Master of Science [MS] (Automotive Engineering)
Field of Study:
RWTH Aachen University's MS in Automotive Engineering is a 3-semester (1.5-year), 90-credit, fully English-taught program based in Aachen, Germany. The program is hosted by the Institut für Kraftfahrzeuge (ika) — one of Europe's leading automotive research institutes, celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2027. RWTH ranks #105 globally (QS 2026) and 25th worldwide in Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering (QS Subject Rankings 2026). There are zero tuition fees — Indian students pay only a semester contribution of approximately €320 (~₹34,900) per semester.
The total 1.5-year cost for an Indian student is roughly €20,000–€24,000 (~₹21.8–26.2 lakhs). Germany's post-study work visa allows 18 months to find a job, and automotive engineering graduates in Germany earn €50,000–€60,000/year (~₹54.5–65.4 lakhs) at entry level.
Current Admission Status: Applications for Winter Semester 2026/27 are open. The deadline for non-EU/EEA international students (including Indians) is March 1, 2026. The application portal is live at RWTHonline. The next window opens in December 2026 for Winter Semester 2027/28.
- Why Study MS Automotive Engineering at RWTH Aachen?
- RWTH Aachen MS Automotive Engineering Fees for Indian Students
- Cost of Living in Aachen for Indian Students
- MS Automotive Engineering RWTH Aachen Admission Requirements
- Curriculum Overview
- RWTH Aachen Automotive Engineering Rankings
- Scholarships for Indian Students at RWTH Aachen
- Placements & Career Outcomes
- ROI: Is RWTH Aachen MS Automotive Engineering Worth It for Indian Students?
- FAQs
Why Study MS Automotive Engineering at RWTH Aachen?
- Zero tuition fees: RWTH confirmed in 2026 it will not charge additional tuition for non-EU students — you pay only ~€320/semester.
- #25 globally in Mechanical Engineering: QS Subject Rankings 2026 place RWTH among the world's top 25 in Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering.
- Industry-embedded thesis: The Master's thesis is typically conducted within a real project with an automotive industry partner or EU-funded research program.
- 18-month post-study work visa: Germany allows graduates to stay and job-hunt without a prior offer — critical for Indian students targeting BMW, Bosch, Continental and Volkswagen.
- Work while studying: International students can work up to 20 hours/week during semester and full-time during breaks (140 full days/year).
RWTH Aachen MS Automotive Engineering Fees for Indian Students
Exchange rate used: 1 EUR = ₹109 (as of April 21, 2026). Rates fluctuate — verify before transferring funds.
| Fee Component | Amount (EUR) | Amount (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Contribution (per semester) | ~€320 | ~₹34,900 |
| Total Semester Contribution (3 semesters) | ~€960 | ~₹1.05 lakhs |
| Blocked Account Requirement (per year) | €11,904 | ~₹12.98 lakhs |
| Total Blocked Account (1.5 years) | ~€17,856 | ~₹19.46 lakhs |
The blocked account is not a fee — it is proof of funds required for your student visa. You retain and spend this money on living expenses throughout your studies.
Cost of Living in Aachen for Indian Students
RWTH officially recommends budgeting a minimum of €1,100/month (~₹1.20 lakhs).
| Expense Category | Monthly Cost (EUR) | Monthly Cost (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | €400–€600 | ₹43,600–₹65,400 |
| Food | €200–€300 | ₹21,800–₹32,700 |
| Health Insurance | €100–€150 | ₹10,900–₹16,350 |
| Study Materials | €20–€40 | ₹2,180–₹4,360 |
| Internet & Mobile | €20–€50 | ₹2,180–₹5,450 |
| Clothing & Miscellaneous | €50–€200 | ₹5,450–₹21,800 |
| Total (Minimum) | ~€1,100 | ~₹1.20 lakhs |
Accommodation note: Student housing via Studierendenwerk costs €250–€400/month. Off-campus shared apartments (WG) typically cost €400–€600/month. The semester contribution includes a Germany-wide public transport ticket — no separate commute cost.
Part-time work: Germany's minimum wage is €12.82/hour (~₹1,397/hour). Working 20 hours/week can offset up to €1,025/month (~₹1.12 lakhs) of living costs.
MS Automotive Engineering RWTH Aachen Admission Requirements
Intake & Deadlines
| Semester | Start | Application Deadline (Non-EU/EEA) |
|---|---|---|
| Winter Semester 2026/27 | October 2026 | March 1, 2026 |
| Winter Semester 2027/28 | October 2027 | March 1, 2027 |
Note: This program starts in the Winter Semester only. There is no Summer Semester intake.
Eligibility (Indian Equivalents)
- A completed Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering or a closely related field.
- No minimum GPA requirement — the Examination Board assesses subject knowledge, not GPA rankings.
- Required knowledge areas: Mechanics, Machine Design & CAD, Thermodynamics, Heat & Mass Transfer, Material Science, Control Engineering, Fluid Mechanics, Mathematics and Automotive Engineering basics (longitudinal dynamics, vertical/lateral dynamics, mechatronics, mobile propulsion).
- A 16-week industrial internship is required before thesis registration (can be completed after enrolment).
Application Process
- Apply online via RWTHonline — no physical documents required.
- Upload: Bachelor's degree certificate (or proof of final year enrollment), full transcript of records, detailed module descriptions/syllabus, CV and GRE General Test scores.
- The Examination Board reviews each application individually. Missing modules may result in enrolment conditions (up to 30 extra credits). More than 30 missing credits leads to rejection.
- You do not need to have completed your Bachelor's at the time of application.
English Language Proficiency (ELP)
| Test | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 5.5 (overall) |
| TOEFL iBT | 90 |
| Cambridge CAE | Pass |
| PTE / CEFR | B2 level |
GRE requirement for Indian students: Non-EU/EEA applicants must submit a GRE General Test certificate with minimum scores of Verbal Reasoning 145, Quantitative Reasoning 160 and Analytical Writing 3. If taking the GRE is not possible due to constraints in your country, contact the program coordinator at masterprog@ika.rwth-aachen.de for alternatives.
Waiver: Indian students who completed their degree in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA are exempt from the English language certificate. Completing a program in English in India does not qualify for this exemption.
Curriculum Overview
The 90-credit program spans 3 semesters:
- Compulsory modules (38 CP): Alternative Vehicle Propulsion Systems, Battery Storage Systems, Internal Combustion Engines, Machine Dynamics, Lightweight Design Processes, Structural Design of Vehicles and Active Vehicle Safety & Driver Assistance Systems.
- Elective modules (22 CP): Automated Driving, Fundamentals of Machine Learning, Vehicle Acoustics, Gear and Transmission Technology, Environmental Sustainability in Transport Engineering and more.
- Master's Thesis (30 CP): A 22-week full-time research project, typically embedded in an industry or EU-funded project.
- German language is not required for coursework. Basic German is needed only for thesis registration.
RWTH Aachen Automotive Engineering Rankings
| Ranking Body | Rank | Year |
|---|---|---|
| QS Subject – Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering | 25th worldwide | 2026 |
| THE Subject – Engineering | 35th worldwide | 2026 |
| QS World University Rankings (Overall) | #105 | 2026 |
| QS Engineering & Technology (All Fields) | 53rd worldwide | 2026 |
| SCImago – Automotive Engineering | 71st worldwide | 2026 |
Scholarships for Indian Students at RWTH Aachen
| Scholarship | Amount | Eligibility | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAAD Study Scholarship (Masters) | €934/month + travel allowance + health insurance | Bachelor's degree, strong academics, under 36 years | October 15, 2026 (for 2027 intake) |
| Deutschlandstipendium | €300/month | High academic achievement, social engagement | Varies by faculty |
| RWTH Completion Scholarship (STIBET) | Partial funding | Enrolled RWTH students nearing graduation | Round 1: Nov 25, 2025; Round 2: June 19, 2026 |
Apply for DAAD scholarships directly via the DAAD India portal (daad.in).
Placements & Career Outcomes
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Employment rate within 6 months | ~93% (university data) |
| Average automotive engineer salary in Germany | ~€60,253/year (PayScale 2026) |
| Entry-level salary after MS (Germany) | €45,000–€61,000/year |
| Post-study work visa duration | 18 months |
Top employers of RWTH automotive graduates include BMW, Volkswagen Group, Bosch, Continental, Daimler Truck and automotive consultancies across Germany and the wider EU.
ROI: Is RWTH Aachen MS Automotive Engineering Worth It for Indian Students?
| Item | Amount (EUR) | Amount (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Total 1.5-year cost (fees + living) | ~€20,900–€24,900 | ~₹22.8–27.1 lakhs |
| Entry-level annual salary (Germany) | €45,000–€61,000 | ~₹49–66.5 lakhs |
| Break-even point | ~5–7 months of working | — |
With zero tuition fees and a 1.5-year program duration, the total investment is significantly lower than comparable programs in the US or UK. The entry-level salary covers the full program cost within the first year of employment.
RWTH Aachen's MS Automotive Engineering is one of the most cost-effective and industry-connected automotive master's programs in the world for Indian students. Zero tuition fees, a #25 global ranking in Mechanical Engineering, industry-embedded thesis projects and Germany's 18-month post-study visa make this a high-ROI choice. The March 1, 2026 deadline for Winter 2026/27 has passed — the next application window opens in December 2026 for Winter Semester 2027/28.
FAQs
Ques. Is GRE mandatory for Indian students applying to MS Automotive Engineering at RWTH Aachen?
Ans. Yes. Non-EU/EEA applicants including Indian students must submit a GRE General Test certificate with minimum scores of Verbal Reasoning 145, Quantitative Reasoning 160 and Analytical Writing 3. If taking the GRE is a major obstacle due to circumstances beyond your control, you can contact the program coordinator at masterprog@ika.rwth-aachen.de to discuss alternatives.
Ques. Does RWTH Aachen MS Automotive Engineering have a Summer Semester intake for Indian students?
Ans. No. The MS Automotive Engineering program at RWTH Aachen starts in the Winter Semester only (October each year). The application window for non-EU/EEA students including Indians opens in December each year and closes strictly on March 1. There is no Summer Semester intake for this program.
Ques. What is the total cost of studying MS Automotive Engineering at RWTH Aachen for an Indian student?
Ans. RWTH charges zero tuition fees. Indian students pay only a semester contribution of approximately €320 (₹34,900) per semester. The total 1.5-year cost including living expenses is approximately €20,900–€24,900 (~₹22.8–27.1 lakhs). A blocked account of €11,904/year (₹12.98 lakhs) is required for the student visa — this money is yours to use for living expenses and is not a fee.
Important Alert
- Application Deadline for Summer 2026 Intake - Sep 1, 2026
Tuition Fees
Other Expenses
| Head | Avg Cost Per Year |
|---|---|
| Accomodation | $5664 (EUR 4800) |
| Food | $2832 (EUR 2400) |
Previous Year Tuition Fees
| Year | 1st Year Fees |
|---|---|
| 2024 | |
| 2023 |
Important Dates
| Event | Application Date |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline for Winter 2026 Intake | |
| Application Deadline for Summer 2026 Intake | Sep 1, 2026 |
Reviews
26 Reviews Found
Likes
- Infrastructure
- They provide me the best study facilities, upto date with suitable realtime experience to the course help of companies and labs.
- Course structure is well advanced according to the current market
Dislikes
- There is nothing I have to dislike
- There are a lot of options to find the accommodation. I find it with the help of an app named WG. University also provides student dorm facilities; students need to apply through a website to get them. I am paying around 400 euros per month for my 2-shared apartment of 62 m². It includes the rent, electricity, gas, water, wifi, radio tax and heating cost. There are a lot of scams ongoing while searching for accommodation here; that was my challenge while finding one.
- The best thing is my accommodation is near to the university's main building; I can access it within a 7-minute walk. There is a bus stop near to my apartment within 200m and a railway station within a 10-minute walk, as well as 3 supermarkets and other shops.
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TOP Scholarships
| Scholarship name | Award amount | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| University's Education Fund | 300 euros monthly | The RWTH Education Fund Scholarship supports the top 10% of students based on academic excellence, personal experience, extracurricular activities, community service, and social background, with approximately 20% of applicants receiving funding annually |
Key Resources for Your Study Abroad Journey
Course Guides
Masters in Automotive Engineering in Germany
Masters in Engineering in Germany: Fees 2024, Top Colleges, Placements & Salaries
MS in Germany: MS in Germany: Deadlines, Fees, Scholarships, Jobs
College Student Profiles
Scholarship Grants & Financial Aids
| Name | Scholarship Per Student | Level of Study | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VueVille Future Technology Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 1,180/Yr$1,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| MAWISTA Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 7,895/Yr$6,691 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeEasy-to-Apply | |
| Kurt Hansen Science Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 11,800/Yr$10,000 | Level Of StudyDoctorate | TypeNeed-Based | |
| Bharat Petroleum Scholarship | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyMaster | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Axol Science Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 2,360/Yr$2,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeCompany-Sponsored |
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