Master of Science in Commercial Vehicle Technology RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau

The Master's programme in Commercial Vehicle Technology (CVT) offers a bilingual, interdisciplinary approach and a close cooperation with industry.
The education and research on CVT topics like...

• Hybridisation & Electrification
• Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
• Autonomous Driving
• Big Data & Artificial Intelligence
• Simulation & Digital Twin
• Human-Machine Interaction

...integrate all major fields of the product life cycle of commercial vehicles, such as vehicle design & dynamics, materials science, joining technology, and production technology. At the same time, it also incorporates a range of sociological and economic aspects as well as soft skills.

The Master's programme in Commercial Vehicle Technology is an interdisciplinary Master's programme offered by the following faculties:

• Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering
• Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Department of Computer Science
• Department of Social Sciences
• Department of Business Studies and Economics

The programme includes:

• Compulsory and elective engineering modules (choice from catalogue)
• Project internship in the commercial vehicle industry in Germany
• Cooperative research activities (Master's thesis)

This international and interdisciplinary study programme focuses on teaching students a sufficiently comprehensive knowledge in the fields of mechanical and process engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and computer science. The main objective is to deal with interdisciplinary issues in the area of commercial vehicle technology, which can be difficult even for interdisciplinary teams, and to close the communication gaps in classical teams. This includes the teaching...

• …of skills to think in at least three engineering disciplines simultaneously and of a high level technical and methodological knowledge, both research- and industry-related, from all disciplines
• …of an interdisciplinary way of thinking and thus of high interdisciplinary problem-solving skills
• …of basic knowledge in the field of economics and organisation
• …of general soft skills, such as teamwork or communication skills
• …of skills for social and cultural engagement, especially by the course offerings in the area of social and economic sciences. This enhances the students' sense of reflection and responsibility in terms of a democratic community. This includes, for example, offerings in the area of ethics or psychology.

The first two semesters are dedicated to acquiring basic knowledge in the three major disciplines (Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Computer Science) in mandatory subjects. All mandatory subjects are held in English. Up to the third semester, knowledge in the CVT sector is generally acquired in elective subjects. Elective subjects are held partly in English and partly in German. In the third semester, a CVT-specific project internship is completed in the commercial vehicle industry. The fourth semester is dedicated to a Master's thesis supervised by one of the scientific institutes at RPTU. The programme is accompanied by courses in social sciences and business studies & economics.

Further information is available here.

Centre for Commercial Vehicle Technology (ZNT)

Project internship in the commercial vehicle industry

Deadline for the application to the Master's programme for the winter semester for candidates from foreign countries needing a visa is 30 April.

For candidates already holding a visa and for candidates from the EU, the application deadline for the winter semester is 15 July.

For candidates with a Bachelor's from Germany, the application deadline for the winter semester is 15 September.

Please note: There is no summer intake.

• Qualified Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) or Master's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related fields
• Transcript of records (ToR)
• Certified translation (in German or English) of your degree certificate and transcript of records (only if your certificates are not in English or German)
• Proof of English and German language proficiency (see section "Language Requirements")
• Description of subjects covered during your previous studies
• Letter of motivation (two pages maximum)
• One letter of recommendation from faculty staff
• Detailed curriculum vitae (CV)
• APS certificate (for applicants from India, the People’s Republic of China and Vietnam only)

All documents need to be available by the application deadline!

Further information is available here.

SOCIAL FEE: 350 EUR per semester (including public transport ("Deutschland-Semesterticket"), reductions at the RPTU canteen, university sports, etc.)

ASSESSMENT FEE (for verification of foreign certificates): 60 EUR

RECOMMENDED: German language & orientation course: 800 EUR

MONTHLY COST OF LIVING: approx. 850 EUR (including accommodation, health insurance, food, internet, phone, etc.)

More information: 
Fees & Living Expenses — RPTU Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau

Student assistant jobs are available on a competitive basis at the university & its departments, at the affiliated research institutes of the Science & Innovation Alliance Kaiserslautern (including DFKI, Max Planck, Fraunhofer, etc.) or at nearby companies (John Deere, Daimler, BASF, etc.).

Excellent students have good chances of finding jobs in research projects, but these jobs are not usually granted in advance.

International Affairs RPTU supports international students in finding student jobs and in strengthening their professional networks, e.g. by organising networking dialogues with executives from science and industry.

Moreover, the university offers a student assistant job portal:
Hiwi-Stellenbörse — RPTU Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau

When you take part in the CVT Master's programme, you will have the opportunity to apply for scholarships from different departments as well as for a "Deutschlandstipendium" or STIBET scholarship.

International Affairs RPTU supports international students in finding (student) jobs and in deepening their professional networks, e.g. by organising networking dialogues with executives from science and industry as informal career meetings.

Furthermore, we set up interdisciplinary workshops, seminars and information sessions focusing on the skills & competences students need to integrate in the German (business) culture.

More information on how to enhance your degree can be found at our related website for international students: https://rptu.de/international/master/current-students/enhance-your-degree.

The majority of our students live in residence halls located on or close to campus. The "Studierendenwerk" operates several large halls of residence in Kaiserslautern. Students submit housing applications directly to the Studierendenwerk. For international Master's or PhD students, International Affairs RPTU aims at arranging accommodation in these residence halls or in private accommodation within its pre-arrival service. The halls of residence have modern single, double or shared apartments with kitchenette, bathroom/WC, and modern facilities as well as internet access.

• Fully-furnished: kitchenette (no plates & pots, etc.), bed & mattress (no blankets & pillows), wardrobe, shelf, table, chair (no computer)
• Rent: approx. 250 to 350 EUR

Since accommodation is not automatically guaranteed with admission, a request for accommodation to International Affairs ISGS is advisable.

Optional: To help international students get started in Kaiserslautern, the "Studierendenwerk" offers a starter package for the apartment. This package can be purchased for 95 EUR: https://www.studierendenwerk-kaiserslautern.de/en/housing/international.

More information: https://rptu.de/international/master/prospective-students/travel-accommodation/accommodation

RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau is a top-ranked German research-oriented university (first place among 146 international universities in nine categories, such as learning, living, support services, and cost in the International Student Barometer 2023). Our university offers high-quality graduate education and (post)doctoral research training in innovative fields of the high-tech world, many of them as international (English-taught) study programmes. Our main features:

• International study environment highly affiliated with research  & industry
• “Science & Innovation Alliance” of high-profile research institutes on the nearby campus, offering (student assistant) job opportunities
• Zero tuition fees & low cost of living
• “University of Teaching Excellence" award for outstanding student-teacher ratio & efficient support structure for international students, including visa support
• Safe, modern & healthy study environment surrounded by beautiful nature
• 25 international graduate programmes (with more than 40 specialisations)

RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau offers over 140 study courses in the following 16 departments:

• Architecture
• Biology
• Business Studies & Economics
• Chemistry
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Science
• Cultural & Social Sciences (Landau)
• Educational Sciences (Landau)
• Electrical & Computer Engineering
• Mathematics
• Mechanical & Process Engineering
• Natural & Environmental Sciences (Landau)
• Physics
• Psychology (Landau)
• Spatial & Environmental Planning
• Social Sciences

By virtue of its internationally renowned faculties and their top-ranked international study programmes, RPTU attracts students from all over the world. Our extraordinarily high ratio of postgraduate and doctoral students underlines the university's focus on research, Master's studies, and doctoral research training.

With a current enrolment of approx. 16,000 students, 19% international students overall (and 29% international students at RPTU's campus in Kaiserslautern), the university has a manageable size and therefore ensures excellent guidance and close contact with professors. Thus, the university offers an outstanding support ratio of students per lecturer, e.g. three students per lecturer in the Department of Physics (national average: 12).

International Affairs RPTU has profound experience with international students and supports them in every phase of their studies or research. Besides effective pre-arrival communication, administrative support, and social services, International Affairs RPTU offers professional training for PhD students and postgraduates as well as qualified career counselling. Helping international students "feel at home" in a new (academic) culture at RPTU is of major importance within our service portfolio for incoming international students.

More information on why to choose RPTU: https://rptu.de/fileadmin/isgs/pdf/07_Flyer_und_Broschueren/Why_RPTU.pdfhttps://rptu.de/en/international/master/prospective-studentshttps://rptu.de/en/international/master/prospective-students-landau

KAISERSLAUTERN — a proud history and a bright future

Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa was convinced of the advantages of the Kaiserslautern region when he chose to build his imperial palace in the 12th century. Based on those historical roots, the city has developed into a cosmopolitan cluster of science and technology. K-Town is considered a prime location by many national and international companies (including Accenture and John Deere, etc.). The Science & Innovation Alliance Kaiserslautern,  a network of high-profile research institutes (including German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering, Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics, and Max Planck Institute for Software Systems), provides innovative solutions based on the latest technologies to students, scientists, and partners from industry. The topographic convergence of technology and nature makes the city both a vibrant urban centre and a natural oasis. Getting in touch with nature is particularly easy in Kaiserslautern, where Germany's largest interlinked woodlands are right at your doorstep. The forest of Rhineland-Palatinate is criss-crossed by a network of about 7,500 miles of well-marked hiking trails and a mountain bike park. UNESCO has recognised the exceptional value of the nature reserve as one of the 15 German biosphere reserves.

Kaiserslautern is home to people from over 140 nations who contribute to a diverse and vibrant city life. Most of the 100,000 inhabitants speak English, making it easy to quickly feel at ease. K-Town has a very good public transport service including high-speed intercity trains that offer quick and comfortable connections to Europe's biggest cities (Brussels, Paris, Berlin, etc.), airports (FFM), and business centres. Last but not least, K-Town is home to 1. FCK and loves to cheer for its soccer team in its well-known Betzenberg Stadium.