Hybrid offers flexibility in mobility: It is possible for all students to continue taking courses while having an internship abroad during the semester, visiting family in their home country or being on a trip. Students don’t have to apply for a visa to Germany and make travel arrangements if they study fully online.

Hybrid addresses different types of learners: There are many types of learners like visual, auditory, kinesthetic and reading/writing. The hybrid format offers a variety of possibilities to approach learning. Much of the content is available in a way that you can review it anytime.

Hybrid is family-friendly: There are students who want to study space engineering, but don’t have the option to move to Germany. They may have family, a part-time job, or other commitments in their home country. The hybrid programme makes it possible for those students to obtain a space engineering degree.

Hybrid addresses different budgets: The costs of living in Germany are relatively high compared to most other countries. With a regular study duration of two years, the living costs are as high as the tuition fees. This can be a significant financial hurdle. The hybrid format allows students to study from their home countries for as long as they want to.

Hybrid addresses real-world skills: In today’s world, digital tools and remote teamwork are part of daily life in the industry. With the hybrid format, students get adjusted to this working culture in a natural way.

Cultural programme: MSE offers cultural visits to museums, sports activities, a summer party, a Christmas dinner, and other similar activities throughout the year. Those activities are only offered to students who are physically present at the time.

Excursions: MSE offers occasional excursions to companies, conferences, and fairs. The trips are organized from Berlin to the target destination. Students who study online can only participate in these events if they make their own travel arrangements.

Hands-on activities: MSE offers many project-based activities that students can easily participate in online. This goes for space mission design activities in which digital tools like CAD software and simulation tools are used. In the course “Space Electronics”, the electronics parts are sent to the students so that they can participate in the hands-on activities. In other cases, they use hardware-equivalent simulation tools. There are certain hands-on activities that require physical presence. Students who study online can only select work packages that don’t require physical presence. Typical examples are works related to design, simulation, and programming. The lecturers offer work packages dedicated to students who study online.

Elective courses: Students can take electives outside of the core MSE curriculum. They can be taken at TU Berlin and even other universities in Germany. Students studying online should be aware that most courses at TU Berlin are offered only on campus. The MSE programme offers a variety of electives, and most students complete their studies by taking MSE courses only.

Highly interactive courses: Many courses from module group D (Interdisciplinary) and some project-based courses in other module groups are highly interactive. Lecturers reserve the right to offer their courses either fully on campus or fully online. This is to ensure a high quality of course delivery. This means that you may not be able to take all courses if you study fully online. In any case, the minimum number of required credits to complete the program is offered online. In fact, there are plenty of courses to choose from. Here you can find a list with information on teaching modes of all MSE courses (hybrid, on campus, online).

Networking and opportunities: Berlin has a space industry from which MSE students benefit. Guest lecturers are invited to share insights about their companies. In rare exceptions, they may not agree to lecture recordings for security reasons. Students in Berlin can get in touch with people from the industry during meetups, hackathons, and other small events that happen in Berlin. Many MSE students find an opportunity to do an internship or work part-time in one of the local organizations. Students who study online should be aware that they will have significantly fewer chances to pursue such opportunities. They are therefore encouraged to participate in virtual conferences, search for online jobs, and look for opportunities in their region.

Theses: Students who study online should be aware that many organizations prefer that the candidate writes the thesis on their premises. However, many MSE students also write their theses remotely. It is up to the student to decide what type of thesis he or she wants to pursue. It depends on the individual situation and preference of each student.

Apart from the limitations mentioned above, students can complete their studies fully online. Most importantly, students studying online feel included. They interact naturally and on a regular basis with the programme management, the lecturers, and their classmates.