Patent Engineering (M. Sc.)

How do you combine technology, intellectual property and management?

The Master’s programme in Patent Engineering at Ingolstadt University of Technology is aimed at graduates of engineering and natural science degree programmes who wish to strategically combine technology with the protection of intellectual property. It qualifies you for an interdisciplinary, future-oriented career field in which technology, law and management are closely intertwined and where you will play an active role in shaping innovation.
During the programme, you will deepen your knowledge of future technologies and combine this with a sound grounding in intellectual property (IP). You will acquire comprehensive knowledge of German, European and international patent law, trade mark and design law, and employee invention law. You will also develop skills in research and information technology, as well as in patent management. In this way, you will learn to analyse technical inventions in a structured manner, realistically assess their potential for protection, and develop viable protection and exploitation strategies. In doing so, you will make targeted use of patent systems, draft patent applications, and combine technical and non-technical intellectual property rights to form holistic protection concepts. This will lay the foundation for the successful commercial exploitation of innovations in industry, research and development.

The Master’s thesis enables you to complete your degree with a practical focus and opens up valuable networking opportunities. Thanks to flexible block-session courses and online formats, the programme can also be undertaken whilst working. Credits already earned from technical or science-based Master’s programmes can usually be fully recognised.

Occupational fields and career prospects

Patent engineers work in patent, research and development departments of companies, universities, research institutions and law firms at the interface between technology, intellectual property management and strategic corporate policy and cooperate with developers, inventors, decision-makers and patent offices.

They promote and identify inventions, monitor competitors' innovations and advise on the need for and possibilities of protecting new products and processes. They are responsible for IP searches and assist in the drafting of invention and patent applications and in the patent granting process and in the examination of the validity of IP rights and their enforcement. Within the scope of IP management, they evaluate patents, are involved in the management of patent exploitation, and organise portfolio formation and maintenance. Patent engineers contribute to the IP strategy, they develop patent strategies and advise the management.

Degree
Master of Science (M. Sc.)
Duration
3 Semester
Start of studies
Summer & Winter

Accreditation
Yes
Aptitude Procedure
Yes
Dual Study
Yes
Main teaching language
German

Location
Ingolstadt

Sought-after Master's programme in Patent Engineering

Structure and Contents

Engineering subjects form a core area of the study programme. In accordance with the technical orientation of the degree course, a special focus is placed on future technologies in the field of electrical engineering and information technology. Graduates acquire the ability to recognise and assess technical contexts and their further development and application, and to understand and accompany technological change in research and development.

The engineering focus is embedded in a sound education in the IP field. Students acquire the knowledge in the IP field required for work as a patent engineer. The focus is on German, European and international patent law, employee invention law and know-how protection. The use of the patent systems is taught and students are instructed in the drafting of patent applications and the procedural acts to be performed in the various proceedings.

The compulsory modules are supplemented on the one hand by compulsory elective modules, which focus the acquisition of competence on specific, individual technical areas such as IP, e.g. procedural law in patent matters, contracts in the IP area, digitalisation of IP processes IP. Scientific work is practised in seminars and projects. The Master's thesis concludes the academic study. It can be written in a domestic or foreign company. With the final thesis, the graduate demonstrates that he or she has the ability to work independently and according to scientific rules on a challenging engineering problem at the interface between technology and intellectual property.

Praxisnah lernen – von erfahrenen Praktikerinnen und Praktikern

Die enge Verzahnung mit der Praxis zeichnet den Studiengang aus. Lehrveranstaltungen werden von erfahrenen Patentanwältinnen und Patentanwälten sowie Expertinnen und Experten aus Patentabteilungen mitgestaltet. Sie vermitteln aktuelle Entwicklungen und geben Einblicke in die Praxis des gewerblichen Rechtsschutzes. Praxisorientierte Projektarbeiten und Abschlussarbeiten in Kooperation mit Unternehmen oder Patentanwaltskanzleien ermöglichen es Ihnen, das erworbene Wissen direkt anzuwenden, wertvolle Kontakte zu knüpfen und sich gezielt auf den Berufseinstieg vorzubereiten.

[Translate to English:]

Curriculum

1. Semester

Nachhaltigkeit technischer Systeme
5 ECTS

Ingenieurwissenschaftliche Arbeitstechniken
5 ECTS

Wahlpflichtfächer Ingenieurwissenschaften
5 ECTS

Recht des geistigen Eigentums
5 ECTS

Patentinformation und -recherche
5 ECTS

Wahlpflichtfächer Intellectual Property
5 ECTS

2. Semester

Sichere und zuverlässige technische Systeme
5 ECTS

Technik- und IP-Projekt
5 ECTS

Wahlpflichtfächer Ingenieurwissenschaften
5 ECTS

Patentrecht und Rechtsschutz nichttechnischer Leistungen
5 ECTS

Patent- und Innovationsmanagement
5 ECTS

Wahlpflichtfächer Intellectual Property
5 ECTS

3. Semester

Masterarbeit inkl. Kolloquium
30 ECTS

Quick Info

Admission: Prerequisite

The qualification requirement for admission to this study programme is a successfully completed Bachelor's degree in an engineering or natural science discipline with a total of 210 ECTS and with a technical component of at least 80% (170 of the 210 ECTS). In the case of a Bachelor's degree for which less than 210 but at least 180 ECTS points have been awarded, proof of the missing skills must be provided (additionally passed examinations or internships).

For admission, an aptitude test must be passed which shows whether skills for the special qualitative knowledge and requirements of the Master's degree programme in patent engineering were acquired in the Bachelor's degree programme which can be expected to lead to a successful course of studies. In the aptitude test, the submitted documents are evaluated with regard to the following criteria areas

Grade of the degree of the engineering or natural science Bachelor's programme
Skills in mathematics, engineering sciences and computer science
Independent scientific work and experience in engineering problem solving

There are no tests or interviews that require personal attendance. To apply, please refer to the aptitude test questionnaire available at "Statutes" (linked here on this page) , which is also posted again on the Primuss application portal.

Application

You can start your studies in the summer semester or in the winter semester. The application is made via the PRIMUSS application portal THI. The engineering focus is embedded in a sound education in the IP field. Students acquire the knowledge in the IP field required for work as a patent engineer. The focus is on German, European and international patent law, employee invention law and know-how protection. The use of the patent systems is taught and students are instructed in the drafting of patent applications and the procedural acts to be performed in the various proceedings. The compulsory modules are supplemented on the one hand by compulsory elective modules, which focus the acquisition of competence on specific, individual technical areas such as IP, e.g. procedural law in patent matters, contracts in the IP area, digitalisation of IP processes IP. Scientific work is practised in seminars and projects. The Master's thesis concludes the academic study. It can be written in a domestic or foreign company. With the final thesis, the graduate demonstrates that he or she has the ability to work independently and according to scientific rules on a challenging engineering problem at the interface between technology and intellectual property.

Applies to applications for summer semester 2027 and beyond

With immediate effect, applicants from India with Bachelor’s degrees in the following fields

Engineering
Commerce / Accounting / Finance / Economics
Business / Management

must, in addition to the VDP from uni-assist, provide evidence of having passed the Digital Master Test (dMAT):

https://aps-india.de/

in order to obtain an APS certificate relevant for your visa .

Please check whether this applies to you based on your Bachelor's degree:

Programmes requiring dMAT (pdf)

The test costs 150 €. Registration is now open.

Timetable for applications for the 2027 summer semester:

September 15, 2026: deadline registration for dMAT
September 26, 2026: dMAT test date at 10 locations in India
October 12, 2026: certificate available

Full details can be found at: https://aps-india.de/dmat/

Please note: THI does not answer any questions regarding the test procedure or its impact on an offer of admission from our university!

Application period at THI for English-taught Master programmes for the summer semester 2027: 15 October 2026 to 15 January 2027

The dual Master's programme at THI offers optimal career opportunities. In addition to the regular degree programme, the dual Master's programme includes intensive work experience in a company. It is consecutive and is aimed at both non-dual and dual Bachelor graduates who have previously completed a combined degree programme or a degree programme with in-depth practical experience.

During the dual Master's programme, you will receive a salary from your company. The salary for Master's degree programmes should be appropriately higher than the salary for Bachelor's degree programmes.

Special feature: Normal duration of study with significantly more practical experience than in a regular Master's programme

IP at THI

Save the date!

Next Patent Day in February 2027!

TrainInG

We look forward to receiving your application!

To the online application

Contact for questions about the application or other topics

Contact only for content-related questions:

Vice President Continuing Education; Academic Director Institute for Lifelong Learning; Programme director "Patent Engineering" (Master)
Prof. Dr. Andrea Klug
Phone: +49 841 9348-3808
Room: I101
E-Mail: Andrea.Klug@thi.de

Study and Examination Regulations

Study and examination regulations (SPO) deal with judicial matters concerning your study course. Please turn to the pages of the legal department for Statutes of this course.

For any questions on requirements, exams regulations and more, please turn to the Service Center Study Affairs.