B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering (International)

About the course

A three-year (6-semester, 180 ECTS) bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at KIT, taught entirely in English. Students start in the winter semester only. The Carl Benz School of Engineering offers an optional, fee-paying College Program for international students with study support, tutorials, soft-skills training and accommodation. You do not have to join it to take the degree.

Entry requirements for Irish students

• Germany’s rules (KMK/ZAB on anabin) give the Leaving Certificate direct university entry only with the right subjects and levels. You need six subjects, including two languages and Maths at O5/H6 or better. Two of the six must be at Higher Level with H5 or better, and the other four need O6/H6 or better. For engineering you also need Higher Level Maths at H5 or better plus a Higher Level science at H5 or better. LCA and LCVP are not accepted. KIT does not publish separate rules for Leaving Cert applicants, so confirm with KIT admissions (Studierendenservice).
• Programme-specific: you must also send an aptitude test result: SAT 1200+, ACT 24+ or TestAS core test 75%+. Places are ranked out of 45 points: Maths and Physics grades (up to 10), the aptitude test (up to 20), a motivation letter (up to 10) and professional or extracurricular achievements (up to 5).
• English: you need English at B2 level, for example TOEFL iBT 90, IELTS 6.5 (no section below 5.5), Cambridge CAE or CPE, or UNIcert II. You do not need a certificate if your classes were taught in English for the last two years. This should cover most Irish school-leavers, but check with KIT.

How to apply

1. Check your subjectsMake sure your Leaving Cert plan includes Higher Level Maths and a Higher Level science at H5 or better, plus two languages, in line with German rules. Physics is useful, because KIT scores Maths and Physics grades.
2. Sit an aptitude testBook the SAT (1200+), ACT (24+) or TestAS (75%+ in the core test) early. A strong score is worth up to 20 of the 45 selection points.
3. Apply on the KIT portal by the deadlineApply through KIT’s online portal by the deadline (30 April for 2026 entry). Upload your school results, your test score, a motivation letter and any achievements.
4. Budget and planBudget for the KIT semester fee (EUR 184 per semester) plus rent and living costs in Karlsruhe. Decide whether you want the optional, fee-paying College Program at the Carl Benz School, which includes accommodation.

Costs

• KIT is a public university and EU students pay no tuition. You pay only the KIT semester fee, which is EUR 184 per semester (about EUR 368 a year) from summer semester 2025. It is made up of an EUR 80 administrative charge, EUR 92 for the Studierendenwerk and EUR 12 for the student union. The EUR 1,500 per semester tuition fee applies only to students from outside the EU. The Carl Benz School’s College Program (support, tutorials and accommodation) is optional and costs extra. Check the Carl Benz School’s Costs & Fees page for the price, and check the 2027/28 semester fee before you enrol.

At a glance