Engineering Sciences Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences

The field of engineering is multifaceted and characterised by a broad range of specialised disciplines. In an increasingly interconnected, technologically dynamic, and globalised world, engineers require not only sound technical knowledge but also interdisciplinary skills such as communication, interdisciplinary thinking, teamwork, and project management. The ability to adapt to new challenges and engage in lifelong learning is essential for successfully working in diverse engineering fields.

The Bachelor's degree programme Engineering Sciences (BSc) addresses these demands by providing students with a broad and flexible engineering education. It combines a comprehensive foundation in engineering sciences with opportunities for individual specialisation and hands-on, practice-oriented learning, equipping graduates with the technical, methodological, and problem-solving skills required for a successful engineering career.

The programme welcomes students from diverse educational backgrounds and is designed to meet the needs of international students as well as students seeking an internationally oriented STEM education. The eight-semester programme includes an introductory year that provides students with essential technical, methodological, communication, and language skills before they specialise in one of seven engineering disciplines:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechatronics
• Automotive Engineering
• Sustainable Materials Technology and Product Development
• Energy, Environmental and Process Engineering
• Dental Technology

During the specialisation phase, students develop their individual profile within their chosen field through specialised coursework, integrated practical training, applied projects, and application-oriented teaching.

The eight-semester Bachelor’s programme Engineering Sciences begins with a one-year introductory phase that prepares students for their subsequent choice of one of seven engineering fields of study. During the first two semesters, students acquire fundamental knowledge in mathematics and engineering sciences while developing academic, language, and interdisciplinary skills through practice-oriented learning formats. At the end of the introductory phase, students select a specific field of study in which they will specialise during the remaining six semesters of the programme.

During the first year of study, all students complete a common programme of modules that provides a shared foundation for their further studies. The common programme includes modules in mathematics, engineering applications, and an introduction to engineering fields and areas of study as well as transferable and personal skills. In addition, students follow one of two study pathways tailored to their different educational and linguistic backgrounds:

• Pathway A: Students with German language proficiency below CEFR level C1 complete German as a Foreign Language courses amounting to 25 ECTS credits during the first year of study. The intensive language training prepares students to reach C1 German proficiency by the end of the second semester. In the second year of study, students complete an additional module in technical German language worth 5 ECTS credits.
• Pathway B: Students with German language proficiency at or above CEFR level C1 who wish to strengthen their international competencies complete an International Management module and an elective area including foreign language modules and Future Skills courses, together amounting to 15 ECTS credits. In addition, students complete an interdisciplinary project-based engineering training across two semesters (10 ECTS credits).

Following the introductory phase, students choose one of the following specific fields of study:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Automotive Engineering
• Mechatronics
• Sustainable Materials Technology and Product Development
• Energy, Environmental and Process Engineering
• Dental Technology

From the third semester onwards, students follow the curriculum of their chosen engineering field alongside students enrolled in the respective degree programme. Specialised courses, laboratory work, and application-oriented projects deepen their technical expertise and professional skills.

An optional study period abroad, a Bachelor’s thesis, and an accompanying colloquium complete the programme. Throughout their studies, students receive academic guidance and support services that promote academic success, integration into the university environment, and successful completion of their degree.

The Bachelor’s programme Engineering Sciences includes an integrated practical phase at the end of the first year, providing students with the opportunity to gain early hands-on experience in an engineering environment. During this phase, students become familiar with professional structures, work processes, and real-world technical challenges while applying and further developing their knowledge in practice.

Applicants with German educational qualifications: 15 July

Applicants with international educational qualifications: 15 June

Applicants are required to hold a recognised school leaving certificate qualifying them for university admission. In addition, German language proficiency at a minimum level of B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is required.

Approx. 440 EUR per semester

(includes e.g. a semester ticket for free public transport in Germany, reduced fees for cultural venues in Osnabrück, and a discount on meals in our student canteens)

Legally, you must prove that you have 992 EUR at your disposal per month. This amount can differ from the actual cost of living. In Osnabrück, you will need an estimated 850 to 1,000 EUR per month. Mostly, this depends on how much you will need to spend on housing.

Here's an overview:

• housing: 300 to 450 EUR
• student health insurance: 140 EUR
• savings for the semester fee: 60 EUR
• food (including meals at the student restaurant): 200 EUR
• study materials: 30 to 50 EUR
• public transport: included in your semester fee
• leisure time activities: 70 EUR
• TV fee (mandatory in Germany): 18 EUR

We offer student assistant jobs at the university. You can also find jobs through our database (PRAXIKO), where local employers look for student workers and interns.

If you speak German well enough, there are many job opportunities in Osnabrück in bakeries, supermarkets, industry, restaurants, etc.

For international degree-seeking students, the university also has a career service that assists you with application checks, contacts to companies and more. Mrs Laetitia Godineau will answer your questions around finding a job during your studies as well as about making the transition into the job market after graduation.

Important: If you need to work to support yourself, you should start looking for a student job as early as possible.

We offer around 200 Germany Scholarships to our students annually.

International students are also eligible for this type of financial support and can receive 300 EUR per month for one year.

Applications are accepted during the first two weeks of May, and prospective students are invited to apply as well.

If you are planning to apply for both our study programme and a Germany Scholarship, please send an e-mail to international@hs-osnabrueck.de for support if needed.

Our Career Service for international degree-seeking students provides you with support by offering the following:

• application checks
• workshops to advance student employability
• job shadowing for international students
• meet regional employers: events at the university and excursions to SMEs in and around Osnabrück and Lingen
• PRAXIKO job database

In addition, you can also make an appointment for individual counselling in which we will support you in finding a career that suits your area of expertise and your personal situation.

There's no doubt that finding accommodation is a challenge. The best place to start is the Studierendenwerk Osnabrück. They have shared apartments, one- or two-room apartments, and flats for families, with prices ranging from 290 to 900 EUR.

Important: Apply for accommodation as soon as you apply for a place on a programme, as you don't have to submit the university's letter of admission at the beginning of the application process. This is the best advice we can give you, and it has worked for many others.

Need more advice? Just contact the Center for International Students at international@hs-osnabrueck.de.

Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences is the largest university of applied sciences in Lower Saxony. We offer more than 100 accredited Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes that enable you to build your future and adapt your education to your needs.

Our students are very satisfied with us, as shown by our top positions in the national rankings of CHE and studycheck.de.

Our wide range of courses includes Bachelor's, Master's and continuing education programmes, from engineering, agriculture, economics and social sciences to courses such as theatre pedagogy, which are unique in Germany.  Our degree programmes provide both theoretical and project-based learning opportunities, enabling you to develop the skills that employers seek.

Our professors bring personal experience from national and international companies, preparing you specifically for your career. And if you are interested in pursuing an academic career later on, that is also possible.

At the same time, the university is a place for networking and socialising. We are closely linked to our local communities in Osnabrück and Lingen and encourage our students to look around and exchange ideas across national borders. Every study programme offers the opportunity to study abroad and we foster close relationships with more than 200 partner universities worldwide.

Osnabrück is a city in Northwestern Germany and easy to reach by plane, train, or car. Nearby cities that you can easily visit by train or car include Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin and Düsseldorf. You can also reach Amsterdam in the Netherlands within three hours by train.

Our university spreads across four campuses with their own faculties. The three campuses in Osnabrück are Westerberg, Caprivi and Haste. The fourth campus is in Lingen, about 70 kilometres West of Osnabrück.

Each campus has its own special character:

• The Westerberg campus: modern buildings such as the SL lecture theatre building, also affectionately known as the “Frog”.
• The Caprivi Campus: You'll find a lovely mix of sand-coloured barracks buildings, an underground lecture hall complex and the "Plektrum", an innovative building tailored to the needs of the Institute of Music and its students.
• The Haste campus is also known as the “green campus”. Not only is it home to study programmes in the field of landscape, food production and agriculture, but you can also enjoy a walk through its park-like grounds with its flower and plant-filled perennial garden.
• The campus in Lingen is located in a former railway repair plant. Many students there call it "the most beautiful campus in the world" – you'll have to find out for yourself whether this is really the case!

The cities of Osnabrück and Lingen offer a personal, safe, and affordable environment in which you can feel comfortable quickly. Everything you need is close by, so you can easily reach your favourite restaurant, the theatre, or the nearest student party on foot or by bike. There's plenty of nature inside and outside the city for you to enjoy, and our visitors tell us that the people here are quite relaxed and friendly! And if you just have to get out and about, you can use public transport in Germany with the Campus Card for free and take a spontaneous trip, e.g. to Hamburg, Hannover or Bremen.