Women at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering – Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Anyone studying at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering has certainly noticed that the proportion of female students, doctoral candidates and professors is lower here than in many other faculties. The reasons for this are many and varied. However, it is clear that women are equally welcomed and we are particularly pleased when they choose one of our Bachelor's or Master's programmes and perhaps even embark on an academic career after successfully completing their studies.

Offers for the study entry

Lower Saxony Technikum

Many young people decide to study after school, but only few women choose a technical subject such as mechanical or electrical engineering. Yet there is a lack of qualified specialists, especially in the MINT field (mathematics, information technology, natural sciences and technology). Although many female high school graduates are interested in the natural sciences and technology, they are uncertain whether a MINT study is the right one for them. They are the target group of the Lower Saxony-Technikum, which combines a taster course in the MINT field with a six-month technical internship.

Participating institutions:

Lower Saxony Technikum

Learn more

Meet and Greet for engineers

The Dean's Office of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering regularly invites first-year students to a "Meet and Greet" in the winter semester, where students from higher semesters and academic staff provide tips and tricks for studying.

Self-assessment

"Women do not understand mathematics" - this prejudice persists. However, scientific studies show that the opposite is true. Women who take up studies in the MINT subjects (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology/engineering) at the best German technical universities, the so-called TU9 Universities, have on average a better A-levels grade grade than their male counterparts (see Ihsen 2010: 28 ff.). Nevertheless, men are more likely to study mechanical engineering than women. Our experience shows, however, that the skills and aptitudes for studying mechanical engineering are by no means tied to gender. Thus, all genders complete their Bachelor's degree equally successfully and qualify for interesting Master's programmes. We have developed a self-test to help you assess whether your own performance qualifies you to study at our faculty.

Another key finding is that women subjectively assess their study performance in the MINT subjects significantly worse than their fellow students. For example, 32% of the students assess their performance as "very good", whereas this proportion is much lower for women at 24.6% (Ihsen 2010: 37). Accordingly, more women, namely 10.2%, rate their performance as "very poor". Only 6.5% of men do so in the MINT subjects. Women are thus more often afraid of not meeting the requirements of their degree programme. We would like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to the fact that we are happy to provide you with a wide range of support and would be pleased if you contact us with questions about whether you should continue your studies, how you should place your achievements, but also how you can improve your performance, and if we can develop a way for you to continue studying with pleasure.

Support and advice during studies

Screws for female students

If you are interested in cars and enjoy tinkering with them, there is a great offer at the Academic Group for Automotive Engineering at the University of Hannover e.V. AKAKRAFT offers you a practical introductory course to the world of motor vehicles. The course is primarily aimed at female students. Those interested can take part from the first semester onwards. You can find out more on the website of AKAKRAFT.
Welding course for female students

A large mountain with found objects from the scrap yard is waiting to be turned into original creations or useful things by means of handicraft design. Metal and steel processing is often still considered a male domain. However, the handling of the machines and the technique of welding requires gender-independent skill and sensitivity. In welding courses for female students at Leibniz University, the handling of different metal processing machines and first techniques of this special craft can be learned. Previous experience of the craft is not required. You can learn more on the website of the University Offices for Diversity of Opportunity.
fiMINT: Women in mathematics, computing, science and technology

fiMINT is a cooperation project between Leibniz University Hannover, Technical University Braunschweig and Technical University Clausthal, supported by the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony. The common goal of the three-year funding project is to offer special qualification measures for young female scientists. You can find out more on the website of the TU Braunschweig.
Femtec's career building program

With the Career Building Program, Femtec and its partners from business and science provide committed and ambitious female students with the tools they need today to be successful in their careers, in addition to excellent specialist knowledge. You can learn more on the website of Femtec.
Protection against sexual harassment

Leibniz University Hannover promotes equal and trusting cooperation between female and male employees and students. It attaches great importance to a pleasant working atmosphere in which personality boundaries are recognised and respected. Sexual harassment is a violation of the personal rights of people and therefore cannot be tolerated. Contact us: Lisa Lotte Schneider (schneider@maschinenbau.uni-hannover.de).

Support during and after the doctorate

At Leibniz University Hannover there are various Research Training Groups that differ from the still widespread individual doctorate. When you do your doctorate in a Research Training Group, your scientific work is embedded in a structured programme that provides you with specific training courses. A Research Training Group also provides simplified access to a first-class research and academic environment and offers initial support and information about the postdoc phase.