Dual to success

Industrial engineering

The best of both worlds: Are you as enthusiastic about technical details as you are about business contexts? Then train to become a sought-after and qualified all-rounder.

Industrial engineering

Industrial Engineering Diploma dual study program (KIA)

Focus areas: Sustainable energy and supply management as well as production and digital transformation

Faculty: Economic Sciences and Industrial Engineering
Location: Zittau
Degree: Diploma in Industrial Engineering (FH)
Standard period of study: 8 semesters
ECTS points: 240
Enrollment for: Winter semester
Admission restriction: Admission restriction: Contract with a cooperating company

Industrial engineers reconcile various interests: They understand technical requirements at a high level and at the same time can assess them with the "entrepreneurial lens". As universal talents, industrial engineers are in demand in companies wherever technical and economic decisions come together, such as in the areas of production, sales, controlling or consulting, but also innovation management or corporate management.

If you are interested in economic contexts as well as in technology, then the diploma program in Industrial Engineering and Management in Zittau is exactly the right thing for you to be able to translate between both worlds later on. With us, you will study on a modern campus, in a family atmosphere and, depending on your personal interests, you can specialize in the field of efficient production or sustainable energy supply.

KIA direct: Combining study and practice

What is KIA?

In the KIAdirekt variant (cooperative studies with accompanying practical work in a company), the bachelor's degree program KIA Informatik is very well suited for future students who want to closely combine theory and practice already during their studies. At the same time, the practical part of the training helps to finance your studies and makes you a sought-after practically versed specialist from day one of your professional career.

The choice is yours!

You can study industrial engineering as a industrial engineering degree program or you can opt for a practice-integrated part of your studies in the KIAdirekt concept.

Six steps to your KIA direct contract:

Step 1: Application to the company

Interested students with a university entrance qualification should ideally apply to one of the cooperating companies one year before the start of their studies. Details on the cooperation partners can be found here.

Step 2: Conclusion of contract

The company and the university conclude a cooperation agreement. The applicants and the company also agree a practical contract, such as a study sponsorship contract.

Step 3: Enrollment for studies

Enrollment at the university takes place with the university entrance qualification from May each year via our application portal.

Step 4: Start of studies

The course starts on September 1 with a four-week introductory block at the company, followed by alternating semesters of study at the university and practical periods at the company during the semester break.

Step 5: Flexible practical phases

In addition to the regular practical phases, students can work up to 20 hours a week in the company and take up to two semesters off.

Step 6: Graduation

The course is completed with a diploma. During the practical training phases, students are entitled to collectively agreed leave and a monthly salary.

Why Diploma?

The diploma is still considered one of the best degrees worldwide. With the title of Diplom-Wirtschaftsingenieur you have excellent career opportunities on the national and international job market and can actively shape the future.

Your course content in the Industrial Engineering and Management degree program

1st semester
  • Mathematics I
  • General Business Administration
  • Accounting I (bookkeeping and accounting)
  • Business informatics I (basics of information and communication systems, database systems)
  • Physics I
  • Technical Mechanics
2nd semester
  • Mathematics II
  • Introduction to thermodynamics
  • Accounting II (cost accounting and basics of controlling)
  • Business Informatics II (IT application systems, selection of standard software, IT management, programming)
  • Fundamentals of electrical engineering
  • Construction I and materials engineering
3rd semester
  • Statistics
  • Investment and financing
  • marketing
  • Economics
  • Manufacturing processes
  • Compulsory elective module ZfL
4th semester
  • Fundamentals of scientific work (elective module)
  • Quantitative methods
  • Controlling
  • Regenerative energy systems
  • Law
  • Production and Lean Management
  • Construction II
5th semester
  • Logistics management
  • Digital technologies and project management
  • Measurement, control and regulation technology
  • Compulsory elective module Technology 
    • Modeling and simulation
    • Heating and ventilation technology
    • Building automation/energy management
    • Bionics
    • Control systems/industrial data communication
    • Introduction to process automation

Specialization or field of study Sustainable energy and supply management

  • Electrical Energy Technology
  • Line-based energy supply

Specialization or field of study Production and Digital Transformation

  • Production equipment
  • Work Preparation/CNC Programming/Robot Technology
6th semester
  • Work placement
7th semester
  • Business simulation
  • ERP project seminar
  • Compulsory elective module Economics
    • Product and price management
    • Regional development and SMEs
    • Market-oriented business concepts
    • Labor and business law

Specialization or field of study Sustainable energy and supply management

  • Energy market/energy system planning
  • Energy process analysis
  • Supply and waste management

Specialization or field of study Production and Digital Transformation

  • Planning and control in production systems
  • Digitalized production process development
  • Quality management and technical documentation
8th semester
  • Diploma colloquium
  • Final module (diploma thesis and defense)
  • The KIA direct study program

    The KIA direkt model is a practice-integrated study model that offers an effective combination of theory and practice and is supported by both the Saxon state government and leading companies.

    Here is the structured process of this model:

    Step 1: Apply to the company
    Interested parties with a university entrance qualification should apply to one of the cooperating companies (ideally one year) before the start of their studies. Details on the cooperation partners can be found here.

    Step 2: Conclusion of contract
    The company and the university conclude a cooperation agreement. The applicant and the company also agree a practical contract, such as a study sponsorship contract.

    Step3: Enrolment
    Enrolment at the university takes place from May of each year via our application portal.

    Step4: Start of studies
    The course begins on September 1 with a four-week introductory block at the company, followed by alternating semesters of study at the university and practical periods at the company during the semester break.

    Step5: Flexible practical phases
    In addition to the regular practical phases, students can work up to 20 hours per week in the company and take up to two semesters off.

    Step6: Degree
    The degree course is completed with a diploma. During the practical training phases, students are entitled to collectively agreed leave and a monthly salary.

    This model offers optimal preparation for a professional career through intensive involvement in company practice and at the same time promotes academic education.

  • Contents

    In the foundation course, you will acquire knowledge in the fields of business administration and economics, mechanical engineering, energy and manufacturing management, accounting, mathematics, electrical engineering, law, computer science and business informatics. From the 5th semester onwards, you can deepen your knowledge with compulsory elective modules and specialize in one of the two major fields of study.

    "Production and digital transformation" specialization
    In the Production and digital transformation specialization, you will deal intensively with these topics: operational software, production equipment, CNC programming/robot technology, quality management and technical documentation as well as planning and controlling production processes. In the ERP project seminar, you will practise solving production management problems using practical examples.

    Major  "Sustainable Energy and Supply Management"
    In the Sustainable Energy and Supply Management major, you will acquire in-depth knowledge and skills in the field of energy supply: thermal and electrical energy technology, electricity and gas management, energy process analysis, energy market and energy system planning as well as supply management (including water and waste management).

  • Study objectives

    Graduates of the interdisciplinary degree course in industrial engineering provide the economy with specialists who are able to think holistically and to understand and design complex processes. Building on a solid education in business administration, natural sciences and engineering, special knowledge and skills are taught in the fields of production management and energy management.

  • Career prospects

    Thanks to their interdisciplinary training, industrial engineers work in all fields of activity where both economic and technical thinking is required. For example, in the fields of energy, production, logistics, marketing and sales, controlling or consulting, right up to company management.


    Typical areas of employment for our previous graduates include

    Sustainable energy and supply management

    • Energy supply companies
    • Energy-intensive industries
    • Municipal companies
    • Engineering offices, consulting firms and supervisory authorities

    Production and digital transformation

    • Industrial companies
    • Planning and control of production processes
    • Purchasing, sales
    • Controlling, organization
  • Admission requirements
    • General or subject-specific higher education entrance qualification or entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences or admission test.
    • Applicants with a qualification as a technician, business economist, master craftsman or similar. Completion of advanced vocational training in accordance with §17(3) of the SächsHSFG must take part in a counseling interview for general university admission.
Into nature after the daily routine of studying. I had a great time at university, met lots of nice people and made great friends. It's great that at a small university you've somehow seen everyone before and greet each other on the street! If you're looking for absolute anonymity, you're definitely on the wrong track here. There are small individual seminar groups and very friendly lecturers! Student, 2018 (www.studycheck.de)
Kristin Groß
Fachgebietskoordinator KIA
Dipl.-Wirtsch.-Ing. (FH)
Kristin Groß
Rectorate/Head Office University Development and Communication/Department KIA
02763 Zittau
Theodor-Körner-Allee 16
Building Z I, Room 1.48
1st floor
+49 3583 612-4811
Photo: Prof. Dr. rer. pol. Tino Schütte
Fachstudienberater
Prof. Dr. rer. pol.
Tino Schütte
Faculty of Business Administration and Industrial Engineering
02763 Zittau
Schliebenstrasse 21
Building Z II, Room 016.2
First floor
+49 3583 612-4647
Allgemeine Studienberatung
Madeleine Pohl
Department of Studies and International Affairs
02763 Zittau
Th.-Körner-Allee 16
Building Z I, Room 0.21
First floor
+49 3583 612-3055
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