Saif Mahmoud from Egypt is studying Mechatronics at the Cooperative State University Baden-Württemberg.

From the lecture hall to the workbench

Saif Mahmoud from Egypt is studying Mechatronics at the Cooperative State University Baden-Württemberg, also known as Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (DHBW). The special aspect of the course is the mix of theory and practical phases. Every three months, he switches between the lecture hall and his work at the traditional German company WMF.

Saif Mahmoud isn’t afraid to try new things. When he was starting his last year in school, his father approached him with the idea that Saif might like to study in Germany after finishing school. His father told him the training for engineers was excellent in Germany, and course fees were low compared to the USA.

Although Saif Mahmoud had never been to Germany, he liked the idea, even if it meant he had to cram German in addition to preparing for his final exams at school. “It was tough in the beginning, but it soon got better”, he recalls, laughing. He put his back into it because he had a goal in sight.

Moving between theory and practice

The 20-year-old has been studying Mechatronics at the DHBW Heidenheim for the past year on a dual study program where theory and practice are taught alongside each other. Specifically, this means he spends three months at university, where he attends lectures, completes projects and studies for exams. Then for the next three months he works at his partner company WMF. The company is known for high-quality household goods such as cookware, kitchen aids and coffee machines.

After that, he goes back on campus. Six theory phases and six practical phases are planned in total. After three years, he can graduate with a bachelor’s degree.

A bridging course as preparation for university studies

The journey from his home country to Heidenheim was not a simple one. Firstly, he travelled to Frankfurt with a friend to learn German for a few more months. He then applied to a ‘Studienkolleg’ to do a one-year bridging course to obtain authorization to study at a German university. He passed the entrance exam for the college in the three subjects German, Maths and Physics with no trouble at all. “When I got accepted, my father was very proud of me”, he remembers.

Tuition at the college in the small town of Bad Mergentheim in the North-east of Baden-Württemberg started in October 2022. Alongside German, Physics and Maths, other subjects included Programming and Technical Drawing. “The ‘Studienkolleg’ college was extremely useful for me. I learned so much that I can now use for my studies”, says Saif Mahmoud.

Training to write job applications is part of the curriculum

The curriculum also included training on applying for jobs. Because to start a dual study program, students first need to find a company that will support them financially and where they can complete the practical phases. “The ‘Studienkolleg’ college was a huge help to all of us when looking for a company”, the 20-year-old tells us.

He also has good memories of the atmosphere on campus and the solidarity among the students. “There were people from all over the world in my class, and everyone had the same goal”, he tells us. “Because the campus is so small, everyone knows each other, and we met regularly to go for a picnic or play football. It was only just before the exams that we all focused on studying”.

Financially secure as a student

In July 2023, he passed the assessment exam, giving him authorization to study at university. By that time, Mahmoud had already secured the necessary employment contract with WMF. This meant he could start his dual study program in Mechatronics at the Heidenheim campus in October 2023.

While he pays for the 1,500 euros per semester in fees that it costs for a student from a non-EU country to study in Baden-Württemberg himself, the company pays him a monthly salary. “It’s nice because it means I can be financially independent and don’t have to ask my family for money”, says Saif Mahmoud.

If all goes to plan, he will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics in the summer of 2026. “Sometimes it’s stressful because, unlike other students, we don’t get any summer holidays on the dual study program. At WMF we get 25 days off” *, he explains. “But the trade-off is that I will have a bachelor’s degree after just three years and will have practical experience from a company”. And he is in with a very good chance of being hired by the company he has been working at for the last few years. “It’s absolutely worth it to me”.

*It should be noted that the number of annual holidays varies from company to company.

Further reading:

Read our other testimonial story about a Singaporean alumnus from Cooperative State University Baden-Württemberg in mechatronics who now works at the Swabian engineering company Festo.

Tips for interested students / applicants:

  • Go here to find more information in German about how to apply for the next intake 2025 to the ‘Studienkolleg’ in Bad Mergentheim.
  • Find out about how Studienkollegs in Baden-Württemberg prepare you for your studies in Germany.
  • Inform yourself about preparatory courses at THE LÄND universities here.
  • To find your ideal study program in the German Southwest, use our study search.

Author: Claudia Doyle