“Mechanical engineering” – the words say it all… you develop and construct all kinds of machines. And after you graduate, you can work in the automotive industry or for a hidden champion, who manufactures gears or screws. Most people have a certain image of mechanical engineering in their mind, but I didn’t realise that there is so much more to it than that until I started at the TU Darmstadt.

Sustainable energy supply, innovative flight systems, modern paper manufacturing, 3D printing processes and autonomous driving – all these aspects are a part of mechanical engineering. Developing innovative solutions today for tomorrow's world is the goal of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the TU Darmstadt. And that’s plain to see! From day one, you work together as a team to solve current issues! The good thing is: You'll notice pretty quickly which area of mechanical engineering you like best. For me, it's energy and power plant technology – these topics are not only trendy, but also really political – a great combination!

Regardless of whether you want to specialise in a specific subject area of mechanical engineering (we'll tell you what these are below) or prefer to study a wide range of subjects, you will first need to learn all the mathematical and mechanical basics in your first few semesters. Only if you have mastered the basics of mechanical engineering, will you be able to work on complex topics later. Sounds dry and boring? It's not boring at all!

For example, there is a class everyone takes in the first semester called "Introduction to Mechanical Engineering.” Over a period of one week, you will work to solve a current problem in teams of eight or nine people. Last year, students tackled how drones can be used to transport medical goods for the Red Cross. Participants were not only mechanical engineering students, but also from the mathematics department. It is a great opportunity to meet new people outside your own programme and to learn from others.

Interdisciplinary studies not only sound fancy but are an essential part of the mechanical engineering programme at the TU Darmstadt. From day one up until you finish your thesis, you work closely with other departments and students! For example, I wrote my bachelor's thesis at the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Electrical Engineering and had not just one, but two supervisors. The coordination was no problem at all and I was able to get to know a different area of the university. In fact, there are a few students, who write their theses in different departments, e.g. with an additional focus on mathematics or computer science. This not only looks good on your resumé, but also prepares you for your professional life. After all, forward-looking solutions for our society can only be developed if you work together with experts from all areas!

Making a difference and making a positive contribution to society – the Department of Mechanical Engineering is currently proving that this is possible even during your time at the TU Darmstadt. At the moment, protective masks for the treatment of corona patients are really hard to come by! That's why the Mechanical Engineering and Architecture departments at the TU Darmstadt have joined forces and are now printing 50 reusable full-face masks on 3D printers every day, which are then delivered to hospitals! At the same time, the Centre for Construction Materials at the TU Darmstadt is helping the Alice Hospital by analysing how multiple uses of face masks can be made possible while guaranteeing the strictest hygiene standards – another important contribution to saving resources and easing supply bottlenecks for medical face masks.

Of course, these are just two of many examples that show what can be achieved with cooperation. And of course, not all further developments get as much attention. In my specialisation, energy and power plant technology, this perhaps means that we develop a mechanism that increases energy efficiency by a few percent! It may not sound particularly outstanding at first, but it does have a major impact if we want to secure the energy of the future and become climate neutral. The possibilities in mechanical engineering are unlimited, regardless of whether you want to work in research or business.

Especially if you want to work for a company after your bachelor’s or master's degree, it is very important to meet your first contacts while you are still at the TU Darmstadt. The Department of Mechanical Engineering is very well connected in this respect – not only in Germany, but also internationally! In my case with the development team of Boeing USA. Together with my fellow students, we designed an aircraft cockpit for them and were able to present it to them personally. To get feedback directly from the Boeing developers on our design was a real highlight!

For those who want to study even more internationally, the Department of Mechanical Engineering offers several different options – from exchange semesters at a partner university to internships abroad. As you can see, with a degree in mechanical engineering the world is open to you!

You want to know more about studying mechanical engineering at TU Darmstadt? Then have a look at our other blog post – there, three fellow students and I tell you what it's really like!