Studying mechanical engineering: "Searching creatively for solutions at the heart of the times"

“I wanted a creative challenge. And to explore new solutions and approaches at the cutting edge of technology”—that’s how Victoria Schröder explains why she chose to study mechanical engineering at RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau. In fact, her degree program offers fascinating insights into future technologies—whether in automotive engineering, energy conservation, or aerospace. Victoria Schröder will soon graduate—and a position as a research assistant is already waiting for her.

“Half of my family has a professional background in medicine. The other half is in mechanical engineering,” says 25-year-old Victoria Schröder, who herself did well in math and physics in school—“but I was also very interested in art and medicine.” After obtaining the Abitur, her family expected her to pursue a career in mechanical engineering as well. But she was skeptical at first: “I think it was a kind of backlash when I initially went into medicine.” She completed the Federal Volunteer Service at a university hospital. “But I quickly realized that this wasn’t the right path for me.” Because: “I’d rather be challenged creatively. And get to the heart of the matter to find new solutions and approaches.” She gave her mechanical engineering studies a chance—initially for just one semester. “That was a sort of test for me.” It quickly became clear: “This is exactly the right thing.” She’s very happy with RPTU as her place of study, adds the Saarlander native from St. Ingbert: “The train connections from St. Ingbert to Kaiserslautern are very good. You can commute.”

Choosing from Seven Areas of Expertise in the Bachelor’s Program

She is now in her eleventh semester—the diploma degree program, which is phasing out, and whose content has since been incorporated into the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in the“Mechanical and Process Engineering”department. “At the beginning of the program, you take foundational courses—like advanced mathematics or engineering mechanics. This is where you build your toolkit for the rest of your studies,” says Victoria Schröder, describing her experiences from the early days of her studies. Starting in the fifth semester, Bachelor’s students can also choose their own area of specialization and select one of seven fields of expertise—the options include product development, automotive engineering, materials science and engineering, production engineering, computational engineering, applied Computer Science, and mechatronics and automation engineering. “In the master’s program, you can then delve even deeper into these areas,” adds Victoria Schröder.

Gaining a Deeper Understanding of Theory Through Hands-On Work

As a Diplom student, she delved deeply into fluid mechanics. “We were able to work on simulations in groups.” These included, for example, flow simulations through pipes. “The interconnection of components also affects the simulations.” The students were able to delve deeply into how all of this can be solved using digital tools: “We saw what tools are available. We got to know the programs that are important for such simulations.”

Victoria Schröder was also able to gain her first hands-on experience as a student assistant at the Chair of Machine Elements, Gearboxes, and Tribology (MEGT), where she pitched in directly in the lab: “It was great to see how what I’d learned on paper could be put into practice right away.”

And what’s the most challenging part of the program? “Organizing yourself. For example, we have project assignments that don’t have a specific deadline.” The self-management required by this isn’t always easy.

Thesis on Plastic Gears—Followed by a Doctoral Dissertation

Her thesis, which is scheduled for completion in December 2024, focuses on plastic gears. For this, Victoria Schröder is investigating, for example, “what stresses their material is exposed to.” The focus is on characterizing the complex material behavior of plastics and their damage mechanisms—and here, too, on simulations of material behavior.

Afterward, Victoria Schröder has the prospect of a position as a research assistant at the Chair of “Machine Elements, Gearboxes, and Tribology” at RPTU. She can use the research projects she’ll be working on there for her doctoral dissertation: “In terms of content, it’s about the energy-saving potential achieved by reducing friction and wear. There’s still a lot that can be done in that area.” And she adds: Tribology—the study of wear, friction, and lubrication of surfaces—can be found everywhere, even in medicine. “That means you’ll be in demand at many companies later on.”

And what other career paths are open to someone with a degree in mechanical engineering? “With a focus on process engineering, you could move into bioengineering or chemical engineering.” A focus on production engineering involves a lot of Computer Science. It’s also possible to enter the fields of materials science and materials engineering. “Automotive engineering is also popular, with career opportunities later in the automotive industry.”

The RPTUzero orientation program helps students find their way

And what should prospective students know beforehand? How can they get off to a good start in their studies? Victoria Schröder reports that she’s heard a lot of good things about the one-semester RPTUzero orientation program: “Here, you get your first glimpse into university life and have the opportunity to network.” And what else should you bring to the table to be well-prepared for a mechanical engineering degree? “You should be open-minded. And don’t be shy about asking older students for help. There’s a great sense of community in our department, so none of that is a problem.” If you have gaps in your knowledge at the start of your studies, you can fill them with resources like the math prep courses. With the right motivation, anything is possible, says Victoria Schröder—and she adds: “The most important thing for your studies is that you don’t lose your passion and enthusiasm for them.”