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 45 professors, 460 scientific employees, and 200 employees in administration and technology. In addition, there are several hundred tutors and scientific assistants.
On Wednesday, November 18, 2026, the statewide Study Program Information Day will open its doors. Discover the wide range of study options and programs offered by our Department and find out which of our degree programs best suits your interests and strengths. Look forward to exciting insights into our fields of study during guided tours, interesting introductory lectures, direct interaction with students, and personalized counseling at the department booth in the Audimax foyer or at the Info Point in Building 10.91. Take this opportunity to gain new insights and learn more about your potential path in one of our degree programs.
Go to the KIT Study Information Day page
During this year’s GfT Tribology Conference, Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. h. c. Albert Albers was awarded the Georg Vogelpohl Medal of Honor. With the Georg Vogelpohl Medal of Honor, the Society for Tribology (Gesellschaft für Tribologie e. V.) honors distinguished individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the fields of research, development, application, or dissemination of tribological knowledge. We extend our warmest congratulations to Professor Albers on receiving this special award.
Professor Peter Gumsch of the Institute for Applied Materials – Reliability and Microstructure (IAM-ZM) is celebrating his 25th anniversary of service. Our photo shows him at the certificate presentation on October 2, 2026, with Professor Christoph Stiller, Dean of the KIT Department of Mechanical Engineering. The department extends its warmest congratulations to Professor Gumsch.
The AK-X flying-wing glider, developed by the Academic Flying Group (Akaflieg), successfully completed its maiden flight at Giebelstadt Airfield. What makes it unique: As a flying-wing aircraft, the AK-X dispenses with a long fuselage and a conventional tail unit, significantly reducing drag and boosting flight performance. More than 100 students developed and built the aircraft on a voluntary basis alongside their studies over a period of more than 15 years. In the flight testing phase that follows, they are now investigating how the tail-less design affects flight behavior and performance. In doing so, they are gathering scientific insights into the flight mechanics of this tail-less concept.
Source: KIT-Instagram
“KA-RaceIng e.V.” is a student group founded in 2006 at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology that participates in one of the largest international engineering competitions, Formula Student. In Formula Student, students design and build their own race cars. With the conclusion of Formula Student Germany at the Hockenheimring, an eventful and exciting 2026 season ends, during which the team delivered impressive performances on Europe’s racetracks, both with the KIT26e and the hydrogen-powered KIT26h.
Source: KA-RaceIng, September Newsletter
Two early-career researchers from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have been successful in the latest call for Starting Grants from the European Research Council (ERC): In the COOLWEAVE project, Dr. Jingyuan Xu is developing a climate-friendly cooling technology. In the DATAARK project, Dr. Maryia Rusak is investigating how a classification system for building information developed across Europe after the Second World War and influenced major architectural projects. The two five-year projects will each receive EUR 1.5 million in funding.
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