The use of computer-aided strategies for solving practice-oriented problems has increased rapidly in the last decades. The associated application areas are constantly expanding and range from civil and mechanical engineering disciplines (finite element/volume computation) to areas of medicine (biomechanics) and biology (evolution simulations). The basis of this development is a fundamental concept which allows a reliable analysis of problems based on complex continuum mechanical modeling, numerical methods and experimental techniques. This concept, which can be summarized under the term "computational mechanics", thus forms a network between theoretical modeling, numerical treatment and experimental reality.

Engineers whose field of work is to be classified in the above-mentioned field must be equipped with a solid basic knowledge in these areas. The education in the study program "Computational Mechanics" enables graduates with a solid theoretical knowledge to responsibly apply and extend the complex computer-aided computational methods. For this purpose, the modeling must be correctly interpreted, the algorithms used must be coherently connected, the experiments must be correctly performed and interpreted, and the application programs must be used without errors. The study objectives stated here include the following:

• Model building:
  Linear and nonlinear continuum mechanics, phenomenological materials theory, structural mechanics, materials science, homogenization processes.
• Algorithms:
  Numerical discretization and solution methods of mechanics, finite element method, optimization methods, program development
• Experiments:
  Materials science, metrology, parameter identification of material models
• Applications:
  Computer-aided simulations in all fields of engineering and in engineering practice.

Consequently, the course has an interdisciplinary character. Thus, topics from applied mechanics, engineering-oriented materials science and various broad engineering application areas are part of the curriculum. A solid theoretical basis forms the link between these areas.

Ultimately, the goal in the Computational Mechanics program is to train engineers with the skills to recognize the application possibilities and limitations of computational models as well as to independently apply and extend existing computational systems. Thus, the internationally oriented study program "Computational Mechanics" will provide students with an in-depth education in the methodology of a holistic treatment of mechanical problems in engineering. This specifically includes an intellectual interlocking and interaction of theoretical model building, numerical penetration, experimental verification and simulation-specific application.

Study plan

Study plan

You can find the examination regulations for your study program here: Examination regulations according to study programs

Study plans as well as information about the modules in the study program can be found in the module database VDB:​ 

Information material

Information material can be found at the home page of the Institute of Mechanics.

Study plans as well as information about the modules in the study program can be found in the module database VDB:​ VDB Computational Mechanics

Admission

Admission requirements

• completion of a Bachelor's degree in the ISE program with an overall grade of 2.5 or better or
• equivalent degree from another German or foreign university with an average grade of 2.5 or better. The assessment of equivalence is made by the examination board.

If the admission requirements are not fulfilled according to paragraph 2 or if a change of the field of study within the study program "ISE" takes place during the transition from Bachelor to Master, the examination board can combine the admission to the Master program with the condition to prove certain knowledge until the registration of the Master thesis. The type and extent of these requirements are determined individually by the examination board on the basis of the course content completed as part of the previous degree. The extent of the requirements is up to 2 courses.

Further information regarding admission requirements can be found on the pages of the study program "ISE".

Admission

Provided that the admission requirements are met, this Master study course has unrestricted admission (number of student places is not limited). Enrollment takes place during the enrollment period at the student registrar’s office at Campus Essen. [forms and further information]

For national applicants the following applies until further notice:
National applicants for the ISE Bachelor's or ISE Master's program should submit their Abitur/Bachelor's or comparable degree certificates to the ISE Examination Committee for confirmation of the special enrollment requirements and foreign language skills. This certificate must be presented at the time of enrollment.

ISE Examination Board

University of Duisburg-Essen
Faculty of Engineering 
SG 182
Geibelstr. 41, 47057 Duisburg
pa-ise@uni-due.de

Prospective students from non-EU countries should apply at the International Office of Campus Essen by 15.07. for the winter semester and by 15.03. for the summer semester.

Language Skills

Upon enrollment, student applicants must provide proof of English and German language skills corresponding of a completed B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Study-related stays abroad

For students who have acquired their university entrance qualification at a German institution, a stay abroad of three to six months is obligatory.
For students who have already completed this stay abroad as part of their ISE Bachelor's program at UDE, a further stay abroad is optional (§ 11 PO).