Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Wind energy research at the Leibniz University Hannover has its beginnings at the faculty of civil engineering and geodesy. In the year 2000, several institutes joined together to carry out collaborative research on the support structures of offshore wind turbines. Many research projects in the field of wind energy followed, so that in 2010 a separate institute for wind energy systems was founded by the civil engineers. In the meantime, the faculties of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer science have also been wired up in wind energy research. However, in the end, the Faculty of civil engineering and geodesy took the initiative to transfer the research work into teaching and found the study program - without renouncing the expertise of the other engineering disciplines. The result is the interdisciplinary study program "Wind Energy Engineering", which can be studied by civil engineers as well as mechanical or electrical engineers.

It is important to know that no one is twisted or converted: It means mechanical engineers remain mechanical engineers, electrical engineers remain electrical engineers and civil engineers remain civil engineers, respectively they become wind energy engineers. The specialization and modules, which you choose, are decisive for you not the faculty regulations of the study program.

Changing from a university of applied sciences to a university is no problem at all. We look forward to receiving your application.

The course of study is generally in German. Most of the lectures are held in German. However, there are also many lectures in English, which is a good preparation for the very international industry. In the case of oral examinations, you can generally choose between German and English, so that you can take an examination in German in spite of an English lecture or vice versa. Nevertheless, sufficient German language skills are required for both study and life after graduation.

The possibility of an industrial internship in Germany and abroad is available for all major subjects of the Master's programme in Wind Energy Engineering and is supported by all participating institutes. However, this is not a mandatory requirement for the graduation.

As a Leibniz University student, you have the opportunity to stay abroad at one of Leibniz University’s numerous partner universities and research institutions. Stays abroad are recommended and supported in every way, but they are not obligatory.

Writing scientific papers in cooperation with a company is no problem and is supported by all institutes involved. All you need is an examiner and a supervisor to accompany the work at the university.

As an engineer, software knowledge is the basis for your career. In the study program in Wind Energy Engineering you benefit from the general software catalogue of Leibniz University Hannover, for example you can use Matlab free of charge. Many modules of the study program also work with Excel, Matlab or aeroelastic codes such as FAST. In addition, own source codes of the corresponding institutes are used. WindPRO, one of the leading programs for planning wind farms, is used in the project development modules. In addition to the exercises and self-study, you will also have the opportunity to attend software tutorials.

Software knowledge is not a requirement for admission. However, we strongly recommend that our students acquire the basics of engineering software during their Master's studies, if this has not already been done in the Bachelor's programme.

The semester dates of Leibniz University Hannover can be viewed here.

The examination regulations for the Master's programme in Wind Energy Engineering can be found here.

An overview of the modules of the Master's programme in Wind Energy Engineering can be found here or on the pages of the respective basic competences and on the homepage of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodesy. The module overview and the module catalogue are also available as PDF files.

Wind energy engineering is an engineering science and interdisciplinary Master's programme for graduates of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering or civil engineering (or related programmes).

One third of the studies are focused on interdisciplinary content. Here, students with the basic competence in mechanical engineering study subjects from electrical engineering and civil engineering.  Students with basic competence in electrical engineering acquire competences in mechanical engineering and civil engineering. Bachelor graduates in civil engineering gain insights into mechanical and electrical engineering.

In the subject-specific part, the students deepen their basic competence, whereby in mechanical engineering and civil engineering one can choose between a constructive approach or a planning dominated orientation.

Another important part of the programme is student project. Here, students learn methods of scientific work by working independently on a limited complex project. In addition to the thesis, a project work has to be done here.

The admission requirements and further information can be found under Application.

The application deadlines and further information can be found under Application.

It is possible to enroll in the Master's programme in Wind Energy Engineering in both the winter and summer semesters. Further information can be found under Application.

The Master's programme in Wind Energy Engineering concludes with the Master of Science (M. Sc.). It thus enables graduates to obtain a doctorate in engineering (Dr. -Ing.).

Graduates of the Master's programme in Wind Energy Engineering are in great demand in the rapidly growing wind industry. A large international jobs market is therefore expected. Due to their interdisciplinary approach on the one hand and their specialization on the other hand, their career prospects include traditional engineering professions as well as planning and economic activities. Possible employers include, for example: 

• Manufacturers and suppliers of wind turbines
• Engineering offices
• Certification bodies
• Research institutes
• Building authorities and administrations
• Project planner
• Energy suppliers
• Network operator
• Banks, insurers and investors

We are convinced that wind energy will continue to play a major role in the global energy transition. Especially in order to provide additional regenerative energy quickly, wind energy with high efficiencies and at the same time low costs is superior to other renewable energy sources - which does not mean that photovoltaic, hydropower and bioenergy can be dispensed with. The climatic urgency for the switch to renewable energies can already be seen today in the melting of the polar ice caps due to rising average temperatures and air pollution from conventional power plants. Apart from this, finite resources of an energy supply based on fossil or nuclear raw materials are facing a further increase in global energy demand, so that from an economic point of view renewable energy generation is also indispensable. On your way there, you will have the opportunity to reveal previously unused potentials and to work for a sustainable future in a future-proof job.