MEng Automotive Systems Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences

Program Overview

The Bachelor's in Automotive Systems Engineering at Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences is a hands-on, international program that dives into how mechanical and electronic components work together to create today's smart vehicles, perfect for students passionate about cars, innovation, and engineering who want real-world skills from day one. You'll build a strong foundation in engineering basics while getting an overview of automotive systems, all taught in English during the first year to welcome global talent, setting you up for exciting careers in a booming industry that's short on experts like you.

Curriculum Structure
Foundation Course (Years 1-2):
Right from the start, you'll gain essential engineering fundamentals alongside specialized Automotive Systems Engineering knowledge, like how vehicles integrate mechanics and electronics for optimal performance. Practical lab exercises bring it all to life, and a compulsory German language course helps you thrive in Germany's automotive hub, building confidence for industry interactions early on.

Main Study Programme (Year 2-3):
Here, you'll expand on those basics with in-depth automotive topics, applying what you've learned through hands-on lab work that mirrors real engineering challenges. A full practical semester in an industry company lets you tackle everyday tasks independently, gaining invaluable experience that employers love, before diving deeper into subject-specific skills.

Specialisation Programme (Year 3):
In your final year, choose from six key focus areas to tailor your studies to emerging trends, like Automotive Software (covering Embedded Systems im Kfz, Modellbasierte Softwareentwicklung, and Projektlabor elektronische Systeme) or International Aspects (with electives from partner universities abroad). You'll wrap up with a Bachelor's thesis—planning and executing a real project at the university or with a company—plus management and soft skills to make you a standout professional.

Focus areas: Pick from six dynamic specializations in year 3, including Automotive Software (embedded systems, model-based development, electronic project labs), Mechanical Systems, Electronic Systems, or International Aspects (study abroad credits), letting you align with trends like autonomous driving and electric mobility.

Learning outcomes: You'll master the big-picture integration of vehicle components, from design and simulation to testing in labs and industry projects, emerging with skills in automated systems, software-defined vehicles, and teamwork on real industry tasks—ready to innovate in mechanics, electronics, and informatics.

Professional alignment (accreditation): This accredited B.Eng. program aligns directly with Germany's automotive giants' needs, blending engineering fundamentals with practical training and a mandatory industry internship for seamless entry into roles solving cutting-edge problems like intelligent systems and electric drives.

Reputation (employability rankings): Graduates enjoy excellent prospects—one of Germany's few programs with this sharp systems focus—thanks to strong industry ties, practical projects (like RC car autonomous driving labs), and Heilbronn's engineering faculty producing tomorrow's experts amid surging demand for automotive systems pros.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

In the Bachelor's programme in Automotive Systems Engineering at Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences, you'll dive straight into hands-on learning from day one, building real-world skills in vehicle mechanics, electronics, and systems integration through practical exercises right in our state-of-the-art labs. You'll work on actual industry-inspired tasks, like developing chassis systems, testing electric drives, and programming autonomous features, all while using cutting-edge tools that mirror what top automotive companies demand. This isn't just theory—it's where you apply knowledge in small-team projects, a mandatory practical semester in industry, and specialized labs that prepare you for a thriving career in automotive innovation.

Here's how our experiential learning sets you up for success, with program-specific facilities and opportunities tailored to Automotive Systems Engineering:

- Laboratories for electric mobility and propulsion: Test complete traction drives and components under realistic conditions in the Prüfstand für elektrifizierte Antriebe at TechCampus, plus hands-on experiments in the Labor für Kolbenmaschinen on sustainable engines and energy conversion.
- AI and automated driving lab: Develop autonomous test vehicles (like a converted VW Passat), work on perception systems with computer vision, deep neural networks, reinforcement learning, and scale-model racing tracks for multiplayer robot cars.
- RC model car projects and chassis dynamometer: Build and test 1:5 scale vehicles with sensors (Correvit, differential GPS RTK, SensorCluster), ABS, EPS, torque vectoring, and a custom dynamometer for load simulations—perfect for group projects on chassis dynamics and measurement data.
- Project work in small teams: Tackle real industry tasks (constructive, experimental, or theoretical) in modules like Projektlabor elektronische Systeme, collaborating just like in professional R&D.
- Mandatory practical semester: Spend time in an industrial company applying your skills to everyday engineering challenges, building your network and resume.
- Specialized software and digital tools: Use MATLAB/Simulink for simulations, ROS2, C++, Python, Raspberry Pi programming; plus flow sim tools like StarCCM+, ANSYS CFD, OpenFOAM, and COMSOL Multiphysics via bwUniCluster2 high-performance computing.
- Research-designated facilities and institutes: Access the Institute for Automotive Engineering and Mechatronics (IKM), Otto-Rettenmaier-Forschungslabor (Industry 4.0 robotics/automation), Labor für Technische Optik (sensor tech, radar, machine learning), and Center for Forming Technology for automotive body components.

Progression & Future Opportunities

In the Bachelor's programme in Automotive Systems Engineering at Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences, you'll dive straight into hands-on learning from day one, building real-world skills through practical exercises in dedicated labs and industry-linked projects that mirror actual automotive challenges. You'll get to apply what you learn right away in a mandatory practical semester at a company, tackling everyday engineering tasks, and wrap up with a Bachelor's thesis you can do on campus or with industry partners. This setup ensures you're not just studying theory—you're engineering solutions for tomorrow's vehicles, like intelligent systems and electric drives, in small teams just like industry pros.

Here's what makes our experiential learning stand out, tailored to this programme:
- Laboratories for electric mobility and propulsion: Test real electric drives and components under realistic conditions at the Prüfstand für elektrifizierte Antriebe, plus hands-on experiments in the Labor für Kolbenmaschinen on motor energy processes and sustainable systems.
- Project work in small teams: Collaborate on industry-specific tasks—constructive, experimental, or theoretical—in modules like the electronic systems project lab, where you design and test control units in actual lab vehicles.
- Mandatory practical semester: Spend a full semester working independently on real company projects, gaining direct industry experience before specializing.
- Specialized research labs and centers: Use facilities like the Zentrum für Umformtechnik und Karosseriebau for forming technology projects, Werkstoffzentrum for material testing in automotive contexts, and Labor für Technische Optik for sensor tech and machine learning on vehicle data.
- Industry 4.0 and robotics lab: Experiment in the Otto-Rettenmaier-Forschungslabor with cutting-edge robotics, automation, and digital tools for smart manufacturing.
- Specific software and digital tools: Master tools like Matlab/Simulink and C++ for model-based software development, plus simulation software such as StarCCM+, ANSYS CFD, GeoDict, OpenFOAM, and COMSOL Multiphysics via the bwUniCluster2 high-performance computing infrastructure.
- Electives and specializations: In your third year, choose from 6 key areas like automotive software (including embedded systems and safety systems) with flexible cross-faculty options, including management and soft skills.