Curriculum

The MME TIME program offers you a profound management education accompanied by a vast set of elective courses. More than 30 exciting management and engineering modules allow you to design your own individual curriculum and specialize in one of three intended profile areas: Technology Manager, Technology Marketer or Technology Entrepreneur and thus strive for concrete professional career goals, such as technology and innovation manager, marketing manager or founder of a technology company.

All our modules combine demanding and cutting-edge research with practical projects and challenges. To stay up to date of technological changes, we continuously review and expand the set of electives. During the 18-month program, you acquire 90 ECTS points. In addition, you may enroll in German language courses at no extra cost.

TIME Essentials

30 credit points

The TIME Essentials comprise six required courses that enable you to understand the managerial aspects of conceiving, developing and commercializing technological innovations.

Management Electives

20-25 credit points

You may choose four or five out of seven management electives. Depending on your preferences, you can choose to be trained in two of the three profile areas:

  1. Technology Manager: Strategic Technology Management, Managing the Innovation Process
  2. Technology Marketer: Service and Technology Marketing, Business Marketing Simulation
  3. Technology Entrepreneur: Start-Up and Growth Management, Entrepreneurial Finance and Venture Capital

You may also combine your modules freely across each profile. The remaining management elective, the Cambridge Ecosystem Practicum, brings you to the University of Cambridge to explore another world-leading technology ecosystem first-hand.

Technology Electives

15-20 credit points

To immerse yourself intensively in selected technology areas, you can choose three to four courses from a carefully designed set of technology electives. The entire portfolio can be divided into three overarching technology areas: Production Technology, Information Technology and Sustainable and Human Technology.

Master Thesis

20 credit points

By writing a Master Thesis at the end of the program, you demonstrate your ability to solve a managerial or technological challenge using the knowledge acquired during the program and the methods of scientific inquiry.

German Language Course

One course to be completed in semester 1 or 2

Learning another language is an important part of a successful career. Becoming proficient in German is also an essential precondition for succeeding on the German job market, both for an internship during your studies or a permanent position thereafter. As an extra offer within the MME TIME program, we offer the option to complete an intensive German language course (either in semester 1 or 2) to broaden your cultural understanding and enhance your career options. The costs for the course are covered by your tuition fees. You may be able to enroll in further language courses in semester 3 at your own convenience.

Learning Experience

Our educational approach aims to equip you with an integrated understanding of management, engineering, and technology that will help you to become a technology leader – either in a managerial or entrepreneurial role. While the program allows you to choose among a great variety of courses, all courses follow a similar teaching and learning philosophy. First of all, it is based on the latest blended learning technologies where digital techniques and tools are combined with physical sessions to deliver an optimal learning experience.

Our Teaching Approach

  • Personalized education: The program is organized around your individual needs, allowing you to study full-time or part-time and to complete the courses from your home location or on campus. Check out our part-time option here.
  • Hands-on experience: In most courses, you have the opportunity to work on real-world managerial or technological challenges, enabling you to apply the knowledge gleaned in class and gain hands-on experience.
  • Participant-centered learning: All courses are based on a participant-centered approach that emphasizes interaction between instructors and participants through case discussions, group presentations, debates, or lab sessions.
  • Interdisciplinary mindset: Most courses focus on the intersection between management and technology, helping you tackle real-world challenges from multiple perspectives and providing you with a truly interdisciplinary mindset.
  • Intercultural teams: As working in multicultural teams is a given in today’s world, most courses feature group projects where you can solve managerial and technological challenges in culturally diverse teams.

To put these teaching principles into practice, class sizes are limited to 50 students per session in all TIME Essentials and Management Electives. Depending on the number of admissions, multiple sections of students are possible.

Customizable Schedule

At RWTH Business School, we believe that program content and delivery should be tailored to your specific preferences and aspirations. To do this, you can customize not only the curriculum, but also the delivery mode and the time frame according to your individual needs, both of which are key features of the MME TIME program. For this purpose, we rely on the latest technologies in digital and blended learning. You may choose to complete most courses from your home location or on campus. You may also switch between studying full-time (three semesters) or part-time (six semesters) once during your studies. Please refer to our FAQ. This will allow you to remain flexible during your studies and get the most out the MME TIME experience.

As we work with you to tailor the program to your needs, we do not rely on a standard schedule. Instead, our program coordinator will share with you some possible pathways that combine different delivery modes and time frames. However, these are just suggestions and we will work with you to define the learning experience that is optimal for you.

Partnership with Cambridge Digital Innovation (CDI)

The MME TIME program is delivered in partnership with Cambridge Digital Innovation (CDI) at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, which contributes one of the six TIME Essentials (Digital Transformation and Information System Management) and a Management Elective (Cambridge Ecosystem Practicum). Digital Transformation and IS Management are delivered on campus in Aachen and online. The one-week Cambridge Ecosystem Practicum takes you to the University of Cambridge – one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world and a powerhouse for innovation in research. This module allows you to experience history, tradition, and cutting-edge science and technology. Lectures, seminars, and workshops on innovation ecosystems are combined with campus tours and company visits in Silicon Fen as well as a taste of Cambridge life. The Cambridge Ecosystem Practicum and accommodation in Cambridge are included in your tuition fees. You only have to bear the costs of your travel to Cambridge and a visa, if required.

Development Opportunities

Move from technical expert to technology leader by participating in our award-winning interdisciplinary Master of Science program. Not only does it combine the best of on-campus and digital education in both Aachen and Cambridge, but it also has been optimized for full-time or part-time study.

Your Aspirations

If you want to develop as a professional and transform your career, this program will be ideal for you, provided:

  • You have a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) background, at least one year of full-time work experience and want to deepen your knowledge of state-of-the-art technologies and innovation and technology management.
  • You are passionate about engineering and technology, but want to move beyond a narrow technical role and towards a leadership position at the intersection of management and technology.
  • You want to learn how to leverage emerging technologies into profitable and sustainable business models that allow you to lead the technological transformation in your industry rather than just following it – either as a manager in an established organization or as an entrepreneur in your own business.

Importantly, it is up to you whether you want to leave your current job and study full-time or keep working and study part-time. Our award-winning program has been designed precisely to provide you with both options.

Your Professional Development

The MME TIME has been carefully designed to equip ambitious professionals – who have a STEM background such as you – with the distinct set of skills needed to succeed in a digitized and globalized economy. Enrolling in the program will allow you to develop the following:

  • A profound management education focused on innovation, entrepreneurship and marketing that will enable you to acquire the management skills necessary to leverage new technologies and build successful business models around them.
  • A broad range of technology electives, including laser technologies, digital and additive manufacturing, robotics, big data and sustainable energy will allow you to experience the best of German engineering and stay abreast of the latest technological developments in your field.
  • Applied projects focusing on real-world managerial or technological challenges will help you put your knowledge into practice and harness the full potential of interdisciplinary thinking.

As a key feature, the program will take you to some of the most exciting innovation ecosystems in the world and allow you to complete courses in Aachen and Cambridge.

Your Career Prospects

Completing the MME TIME program will prepare you for a successful career at the intersection of management and technology. In the program, you will learn how to combine deep technological and managerial knowledge so that you can contribute to solving the grand challenges of our time in a truly interdisciplinary fashion. As a graduate of one of Germany’s most prestigious universities of technology and its innovative business school, you will speak the language of both engineers and managers. This will position you to work at the exciting interface of management and technology.

  • Engineering or Management Consulting: You are responsible for planning and implementing complex consulting projects in technology or management fields.
  • Product Management: You are responsible for the development of technical products or service systems.
  • Business Development: You are responsible for the development and implementation of new business models and ideas.
  • Technology and Innovation Management: You are responsible for the R&D and the strategic innovation processes.
  • Technology Marketing and Sales: You are responsible for the creation of marketing and sales strategies for high-tech products and services.
  • Project Management: You have the supervision and responsibility of complex technical projects.

The M.Sc. degree granted by RWTH Aachen University will also enable you to pursue an academic career and continue studying towards a PhD in fields such as technology and innovation management, marketing, or entrepreneurship.

Whichever path you choose to follow after graduation, our dedicated team of experts in the career and entrepreneurship centers will accompany you on that journey and help you decide how to best realize your ambitions. We seek to place our graduates in global technology blue chips, hidden technology champions, leading technology consultancies and fast-growing technology ventures. The Entrepreneurship Center at RWTH Aachen University also has a long track record of supporting innovative startups by our graduates – between 70 to 100 every year.

Students

The unique nature of the MME TIME attracts talented participants from around the world with a wide range of professional backgrounds. Enrolling in the MME TIME will not only allow you to advance your engineering and management skills. It will also enable you to gain a truly global perspective on management and engineering challenges and build a vibrant network that will last for a lifetime.

Students Profile

  • 100% of our students are STEM graduates.
  • They have Bachelor’s degrees, amongst others, in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Software Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering and Computer Science.
  • All 6 continents and more than 20 nationalities are represented.
  • Their age ranges between 22 and 39 with a mean of 27 years.
  • They have full-time work experience of between 1 and 12 years with an average of 3 years.
  • 29 percent of the students are female.

Previous employers of our graduates

include leading international technology firms such as Accenture, Bombardier, Capgemini, Daimler AG, Huawei Technologies, Korea Securities Depository, Mercedes Benz, Robert Bosch, Schlumberger, Tata Motors, Volkswagen, ZF Friedrichshafen and many more.

Portrait Channpreet Kaur
Student talk | Channpreet Kaur

I am beginning to look at problems in a different way, finding out the root cause and tackling it step by step, so to say. It has definitely given a direction to my thought process and developed my analytical thinking which gives me confidence to tackle any industry’s problems.

Portrait Mauricio Duran Baker
Student talk | Mauricio Duran Baker

I really enjoy the city vibe. Since a big percentage of the inhabitants are students there’s always something going on. Its geographical situation is very convenient because it’s situated right at the border to Belgium and the Netherlands making weekend travels so easy.

Requirements

To apply for our MME TIME, you need to prove different academic and English language requirements.

Academic Requirements

Technology Focus
RWTH Business School is looking for applicants who have a background in a technological area and a Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Applicants need a minimum of 16 credit points in higher mathematics and statistics as well as 125 credit points mathematics and natural sciences (e.g. chemistry and/or physics), and/or computer science and/or engineering, all of which are defined in the examination regulations.

Management Interest
The MME TIME has been designed for students who want to position themselves at the intersection of management and technology. Students should thus possess some basic knowledge in management and economics as evidenced by at least 10 credit points in this field. Students without previous courses in this field, however, can take part in the online course “Management Bootcamp” before the MME TIME program begins.

Professional Work Experience
Courses within the MME TIME program also address a broad set of technology and management challenges from current practice. Applicants thus need to have at least 12 months of professional work experience.

English Language Requirements

For all of our master’s programs certified proof of your competence in the English language through the completion of one of the accepted examinations listed below is needed:

  • TOEFL Internet-based minimum of 90 pts.,
  • IELTS (Academic) test minimum overall band 5,5 pts.,
  • Cambridge Test – Certificate in Advanced English (CAE),
  • First Certificate in English (FCE), completed with a B,
  • Placement-Test of RWTH Aachen University’s language center (B2).
  • For German applicants: A certificate attesting English language skills at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This proof is provided, for example, by the submission of a German Abitur certificate, which shows that English has been continuously taught until the end of qualification phase 1 (grade 11 for G8 A-levels, otherwise grade 12) and has been completed with at least sufficient marks.

In general:

  • The score report needs to be presented during enrollment.
  • The score report must not be older than two years by August 1 of the year your degree course will start.
  • Please do not send the original TOEFL or IELTS score sheets to the university (also not via ETS).

Exemptions for the language requirements are only applicable for nationals or first-degree holders from the USA, the UK, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia.

Required Documents

  • CV
  • Motivation letter
  • At least one letter of recommendation (merged as one document)
  • Transcript of records
  • Proof of professional experience of at least 12 months
  • Other proof of performance/assessment, e.g. English certificate, degree certificate, further qualifications (not mandatory for admission)
  • Translation of submitted documents (if your documents are not in English or German)

Deadlines

Application for the MME TIME is possible from October 1 until August 31 for EU applicants and international applicants who hold an academic degree from a European university. For non-EU applicants, our application portal is open from October 1 until and including March 1. There is no application fee.

Scholarships

RWTH Business School offers various scholarships to support particularly suitable candidates. Information on our scholarships, the application process, and external scholarship opportunities can be found at the link below.

FAQ

You cannot find the answers to your questions or want to learn more about living and studying in Aachen respectively Germany? Then take a look at our FAQ area for more information on course specific topics or on general topics like financing & scholarships, the application process, or accommodation.