Aeronautical Engineering (B. Eng.)

Autonomous flight systems – drones – delta wings: What’s your challenge?

Are you fascinated by flying and keen to understand how the technology behind this unique mode of transport works? Then the Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering at THI is the right choice for you. Here, you’ll learn how to develop new technologies and innovations in aviation – all whilst working in close collaboration with industry and research.

In the first stage of your degree, you’ll acquire fundamental engineering knowledge, which you’ll then build upon in the second stage with specialist lectures. You’ll deepen and broaden the skills you’ve acquired during your work placement semester at a company in the aviation industry. Finally, you’ll refine your personal profile with four compulsory-elective modules.

At THI, you’ll study at the official AI mobility hub of the Bavarian High-Tech Agenda – with unmanned flight as one of its cornerstones. This gives you excellent opportunities at the Ingolstadt campus to gain experience with AI in aeronautical engineering and product development. An excellent foundation for your future career in Industry 4.0 and beyond.

Degree
Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng.)
Duration
7 Semester
Start of studies
Winter

Accreditation
ASIIN
Dual Study
Yes
Main teaching language
German

The degree programme Aeronatical Engineering is divided into a two-semester introductory and orientation module completed by an orientation exam and a five-semester module of advanced study. Students have to choose a major field of study during the second module (3rd - 7th semester). The practical semester (5th semester) is a further important component of the program.

During their Aeronautics stury course, students will choose between three major fields. The study field “Maintenance” includes disciplines like Maintenance, Certification and Repair, whereas disciplines like Turbo Machines, Engine Maintenace and Certification are components of “Propulsion and Engine Installation”. Additionally the study field "Aircraft Design" includes structures, materials and design for fixed- and rotary-wing aircrafts.

Curriculum

1. Semester

Engineering Mathematics 1
5 ECTS

This module provides fundamental mathematical methods for engineers, covering differential and integral calculus, limits, infinite series, complex numbers, linear systems, and differential equations, forming the basis for technical applications.

Computer Science and Digitalisation
5 ECTS

This module covers fundamentals of data processing, algorithms, and programming, including program design, modern development environments, and the responsible use of AI-supported tools.

Material Science 1
5 ECTS

This module introduces the structure and behavior of engineering materials, including crystalline structures, diffusion, phase diagrams, iron-carbon systems, heat treatment, and basic material testing.

Principles of Mechanical Design
5 ECTS

This module provides fundamentals of engineering design, including technical drawings, standards, projection methods, tolerances, machine elements, and design for manufacturing.

Static Equilibrium Science
5 ECTS

This module covers fundamentals of statics of rigid bodies, including planar and spatial force systems, structures, internal forces and moments, center-of-gravity calculations, and friction.

Engineering Thermodynamics
5 ECTS

Introduction to aircraft engineering fundamentals, including aerodynamics, flight mechanics, materials, and structures, as well as manufacturing, maintenance, and system integration in civil and military aviation.

2. Semester

Advanced Engineering Mathematics
5 ECTS

Building on Engineering Mathematics 1, this module deepens linear algebra, matrix calculus, eigenvalues, multivariable analysis, vector calculus, and differential equations, forming a foundation for modeling and simulation.

Advanced Material Science
5 ECTS

Theory of Material Strength
5 ECTS

This module addresses stresses and deformations of components, including bending, torsion, multiaxial stress states, buckling, and strength verification.

Principles of Electrical Engineering
5 ECTS

This module covers DC and AC circuits, electric and magnetic fields, electrical machines, semiconductor devices, and fundamentals of electrical measurement.

Production Technology
5 ECTS

This module introduces thermodynamic fundamentals of energy and entropy, covering state changes, cycles, phase transitions, and efficiencies of technical processes.

Avionics
5 ECTS

This module introduces avionics fundamentals, including human-machine interfaces, flight control, navigation, communication systems, sensors, and data bus architectures.

3. Semester

Machine Elements
5 ECTS

Covers fundamentals of measurement and control engineering, including sensors, measurement methods, signal processing, and control systems, as well as calibration, error analysis, and aviation-related applications.

Strategic Product Planning and CAD
5 ECTS

This module covers structured product development methods from ideation to concept evaluation, including specifications, functional structures, creativity techniques, and CAD tools (CATIA) for 3D modeling, assemblies, and technical documentation.

Dynamics of Motion
5 ECTS

This module addresses dynamics of engineering systems, including kinematics and kinetics, multibody systems, impacts, work-energy principles, and vibrations.

Fluid Mechanics
5 ECTS

Applied Thermodynamics: Heat Transfer and Flow Machines
5 ECTS

Aviation Technology
5 ECTS

This module addresses aerospace manufacturing and assembly processes, including metallic and fiber-reinforced materials, process selection, cost efficiency, and laboratory experiments.

4. Semester

Project: Technical Design and Product Development
5 ECTS

Students work in teams on a practice-oriented design and development task, focusing on engineering methods, simulation, documentation, and presentation.

Flight Mechanics and Control
5 ECTS

This module combines flight mechanics and control engineering, covering stability, equations of motion, and the design and evaluation of aircraft control systems.

Thermal Turbomachines
5 ECTS

Covers design and operation of turbomachinery based on thermodynamics and fluid mechanics, including performance optimization and applications in aerospace engineering.

Aerodynamics
5 ECTS

This module addresses aerodynamic fundamentals of airfoils, wings, and aircraft configurations, including potential theory, lifting-line theory, and key dimensionless parameters.

Vibration Technology
5 ECTS

This module focuses on vibration theory, covering free and forced vibrations, multi-degree-of-freedom systems, modal analysis, and rotor dynamics.

Measurement and Control Systems
5 ECTS

This module covers fundamental machine elements such as fasteners, bearings, springs, and joints, focusing on functional design and integration into constructions.

5. Semester

Internship
24 ECTS

The internship enables practical application of academic knowledge in companies and supports transfer between theory and practice.

Internship Seminar
2 ECTS

The practical seminar develops job-related key skills such as teamwork, communication, presentation, and professional orientation.

Project and Quality Management
4 ECTS

This module covers fundamentals of project and quality management, including planning, scheduling, risk management, and quality assurance.

6. Semester

Numerical Simulation Methods
5 ECTS

Introduces numerical methods for solving engineering problems, including mathematical modeling, algorithms, simulation techniques, and numerical solutions of differential equations with practical applications.

Project
5 ECTS

Advanced Aviation Technology
5 ECTS

Advanced topics in aerospace engineering, focusing on aircraft systems, avionics, propulsion, flight control, maintenance, certification, and system analysis with modern aviation technologies.

Maintenance & Certification
5 ECTS

Introduces aircraft maintenance, repair, and certification processes, including legal frameworks, documentation, quality management, and international standards and safety requirements.

7. Semester

Lightweight Design
5 ECTS

This module introduces lightweight design in aerospace, covering structural models, shear fields, plate and shell theories, and stability failure.

Specialisation module: Compulsary Elective 1
5 ECTS

The compulsory elective modules in the specialist subject area can be chosen according to your field of study and personal interests.

Specialisation module: Compulsary Elective 2
5 ECTS

The compulsory elective modules in the specialist subject area can be chosen according to your field of study and personal interests.

Seminar Bachelor's Thesis
3 ECTS

This seminar prepares students for the bachelor’s thesis, covering scientific methods, topic selection, literature research, and scheduling.

Bachelor's Thesis
12 ECTS

The bachelor’s thesis is an independent engineering project with practical relevance that is documented, presented, and defended.

Quick Info

Application for study place

The program can only be started in the winter semester.
Since the program is not subject to admission restrictions, the application is made exclusively via the PRIMUSS application portal THI.

Application dates

Information on the application period and on the application procedure can be found on the page Application for a Bachelor's Study Place.

Requirements

The prerequisite for admission to studies at Technische Hpochschule Ingolstadt is either the general or subject-specific university entrance qualification or the advanced technical college entrance qualification. Regulations regarding prior practical experience are laid down in the study and examination regulations of the respective degree programmes.

The dual studies programme enables a combination of practical training elements in a company with the theoretical education provided by the university. There is a choice of either the joint model (academic study + vocational training) or the degree course with vocational experience (academic study + intense practical phases). There is an obvious advantage to students here: practically oriented academic study generally enables a particularly smooth transition from university to the world of work. What is more, the student usually receives financial remuneration from the company concerned.

In the joint model, students may start working at the company several months before the start of the first semester, depending on the company concerned. At the start of the course there is an alternation between theory (during the semester) and practical experience (between semesters and during the practical semesters). In order to embark on a dual studies programme, students have to apply to both a company and to THI (be sure to take note of company application deadlines!).

More info on our dual studies-pages, or check dual cooperation partner companies. Even if no partner company is currently active in this degree programme, you are welcome to contact us.

There are various career opportunities for aviation engineers starting from development, design and modelling, test and validation techniques, test engineering, aircraft certification, maintenance and repair services, production and assembly up to avionics and propulsion systems. Graduates will enjoy many job and career opportunities in and around Ingolstadt, but also on the national and international markets. This is due to the yearly increasing demand for aviation engineers like in the case of the A350 by Airbus or X4 by Airbus Helicopters.
Besides being one of the most rapidly developing business regions in Europe, Ingolstadt region is not only the home of famous automotive and electronics manufacturers, but also a location for several aviation industry companies like Airbus Group (Manching and Donauwörth), MBDA (Schrobenhausen) and many regional medium-sized companies. The career opportunities range from working as a project manager or a design engineer up to taking full responsibility for airplane programs.

The study programme requires a preparatory internship of at least 12 weeks, which has to be completed before the start of the 4th semester (during semester breaks). The preparatory internship is not part of our admission requirements.

General information on scholarship:

Financing your study programme might be a big challenge for you. On our homepage you find different opportunities of financing your academic studies at our university. Link:

Financial assistance

Please note that financial aid programmes are mostly not open to foreign students. For scholarships for students from abroad you may have a look here:

https://www.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/12359-finding-scholarships/
Public funding (BAföG) is only available to Germans and to EU citizens if they have spent a considerable part of their education in Germany. The university awards a scholarship called Deutschlandstipendium once a year which cannot fully cover living expenses. Additionally we have limited funds and support some international students for a maximum of one semester. Please do not actively approach the International Office on scholarships, once a year a call for application automatically reaches all international students.

Third party scholarship:

If you are an applicant from abroad, you may qualify for a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD): www.daad.de
If you are a German students we recommend to research for suitable scholarships on www.mystipendium.de
Please note that we cannot offer any guidance or support concerning scholarship applications.

We recommend that single students budget at least 700-900 EUR per month to meet personal expenses (accommodation, health insurance, stay, books, semester contribution)

German, at least with Level B2

FAQs

As part of the 8-week pre-study work placement, the applicant should be given concrete ideas and practical knowledge of the desired engineering activity.
If the applicant already has practical training through

completed vocational training, e.g. apprenticeship in mechanical engineering
a degree from a technical secondary school (FOS) specialising in engineering
a degree from a vocational secondary school (BOS) specialising in technology
an intended dual study programme (combined or study programme with in-depth practical experience)

no further pre-study work experience is required on presentation of the relevant evidence.

It is advisable to complete the pre-study work experience before starting the degree programme. At the latest at the beginning of the fourth semester of study, proof must be provided that the work has been completed in full, including a list of the work carried out. The pre-study work placement should be completed full-time and consecutively during the lecture-free period.

You must apply independently to a company of your choice for the pre-study work placement. A list of possible companies for a pre-study placement in the region and in the state of Bavaria is available from the programme director The pre-study placement should, but does not necessarily have to be completed in a company in the aviation industry Detailed information can be found in the section Specialist practical training/pre-study placement.

The Aeronautical Engineering degree programme specialises in aircraft and drones and offers a Bachelor of Engineering in Aeronautical Engineering (B. Eng.). An individual specialisation of their studies in the direction of aerospace engineering is given via the elective modules "Aerospace Engineering" and/or "Rocket Engineering". However, a separate degree as Aerospace Engineering (B. Eng.) is not possible at Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt.

The following aerospace companies are located in the Ingolstadt region:

Airbus Defence and Space in Manching and Airbus Eurocopter in Donauwörth.
Bundeswehr Technical Service, WTD61 in Manching
MBDA Germany in Schrobenhausen

The following aerospace companies are located in the Bavarian region:

MTU Aero Engines in Munich, Karlsfeld
Voith Composites in Munich, Garching
Leistritz in Nuremberg

In addition, there are a large number of supplier companies and aerial drone manufacturers in the region as well as in Bavaria.

The following compilation by bavAIRia e.V. provides an overview.

In the first and second semester, the curriculum provides for the modules Engineering Mathematics 1 and 2. In every academic study course in Engineering Sciences, no matter at which university and in which study course, these two modules are the first major challenge. If you need to catch up, it is advisable to attend a mathematics bridge course offered by the university before the Start of studies.

Contact options for prospective students

Apply online

Programme director and Academic advisor

Programme director and Academic advisor Aerospace Engineering (Bachelor)
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Armin Soika
Phone: +49 841 9348-4700
Room: A228
E-Mail: Armin.Soika@thi.de

More contact options

Study Ambassador Aeronautical Engineering
Kristiyan Ivanov

Module Handbook

The module handbook contains information on prerequisites, contents, learning outcomes, ECTS points, duration, work load, literature, references of the offered modules and lectures

Module Handbook Bachelor LT WS 2026_27 (pdf)

Subject-specific elective modules WS 2026_27 (pdf)

Praktisches Studiensemester (pdf)
Important information on internships and a practical seminar

Study and Examination Regulations

Study and examination regulations (SPO) (German only) deal with judicial matters concerning your study course. For more information please turn to the pages of the legal department.