About the Degree Programme
Climate change and resource scarcity call for innovative solutions from engineers. In the Bachelor’s program in Green Engineering in Zittau, you’ll become an expert in sustainable technologies and the circular economy. You’ll develop holistic approaches to designing product life cycles in an environmentally friendly way and driving forward eco-friendly innovations. This forward-looking degree program provides you with the best possible preparation for a job market that combines technical expertise with environmental awareness.
Interdisciplinary Expertise for a Sustainable Circular Economy
The program provides you with a unique combination of three core areas:
- Process engineering for efficient and environmentally friendly processes to recover important secondary raw materials from waste, residual materials, production byproducts, and biomass
- Mechanical Engineering for the development of sustainable recycling plants and consumer goods through circular design
- Environmental engineering for keeping air, water, and soil free of harmful pollutants
The balanced distribution of departments (40% each in process engineering and Mechanical Engineering, 20% in environmental engineering) creates a solid foundation for interdisciplinary work. Through hands-on projects and an integrated work placement semester, you’ll gain valuable experience even while you’re still in school. As a graduate, you’ll make an important contribution to the planet and embark on a fulfilling career that reflects your values while also challenging you.
Optional Track with KIAdirekt
What makes this degree programme unique: It is optionally available as a cooperative KIAdirekt degree programme. This means you’ll work at a company (the cooperative partner) and earn an income. The KIAdirekt option at our university is explained in more detail here.
| faculty: | Mechanical Engineering |
| Location: | Zittau |
| Degree: | Bachelor of Engineering |
| standard period of study: | 7 semesters |
| ECTS credits: | 210 |
| Language of instruction: | German |
| Enrolment for: | Winter semester |
| Application period: May 1 through September 30 | Start of studies: October |
| Admission restrictions: | No admission restrictions (no NC) Details |
| No prerequisite internship | Student Advisory Service |
| Accreditation status: | In preparation |
Course content
The seven-semester Bachelor’s program in Green Engineering systematically combines technical fundamentals with a specialization in environmental engineering. In the first two semesters, you’ll build a solid foundation in mathematics, thermodynamics, mechanics, and materials science. At the same time, you’ll begin learning specific Green Engineering methods and gain your first practical experience in project workshops.
Starting in the third semester, you’ll focus more intensively on environmental engineering aspects: from life cycle assessment to production-integrated environmental protection and circular technologies. You’ll spend the fifth semester as a work placement semester at a company or research institution. In the sixth and seventh semesters, you’ll deepen your knowledge through compulsory elective modules in areas such as the bioeconomy or environmental bioprocess engineering and work on a scientific project before writing your Bachelor thesis on a current topic in sustainable engineering.
For the KIAdirekt track : Practical study phases at companies are completed during the lecture-free period.
- Engineering Thermodynamics I
- Engineering Mechanics I
- Business Administration
- Green Engineering
- Physics Project Workshop
- Engineering Mathematics I
- Technical Thermodynamics II
- Engineering Mechanics II
- Design I & Materials Engineering
- Basics of programming
- Project Workshop Chemistry
- Engineering Mathematics II
- Machine Elements I
- Fluid Mechanics I
- Production-integrated environmental protection
- Environmental Technology I
- Life cycle assessment & energetic process analysis
- Environmental Technology II
- Circular design
- Manufacturing technology I
- Communication & sustainable practice project
- Environmental Technology III
- Data Science
- FEM I and applied mathematics
- Project work
work placement semester
- Drive Technology
- Circular Technologies
- Environmental Engineering IV
- Interdisciplinary Skills
- Elective-Required Courses
- Quality management / Quality Assurance
- Bioeconomy
- Environmental Engineering V
- Environmental Bioprocess Engineering
- Research Project
- Bachelor thesis
Career opportunities
Professional areas where you can get started
With your Green Engineering degree, you will acquire the unique skills to
- develop modern and AI-controlled sorting machines and processes as a process engineer
- design more sustainable products and use environmentally friendly materials as a design engineer,
- as an environmental engineer, to apply innovative methods for monitoring and cleaning air, water and soil,
and all this together with companies in the region.
Research and Development
You’ll work on innovative technologies and processes for sustainable industrial solutions. You’ll research new materials, optimize processes, and develop forward-looking concepts. Your expertise will play a key role in shaping the circular economy.
Project Planning and Design
You plan and develop sustainable plants, systems, and processes. You apply your expertise in process engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and environmental engineering to create and implement environmentally friendly and efficient solutions.
Product Development
You will design and optimize innovative, eco-friendly products for the circular economy. You will analyze materials, assess environmental impacts, and develop solutions that leave a positive ecological footprint and conserve resources.
Quality and Environmental Management
You develop and monitor strategies to ensure compliance with environmental and quality standards. You help companies fulfill their environmental responsibilities and implement sustainable business practices.
Product Life Cycle Management
You analyze and optimize the entire life cycle of products from conception to disposal. You minimize ecological impact, promote recycling and support the development of closed material cycles.
Recycling and environmental technology
You plan, develop and implement systems for resource recovery and waste reduction. You promote closed cycles in industry and actively contribute to the conservation of resources and environmental relief.
Here's what our students have to say about the Green Engineering bachelor's program
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Starting now, we're also offering our Student Advisory Service via WhatsApp. Just send us a message at: +49 173 2086748
Our promise to you
Studying in the wild east?
Studying with us is different. Above all, better. Why? We have a family atmosphere. There are small study groups and the lecturers are always there for you. There is a close connection to practice in all degree courses. And finding affordable accommodation is no problem here.
There are many other reasons, such as university sports or the student representatives, clubs and societies. Campus life in Zittau and Görlitz, the wild east, is unique.