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
- 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 some cultural supporting program. Start in Germany will be on May 26th, 2025. The overall duration of the program is 11 weeks and therefore the program officially ends in the evening of August 1st, 2025. Afterwards, you will have time to travel around Europe before the fall semester in the US begins.
Classes
Trends in Automotive Engineering is an extension of the knowledge about motor vehicles through lectures on current research topics of FZD’s scientific employees.
Advanced Design Project A team project about an automotive topic. For example, tasks of the last years included the construction of parts for research prototypes or programming a toolbox to evaluate environment perception.
Automotive Engineering Lab is a combination of lectures and experiments. In experiments theoretical knowledge is put into practice.
Classes will be held in English, so that German skills are not necessary. Nevertheless, if you want there will be plenty of opportunities to learn some German.
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 (TUDa) 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 and Visa
Automotive Engineering Summer students can enter Germany as a tourist and stay for 90 Days without applying for a Student Residence Permit (Student Visa).
In contrast to the US or Canada, we don’t offer on-campus housing but off-campus housing will be organized for you by our Office for International Relations.
The overall program fee is approximately around 2,600 € (2800 USD / 3800 CAD) including:
- Course program
- Organized housing
- Public local transportation (almost the whole state of Hessen)
- Several social events
- 1-2 organized trips within Germany
More Information about this is provided by our Office for International Relations (opens in new tab)
Additional Information
You are interest in AESG an want to learn more? Or you are maybe already nominated and want to get all the detailed information?
- Download our AESG short presentation
- Download the handbook (opens in new tab) which is written by former AESG participants.
Application Process
For more Information about the application process please contact your study abroad office
VT Students
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Office of Study Abroad Programs
Marielle Wijnands
Assistant Director for Student Services
Virginia Tech | Global Education Office
526 Prices Fork Road, Room 131
Blacksburg, VA 24060
E-Mail: marielle@vt.edu
UBC Students
University of British Columbia
Go Global: International Learning Programs
Eyobe Melketsadik
Office of the Vice-Provost, International
UBC Life Building, 1100-6138 Student Union Boulevard
Vancouver BC V6T 1Z1 Canada
E-Mail: go.global@ubc.ca
