OpenFieldDAAD STIBET International Academic Graduation Grant at Esslingen
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) funded scholarship supporting international master's students during their final experimental or industrial master's thesis.
Hochschule Esslingen: Automotive Systems, Automation & Industry 4.0 Guide
Hochschule Esslingen (Esslingen University of Applied Sciences) is one of Germany's most highly ranked public universities of applied sciences, situated in the heart of Europe's premier automotive and industrial engineering region (Stuttgart area). Partnering directly with Daimler, Porsche, Bosch, and Festo, Esslingen delivers world-class practical engineering and applied research.
Verified degree programs and opportunities
Review checked academic pathways and funding options below:
Master of Engineering (MEng) in Automotive Systems & Autonomous Driving
Flagship 3-semester international graduate program taught in English, covering ADAS perception sensors, electric powertrain architecture, and vehicle dynamics.
Cooperative Doctoral Candidacy (PhD) in Industrial Robotics & Smart Automation
Doctoral research position conducted through the Baden-Württemberg Doctoral Center, developing collaborative cobots and computer vision for high-precision manufacturing.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell & Battery Systems Laboratory Research Assistantship
Applied research investigating degradation mechanisms in proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells and lithium-ion battery packs under cold climate operating cycles.
Stuttgart Automotive Cluster Mandatory Industrial Internship
Mandatory six-month engineering placement embedded within Tier-1 automotive and industrial corporations such as Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Bosch, or Mahle.
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Connected Mobility & Cyber-Physical Systems
Full-time postdoctoral appointment developing secure 5G vehicular communication protocols and real-time edge computing frameworks for cooperative automated vehicles.
Master of Engineering in Design and Development in Automotive and Mechanical Engineering
Accredited master's program emphasizing lightweight structural design, finite element analysis (FEA), composite materials, and computer-aided engineering (CAE).
Admissions, language requirements & application process
- Master's admission eligibility
- Four-year Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical, automotive, electrical, or mechatronic engineering with minimum German grade of 2.5 (or international equivalent / GPA 3.0+).
- Doctoral admission eligibility
- Doctoral degrees awarded collaboratively through the Baden-Württemberg Doctoral Association (Promotionsverband BW) and partner research universities.
- Language proficiency
- TOEFL iBT 79+ or IELTS Academic 6.5; German A1/A2 required during first year of study for daily integration and corporate internships.
- Research statement / Proposal
- Required for cooperative doctoral candidates: 3,000-word proposal aligned with an accredited Esslingen professor and university co-supervisor.
- Application fee
- €0 (Central university portal) or €75 via uni-assist for international credential evaluation.
- Required documentation
- Bachelor's diploma, academic transcript of records, APS certificate (for China/India/Vietnam), motivation letter, and two academic recommendation letters.
Tuition fees and verified scholarship systems
Tuition is legally set by the state of Baden-Württemberg at €1,500 per semester for non-EU/EEA international students, plus an administrative semester fee of approximately €180. EU/EEA citizens pay zero tuition. Generous DAAD STIBET graduation grants and industrial company thesis stipends provide substantial support.
Verified faculty profiles and research leaders
Distinguished researchers and laboratory heads at Esslingen University of Applied Sciences:
Dr. Sascha Röck
Professor of Automation & Virtual Commissioning & Industry 4.0 · Digital Twins, Virtual Commissioning, Industrial IoT, Mechatronics Simulation
Dr. Ferdinand Panik
Honorary Professor of Fuel Cell Vehicles & Clean Propulsion · Fuel Cell Vehicles, Hydrogen Storage, Zero-Emission Powertrains, Automotive Systems
Dr. Richard Koch
Professor of Automotive Electronics & Autonomous Systems · Automotive Radar, Sensor Fusion, Computer Vision, CAN-Bus Security
Important verification note
Facts reflect official Esslingen University of Applied Sciences documentation reviewed 2026-10-15. Degree admissions, scholarship awards, and employment positions are subject to formal university review. OpenField does not charge students application fees.
Reviewed 2026-10-15 · Editorial standards · Report an issue