Mobility Systems Dresden University of Technology

Planning transportation systems of the future – data-driven and sustainable: The programme provides in-depth knowledge on collecting and analysing data on mobility behaviour. The programme models the mobility behaviour of transportation users and examines its impact on society, the economy, and the environment. In addition, methods of mobility planning are taught, with a particular focus on environmentally friendly and innovative mobility options.

The research-oriented programme covers general engineering methods as well as content and skills in the planning of mobility and transport systems, the design of roads, paths, and railway infrastructure, public transport, strategic mobility planning, data analysis and modelling of transport systems, the operation and management of transport systems, traffic psychology, traffic ecology, scientific work, and project management in the transport sector.

Study contents

The programme begins with five compulsory modules on strategic mobility and transport planning, transport psychology and sustainability, local public transport, road infrastructure, and data analysis in transport. Students can then choose from 11 elective modules to explore these and other topics in greater depth. There are over 30 modules available on mobility and transport systems for road, rail, and air transport, geoinformatics, transport economics, civil engineering, and intelligent transport systems. A research project teaches students how to systematically and scientifically examine a current topic in transport research. A professional internship can be optionally incorporated into the programme. The programme ends in the fourth semester with a Master's thesis on a research-related topic from the field of transportation.

Internship during studies

A voluntary internship (lasting at least eight weeks) can be completed instead of elective modules.

• For international applicants:
  • non-EU applicants: 1 April to 31 May
  • EU applicants: 1 April to 15 July
• for German applicants and educational residents:
  • for aptitude assessment procedures: 1 June to 15 July
  • for the degree programme: 1 June to 15 September

Admission requirements

• The prerequisite for admission to the programme is a first university degree recognised in Germany that qualifies the holder for professional practice, or a degree from a state or state-recognised vocational academy in a field related to transportation science, in particular the fields of transportation engineering, transportation economics, or mobility and transportation systems, or a degree in civil engineering, environmental engineering, or industrial engineering, or another university degree with comparable prior knowledge.
• Applicants who do not hold a university degree from a university in the European Union or the European Economic Area must also provide proof of a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of at least 162 points in quantitative reasoning and at least 151 points in verbal reasoning. The certificate must not be more than five years old. The deadline is the last possible day for application.
• In addition, special aptitude is required. Proof of this special aptitude is provided by means of an aptitude assessment procedure in accordance with the Mobility Systems Aptitude Assessment Regulations.
• English language skills at level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) are required. Proof of this must be provided in the form of certificates or language certificates. These may include, in particular, a certificate of a university degree completed entirely in English or a language certificate (see below).

Aptitude assessment procedure

The participation in an aptitude assessment or selection procedure is a prerequisite for enrolment in this degree programme. Please note that the deadline for submitting an application may be earlier than the application deadlines for the degree programme (see above under application deadlines). The following links will provide you with information on all documents to be submitted within the specified deadline and on the relevant regulations.

Currently, students pay approx. 340 EUR per semester (i.e. for six months). This includes a ticket for public transport and regional trains in all of Germany. Additionally, students can use a bike rental service all over the city for free for 30 minutes. The contribution also assures concessions in the university cafeterias and offers benefits (e.g. price reductions) for many cultural and leisure activities in Dresden.

Dresden offers high quality of living at very moderate costs. Currently, students should expect to pay around 850 EUR per month including rent, food, insurance and basic expenses. This figure is relatively low compared to other big German cities.

In order to top up their budget, some students may want to look for temporary work in Dresden. If so, different regulations apply for students from EU member states, countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, and students from outside the European Union and the EEA area. In addition, restrictions on the duration of employment may apply. Professors, lecturers and group leaders involved in the Master's programme may offer students the possibility of working as academic assistants. However, living expenses can be financed only partially through a job as an academic assistant.

Information on scholarships and funding for students is summarised on a dedicated web page of the TU Dresden.

TU Dresden offers plenty of counselling and training within its Career Service to help students with finding professional orientation. Workshops to equip students with professional skills and aid to optimise your CV are offered. Moreover, students are supported regarding networking with potential employers.

Additionally, there are special workshops for international students to get to know the German and Saxon job market and network.

It is still relatively easy to find affordable accommodation in Dresden. Accommodation is available either via the "Studentenwerk Dresden" or on the private market. Rent for a single room in a student residence is 250 EUR per month on average.
Private housing can be found online. We recommend that you move into a hall of residence at the beginning of your stay in Dresden. Subsequently, you can look for a place on the private market or in a shared apartment, which is known as a "Wohngemeinschaft" in German.

TU Dresden is one of eleven Universities of Excellence in Germany and is among the top universities in Europe: strong in research, it offers first-rate programmes with an overwhelming diversity, with close ties to culture, industry and society. As a modern comprehensive university with five schools (17 faculties), it offers a wide academic range of programmes. With around 29,000 students (21% international) TU Dresden is the largest technical university in Saxony. It enjoys an outstanding national and international reputation for research in natural and engineering sciences.
One of the most prominent characteristics of TU Dresden is its dynamic development – a process that has been going on for years and will continue into the future. As a "synergetic university", TU Dresden closely cooperates with external research institutions as well as cultural, industrial, and social organisations. Students also benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration with a focus on practical outcomes. Teaching and research follow the principle of involving both students and graduates into current research early on.

The capital of the Free State of Saxony, Dresden, stands majestically on the river Elbe. The fourth-largest city by area in Germany, Dresden is home not just to riverside palaces, Baroque churches and world-class museums but also to a proud history of science and technology. This finds continuity into the present with the DRESDEN-concept, an alliance of 41 research institutions in and around Dresden of which TU Dresden is a proud and prominent member. Whether you are interested in theatre, opera, cabaret or cinema, or if you enjoy a stroll through museums or a night out at the pub, Dresden has something to offer for everyone. Students also get an opportunity to be active in the many sports facilities in Dresden, including TU Dresden’s own, or in the surrounding nature of the Elbe landscape, the Elbe Sandstone Mountains (Elbsandsteingebirge) or the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge). The surroundings of the city have plenty to offer and the city is an excellent hub from where to explore Berlin, Prague, Leipzig and Wrocław.