Industrial Engineering (Bachelor)

Understanding and optimising business processes, and successfully marketing technical products. In an increasingly global competition, the ability to break down barriers between countries, but particularly between departments and disciplines, is gaining importance.

Production companies require staff who combine solid technical knowledge with a high degree of economic and social skills, and who are familiar with aspects like productivity and cost-benefit ratios.

Students of the Industrial Engineering course at the Bocholt campus of the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences understand that a successful product is more than just a good technically system.

They learn to examine the specific purposes, needs and requirements of industrial users or end consumers, and actively help shape their company’s pricing and information policy. They acquire knowledge to continuously improve existing processes and technical procedures, economically optimise these, monitor existing markets and technologies, and thus ensure long-term product success. They are also able to unlock new areas of application, and identify trends for developing new products.

The learning environment is intimate, working in small groups and using state-of-the-art equipment. The teaching style is geared around practical application, often collaborating closely with companies from the region, which encourages simultaneous implementation of the skills and knowledge acquired at university.

Course content and structure

Academic degree: Bachelor of Science (B. Sc.)
Standard course duration: 6 semesters (3 years)
Course commencement: Winter semester (September)

During the first two semesters, students are taught the foundations of engineering and business administration, in subjects such as Mechanics, Materials science, Manufacturing technology, Electrical engineering, Business administration and Accounting.

They also include generally important modules like English or Mathematics.

The modules in the first two semesters serve as bases for the extension modules offers from the third semester onwards. The Design engineering extension module, for example, requires knowledge from Mechanics, Materials science and Manufacturing technology. As of semester 3, students acquire knowledge based on the points of intersection between technical understanding, customer/supplier relations and internal processes.

In semesters 4 and 5, they are taught about quality management, project management, planning and controlling, using the necessary aids, such as ERP systems. Their technical understanding is also enriched through the calculation and description of component properties, manufacturing machinery and other technical systems.

The internship phase in semester 6 gives students the opportunity to apply their new knowledge in contexts outside the university for the first time. This often generates ideas for topics for the final thesis at the end of the semester.

Career prospects

Industrial engineers are trained equally in the foundations of engineering and business, and, having successfully completed their studies, have the skills necessary to examine and evaluate all functional aspects of modern production processes.

As every production process must be examined from technical, business administration and organisational perspectives, graduates of this course can expect a wide range of work opportunities at production companies in all kinds of industries. Their skills also enable them to work at commercial enterprises, while their organisational knowledge means they can even be employed at service-providing companies.

Industrial engineers are called on to optimise technical processes from a business perspective. Reducing processing times, optimising stock and minimising setup times are all typical requirements for a company’s internal procedures, which play a critical role in determining their success or failure on the global market.

The course’s integrated internship phase allows students to gain important experience while still studying, giving them the opportunity to establish initial contact with potential employers. This in itself can be a key basis for successfully kick-starting their careers later on.

Postgraduate option: Masters course

Following on from the successful Bachelors course, students may complete a Masters degree at the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences or another university.

At the Bocholt campus, graduates of the Industrial Engineering course are offered the follow-on Masters of Business Engineering.

Having successfully completed the Masters course, students then have the option of doing a PhD (obtaining the title of doctor) at a university.

Further informations for exchange students

Redaktionell verantwortliche Person nach § 55, Abs. 2 RStV:
Dekan des Fachbereichs, Prof. Dr. Martin Maß