Prospective students

Why study Ship and Offshore Technology at the University of Duisburg-Essen?

As a prospective student, the first thing coming to your mind when looking for a place where to study Ship and Offshore Technology is to check the universities of the seaports in Northern Germany. However, due to being the largest European inland port, Duisburg also has close links with the maritime industry. Additionally, in this federal state (North Rhine-Westphalia), most of the revenue in the wind offshore field is created.

The graduate and undergraduate programmes "Mechanical Engineering" with a focus on Ship and Offshore Technology at the University of Duisburg-Essen are versatile and high-quality courses which get you well prepared for your professional career.

At our institute, the prerequisites for learning and research are excellent due to the personal guidance provided by the lecturers, employees and senior students and due to all facilities being within the vicinity of the institute. While studying, you can already apply your skills by working along with the researchers. As far as internationalisation at our university is concerned, our Ship and Offshore Technology students can also spend a semester at a foreign university within the scope of student exchange programs (e.g. Trondheim/Norway, Rijeka/Croatia, São Paulo/Brazil, Dalian/China).

With the sound education provided, your career prospects are very good not just in shipbuilding and  the offshore field, but attractive positions can also be found in other fields such as general mechanical engineering, automobile industry or aeronautics and space technology.

Which requirements do I have to fulfill for admission to the international English language degree course "Master of Science International Studies in Engineering (ISE), Mechanical Engineering Profile Ship and Offshore Technology”?

As part of the International Studies in Engineering (ISE) academic programme, the Ship and Offshore Technology profile builds on the basic principles of mechanical engineering by focusing on the maritime and offshore technology sectors. Encompassing hydrodynamics, construction, structural analysis and numerical and experimental methods, it provides the knowledge and skills required for addressing technical maritime and offshore issues in a mechanical engineering context.

Entry requirements: Bachelor degree in an appropriate subject area (e.g. mechanical engineering, ocean engineering, naval architecture) with adequate length of studies and with an average mark of at least 2.5 (German system) issued in Germany or a foreign equivalent.

Language requirements: To get direct admission for an ISE study course Mechanical Engineering, applicants must be able to demonstrate German and English language skills corresponding to Level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). At the time of application, it is mandatory for the applicant to give proof of English language level B1. Applications to study a discipline within the academic programme ISE may initially be submitted without any knowledge of the German language and admission to a German course will be granted provided that all the other requirements are fulfilled. After obtaining the B1 German certificate at a language school of your choice, you will be accepted for the ISE study course Mechanical Engineering.

Which requirements do I have to fulfill for the German bachelor degree course “Mechanical Engineering”?

To enroll for the bachelor degree course "Mechanical Engineering", you need to have the "Abitur" (= baccalaureate) or equivalent high-school graduation/diploma. Students are also admitted without "Abitur" (e.g. advanced technical college certificate) provided that they pass an assessment test. For further information, please contact "Studierendensekretariat" (students' services) (www.uni-due.de/-studierendensekretariat/startseite.shtml), foreign students should contact the International Office of the University of Duisburg-Essen (www.uni-duisburg-essen.de/international).

Moreover, another requirement is an internship (basic internship) of at least 8 weeks' duration. It is not part of the studies, however, students can also do the internship during their studies (for further information, please refer to "Praktikumsordnung" (internship regulations)

Which subjects will I study and what is the structure of the degree courses?

Master of Science International Studies in Engineering (ISE): Mechanical Engineering profile Ship and Offshore Technology (English language) 

If you wish to pursue an international career, the  international English language degree course "International Studies in Engineering (ISE) Mechanical Engineering” with the profile “Ship and Offshore Technology” (Master) might be of interest to you. The degree course comprises four semesters, giving you further qualifications in the special field of your choice. It is completed by you with the master’s thesis and the “Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering” degree.

German degree courses

Master of Science Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Ship and Offshore Technology (German language)

Bachelor of Science Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Ship and Offshore Technology (German language)

You will take up your studies at our university with the bachelor degree course in Mechanical Engineering. In this course, the basics of mechanical engineering are taught. These include mathematics, natural sciences and technical subjects. Furthermore, you will gain a first insight into the focus course you selected. At the end of your studies, you will do the industrial internship, in the course of which you gain initial practical experience in engineering. The bachelor degree course is completed with the bachelor thesis. After obtaining the “Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering” degree, you can embark on your professional career straight away. However, if you wish to extend your knowledge and obtain further qualifications in the special field of your choice, we would recommend that you continue your studies by doing a master's degree course in mechanical engineering.  In this case, you may switch the “areas of specialisation" within this mechanical engineering degree course --> Link.

The three-semester master’s degree course is completed by you with the master’s thesis and the “Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering” degree.

Studienfächer Mb Englisch



​For further information, please refer to the module handbook, the internship and examination regulations of the graduate and undergraduate Mechanical Engineering programmes for the Bachelor Study Course, the Master Study Course and the international English language study course "International Studies in Engineering" (ISE study course).

Which requirements do I have to fulfill in order to do the international English language degree course "International Studies in Engineering" (ISE)?

As part of the International Studies in Engineering (ISE) academic programme, the Ship and Offshore Technology profile builds on the basic principles of mechanical engineering by focusing on the maritime and offshore technology sectors. Encompassing hydrodynamics, construction, structural analysis and numerical and experimental methods, it provides the knowledge and skills required for addressing technical maritime and offshore issues in a mechanical engineering context.

Entry requirements: Bachelor degree in an appropriate subject area (e.g. mechanical engineering, ocean engineering, naval architecture) with adequate length of studies and with an average mark of at least 2.5 (German system) issued in Germany or a foreign equivalent.

Language requirements: To get direct admission for an ISE study course Mechanical Engineering, applicants must be able to demonstrate German and English language skills corresponding to Level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). At the time of application, it is mandatory for the applicant to give proof of English language level B1. Applications to study a discipline within the academic programme ISE may initially be submitted without any knowledge of the German language and admission to a German course will be granted provided that all the other requirements are fulfilled. After obtaining the B1 German certificate at a language school of your choice, you will be accepted for the ISE study course Mechanical Engineering.

What are my career prospects?

Due to the comprehensive training provided in the bachelor and master degree courses of Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Ship and Offshore Technology, there are numerous job options available. This flexibility enables graduates to find lucrative and safe job positions in Germany and abroad with

  • Suppliers to the offshore and shipbuilding industries
  • Engineering companies
  • Shipyards
  • Classification societies
  • Shipbuilding research centres
  • Shipping companies
  • Automobile industry
  • Aeronautics and space technology
  • Ministries and authorities.

As a result of the high demand for qualified university graduates, students are frequently given job offers before completing their studies.

Following please find examples of job descriptions given by some of our former students:

Which test and research facilities does the Institute of Ship Technology, Ocean Engineering and Transport Systems provide?

At the Institute of Ship Technology, Ocean Engineering and Transport Systems there are modern high-power PC Cluster and up-to-date software programs for structural analyses, flow simulation, CAD, design, etc. In teaching, software packages are used which are also applied in industry, thereby increasing the graduates’ career prospects and facilitating their career starts. At the institute’s own laboratory incl. a workshop, ship and offshore  models can be designed and tested. For further information please visit Experimental Facilities. The Development Centre for Ship Technology and Transport Systems (DST) (http://www.dst-org.de) is an affiliated institute of the University of Duisburg-Essen, enabling students to participate in current research activities.