About us
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is part of KIT's Area 3 "Mechanical and Electrical Engineering" together with the Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, four Helmholtz programs, and eight institutes of the large-scale research area. The department consists of more than 20 institutes with about 1,000 employees, including about 40 professors, 460 scientific employees, and 200 employees in administration and technology. In addition, there are several hundred tutors and scientific assistants.
In the latest Global Employability University Ranking and Survey (GEURS) 2026, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is one of the universities with the strongest improvement: at 70th place worldwide, KIT has improved by 21 positions compared to the previous year and is described by the publishers as one of the "Top Climbers". The ranking determines which universities, in the opinion of companies, produce the best graduates. KIT press release
Damp meadows, steep slopes and loose soils often pose a challenge for agricultural vehicles. Together with an industrial partner, researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have developed a new drive system that safely drives off-road vehicles through difficult terrain. It replaces conventional differentials with individually controllable gears on each wheel. This makes it possible to master terrain that was previously impassable.
Are you interested in studying mechanical engineering? Have you always wanted to know what mechatronics engineers and information technicians do? If materials science and materials engineering sound exciting, stop by our information stand in the Audimax, attend a taster lecture or visit a research institute. Here you can find our program
Further information and the complete KIT program
On November 26, 2025 from 1pm to 4pm, the annual International Fair of the KIT Department of Mechanical Engineering and the KIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology will take place in the Audimax foyer. Both the department's own programs and general exchange and internship opportunities will be presented. You can talk directly to the program managers at their information stands or during the presentations in the seminar room and exchange ideas with former outgoing and current guest students. Further information
Reducing the consumption of fossil fuels - a new material could contribute to this in aircraft engines and gas turbines in the future. A team at KIT has developed a refractory metal alloy with a novel combination of chromium, molybdenum and silicon that is malleable at room temperature, stable at a melting temperature of around 2,000 degrees Celsius even at high temperatures and at the same time resistant to oxidation. DOI 10.1038/s41586-025-09516-8 Press release
A research team from KIT and the University of Freiburg is developing a new simulation method for friction processes at the level of individual molecules. This allows friction processes at the molecular level to be transferred to large systems. "This allows us to better understand and calculate complex friction systems in which the resulting lubricating film is millions of times thinner than the contact width of the friction surfaces," says Prof. Gumbsch from the IAM. KIT News
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