Start your Master Studies early, meaning you have more free time during the next semester; or complete your Bachelor Studies at Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany.

We offer:

• Studying automotive technology in Germany, where the automobile was born and most of the premium cars are developed and produced
• Studying at one of Germany‘s best universities for mechanical engineering
• Experiencing the cutting edge of automotive research
• Execution of a research project together with German students

And furthermore:

• Global experience
• The opportunity to travel within Europe
• Learn the German language
• More free time during following semesters – for leisure or to focus on your research
• Becoming acquainted with the German culture

The program consists of three automotive engineering classes (Automotive Development Trends, Advanced Design Project, Tutorial Automotive Engineering) and a language & culture course. Start in Germany will be on May 21st, 2012. Duration of the program is 10 weeks (until July 27th, 2012). Afterwards, you will have time to travel around Europe before the fall semester begins.

CLASSES

Trends in Automotive Development is an extension of the knowledge about motor vehicles through lectures on current research topics of FZD’s scientific employees, as well as field trips.

Advanced Design Project is a team project about an automotive topic. A possible topic is the construction of a part for Darmstadt’s Formula Student Racing Team. You will work hand in hand with German students.

Automotive Engineering Lab is a combination of lectures and experiments. In experiments theoretical knowledge is put into practice.

Classes will mainly be held in English, so that German skills are not necessary before traveling to Europe. Nevertheless, there will be plenty of opportunities to improve your German skills.

ABOUT FZD

Automotive Engineering at Technische Universität Darmstadt (FZD) is a chair and a research institution within the Department of Mechanical Engineering. In 2002 the chairmanship was taken over by Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Hermann Winner. FZD employs 15 scientific assistants, one chief engineer, several lecturers and administrative staff. Research at FZD is supported substantially be the institute’s own mechanic and electronic workshops. The ability of the six employees and several apprentices reaches from the production of simple components up to the construction of complete test arrays as well as the equipment of prototypes with measurement technique.

Research at FZD

Research at FZD comprises six fields:

For the Driver Assistance Systems, the focus lies on the environment interpretation and the functional development. Innovative overall designs are worked out for the assisted future driving as well.

In the field of Vehicle Dynamics, driving dynamics control systems and different functional units of the chassis are investigated, particularly steering and semi-active suspension. The tire research has a long tradition at FZD too; whose best-known result is the Darmstadt Tire Sensor.

The Motorcycle research represents a specific feature since FZD is the only university institute in Germany which can look back at a long tradition in this area. The stabilization assistance is the focus of attention of the research.

The field of Safety comprises the development of new active safety systems and the analysis of the resulting test requirements.

Another traditional area of research is the Brake Technology and the permanent development of this complex system.

The sixth field of research is the development of Test Methods, as e.g. EVITA for testing active hazard braking systems.

FZD Test Drive Project

FZD tests and evaluates new cars, provided to FZD by car manufacturers for several weeks throughout the year. Examples: Opel Insignia OPC, BMW 750i

Equipment

FZD is equipped with several experimental cars and motorcycles, and many test rigs, e.g. hydraulic pulse generator, flywheel dynamometer, two-rolls test bench. Furthermore, FZD uses the test track on the August Euler Airfield in Griesheim.

DARMSTADT AND TU DARMSTADT

Darmstadt is a city with 150k inhabitants and about 30k students. It is approximately 35 km (22 miles) south of Frankfurt. You can reach many exciting areas of Germany and of Europe easily. Technische Universität Darmstadt (TUD) is one of Germany’s best universities for mechanical engineering, as confirmed by all known rankings.

More information about the city of Darmstadt: Homepage of Darmstadt

More information about Technische Universität Darmstadt: Homepage of TU Darmstadt

HOUSING, INSURANCE, ESTIMATED COSTS, VISA

Information about this is provided by our Office for International Relations.

Additional Information

For Automotive Engineering Summer students can enter Germany as a tourist and stay for 3 months without applying for a Student Residence Permit (Student Visa). I.e. if you arrive on May 23rd, you will have to leave Germany (and in consequence countries belonging to the European Union) by August 22nd.

We will not be able to place students in on-campus housing, since the program takes place during the on-going spring semester („Sommersemester“). Students will therefore be placed in off-campus housing, which might be a bit more expensive (approx. 300-350,- Euros/month).

APPLICATION PROCESS

Deadline: February, 15th, 2012