Automation & IT (Master of Engineering) Technische Hochschule Köln - University of Applied Sciences

Automation technology has been influenced primarily by developments in information technology (IT) for a quarter of a century now. These developments are of ever-increasing significance both in the areas of hardware and software. The international Master's programme Automation & IT is a fully-accredited programme with an innovative interdisciplinary focus. With respect to the above-mentioned trend, it covers the areas of both industrial automation and computer science.

Strong connections to industry and well-equipped laboratory and research facilities enable students to gain experience in this exciting and emerging area.

The Master's programme focuses on the following subject areas:

• Modelling and Simulation
• Smart Automation and Robotics
• Optimisation
• Data Science, Machine Learning, and AI 
• Industrial Communication
• Industrial IT
• IT Security

For further information: http://www.master-ait.de/content/index_eng.html

The Master's programme comprises four semesters:

• Semesters one and two impart technological know-how in the form of lectures, tutorials, assignments and laboratory courses.
• In semester three, case studies are carried out in small teams of three to five students.
• In semester four, the programme is concluded with the Master's thesis.

The programme ends with the award of the degree Master of Engineering (MEng).

The instructional philosophy emphasises real-life experiences through extensive hands-on, laboratory-based training, co-ops, and internships. Project work forms part of the course in research projects as well as in projects with industry.

https://www.th-koeln.de/en/academics/automation--it-master--how-to-apply_6812.php

For admission to the Master's programme "Automation & IT" (MEng), applicants are required to have successfully completed studies in the fields of electrical engineering or related fields (Bachelor's or comparable degree). 
The following application documents are required:

• Graduation certificate (certified copy)
• Curriculum vitae (in tabular form)
• Proof of English proficiency (see language requirements)
• A two-page description of your motivation to study, including your further research interests (in English)

Please find further details and a checklist at: http://www.master-ait.de/content/index_eng.html

Please note that application requirements may change. You will find the current application requirements on the following website as soon as the application deadlines for the semester for which you wish to apply have been published: https://www.th-koeln.de/en/academics/automation--it-master--how-to-apply_6812.php.

Approx. 353 EUR per semester

Included in the semester fee is the semester ticket for public transport for the whole of Germany.

The cost of living for your stay largely depends on your personal needs. When planning your stay, you should calculate monthly costs of approx. 1,000 – 1,200 EUR.

Taking on a part-time job while studying has lots of benefits. Students can earn some extra money and gain valuable professional experience, and they might even take a first step up on the career ladder. Gaining a first insight into the German corporate world is especially beneficial for international students.

Many students partially fund their studies at TH Köln by taking on a part-time job inside or outside the university.

Please note that student jobs may require German language skills depending on the field and type of job. 

Students who wish to pursue a career in Germany can take part in TH Köln's "Ready, Study, Go" programme. The programme offers students useful workshops and activities to prepare them for the German labour market.

International students are eligible to apply for the "Deutschlandstipendium". The scholarship holders receive approx. 300 EUR per month for the duration of one year.

Technische Hochschule Köln – abbreviated as TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences – sees itself as a university of technology, arts, and sciences. With its disciplinary and cultural diversity and openness, TH Köln's activities are aimed at cultural and technological breakthroughs of high societal relevance. Thus, TH Köln contributes substantially to resolving social challenges. As a community of faculty and students, we see ourselves as a learning organisation forging new paths. For instance, TH Köln is one of the pioneers in the field of development and formation of concepts for higher education didactics.

Our subject range includes the fields of applied natural sciences, architecture and construction, information and communication, computer science, engineering, culture and society, and social sciences as well as business studies. More than 90 degree programmes are offered as full-time programmes or, in some cases, as career-integrated or part-time programmes. As a place where research-based learning and academic education take place, the university nurtures prospective scholars through cooperative dissertations. Annually, more than 4,700 students take up their studies at TH Köln. Overall, 21,000 students from about 120 different countries along with 440 professors and 2,000 staff members apply their potential.

Research mainly focuses on future-related issues, including climate change, energy supply, health, and food safety as well as demographic changes. While developing solution strategies for the most important questions of our time, researchers offer their professional expertise in interdisciplinary interaction. At the same time, they collaborate closely with local, national, and international cooperation partners, including 343 international institutions of higher education. The university offers its researchers an attractive sphere of activity. The quality seal "HR Excellence in Research" awarded by the European Commission certifies that TH Köln meets international standards in the field of human resources development.
TH Köln’s campuses are located in Cologne, Gummersbach, and Leverkusen.

Its metropolitan vibe, diverse student scene and a cityscape abounding with cultural and historical treasures make Cologne one of Europe's prime university cities. Cologne's origins date back to the Roman Empire more than 2,000 years ago. Today, Cologne is Germany's fourth largest city with a population of just over one million and has evolved as an economic and cultural metropolis at the heart of Europe. The city's characteristic landmark and source of pride for every inhabitant is without a doubt the magnificent Cologne Cathedral, locally known as the "Kölner Dom". Towering over the quaint Old Town of Cologne at 156 metres, this masterpiece of Gothic architecture is the world's third-highest cathedral and attracts around six million visitors a year, making it Germany's most popular tourist attraction. Visitors from all over the world are bound to feel at home immediately, as Cologne is a true melting pot of cultures. Close to one-fifth of its inhabitants have an international background. Cologne's economy is characterised by its amalgamation of different industries and trades. Home to the country's most influential television and radio stations, Cologne is unquestionably Germany's media capital and host to some of the continent's biggest trade fairs. Quite a few of the world's most renowned enterprises call the metropolitan region their home, in particular, corporations operating in the automobile industry, biotechnology and life sciences, chemicals and pharmaceuticals as well as commerce and banking.

Please note that TH Köln also has two remote campuses outside Cologne, which are located in the towns of Gummersbach and Leverkusen.

Gummersbach is a town with approx. 51,000 inhabitants are located 55 km east of Cologne, surrounded by a hilly landscape which is a recreational area for residents from Cologne and other cities nearby. The campus can be reached in a few minutes from Gummersbach train station. A train ride to Cologne, which is the largest city in the region, takes one hour and ten minutes and will be covered by the semester ticket, which is included in the semester fee. Students will be able to find affordable accommodation in Gummersbach and focus on their studies in the great environment of a modern campus.

The Leverkusen campus is located 15 km north of Cologne in the Neue Bahnstadt Opladen and was opened in 2022. It is close to the CHEMPARK in Leverkusen, which is one of the largest chemical parks in Europe. Global players from the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, such as Bayer and LANXESS, are located there. With approx. 170,000 inhabitants, Leverkusen is a smaller industrial city that has plenty of opportunities for relaxation, thanks to its location in the foothills of the Bergisches Land region. In Leverkusen, you can find urban buzz and village-like tranquillity in close proximity. The campus can also be reached with TH Köln's semester ticket.