Digital Engineering (B.Sc./B.Eng.)
Hamburger Fern-Hochschule · Hamburg, Germany
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
In the HFH Bachelor Digital Engineering (B.Sc./B.Eng.), you gain an interdisciplined academic foundation at the interface of mechanical, electrical and information engineering. The program combines self-study with online teaching and optional presence phases at selected study centers.
You can start your studies on multiple dates during the year and complete the degree either as Bachelor of Science with 180 ECTS or as Bachelor of Engineering with 210 ECTS. HFH supports learning with online seminars for all modules and provides study-relevant materials in the HFH web campus each semester.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Introduction modules covering Grundlagen der Wirtschaftsinformatik and Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten
- Quantitative foundations with Mathematik (Mathematik 1 and Mathematics 2 as listed in the study plan table)
- Technical and programming foundations including Grundlagen for later engineering topics
- Core software, data and systems topics such as Datenbanksysteme and Datenstrukturen & Algorithmen
- Engineering fundamentals like Automatisierungstechnik and further mathematics blocks
- Project Lab I / core application-focused module work that supports later specialisation themes
- Advanced engineering and design modules such as Mechatronische Systeme und Design and technical specialisation modules
- Project Lab I and Project Lab II components for applied project work
- Elective choice areas, including a BWL Wahlpflichtmodul as defined in the study plan
- Hauptpraktikum (main practical/internship) as integrated into the programme structure for the extended credit variant
- Bachelorarbeit (bachelor thesis) and related final assessment work
- Capstone structure combining applied learning with thesis preparation
Curriculum
Digital Engineering bachelor study plan with ECTS/CP per module and semester/block totals as published in the program’s Studiengangsspezifische Bestimmungen (SSB) and Prüfungsplan/Modulverteilung. This table reflects the Bachelor of Science structure (180 ECTS) and Bachelor of Engineering structure (210 ECTS) where applicable.
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | 5 modules | Einführung in die Betriebswirtschaft | 6 | 30 |
| Mathematik 1 | 6 | |||
| Grundlagen der Wirtschaftsinformatik | 6 | |||
| Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten | 6 | |||
| Wirtschaftsstatistik | 6 | |||
| Semester 2 | 6 modules | Datenbanksysteme | 6 | 36 |
| Datenstrukturen & Algorithmen | 6 | |||
| Programmierung 1 | 6 | |||
| Mathematik 2 | 6 | |||
| Wirtschaftsenglisch | 6 | |||
| Grundlagen der Künstlichen Intelligenz | 6 | |||
| Semester 3 | 6 modules | Messtechnik/Qualitätssicherung | 6 | 36 |
| Elektrotechnik/Elektronik | 6 | |||
| Grundlagen der Datenanalyse | 6 | |||
| Mathematik 3 | 6 | |||
| Vernetzte Systeme und mobile Kommunikation | 6 | |||
| Digitale Schaltungen | 6 | |||
| Semester 4 | 4 modules | Programmierung 2 | 6 | 36 |
| Projektmanagement | 6 | |||
| Automatisierungstechnik | 6 | |||
| Studienschwerpunkt (Wahlpflichtmodul) (Robotik or Mensch-Maschine-Interaktion or Smart Products & Services or Production & Analytics) | 18 | |||
| Semester 5 | 2 modules | Mechatronische Systeme und Design | 6 | 12 |
| Project Lab I | 6 | |||
| Semester 6 | 1 module | Project Lab II | 12 | 12 |
| Semester 7 | 1 module | Hauptpraktikum | 30 | 30 |
| Semester 8 | 1 module | Bachelorarbeit | 12 | 12 |
| Total | Total programme credits | 180 ECTS | ||
Career outcomes
- You gain a practical blend of software and engineering skills for modern digital product and process development, including topics connecting mechatronics, electronics, and programming.
- You are prepared for roles where digital engineering teams work on cyber-physical systems and Smart Factory style solutions, not just separate IT or separate engineering tasks.
- By completing project work (Project Lab) across the programme, you graduate with structured, job-relevant experience in applying technical concepts to real engineering problems.
- The bachelor qualification (B.Sc./B.Eng.) is designed to strengthen your profile for technical and technical-project roles where employers look for both analytics/data thinking and engineering fundamentals.
- You can position yourself for progression into team lead or specialist tracks as your practical project and thesis work demonstrates your capability to deliver technical outcomes end-to-end.
Employability rate
Digital Engineering graduates in Germany typically see an employability rate of around 88% and an unemployment rate of about 12%, reflecting steady demand for engineering and technical digital specialists.
Together, this indicates a generally stable career outlook for graduates who can translate engineering and software skills into applied projects.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| School-leaving qualification / university entrance qualification (abroad) | International applicants must submit a copy of the certificate that grants university admission to a bachelor programme in their original language, plus a German translation if the original is not already issued in English. The HFH states that it reviews foreign certificates based on the assessments of the Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen (ZAB). |
| German language knowledge (for admission eligibility) | HFH states that the required German language knowledge for international applicants should be at least at level B2. Submit your German language proof as part of the application documentation set for foreign qualifications. |
| Equivalency document (if available) | If available, international applicants should submit a certificate of comparability (Gleichwertigkeitsbescheinigung) issued by the ZAB or the relevant authority, as HFH notes this can be required when the qualification is not clearly listed in the ZAB database. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering and applied computing (foreign university entrance qualification and prior studies related to engineering/computing fundamentals) | Conditional match | HFH states that it reviews foreign certificates based on ZAB assessments; suitability for the bachelor’s study admission depends on the submitted qualification being accepted for bachelor admission and the required German language proof being provided. |
Language requirements
For international applicants, the HFH’s admission process includes a requirement to submit proof of German language knowledge at least at level B2. The university also specifies submission rules for the “Zeugnis der Studienberechtigung” and a translated copy when the original is not already issued in English.
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
MOI waiver details are not published for this programme. See the English test requirements above.
Other accepted proofs
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | EUR 15120 / total program | HFH Studiengebühren for Digital Engineering B.Eng. (210 ECTS) are shown as a total study fee on the official enrolment documents (example shown for the 42-month study pace). Prüfungsgebühr for the bachelor thesis is listed separately per attempt. |
| Application fee | Not published | |
| Bachelor thesis examination fee | EUR 620 / one time | Listed as Prüfungsgebühr Abschlussarbeit je Versuch on the official HFH enrolment documents for this programme. |
Proof of financial resources
Germany requires proof of sufficient financial means for visa purposes. In your application and visa process, you should prepare documentation that shows you can cover living costs in Germany for the planned study period.
- Proof of sufficient funds for living costs for your stay in Germany (e.g., as required for a blocked account / Sperrkonto or another accepted financial proof for visa purposes, depending on your case).
- Any additional proof of financial resources that the German mission abroad asks for as part of the visa application process.
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | January - Winter intake | April - Summer intake | July - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application portal opens | January 01, 2026 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (final submit) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Semester begins | October 01, 2026 | January 01, 2027 | April 01, 2026 | July 01, 2026 |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | January - Winter intake | April - Summer intake | July - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | January - Winter intake | April - Summer intake | July - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Prepare your foreign-qualification documents
International applicants should collect the certificate that enables university admission to a bachelor programme and ensure it is provided in the original language. If the original certificate is not already issued in English, prepare a German translation and submit it as required. Check whether you also need to include any comparability/equivalency documentation if your qualification is not clearly listed for comparability purposes.
Submit proof of German language knowledge
For admission as an international applicant with foreign qualifications, HFH requires German language knowledge at least at level B2. Upload or submit your German language proof as part of the application documentation set. Ensure your documents follow HFH translation and submission rules for non-German and non-English originals.
Apply through HFH’s admissions process for the bachelor programme
HFH indicates that international applicants should use the HFH study counselling route for programme-specific steps for all study programmes (after checking the stated language and document requirements). Make sure your submitted documents are complete so that your application can be reviewed and processed. If you have questions about how your foreign documents are assessed, contact HFH study counselling before the deadline.