Double Degree

International degree programs provide the opportunity to obtain abroad an additional university degree besides the German university degree. The requirements for such a double degree are regulated individually in an agreement between the FH Aachen and the respective partner university.
Students of the faculty of Mechanical engineering and Mechatronics can obtain a double degree at the following partner institutions:

• CDHAW: The Sino-German University of Applied Sciences at the Tongji-University in Shanghai (only for students of the Bachelor degree programs Engineering Management or Mechatronics)
• Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey (Tec de Monterrey), Mexico (for students of the Bachelor degree programs Mechanical Engineering or Engineering Management)
• Centro de Ingeniería y Desarollo Industrial (CIDESI), Queretaro, Mexico (only for students of the Master degree program Mechatronics)
• National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (Taiwan Tech), Taipei City, Taiwan (only for students of the Master degree program Mechatronics)

The Mexican-German Higher Education Cooperation (mdhk) enables a two-way student exchange with recognition of academic achievements in the host country between the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (Tec de Monterrey for short) on the one hand and the higher education institutions of the German University Consortium for International Cooperation (DHIK) on the other.

The renowned Tec de Monterrey is highly recommended for those planning a semester abroad in Mexico. Exchange students are professionally supported by the Tec in course selection, language acquisition, accommodation search, cultural programme, etc.

Bachelor students of the FH Aachen who are enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics and Industrial Engineering programmes at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics, however, have another option: they can study 1-2 semesters of their studies at the Tec de Monterrey in Mexico and complete their studies with a double degree (FH Aachen + Tec de Monterrey).

With around 100,000 students, the Tec is the largest private university in South America and is one of the elite universities in South and Central America. Among North American employers, the Tec de Monterrey ranked at the top in 2014, ahead of many very well-known US universities. It has 31 campuses spread throughout Mexico. For students of Aachen University of Applied Sciences (Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics and Engineering Management), however, it is only possible to complete a double degree entirely in English at the main campus in Monterrey (north-east Mexico) in Querétaro and Guadalajara due to the courses offered.

Here are the most important facts in brief:

• Study in English or Spanish
• Recognition of academic achievements
• Double degree in Mexico + Germany
• Study at an elite private university without tuition fees
• Internship in Mexico via industry advisory board
• Professional on-site support
• Intercultural preparation seminar for Mexico

Of course, basic knowledge of Spanish is recommended for living and studying in Mexico - but not a prerequisite for the double degree programme at the time of application.

Interested students of the faculty 8 can get advice and information from the International Office of the FH Aachen. The head of the degree programme, Prof. Heynen (FB8), is available to assist Mechanical Engineering students at FB8. Prof. Reichert (FB8) and Prof. Chwallek (FB7) are happy to advise interested students of Engineering and Management.

The Chinese-German University of Applied Sciences is an educational model project of the Chinese Ministry of Education (MoE) and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). In cooperation with a consortium of German Universities of Applied Sciences, a German-Chinese University of Applied Sciences is being established at Tongji University in Shanghai based on the model of German Fachhochschulen (Universities of Applied Sciences). The goals of the project are the introduction of the German model of the University of Applied Sciences in Chinese tertiary education and the practical training of engineers with interdisciplinary knowledge, international competences and the ability to find solutions for problems for the benefits of industry and economy of both countries.

At the Faculty for Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics, two study programs with a bachelor’s degree are being offered: Mechatronics and Engineering Management. Students from the FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences have the option to spend the last two semesters of their bachelor program at the Tongji University in Shanghai to achieve a double degree: after fulfilment of the conditions defined from both sides a dual bachelor's degree is awarded.

The same applies to students from the Tongji University who decide to finalize their studies in Aachen - the study program is open for students of both partner countries. The inter-university cooperation simplifies the organization of a semester abroad. For further information, please refer to CDHAW website or ask the double-degree contacts at the FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences:

In cooperation with the Centro de Ingeniería y Desarollo Industrial (CIDESI), the FH Aachen offers the study course Mechatronics with a dual German and Mexican Master’s degree. The program is accredited in Mexico by the National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT) and Public Education Ministry (SEP) and it has been recognised as a „Consolidated Programme“ into the National Register for Quality Postgraduate Programs (PNPC).

The program is based on the international Master's program in Mechatronics, which has existed for several years now. Students spend their first semester at CIDESI in Queretaro/Mexico, and their second and third semester at FH Aachen. They can carry out their Master's thesis either in Mexico or in Germany. Besides international students, German students are very welcome to study in this program, too. The courses in the first semester at CIDESI are held in English. However, basic knowledge of Spanish is beneficial.

In cooperation with the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (Taiwan Tech), FH Aachen offers the Master's degree programme in Mechatronics with German and Taiwanese Master's degrees from both universities. Students on this double degree programme are registered in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Taiwan Tech and in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics at FH Aachen.

The first semester is spent at the university in the home country. The second and third semesters are then spent at the host university abroad. The courses and lectures are held in English. Basic knowledge of Chinese or German is of course desirable or should be acquired. Only one Master's thesis has to be written, which can be carried out either in Taiwan or in Germany.

For FH students who have already completed their Bachelor's degree in Mechatronics at FB8 and have also registered there for the Master's in Mechatronics, the Master's programme with the double degree option is not shortened, but remains a four-semester programme: they study the 1st semester at FH Aachen, the 2nd + 3rd semester at Taiwan Tech, and the Master's thesis is written in the 4th semester (in Germany or Taiwan).