Bachelor's in Civil Engineering - Cooperative Degree

Course Contents

The cooperative Bachelor's degree program offers all of the same subjects as the regular Bachelor's in Civil Engineering This means that you will still be able to work in all fields of Civil Engineering later on in your career. The 7-semester Bachelor's program, which has accreditation until 2029, begins with fundamental studies in the natural sciences and technology, on which further practical modules are based. Each module lasts for one semester and is examined independently. A certain number of credit points (CP) is assigned to each module as a measure of the average workload. As a rule, this workload accounts for 30 credit points per semester.
In general, all of the modules are classified according to the following module packages :

1. Mathematical and Scientific Foundations
2. Fundamental Specialist Knowledge
3. Structural Engineering
4. Water and Waste Management
5. Transport and Spatial Planning
6. Construction Management
7. Digital Design and Construction

A significant part of the course takes place in our department’s state-of-the-art laboratories. The high-performance computer pools, BIM lab and geodetic lab also make it possible to offer a high proportion of modern IT-related course content.

Cooperative Study

Numerous work placements during the lecture-free period are both important components and also the essential feature of the cooperative degree course. Seminars are integrated into the work placements to help develop social skills (communication, teamwork, conflict management, etc.). In addition, lectures and seminars on safety at work, business management and legal issues round off the unique profile of the cooperative degree program.

Specializations and "Specialization Plus"

In the 6th semester, students choose one of three areas of specialization:

• Construction Management and Digital Design/Construction
• Structural Engineering
• Environmental, Geotechnical and Infrastructure Engineering

From the 5th semester onwards, students are offered the opportunity for earlier and additional specialist training in the three areas of specialization through the study model Specialization Plus. Depending on the chosen area of specialization, this comprises several compulsory electives with 5 CP in each of the 5th and 6th semesters, from which one to four modules can be freely selected depending on the semester of study and specialization, up to a total of 30 CP per semester. Due to the flexible elective options in the Specialization Plus study model, it is possible for students to tailor their degree program to their individual needs.

The main focus in the 7th semester is the 12-week engineering placement. The student completes their degree program by writing their Bachelor’s thesis.

Program Structure

The degree program begins in the winter semester of each year. You will find the annual semester dates on the right-hand side under “Information on your Studies” / “Semester Dates at FH Erfurt”. The 7-semester Bachelor’s program is structured as follows:

1st Semester: Mathematics I, Building Materials I, Structural Mechanics I, Computing in Civil Engineering, Building Construction I and Building Code Law I, Work Placement I
2nd Semester: Mathematics II, Building Materials II, Structural Mechanics II, Structural Mechanics III, Building Construction II and Building Code Law, Work Placement II
3rd Semester: Structural Mechanics IV, Geotechnical Engineering I, Construction Management/Construction Technology, Solid Construction I, Building Physics, Work Placement III
4th Semester: Steel Construction I, Timber Construction I, Construction Management, Solid Construction II, Geodesy, Hydromechanics, Work Placement IV
5th Semester: Steel Construction II and Timber Construction II, Hydraulic Engineering I and Water Resource Management I, Digital Working Methods in Civil Engineering, Solid Construction III, Road Engineering I, Commercial Management, Site Coordinator
6th Semester: Environmental Engineering I, Sanitary Engineering I, Construction Site Management and Construction Law/Construction Contract Law, Road Engineering II, Specialization: Construction Management and Digital Design/Construction (BDP), Structural Engineering (KIB) or Environmental, Geotechnical and Road Engineering (UGV), Work Placement V
7th Semester: Engineering placement (Work Placement VI), practical week, Bachelor’s thesis

Applications

Please apply online through the applications portal of the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt (see "Links to Applications" / Applications portal at FHE" on the right-hand side). You can also find the current application deadlines here. Further documents must then be submitted to the Student Admissions Office by post from May onwards. 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)

Entry requirements

Applicants must complete a 6-week pre-study placement in their future host company in order to be admitted to the cooperative degree program. The pre-study placement must be completed before the start of the degree course and proof of this must be provided for admission to the degree program. A completed apprenticeship as a bricklayer, concrete worker, carpenter, road builder, draughtsperson or, if applicable, other appropriate work placements, will be recognized as a pre-study placement as long as it was carried out in the company for which the student will be working during their cooperative degree. Furthermore, you also need to have a contract of employment with the host company that is legal and valid for the duration of the degree course.

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.