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What is the Carl Benz School?

The Carl Benz School is unique – It is part of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), yet, at the same time, it is an independent body. The Carl Benz School and the KIT have created a matrix-like organisational structure, which helps to ensure that the students of the Carl Benz School have the opportunity to have close working-relationships with exceptional German and international high-tech companies and numerous distinguished research institutes throughout the region. The Carl Benz School offers the first complete degree programme for English-speaking students from throughout the world.

Is it part of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)?

Yes, and no. As previously mentioned, it is an independent body – however, it is guided by an advisory council, which comprises of administrative leaders from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), alongside top-level executives from German companies. Students are also entitled to use all of the structures and facilities at the KIT, a link which is accentuated as a result of the strong affiliation between the two establishments.

What programs are offered by the Carl Benz School?

Currently, the Carl Benz School offers the following English-taught degree programmes of the Universität Karslruhe (TH)

• Bachelor of Science (Bsc.) in Mechanical Engineering
  
  

What are the admission requirements?

To be admitted to a German University and enter into a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) degree programme, applicants must have successfully completed a secondary education and a level equivalent to the German ‘Abitur’ (equivalent to a High school diploma, or A-levels)

Please contact the office for more complete information regarding admissions.

What are the language requirements?

As the courses are taught and assessed in English, foreign applicants must have already obtained TOEFL Examination with a minimum of 550 points.

There is no pre-requisite level of German for admission into the degree programme, but a basic knowledge would help to ease the student into general student life on campus and everyday tasks in the city.
Supplementary German classes are also offered, as part of the General Education course. Taught in German, this offers lessons in the German language, whilst also giving the student an insight into the culture, history, economy and political make-up of Germany and Europe. Additional intensive English language classes are offered in the first two terms, in order to bring all students to the same level of competence in English. From Semester 2, some ancillary courses are taught in German, but here once more, intensive courses in German (6 hours a week) are offered in order to help the students. Alongside these courses, seminars are also presented, on topics ranging from management and leadership techniques, to inter-cultural communications.

What are the costs?

The service offered by the Carl Benz School, is not just teaching and studying. We offer various field trips, and to ease social adjustment, our students are constantly guided and counselled by our student office. Catering to the requirements of the individual is our highest priority. This far exceeds the usual standard offered by German Universities, and due to this, the extra service has to be financed privately.

For complete information on the current costs, please see Costs and Fees.

Is there any possibility for scholarship?

There are a limited number of scholarships available.
Our industrial partners support us with the possibility to award a limited number of scholarships for excellent students. These scholarships generally include tuition, fees, room, health insurance and a subsidy for food and public-transportation. (First-year Bachelor students share double rooms.)
 
Our close cooperation with industry and its generous financial support is accompanied by the opportunity for the students to spend their mandatory internship within the company of their industrial partner.
 
If you qualify for this program, you have the unique chance to experience work in one of a number of high-tech firms such as

• product development with Daimler AG 
• newest printing technology with Heidelberger Druckmaschinen
• sheet metal cutting with laser technology at Trumpf
• sensor development at Bosch

 
This merit-based type of assistance will prepare you for a place at the top of the ladder in the international workplace.

Please contact Dr. Birgitta Kappes at the Carl Benz School for further details regarding scholarships - kappes@carlbenzschool.de

Do the courses include an internship or work-placement scheme?

Yes, and these run concurrently with the degree programme. Our curriculum encourages the immediate practical application of theory with its mandatory 16 weeks of industrial internships for a bachelors degree. These internships are designed to teach students the complex interrelation of research and development, production, marketing and sales – from the very beginning of their studies at the CBS. 

The itinerary for the internship is fairly dense. During spring and summer breaks between semesters students are expected to successfully complete at least 16 weeks of industrial internships (typically 6-8 weeks per internship). These internships are divided into a basic internship (6 weeks) where the students are introduced to classic metal working processes (milling, forging, welding, soldering) and the advanced internship (manufacturing, testing and quality control of parts, assembly of machines). Only those students who have completed their basic 6-week internship, are allowed to take the intermediate exams (Vordiplom) towards the diploma.

The comprehensive, carefully selected internship provides students and participating companies with an opportunity for concentrated work encounters, and the framework within which to form lasting business and personal relationships, merging educational theory and practical application.

How accessible is Karlsruhe?

Karlsruhe is only one hour from Frankfurt International Airport, a major airport hub for worldwide flights. Karlsruhe-Baden Airport is also close by, offering 2 flights a day to London Stansted, with Ryanair. British Airways fly at least three times a day from London Heathrow to Stuttgart Airport. From all of these airports, there are excellent transport links, taking you directly to the Hauptbahnhof in Karlsruhe.

Where is the Carl Benz School located in Karlsruhe?

The Carl Benz School is located in the heart of Karlsruhe centre – All university facilities such as institutes, laboratories, libraries and offices are easily accessible on foot or by cycle.  In addition to this, there are supermarkets and shops, a maximum of five minutes walk away, and to the rear of the Carl Benz School buildings, is the magnificent Schloss and Schlosspark. Karlsruhe has a superb S-Bahn (tram) network, meaning that travel within the city, and beyond, is both easy and enjoyable.

Are there any visa requirements to enter, and to stay in Germany?

As an international student in Germany, you need a passport, valid for the entire period of your stay and a visa. The so called Student Visa ("Studentenvisum") must be issued in your home country by the embassy / consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Applicants from EU and EFTA nations as well as from the USA, Honduras, Monaco and San Marino are exempt from this regulation.

After obtaining your Visa, you can travel to Germany.

NB: Do not enter Germany with a Tourist Visa! It is not possible to study in Germany with a Tourist Visa and it cannot be changed into a Student Visa. Once in Germany, you will not be able to apply for a Student Visa.

Make sure to apply for your Visa in time, because it could last 2 months or longer until obtaining your Visa. Please get comprehensive information about Visa application requirements from a German embassy or Consulate in your home country.

What is life like at the Carl Benz School?

The Carl Benz School recognises the needs of the student – an environment  that helps to stimulate and facilitate effective study and an environment that also provides the student with ample possibility for relaxation. Students must strive to meet academic goals within a tightly structured time frame, and this sets the tone for a very active work environment and student life, both inside and outside of lectures and seminars. The Carl Benz School also provides students with their own library and several work, music and social rooms. Students also have 24-hour access to the PC Pool, with 20 computers, each with Internet access. The Carl Benz School also organises excursions to various places of interest, recent excursions including visits to Michelin Karlsruhe, and BOSCH.

Outside of the Carl Benz School, students are able to partake in KIT events and clubs. The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has facilities for almost every type of sport, both for individuals and groups, men and women. The list is endless and extends from aikido, baseball and American football to mountain climbing, soccer and tennis. Over 60 University student groups take part in cultural, sports and social activities which include a University theatre, a video workshop, both symphony and chamber orchestras, a big band, an academic aviation club, an academic sailing club and a recreational solar mobile vehicle.

What is the accommodation set-up at the Carl Benz School?

3 stories of historical dormitory building house 120 single apartments, each equipped with a private bathroom, telephone connection and internet connection, linked directly to the computer network at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) (if you wish to use this, please ensure that anti-virus software is up to date)– this network is one of the largest and most modern in any German University. Each apartment leads to general living quarters, shared by 4-6 students, comprising of a kitchen, dining area, and additional study/social area.

What type of student studies at the Carl Benz School?

The Carl Benz School allows a student who may find a larger university overwhelming or intimidating, a more secluded, intimate social structure within which to study. The Carl Benz School currently has students from all over the globe – Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, USA – all of these countries are represented in the Carl Benz School, encouraging and developing inter-cultural awareness and perception.

Further contact details

Our address for applications is:

Dr. Birgitta Kappes
International Department GmbH
Schlossplatz 19
76131 Karlsruhe
Germany

Phone:  0049 721 608 7880
Fax:  0049 721 608 7882

E-Mail: info@university-karlsruhe.de