School education
In order to successfully enroll in a degree program at our university, you need a "Fachhochschulzugangsberechtigung" (technical college entrance qualification). This means that your school certificate (e.g., high school diploma, technical college or technical school certificate, etc.) must state that you are eligible to enroll in a degree program at a technical college.
Restriction: If you have obtained your technical college entrance qualification at a technical college, e.g. in the field of "civil engineering," your certificate may contain a clause such as: "...is permitted to study the field of study civil engineering at a university of applied sciences." In this case, you can only study the subjects specifically mentioned. If there are no restrictions noted on your certificate, you have general university entrance qualification.
If you can demonstrate that you have completed training in a woodworking profession and have three years of professional experience in this field, you may also be eligible to study the Wood Technology degree program. The same applies if you hold a master craftsman's certificate. As your application for a place at university is based on professional qualifications and is subject to a separate procedure, we ask you to always contact the Enrollment Office in this regard.
Practical requirements
In addition to the academic requirements, you will need to provide evidence of practical experience in order to be accepted onto a Wood Technology degree program.
The following are considered proof of practical experience in this sense:
- Completed vocational training in the field of carpentry (joinery), carpentry, or wood mechanics (journeyman's or skilled worker's certificate)
- Completed vocational training in a technical field and a 5-week specialist internship
- a 10-week specialist internship
- a master craftsman's certificate (depending on the field)
Proof of practical experience is deemed to have been provided if the applicant has acquired the qualification for the degree program by means of a higher education entrance qualification from a vocational college for Wood Technology or a technical college with a main focus area in Wood Technology. Applicants who have obtained a higher education entrance qualification from a technical college for technology with an internship year in the field of Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering must complete a 5-week internship. Applicants who have obtained their higher education entrance qualification from a technical college for technology with a different main focus area or with an internship year in other areas, or who have obtained their qualification for the degree program in another way, must complete a 10-week internship.
Proof of the specialized internship must be provided by the end of the fourth semester at the latest. (Applies to matriculations from the 2024/2025 winter semester onwards)
Please note:
The study requirements mentioned here will change with the new matriculation starting in the 2024/2025 winter semester.
The internship requirements for matriculations in the 2023/2024 winter semester and before are not affected by this and continue to apply to students matriculating in these semesters.
(The study requirements for matriculation for the 2023/2024 winter semester and earlier remain unchanged; more information is available here.
For matriculations prior to this, the following applies: basic internship before the start of studies, specialized internship by the end of the third semester.)
Contrary to the legal regulations on voluntary internships, the internship to be completed is a compulsory internship as part of your degree program. This is exempt from the statutory minimum wage. (See Bachelor's Examination Regulations - I. Special Section Wood Technology, § 35 H)
Note: If you are professionally qualified to pursue a degree program in Wood Technology, you naturally fulfill the practical requirements we demand if you are one of the so-called subject-specific applicants. If you are submitting an application to pursue a degree program with us as a master craftsman from a different field or are otherwise professionally qualified, an internship may be required. You can obtain information from our Enrollment Office.
professional internship
The specialized internship should include selected practical professional activities in companies involved in timber
construction and/or furniture and interior design in the following areas:
- Manual working techniques, primarily on wood and wood-based materials, but also on metals, plastics, and other materials
- machine working techniques with standard cutting machines and other machines
- joining techniques
- technical surface treatment
- Environmental protection
- Tool and/or fixture construction
- Setup and/or assembly of machines, devices, and systems
- Quality management
- Business development and organization of work processes
The internship must be completed in full over a period of 10 weeks. However, it is possible to divide it into several blocks of at least three weeks and to visit different companies. The weekly working time in the company during an internship must be at least 35 hours. The actual weekly working time must be stated on the internship certificate. Due to the short duration of the required internship, any vacation days that may be due cannot be counted toward the internship period. Any internship time lost due to vacation or illness must be made up in any case. The internship certificate must confirm the days of absence and any vacation days that may have been granted. Upon prior application, the internship can also be completed on a part-time basis. The intern is responsible for ensuring that the required internship period has actually been completed in full.
The certificate of successful completion of the internship must be submitted to the university by the end of the fourth semester at the latest. The degree program always starts in the winter semester, usually in the third week of September. The exact date can be found under Dates (lecture period).
Internship companies
Choosing an internship company often raises questions. The following tips should help you find the right internship:
First and foremost, it is crucial that you come into contact with wood or wood-based materials during your specialized internship. An internship in a small and medium-sized business where you can perform manual tasks is a good opportunity to learn basic practical skills. Admission to working in craft businesses such as carpentry or joinery workshops and in training workshops run by social institutions is also permitted. An internship at a larger industrial company, such as a furniture or wood-based materials manufacturer, can give you valuable insights into management tasks in industry.
Please note: Many companies close for holidays, especially during the summer months. You should therefore plan your internship well in advance and be flexible in terms of timing.
You can find out whether the internship you have chosen meets our requirements by sending an inquiry to our contact persons.
Internship inquiry
If you have any questions about the specialized internship, Ms. Constanze Kiwitt will be happy to help you. Please send an email with the subject line "Internship inquiry" to constanze.kiwitt(at)th-owl.de. Please do not forget to include your name, address, and telephone number.
If you have any questions about the recognition of internships you have already completed, please also note the following:
Compare the content of your activities with our internship requirements. We cannot answer questions such as "Will my training be recognized as an internship?" without a more detailed description of your activities. If necessary, please describe in detail which activities you have completed over which periods of time and which of our internship contents you wish to cover with them. Please submit the required documents in good time, as recognition may take some time.
Internships must be verified by the end of the fourth semester at the latest. Please note that the semester ends on August 31. In justified cases, the Examination Board will decide on exceptions upon written application. The Examination Board of
the faculty will decide on the recognition of completed internships. Relevant training, internships, and professional activities can be credited toward the internships if they meet the above requirements. Partial recognition is possible for internships that have already been completed for a minimum duration of 3 weeks. The Examination Board also decides on this credit.
Please send your documents (journeyman's certificate or IHKcertificate, internship certificates from the company, and internship reports) by email to Constanze Kiwitt. If you have any uncertainties or questions about the internship, please contact Ms. Kiwitt before starting your internship. This is the only way to ensure that the internship you have completed is actually eligible for recognition.
Contact person for Wood Technology internships: Constanze Kiwitt.
internship confirmation
In order to recognize your internship, we require a corresponding certificate from your internship company.
The letter must contain the following information:
Mr./Ms.
Name:
Address: ________________
has completed a 6-week basic or specialized internship (please specify)
a 6-week basic or specialized internship (please specify)
at our company
Designation: ________________
Address: ________________
and performed the following tasks:
This is followed by a list of the activities, ideally in the wording of our requirements for the basic and specialized internship.
Signature: ________________
This confirmation must be written on the company's letterhead, bear the company stamp, and be signed by a responsible person.
Together with the internship certificate issued by the company, the intern must submit an internship report. The report should comprise one A4 page per week of the internship and contain the following: department attended, supervisor responsible, and activities performed. Each weekly report must be signed and stamped by the company.
Relevant training, internship, and professional activities can be credited toward the internship on an application if they meet the requirements of subsections 3 to 6. Partial recognition is possible for internships that have already been completed for a minimum duration of 3 weeks.
The Examination Board decides on the crediting of basic and specialist internships.
To facilitate recognition, it is advisable to confirm the completed content in the wording provided by us. If the content and form of your internship certificate deviate from our specifications, it must first be reviewed by a committee of the faculty. You can avoid this delay by closely adhering to the content we require.
