Practical phase mechanical engineering

An information event on the internship semester takes place once a semester. Attendance is compulsory! Students in their 3rd semester will receive an invitation by email.

The next date is in the winter semester 2025/2026.

You need an admission to the internship semester.

PO2018 - Mechanical Engineering:
Z2: Admission with 57 credit points from the 1st and 2nd semesters and 30 credit points from the 3rd and 4th semesters and M15.1 (module "Introduction to scientific work")

PO2018 - Industrial Engineering Mechanical Engineering:
Admission with 61 credit points from the 1st and 2nd semesters and 30 credit points from the 3rd and 4th semesters as well as W17.1 (module "Introduction to scientific work")

PO2021 - Digital Engineering: 
Admission with 59 credit points from the 1st and 2nd semesters and 30 credit points from the 3rd and 4th semesters as well as DE23.1

When should I start looking for a job? We recommend that you apply for interesting positions around six months before the start of your internship. If you would like to do your internship abroad, you should plan about a year in advance.

Job search tips: Please discuss as specifically as possible with the potential internship centre what your own activities will be. Take into account that you would like to complete two dissertations during your internship. Make sure that you are given a high-quality task that suits you, a suitable workplace and that the placement centre names a specialist supervisor.

Are there general requirements for the work placement centre? The practical semester should generally be completed in industrial or service companies in mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, electrical engineering, precision engineering, plastics engineering or related fields. Students must be able to work alongside at least one experienced engineer in the company. Craft enterprises are generally not suitable for practical semesters. In an objectively well-founded individual case, a practical semester position that only partially complies with this regulation can also be recognised by the practical semester officer . Are you unsure whether your chosen position is suitable? Ask the Career Service!

Do you need help preparing your application documents or looking for a job? Contact the Career Service and arrange a personal counselling appointment.

Once you know which practice centre you will be working in and what your own activities will be, find a supervising teacher. Tell them what you are planning and ask them to take over the technical supervision of the university and therefore your coursework. Ask for their confirmation on the application form.

If you fulfil the admission requirements (or assume that this will be the case in time) and have found a supervising teacher, you can conclude the required contract with the practice placement. The centre usually offers its own contract.

Tips: Make sure that a cancellation period is specified there, that you are released from work for university visits and that a supervisor from the practical placement is specified. Alternatively, we offer you a contract template that contains everything you need to know.

You must register the internship semester at the university before starting work. To do this, send the registration form together with the contract to the Career Service or the Wolfenbüttel Student Service Office.

Registration deadline: 31 January (internship semester in the summer semester) or 10 July (internship semester in the winter semester)

Important note on provisional registration: If you are unable to provide all the information on the registration form by the registration deadline, simply complete it as far as possible and send it by email by the deadline. The missing information and, if applicable, the missing contract should be submitted by the start of the practical semester at the latest.

According to the PO, two student research projects (two small engineering projects) should be completed during the practical semester. You should plan a working time of 10 weeks for a student research project (student research project = 12 credit points x 30 hours / (7.5 hours x 5 days) = 10 weeks).

If it is not possible to complete a student research project during the internship semester, you must submit a report to the training company and the supervising university lecturer at the end of the internship semester in which the work content of the internship semester is described in chronological order. Each week of the internship semester must be described on at least one DIN A4 page

In order for the internship semester to be recorded as completed, you must send the following documents to the Student Service Office or the Career Service at the end of the internship period:

• Proof of activity from the internship centre (e.g. internship certificate)
• Completion of a student research project (alternatively a practical report)
• Participation in the final event or, alternatively, a completed questionnaire

What are the minimum requirements for the proof of work experience?

• specific period of practical experience
• Key points on the activities
• Signature on business stationery or with company stamp

Framework curriculum Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (PDF, 60.47 KB) (opens in a new window), (not accessible)

Application form (PDF, 150.31 KB) (opens in a new window), (not accessible)

Certification form (PDF, 127.13 KB) (opens in a new window), (not accessible)

Questionnaire for the practical semester (PDF, 142.14 KB) (opens in a new window), (not accessible) (substitute performance for final event)

Contract:

• german
• english

Process description for the practical semester (external link, opens in a new window)

Do you have any questions about BAföG, Career Service advice, library loans, minimum wage and legal regulations, compulsory internship certificate for your application, semester ticket, company list or insurance in connection with your internship?

You can find frequently asked cross-faculty questions and our answers on the "Compulsory internship" overview page .