Upper Austria is the nation's leading state for mechanical and plant engineering. Many of these regionally-located companies are among the global leaders in their industry. The JKU has developed close working relationships with many of these well-known, internationally active companies, especially since creating the Mechatronics degree program at the JKU. Students can find a very active field for internships and professional activities designed to advance your future career. You are always at the cutting-edge - something that our educational programs at the JKU reflect.
Design the inner mechanical structure for an autonomous excavator, create a production line to manufacture motor-cross machines or build a robotic exoskeleton to support recovering patients. Study mechanical engineering at the JKU!
Today's state-of-the-art machines are based on long-time tried and true foundations of mechanical engineering. Today's machines, however, communicate with each other, or can operate entirely on their own. When it comes to future advancements, the sky's the limit - and this is where you come in!
This Bachelor's degree program focuses on building machines that can face the many challenges the future will bring. These machines will require less energy, use fewer materials, and will impact people and our surrounding environment more positively. You will be asked to think about the 'big picture' and take responsibility.
Whether developing machines or vehicles - or working in the electrical, automation, production, or transportation industry - you can apply your acquired skills anywhere.
Page Content
Key Facts
Degree
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
Duration
6 Semesters
ECTS
180 Credits
Language
German (Level B2)
Location
Linz
Program
Full-Time
Why This Degree Is Particularly Attractive
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Hands-On, Real-World Experience Right from the Start: Project work, field trips, and an 'Open Innovation Challenge' - during the first year of the program, you can demonstrate your expertise and hands-on skills!
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Start with Mechanical Engineering and study a variety of options: You start your degree program together with students studying mechanical engineering and electronics & information technology. This gives you an idea of different fields and subject areas and after your first year of studies, if you want to, you can easily switch to mechatronics or electronics & information technology.
Program Structure
You can choose your area of specialization from among the following electives:
- Modelling and Simulation
- Product Development
- Drive and Control Technology
- Material and Production Technology
- Information Technologies
The Bachelor's degree program in Mechanical Engineering consists of the following areas*:
*Subject to change
Studies Introduction and Orientation Phase (StEOP)
After enrolling in a Bachelor's degree program, you will be required to complete the StEOP requirements at the start of your studies. The StEOP requirements consists of certain courses that are outlined in the curriculum. If you take other academic courses before completing the required StEOP courses, you will only get limited academic credit.
Areas of Specialization
The Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering at the JKU focuses on modern mechanical systems. This includes mechanical electrical/electronic elements and the software by which they are controlled. They interact flexibly with other machines, people, and the environment.
Subject areas include:
- The world of mechanical engineering: Designing and calculating mechanical components and systems (CAD, CAE, etc.); lightweight construction, such as parts for aircraft
- Base-knowledge physics: Technical mechanics, fluid mechanics and thermodynamics
- Materials: Construction, properties, treatment, selection
- Manufacturing/Production: Manufacturing and processing technologies
- Electrical/Electronic components and systems: Base-knowledge fundamentals, electrical drives, sensors and measurement technology
- Automation technology: Controlling and regulating mechanical systems
- Robotics
- Computer Science: Software, programming, product data management, artificial intelligence
Our mechanical engineering students talk about their studies
Let our mechanical engineering students and professors tell you about studying mechanical engineering at the JKU.
We would like to point out that when playing the video, data may be transmitted to external parties. Learn more by reading our
data privacy policy
What You Will Learn in the Program
The program's core goal is to master the basics of mechanical engineering. In addition, you will learn to develop machines that will grow and meet new future challenges. You will learn how to share responsibility and think alongside the overall system.
- You acquire the ability to successfully participate and play a key role in planning, designing, operating and/or selling modern mechanical systems (such as autonomous vehicles, hydrogen engines) using scientific methods and become a leader in this area.
- As a "mechanical engineer", you will be mainly responsible for mechanical subsystems, successfully mastering the corresponding analytical, designing, and technological disciplines.
- This academic degree program gives you the necessary skills to actively take part in the decision making process for higher-level system issues. You are qualified to work together with representatives in other disciplines using a goal-oriented approach as well as understand the technical language.
- When it comes to many types of modern machines and systems, electrical and electronic subsystems play a key role in the overall system. You will learn to sufficiently understand and describe them using system theoretical methods.
- Above all, you will master scientific base-knowledge fundamentals, quickly familiarizing yourself with very different fields of professional activities and industries.
Did you know that...?
Mechanical Engineering graduates are in high demand! The program at the JKU was created in response to the business and industrial community's request for highly-skilled graduates in this area. The curriculum was designed according to modern requirements.
JKU Podcast for Prospective Students
Although modern machines are based on proven principles in mechanical engineering, in the future they will require less energy, use fewer materials, and have minimal negative impact on people and the environment. Mechanical engineers of today are being called upon to think about the "big picture", take responsibility, and are learning how to manufacture machines that can meet future challenges. This episodes of "Lecture Hall Insights" focuses on JKU students Katharina and Flamur talking about the JKU's degree program in Mechanical Engineering, the fascinating experiments they have conducted as part of their studies, and how interesting their laboratory exercises are. Have fun listening!
We would like to point out that when playing the audio, data may be transmitted to external parties. Learn more by reading our
data privacy policy
Your Career Prospects
Your Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering initially prepares you to pursue an advanced Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering (scheduled to start in the Fall of 2023 at the JKU).
Graduates who hold a Bachelor's degree can pursue a business career at many different industries in areas such as product development, design, calculation, production, or even in sales:
- Robotics
- Agricultural and forestry machinery
- Machine tools
- Metal and polymer production
- All types of vehicles and aircraft ranging from passenger cars and fire engines to drones designed for rescue observations
Graduates of the Master's degree program are qualified for various engineering activities, especially in management positions.
- Draft/design modern machinery: You work on developing electric cars as well as laser sintering machines for 3D metal printing.
- Plant engineering: You develop, for example, a production line for motocross machines and design the way robots and processing machines interact.
- Simulate computerized system behavior by creating your own program in which robotic movements supports the control system you have designed.
- Experimental work: You focus, for example, on studying an aircraft wing section made of carbon-fiber reinforced plastic for fatigue behavior, especially when exposed to turbulant wind conditions on a dynamic test rig.
- Project management, production planning, system optimization or technical sales: As a project manager, you will be responsible for developing and installing automatic production plants for car bodies, planning hydraulic excavator production, optimizing their hydraulic drives, or talking with international customers to present the latest developments in fighting tunnel fires.
„Self-driving vehicles, state-of-the-art production lines, exoskeletons for physical rehab patients. If you are interested, join us and learn how to build the future.“
Admission to Studies
Admission Requirements
In order to be admitted to the Bachelor's degree program, you must fulfill the following requirements.
- Hold general university entrance qualifications (such as an Austrian "Matura" diploma)
- Proof of education in "Descriptive Geometry" (at least 4 hours/week). If the applicant did not take “Descriptive Geometry” at the high-school level, he/she will be required to pass a supplementary examination.
- If your first language is not German, you will be required to submit proof of language proficiency in German.
Still Have Questions?
Then contact us!
Department
Admissions Office
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Earning an Academic Degree without a "Matura" Diploma - How?
Did you know that you can enroll at the university to pursue an academic degree without holding a qualifying school-leaving certificate? Learn more now!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here at the JKU, we focus on electro-technological disciplines such as electrical drives and sensors/measurement technology. These areas are particularly important in the field of mechanical engineering. We also more strongly emphasize the systems theory perspective at the JKU.
When it comes to studying Mechanical Engineering, there is a stronger emphasis on areas such as design/product development, materials science, and production technologies and not as much emphasis on electrical engineering and automation technology. Graduates in Mechanical Engineering acquire stronger skills in product development for mechanical engineering systems.
The JKU offers preparation courses to support this degree program. These courses are for newly enrolled students and provide a condensed review of math from higher-level schools, helping to prepare you for introductory, university-level courses. Attendance is optional.
In addition, there is an organized mentoring program in which professors and other JKU faculty members meet in small groups and provide tips and advice about studying in the program.
Still Have Questions?
Do you need help registering or do you have questions about the program? Contact the JKU's Office of Student Information and Academic Advising (SIBS)!
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Advanced Degrees at the JKU
After completing your undergraduate degree, you can continue your education by pursuing an advanced degree:
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All Bachelor's and Diploma Degree Programs
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