Industrial Engineering
Industrial Engineering (B.Sc.)
Industrial engineers combine technical knowledge with economic understanding. They are generalists and bridge builders between engineers and economists. As experts in electrical engineering, exciting career opportunities open up in the field of information technology and electrical power engineering. From energy management to network planning in the mobile communications sector – as an industrial engineer with this major, a wide range of fields of activity are open to you. Become part of a dynamic industry and help shape the future!
- Degree
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
- Duration of studies in semester
- 6
- Start of degree program
- Winter semester
- Study location
- Erlangen, Nuremberg
- Number of students
- 150-250
- Subject group
- Engineering sciences, Economic Sciences, Law
- Special ways to study
- 1-subject Bachelor, Cooperative Bachelor’s degree program
- Teaching language
- completely in German
- Admission Requirements
- No Admissions Restrictions - pre-study placement
What is the degree program about?
Industrial engineers combine technical expertise and economic judgment. They have to understand the work of the production planner and the designer as well as that of the buyer or controller. And they have to make decisions that do not cause heads to shake in the technical departments of companies and in business administration staff units, regardless of whether they later work in the automotive industry, the textile industry or in the media. Industrial engineers are generalists and bridge builders between the worlds of engineers and economists, natural and social scientists.
The curriculum of the Electrical Engineering (ET) major at the Department EEI is divided into two areas of specialization: Information Technology and Electrical Power Engineering. While Electrical Power Engineering deals primarily with the generation and use of electrical energy as well as its conversion and distribution, for example in high-voltage interconnected networks, Information Engineering teaches the fundamentals of digital transmission methods, video coding and transmission, audio signal processing and communication electronics. Typical job descriptions for industrial engineers with this field of study are research and development management, technical marketing, energy management, management consulting and innovation management or network planning in the mobile communications sector.
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The Bachelor’s degree program in industrial engineering at FAU consists of almost equal parts of a basic education in engineering and an education in business administration/management. Industrial engineers are thus bridge builders between the worlds of engineers and economists, natural and social scientists. In the field of engineering, students can choose between the two fields of study „Mechanical Engineering“ (MB) and „Electrical Engineering“ (ET). Within the field of study „Electrical Engineering“, students can specialize in „Information Technology“ and „Electrical Power Engineering“.
The degree program consists of compulsory, elective, specialization and elective modules and includes a total of 12 weeks of practical work experience (including the 6 weeks required for enrollment), a university internship, as well as a bachelor’s thesis lasting approximately 10 weeks, which must be completed during the course of study.
The standard period of study is six semesters. The number of points required for successful completion – the organization of studies and examinations is based on the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System – is 180 ECTS points in the Bachelor’s degree program.
The degree program is divided into modules, which are assessed with ECTS points. A module is a teaching and learning unit that is continuous and self-contained. The modules conclude with a module examination during the course of study. ECTS points are only awarded for successful participation in modules, which is determined on the basis of independent, definable performance in a module examination. The exact examination regulations can be found in the study and examination regulations.
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The bachelor’s program is divided into a foundation and orientation phase of two semesters and a bachelor’s phase of four semesters.
Basic and orientation phase 1st-2nd semester:
- In the first two semesters, competencies are acquired in basic subjects, here in particular „Mathematics“, „Business Administration for Engineers“, „Data Science: Machine Learning & Data Driven Business“, „Accounting“ and „Sales“.
- In the electrical engineering field of study, the modules „Introduction to Information and Communication Technology“, „Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering“, „Fundamentals of Computer Science“, „Electronics and Circuit Technology“ and the practical course „Software for Mathematics“ must be taken.
- By the end of the second semester, a Fundamentals and Orientation Examination (GOP) must be completed. The GOP comprises the modules „Mathematics for WING 1“, „Business Administration for Engineers“ and „Paragraph“.
- In addition, depending on the field of study, there are „Statics and Strength of Materials“ and „Materials Science“ for MB or „Introduction to Information and Communication Technology“ and „Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering“ for ET.
Bachelor phase 3rd-6th semester:
- In the bachelor phase, in addition to the basics in mathematics, the fundamentals of economics are supplemented by the modules „Production/Logistics/Procurement“, „Macroeconomics“, „Microeconomics“ and „Business Law“. Likewise, two elective modules and one in-depth module group are to be selected in the economic science area. On the engineering side, knowledge of technical mechanics is expanded in the MB field of study (dynamics), and design training is completed by the fundamentals of product development with design exercises. Likewise, knowledge is acquired in „Production Engineering 1+2“, „Fundamentals of Computer Science“ and „Data Science: Data Evaluation and Statistics“.
- In the electrical engineering field of study, a practical course in „Circuit Technology“ supplements the practical training. In addition, knowledge in „Signals and Systems“ is imparted. In the engineering field, two elective modules must also be selected from extensive catalogs. Technical and general elective modules are to be added in the amount of 5 ECTS each. The choice of specialization is also made in this phase. In Electrical Power Engineering, „Power and Drive Engineering“, „Control Engineering A“ and „Power Electronics“ must then be selected. In the specialization area „Information Technology“, „Signals and Systems II“, „Digital Signal Processing“ and „Communications Engineering Systems“ are taken.
- In the 6th semester, the bachelor thesis is to be written under the supervision of a lecturer of the selected elective or specialization modules.
Short overview of the study structure with the major in Electrical Engineering
- 1st -2nd semester: Mathematics for WING 1 and 2, Introduction to Information and Communication Technology, Fundamentals of Computer Science, Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering, Practical Software for Mathematics, Electronics and Circuit Technology, Business Administration for Engineers, Data Science: Machine Learning & Data Driven Business, Sales and Accounting.
- 3rd – 4th semester: Mathematics for WING 3, practical course in circuit technology, signals and systems I, statistics, production, logistics and procurement, macroeconomics and microeconomics, as well as elective and compulsory elective modules.
- 5th – 6th semester: Business Law, further compulsory elective modules and elective modules, practical work experience and Bachelor’s thesis.
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- In addition to an interest in technology and a solid basic knowledge of mathematics, curiosity about how economic processes are run and controlled is also important for a successful start to your WING studies. You should also have no fear of contact with school physics, especially mechanics.
- You are interested in understanding how technical products work and also want to know how they can be manufactured in an industrial sense. You are also interested in how these products can be manufactured and marketed as efficiently as possible.
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Industrial engineers can be found in almost all areas of the economy. They often replace business economists or engineers in fields of activity in which relatively specialized business or technical knowledge is required. The majority of industrial engineers work in the manufacturing industry. The field of management consulting is also highly relevant. Industrial engineers are characterized by their ability to deal with both technical problems and aspects of management.
Career opportunities arise in the following areas
- Production, materials management, logistics,
- technical marketing and sales, purchasing, manufacturing and management in large-scale industry,
- automotive engineering, electromobility
- controlling, consulting or
- Finance and investment.
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- Mathematics pre-course (Repetitorium): During the eight-day repetitorium before the start of the semester, the subject matter required in the first semesters of mathematics is repeated in a lecture, prepared and practiced in a tutorial in small working groups under supervision. Registration is necessary for the repetitorium! You can find more information at https://www.tf.fau.de/studium/veranstaltungen-fuer-studierende/vorkurse-repetitorien-und-begleitangebote/#MatheRep
- Before you start your studies, you have to do an internship of at least 6 weeks, the content of which should be either technical or business related. The internship office MB/WING has a list of companies that have already employed interns in the past to help you find an internship.
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- Admission requirements (first semester)
- No Admissions Restrictions - pre-study placement
- Admission requirements (higher semester)
- No Admissions Restrictions - pre-study placement
- Application deadline winter semester
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30.09.
Language skills
- German language skills for international applicants
- DSH 2 or equivalent
- Details and notes
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The application deadline for the winter semester for international applicants is July 15th.
In addition to the general qualification for university entrance (Abitur), there are other access options for studying at FAU.
Do you need help or more information?
Our Student Advice and Career Service (IBZ) is the central point of contact for all questions about studying and starting a degree programme. Our Student Service Centres and subject advisors support you in planning your studies.