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B.Eng. Railway Engineering
Cooperative Degree Course
Are you interested in everything to do with railways? Are you enthusiastic about trains and signalling systems? Have you always wondered how to design the perfect train timetable?
The Bachelor's degree in Railway Engineering will provide you with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in the fields of technology, operational planning and control of the various subsystems involved in railway operations and infrastructure and how they interact. The aim is to develop the flexibility required to actively keep pace with the rapidly advancing developments in the rail industry at all times.
In cooperation with Deutsche Bahn AG and Siemens Mobility GmbH, we offer the only Bachelor's degree in Railway Engineering in Germany, both as a regular undergraduate course and as a cooperative degree program.
In a cooperative degree program, students have periods of on-campus instruction (sometimes in blocks) at FHE but also days at vocational college, and time on the job with the partner company.
The cooperative degree program is very practical from the first semester onwards. This degree program focuses on fundamental knowledge relating to technology, rail operations, competition law and transport policy in the planning, use and marketing of rail infrastructure and rail transport companies.
The basic operations are taught and trained hands-on at the rail operations centre at the State Technical College in Gotha. Later in the course, the focus is on the relationship between technology, business and planning, which students can then put into practice during their semester on work placement.
*Unique* Cooperative Degree Program
We offer two versions of the cooperative degree program.
One option includes integrated work placements, meaning that you alternate between lecture phases at FH Erfurt and periods of practical experience with your host company. After 3 years, students graduate with a Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng.).
In the program which also combines an apprenticeship (DB Netz AG), graduates receive two officially recognized qualifications after four years:
1. Railway Technician in Train Traffic Control (IHK - Chamber of Industry and Commerce)
2. Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng.).
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DB Netz AG is involved in the specialization Railway Operations and Infrastructure in the Bachelor’s in Railway Engineering at FH Erfurt. During the first two semesters of the program, you have the opportunity to simultaneously do an apprenticeship in Train Traffic Control with DB Netz AG.
This means that you need not one but two years to complete the first two semesters of your degree course. After passing the Chamber of Industry and Commerce exams and completing a four-month assignment as a train dispatcher, students return to the University of Applied Sciences for the remaining four semesters of the degree program. -
In the cooperative degree program with integrated placements, theory and practice are interlinked from the 1st semester onwards.
Your studies at the university of applied sciences alternate with specific practical experience at a railway company. The standard period of study is 3 years/6 semesters.Our partner companies:
DB Cargo AG
DB Engineering & Consulting GmbH
DB Fahrzeuginstandhaltung GmbH
DB Netz AG
DB Regio AG
Rurtalbahn GmbH
Siemens Mobility GmbH
VIAS GmbH -
• continuous hands-on experience and practical relevance thanks to the host company
• trainee allowance, plus other non-monetary benefits
• guaranteed employment at the host company -
Graduates can be employed by rail companies and all businesses, organizations and associations working in the rail sector.
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• assessment of rail infrastructure
• construction, coordination and distribution of train paths
• management of rail operations
• planning, scheduling and monitoring of rail operations
• clerical/administrative work
• sales and marketing -
Together with FH St. Pölten and ZHAW Winterthur, FH Erfurt runs the trinational Master’s degree in “European Railway Systems” (continuing academic education program). Upon passing the final examination, students graduate with a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree.
Overview
- Title Bachelor Railway Engineering
- Qualification/degree Bachelor (Bachelor of Engineering)
- Duration 6 semesters
- Mode of study full-time
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Flexibility
Open for occasional students
Part-time studies possible
Open to affiliate students
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Beginning
Winter semester
- Costs -
- Admission Restricted admissions (NC)
- Period for application 15.05. - 15.07.
- General Requirements Yes Show
- Special Requirements No
- International application Show
Program structure for the cooperative degree with an integrated apprenticeship
Overview and sample timetables for specializations
The following is an overview of a selection of modules in the degree program, divided into two main stages of study:
1st stage of studies: orientation phase
2nd stage of studies: specialization phase
Please note:
In the course with an integrated apprenticeship, the orientation phase extends to 2 academic years.
In the 2nd stage of your studies, you have the opportunity to choose one of 2 specializations:
- Railway Operations and Infrastructure
- Rail Traffic and Transport
The work placement and subsequent Bachelor's thesis and colloquium take place between the 4th and 6th semester (usually in the 6th semester).
Office hours
Tuesdays, 2 - 3 p.m.
(by prior registration via email)
Modules in the Bachelor's in Railway Engineering (cooperative degree)
Cooperative Studies
Applications for the cooperative degree program should usually be sent to the partner company the year before you intend to start your studies. Please contact the partner companies directly for information on their application deadlines.
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The quickest way to contact our biggest partner companies Deutsche Bahn and Siemens is by using the links below.
Entry requirements
Practical professional requirements
In addition to having a university entrance qualification, applicants must have undertaken a pre-study placement of at least 12 weeks working in transport or railway facilities. By the beginning of their 3rd semester (deadline: 30 September) at the latest, the student must submit proof of this and have it approved by the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt. Please note:
- Relevant apprenticeships and practical work experience can be accepted as a pre-study placement.
- In the cooperative degree program, the practical phases in the host company constitute the pre-study placement (proof of this must also be provided by submitting the standard form by the beginning of the 3rd semester).
Restricted admissions
Admissions are restricted for the degree in Railway Engineering.
Here you can test your current level in Maths and Physics (external link to MINTFIT Hamburg).
Applications / Deadlines / Starting Date
You can apply online via the homepage of the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt.
Further documents must then be submitted to the Student Admissions Office by post. These include:
- a copy of your university entrance qualifications (e.g. Abitur, Fachhochschulreife)
- if applicable, confirmation of military or civilian service, participation in state volunteering schemes (FSJ, FÖJ, BFD)
Applications can be submitted from 15 May until 15 July.
The degree program begins in the winter semester of each year.
Please note: This degree program is taught in German and therefore requires all students to have at least C1 level German skills. More information on applying to FH Erfurt as an international student can be found here.
Partner companies:
Semester on work placement
The students spend their entire 5th semester of study on work placement. Over a period of 14 weeks, the students are introduced to their future profession by means of specific practical work experience. This involves acquiring knowledge of the key functional processes, procedures and organizational structures in the respective area. The work placement semester also serves to give students insights into later career options and make it easier for them to decide what they would like to specialize in.
The work carried out during the placement often leads to lasting connections with the host companies and institutions supervising the students. These work placements often lead to individually tailored topics for Bachelor's theses and even first employment contracts after graduation, and more and more students are choosing to do their placements abroad.
Documentation
For the work placement, the students have to submit a registration form, their training agreement and proof of fulfilment of all work placement requirements (the Placement Certificate).
For information on registration and proof of your work placement please contact Ms Albrecht (formerly Wagner) in the secretary’s office.
Bachelor's thesis
The Bachelor's thesis is the final assignment that concludes the Bachelor's studies and lays the foundations for the final semester of specialization.
It is designed to demonstrate that students are able to apply academic methods to a practical problem in the field of railway engineering and to present the results appropriately within the given time limit of 10 weeks. The practical relevance of the problem addressed by the thesis is of particular importance, and if possible should be based on an institution outside the university (public authority, business, institution, ...). Usually, the topic relates to the student's previous work placement.
In the colloquium, the presentation of the Bachelor's thesis, students must demonstrate that they can appropriately communicate their independent findings and summarize and explain the key facts in a way that is suitable for an audience. The colloquium usually takes place in the course of the 6th semester.
In the "Notes on Writing the Bachelor’s Thesis" you will find all the necessary details on registering your thesis, finding a topic, producing the thesis, structure/length of the thesis, deadlines and procedure of the Bachelor’s examination (colloquium).
In order to register your Bachelor's thesis, you need to fill out and submit the form "Registering your Bachelor's thesis" together with all the required documents (see Notes on writing the Bachelor's thesis) within the given deadline.
