency
- You cannot travel to Hagen every second Saturday during the semesters (09:00–16:30 CET/CEST)
- You are seeking a research-only, theory-heavy Master; this is a practice-oriented Fachhochschule degree focused on industrial application
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