Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University

What Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University does

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (Fakultät für Maschinenwesen) is one of the largest and oldest mechanical engineering faculties within RWTH Aachen University, a public German state university founded in 1870 and located in Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia. The faculty delivers a multi-level academic portfolio spanning bachelor's degree programs (Mechanical Engineering B.Sc., Business Administration and Engineering B.Sc., Computational Engineering Sciences B.Sc., Human-Technology Interaction and Communication B.Sc.), master's programs for advanced specialization, and a doctoral track supported by a dedicated Doctoral Academy. Education and research are organized across more than 50 specialized institutes and chairs covering fluid mechanics, automotive engineering (ika), production and machine tools (WZL), laser technology (LLT), plastics processing (IKV), materials science, robotics, aerospace (ILR), rail (IFS), energy (E.ON ERC), and newer domains such as e-mobility production (PEM), digital additive production (DAP), and data science in mechanical engineering (DSME). The faculty is led by Dean Professor Wolfgang Schröder and is governed administratively through the Dean's Office, with budgetary and HR functions managed by Marco Pingen as Head of Budget and Human Resources.

The faculty operates as a non-commercial, state-funded academic institution. Its "revenue model" is governed by German state law, with funding flowing from state allocations to RWTH Aachen University and from third-party research grants (DFG, BMBF, EU programs, industry collaboration). Tuition is not commercially priced and prospective students are directed to general RWTH information about BAföG and living costs. Distribution is centralized through RWTH infrastructure: RWTHonline for applications and examinations, RWTHmoodle for learning, RWTHcontacts for directories, and a centralized Jobportal for recruitment. International reach is delivered through the ERASMUS exchange program, the Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP), and T.I.M.E. / non-T.I.M.E. double-degree partnerships, supported by bilateral agreements with European and Swiss partner universities.

The faculty is embedded in a dense research ecosystem that includes JARA (Jülich Aachen Research Alliance with Forschungszentrum Jülich), DFG-funded Research Units and Collaborative Research Centers, multiple Fraunhofer Institutes, the DWI Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, and the I³ Interdisciplinary Integrated Institutes. Marketing and outreach are conducted through the official website, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), and flagship events such as the Mechanical Engineering Day, which attracted more than 500 visitors to Campus Melaten in June 2026. Recent leadership developments include the October 2025 appointment of Dr. Olivier Reinertz as adjunct professor at ifas, reinforcing teaching and research in microsystems technology and pneumatics.

Name

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University

Legal name

Fakultät für Maschinenwesen, RWTH Aachen University

Website

https://maschinenbau.rwth-aachen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1870

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University delivers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs across more than 50 specialized institutes, serving students, doctoral researchers, and industrial partners within a state-funded, research-led German public university ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Engineering

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Universities with Specialized Engineering Domains (EDAHAEAI), Public Research Universities with Engineering/Polytechnic Emphasis (EDAHAAAD), Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities (EDAHAEAB)

Keywords

• Mechanical engineering education
• Engineering research programs
• Doctoral research training
• International student exchange
• Applied engineering research

Headquarters

HQ city

Aachen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering provides higher education programs (bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees) and conducts applied and fundamental research in mechanical engineering disciplines. Its offering spans academic teaching, structured doctoral training through the Doctoral Academy, international student mobility via ERASMUS/SEMP/Double Degree programs, and research and technology transfer delivered through more than 50 specialized institutes and chairs.

Product overview

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (Fakultät für Maschinenwesen) at RWTH Aachen University operates as an academic institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services. The portfolio includes undergraduate programs (Bachelor's degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Business Administration and Engineering, Computational Engineering Sciences), graduate programs (Master's degrees for advanced specialization), and doctoral research programs through the Doctoral Academy. International mobility products include ERASMUS exchange for European partner universities, SEMP for Switzerland, and Double Degree programs (T.I.M.E. and Non-T.I.M.E.). Research infrastructure encompasses over 50 institutes and chairs covering fluid mechanics, automotive, laser technology, manufacturing, robotics, aerospace, and materials science. Student support services include the Virtuelles Praktikantenamt (ViPA) for internship guidance and counseling services. The faculty also supports ERASMUS Internship Funding for international work placements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ERASMUS Exchange Program: European Union student mobility program supporting inner-European exchanges with bilateral agreements between European partner institutions
• Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP)
• I³ - Interdisciplinary Integrated Institutes
• Graduate School
• Doctoral Academy

Products and services

• Bachelor's Degree Programs in Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate degree programs including Mechanical Engineering B.Sc., Business Administration and Engineering with Mechanical Engineering specialization B.Sc., Computational Engineering Sciences B.Sc., and Human-Technology Interaction and Communication B.Sc. with Mechanical Engineering. Designed for prospective students completing secondary school.
• Master's Degree Programs Graduate degree programs building on bachelor's qualifications, offering advanced specialization in mechanical engineering and related fields for continuing students and graduates.
• Doctoral Studies and Doctoral Academy Doctoral (PhD) research programs supported by the Doctoral Academy, providing structured doctoral training and research guidance for graduates pursuing advanced research.
• ERASMUS Exchange Program European student mobility program enabling RWTH students to study at partner universities across Europe through bilateral agreements, including tuition fee waivers, mobility grants, and simplified accreditation of academic performances.
• Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP) Exchange program for study stays at Swiss partner universities, including ETH Zurich, using the same application procedures as the ERASMUS programme.
• Double Degree Programs (T.I.M.E. and Non-T.I.M.E.) Dual-degree programs allowing students to earn degrees from RWTH Aachen and partner institutions, requiring separate application processes.
• Virtuelles Praktikantenamt (ViPA) Virtual internship office providing information, guidance, and support for mandatory and voluntary internships as part of the study program.
• ERASMUS Internship Funding Financial support for internships abroad in Europe through the ERASMUS+ program, requiring minimum 60 days duration as part of study requirements.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ERASMUS Program (European Universities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean student exchange program based on bilateral agreements between RWTH Aachen University and partner institutions across Europe. ERASMUS coordinators at both institutions help students plan study abroad semesters with learning agreements for credit recognition. Benefits include tuition fee waivers, mobility grants, and simplified accreditation of academic performances.
• DFG (German Research Foundation) - Research UnitscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research units funded by DFG, providing substantial research funding and enabling interdisciplinary research collaboration across German universities.
• JARA (Jülich Aachen Research Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterdisciplinary research partnership between RWTH Aachen University and Forschungszentrum Jülich, combining academic and applied research excellence.
• DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeibniz Institute affiliated with the faculty focusing on interactive materials research, bridging fundamental science and application.
• Fraunhofer InstitutescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple Fraunhofer Institutes associated with the faculty, enabling applied research collaboration and technology transfer between academia and industry.
• Forschungszentrum JülichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor research center in Jülich that collaborates with RWTH Aachen through JARA alliance and hosts joint institutes including Modeling of Energy Systems and Systembiotechnologie.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TU Delft — Faculty of Mechanical Engineering: TU Delft's mechanical engineering faculty is a top European peer focused on research-led mechanical engineering education with strong industry alignment in maritime, aerospace, and precision systems.
• ETH Zurich — Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering: ETH Zurich's mechanical engineering department is the most direct European peer, offering comparable bachelor/master/doctoral programs with strong industry ties, multiple specialized institutes, and a reputation as a top-tier technical university in the DACH region.
• Imperial College London — Department of Mechanical Engineering: Imperial's mechanical engineering department is a leading European peer with comparable research intensity, multiple specialized institutes, and industry-funded research portfolios in energy, transport, and biomedical engineering.
• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) — Faculty of Mechanical Engineering: KIT's mechanical engineering faculty is a peer public technical university in Germany with similar research-led teaching, Helmholtz/Fraunhofer affiliations, and competition for DFG and industry grants.
• Technical University of Munich (TUM) — School of Engineering and Design: TUM's mechanical engineering school is a direct domestic peer, competing for the same Excellence Strategy funding, top German faculty hires, and industry research partnerships across automotive, aerospace, and production engineering.
• TU Berlin — Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Transport Systems: TU Berlin's mechanical engineering faculty is a comparable German technical university faculty offering overlapping programs in mechanical engineering, transport systems, and production technology, competing for the same domestic talent pool.

Others

• German Research Foundation (DFG): DFG is the primary public research funder for German universities; the faculty's collaborative research centers, research units, and graduate schools are all DFG-funded, making DFG a critical enabler and indirect comparator for research output.
• Fraunhofer Society: Fraunhofer is a key research partner and ecosystem participant; multiple Fraunhofer Institutes collaborate with the faculty, and Fraunhofer competes for some of the same industry contract-research funding as the faculty's applied institutes.

Broad incumbents

• MIT — Department of Mechanical Engineering: MIT's mechanical engineering department is the global benchmark for research-led ME education with deeper funding, larger faculty, and broader industry relationships, often competing with RWTH for top international PhD candidates.
• Stanford University — School of Engineering: Stanford's engineering school operates at a larger scale with comparable research intensity, particularly in design, robotics, and energy systems, and is a competitor for global engineering talent and industry-sponsored research.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RWTHAachenUniversity.Fakultaet4
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rwth-maschinenwesen
• Instagraminstagram.com/rwth.maschinenwesen

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries46 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University