How to Structure the Main Studies

Unlike during basic studies, where the programme is very strictly specified, main studies offer a large number of different possibilities regarding contents as well as structure. During main studies you decide upon one course of studies (e.g. Aeronautics and Aerospace), and within this course you select 2 modules.
That means that you do not have the universally applicable best solution for planning your studies, but it is possible to find one's own way.
There is a difference between different types of subjects: basic subjects (3 semester hours), special subjects (3 semester hours) and supplementary subjects (2 - 3 semester hours).

Basic Subjects

Six basic subjects are offered all together, three of them have to be selected:
> heat transfer
> mechanics
> fluid mechanics
> modeling and simulation
> methods of product development
> methods of industrial management

One basic subject may be obligatory per module.
Basic subjects that have not been selected can be chosen as special and/or supplementary subjects instead of the subjects of the proposed list of a module.

Special Modules (Modules)

The student selects two modules within his course of study as a study extension.
A module may require one basic subject and a maximum of one special subject. It has a list of choices of special and supplementary subjects as well as practical courses. At least four subjects and one practical course have to be selected from a module. All together from the two modules and the study module you have to select seventeen subjects (special and supplementary subjects). These need to amount to at least 39 semester hours. Lacking semester hours can be compensated by exams in additional courses.
Four practical courses have to be attended from the two modules.
Every student has a so-called "joker" per module, i.e. in each of the two modules one special subject can be chosen from the list of special subjects of all modules.
Modules are selected by enrolling for the individual exams. It is possible to change the module on request. The written request goes to the diploma exam committee. Exams where you have enrolled need to be passed.
The operating instructions contain information (in German) about how to pick one's lectures and exams.
The study module "Aeronautics and Aerospace" (in German) includes the specific lectures for this course of studies, the obligatory lectures are Flight Propulsion I, Flight Mechanics I, Fluid Mechanics II, and Lightweight Structures.
The overview of the special modules (in German) comprises all the special modules admitted for the course of study "Aeronautics and Aerospace".

Description of the Special Module Astronautics

The goals of the special module Astronautics are to communicate the basics of astronautics (e.g. space systems, flight and orbit mechanics) to the students. This is followed by lectures on the design of manned and unmanned space projects as well as the design, construction, test, and operation of subsystems. In order to be able to work on these goals or problems in a structured way, methods and tools to design models and to solve complex problems by means of systems engineering are imparted to the students.
The special modules are basically divided into basic subjects, special subjects, supplementary subjects and practical courses. The special module Astronautics contains the basic subject Heat and Mass Transfer, which is an obligatory subject. In the field of special subjects Astronautics I is an obligatory subject, as it communicates the basics of astronautics. You may choose from the other eight special subjects, although the subjects "Astronautics II" and "Systems Engineering" are recommended. You also have the possibility to choose one subject from the list of special subjects. Note that you have to select at least four subjects and one practical course from the module to be enrolled for it.

The list of supplementary subjects is a recommendation. Important note: Although for formal technical reasons the lectures Spacecraft Propulsion (Institute of Flight Propulsion), Spacecraft Aerodynamics (Division of Fluid Dynamics) and Space Flight Mechanics I (Institute of Flight Mechanics and Flight Control) are only classified as supplementary subjects in the module, we strongly recommend them!

The practical courses specified in the special module Astronautics are also recommendations. We strongly recommend the "Practical Course: Astronautics".

We recommend the following additional modules for the study module "Aeronautics and Astronautics": module "Lightweight and Active Structures", module "Mechatronics", and module "Numerical Simulation".
The file Fachmodul Raumfahrttechnik (in German) gives you a summary of the information.

For further information please contact
the advisory service for astronautics at the Institute of Astronautics
academic advisor: Manuel Czech
room 2606 (Building 6, 2^nd floor)
office hours: Monday, 13-14h or by agreement
phone: +49 - (0)89 289-16019
fax: +49 - (0)89 289-16004

Advisory service for informatic engineering students with subsidiary subject aerospace engineering:
Markus Brandstätter
room 1607 (Building 6, 1^st floor)
office hours: by agreement
phone: +49 - (0)89 289-16026
fax: +49 - (0)89 289-16004