Starting in the 2026/27 winter semester, the TU Ilmenau will offer a new bachelor’s degree program in “Sustainable Energy Systems.” This interdisciplinary program not only covers all aspects of renewable energy but also teaches overarching concepts related to sustainability and the circular economy. The program has no enrollment cap; applications are accepted through September 15, 2026. For more information: www.tu-ilmenau.de/b-sc-nes
How do power grids operate with 100 percent renewable energy? How can we generate, store, and distribute energy in a climate-neutral future? How can technical innovation and sustainability be meaningfully combined? The new “Sustainable Energy Systems” degree program at the TU Ilmenau answers all these questions. In the age of the energy transition, it trains experts who are in high demand.
“The sustainable and, at the same time, economical provision of energy is one of the major challenges facing our society in the future,” says Prof. Dirk Westermann, director of the Thuringian Energy Research Institute at TU Ilmenau (ThEFI). “To achieve this, we need well-trained professionals who can understand energy systems holistically and further develop them. The new degree program imparts exactly the skills needed to do so.”
Solid Foundational Knowledge
Students interested in the natural sciences and engineering first acquire a solid foundation in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and electrical engineering, which enables them to understand and evaluate sustainable technologies for energy supply. They learn the interdisciplinary fundamentals of sustainable energy systems, electrical energy, electrochemistry, and thermodynamics.
Customizable Program
With numerous electives in the areas of “Renewable Energy Technology,” “Electrical Energy Systems,” or “Electrochemistry,” students can shape their own individual academic and career paths. Throughout their studies, they are supported by mentors. This provides them with suggestions and model pathways to help guide them as they navigate their personalized course of study.
Practical Experience and Application from the beginning
From the very beginning of their studies, students are gradually introduced to scientific and engineering work and learn through hands-on experience how research and development projects in energy engineering are carried out. Laboratory courses in physics and electrical engineering, as well as a sustainability project, are already part of the curriculum in the first semesters. A practical project on energy communication is scheduled for the third semester. And through a research project and a project-based assignment in the final two semesters, students learn to carry out natural science and engineering projects in the field of sustainability.
Diverse Career Prospects
The standard duration of the “Sustainable Energy Systems” bachelor’s program is six semesters. Afterward, graduates can pursue a master’s degree; at TU Ilmenau, for example, in “Renewable Energy Technology,” “Electrical Energy Systems,” or “Electrochemistry and Electroplating.” Alternatively, they can immediately pursue a career in various fields such as renewable energy, electrical energy generation, conversion, storage, and distribution, or the circular economy. The new bachelor’s program in “Sustainable Energy Systems” opens up a wide range of career opportunities for graduates in a growing, future-oriented market: as researchers, development or project engineers, or even as business or policy consultants.
Admission to the program is open to all applicants. Applications for the 2026–27 winter semester can be submitted through the TU Ilmenau website by September 15, 2026.
Contact
Prof. Dr. Thomas Hannappel
Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
+49 3677 69-2566
thomas.hannappel@tu-ilmenau.de
