MSc in Industrial Engineering & Management
Master's Degree Program
The Industrial Engineering & Management (IEM) master’s degree program at CU Carinthia University trains flexible leaders for industry and innovative companies–people who understand production systems and can guide teams through change.
Who is IEM for? It’s for working engineers who want to make the transition into leadership, and for graduates of technical bachelor’s programs who want to expand their expertise with management and leadership skills. Both paths lead to the same goal: developing professionals who can combine technical feasibility with business responsibility.
What exactly will you learn? Industry 4.0, innovation management, and business leadership are the three main areas of focus. These are complemented by smart production, data analytics, and machine learning on the technical side, as well as leadership, entrepreneurship, and business strategy on the business side.
The program is designed for working professionals and is therefore compatible with a career: classes are held on Mondays and Wednesdays starting at 5:40 p.m., on Fridays starting at 2:20 p.m., and on Saturdays until 4:00 p.m., with a combination of in-person and online components.
The program lasts 4 semesters, comprises 120 ECTS credits, and concludes with a Master of Science in Engineering at the Villach campus. The language of instruction is German. The program begins each year in the winter semester.
Who is this degree program suitable for?
For working engineers who want to make the transition to leadership, and for graduates of bachelor’s programs in engineering who wish to expand their technical expertise to include management and leadership skills. Both paths lead to the same goal: the individual who combines technical feasibility with economic responsibility.
Benefits for WING graduates?
For graduates of the Bachelor’s program in Industrial Engineering (WING), the transition to the Master’s program is seamless: the same campus, familiar faculty, and a program that builds on the content of the Bachelor’s without gaps or duplication. No change of location, no fresh start. Since the bachelor’s program is offered both full-time and part-time, both paths lead to the same master’s program–you decide how you study, not how far you’ll go.
What is the difference between the Master's in IEM and the MBA?
The Master’s program in Industrial Engineering & Management (IEM) combines engineering and management. It builds on a technical bachelor’s degree and delves deeper into industrial engineering, smart production, data analysis, and innovation management. While an MBA provides cross-industry management knowledge, the IEM program specifically prepares students for leadership roles in the engineering industry.
Do you have a strong technical foundation and want to lead?
The Master’s in Industrial Engineering & Management (IEM) at CU will turn you into a leader in just 4 semesters–as a part-time program on the Villach campus, starting in the winter semester.
Special features of the program
Here, leadership is the goal of training, not a byproduct.
Being technically proficient and leading a team are two different things. IEM bridges this very gap: management skills, human resources, and leadership are offered as separate courses in the curriculum—not as an afterthought, but as part of the exam material. In addition, the program covers entrepreneurship and interpersonal skills in technical purchasing and sales.
While working, without putting your career on hold.
You don't have to choose between your job and your master's degree. Classes are held on Mondays and Wednesdays starting at 5:40 p.m., on Fridays starting at 2:20 p.m., and on Saturdays until 4:00 p.m., with some online components. This way, you can keep earning an income while also applying what you learn in the workplace.
Study & Work: Over 100 partner companies.
CU places students in positions at more than 100 partner companies and organizations in Carinthia and beyond. Theory and practice thus do not follow one after the other, but run in parallel—and some programs also offer scholarships.
AI and Data Analysis as Management Tools.
Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Analytics and Neural Networks, Modeling & Simulation, Process Automation: You’ll learn not only how Industry 4.0 is transforming manufacturing, but also the processes behind it – enough to make decisions about it and lead experts in the field.
An innovation workshop and a smart lab instead of slides.
You won't just learn about innovation processes in lectures—you'll also gain hands-on experience in the Innovation Workshop and the Smart Lab on the Villach campus: test out prototyping and development processes under real-world conditions before putting them into practice in a real-world setting.
Carinthian Industry as Your Network.
Villach is home to the headquarters of Infineon Austria, as well as Hella, Magna, and AVL. The program has strong regional ties: students interact with professionals throughout their studies, and those connections endure long after graduation.
The second part of a journey that begins with a bachelor's degree.
The Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering at CU is offered in two formats—full-time and part-time. Both lead to this Master’s degree, at the same university and with the same faculty. The Master’s program is taught in German; the German language requirements are listed in the “Academic Requirements” tab. You decide how you study—not how far you go.
Details About the Program
Info Box
Level of qualification
Master
ECTS credits
120
Tuition fees*
€ 363.36 / Semester
ÖH (Austrian Student Union) fee
€ 26.20 / Semester
Qualification awarded
Master of Science in Engineering
Duration of study
4 Semester
Language of instruction
German
CU Campus
Villach
Dates Info Box
Winterterm 2026
Period I: 01.11.-15.03.26
Period II: 16.03.-15.05.26
Period III: 16.05.-15.07.26
Period IV: 16.07.-30.09.26*
Due to lengthy visa processes, applications from Africa, the Middle East and South, East, and Southeast Asia only in Period I.
*We reserve the right not to close this period early.
The semester starts in October - we only offer intake in winterterm!
The start of lectures can be found in the individual timetable which is available after enrollment.
Mon & Wed from 17:40
Fri from 14:20
Sat full-time till 16:00
(classroom teaching with online parts)
An overview on our upcoming events can be found here.
You are interested in a personal (online) study consultation or would like to receive more information on the degree program? Click on the buttons below this checkbox to learn more.
Language of Instruction: German (min B2)
Application essentials:
More information on the application process, admission requirements and necessary documents can be found here.
* Tuition for non-EU/EEA citizens: €500 + €26.20 ÖH fee (per semester)
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the Master’s Degree Program in
“Industrial Engineering & Management”
Why Study Industrial Engineering & Management at CU?
The Master’s degree program in Industrial Engineering & Management at CU brings four things together: 1. A part-time format that doesn’t interrupt your career path. 2. Connections to Carinthia’s high-tech industry. 3. Study & Work opportunities with over 60 partner companies. And 4. a bachelor’s program, which is offered in two formats and leads directly to this master’s program.
Can I study IEM even if I don't have a job right now?
Yes. Employment is not a prerequisite for admission. The part-time program is designed to allow students to balance their studies with their careers–but it does not require them to have a job. Students who are fresh out of a bachelor’s program and looking for a suitable position can access more than 60 partner companies through Study & Work.
What leadership roles does the IEM Master's program prepare me for?
The Master's program in Industrial Engineering & Management prepares students for leadership roles in production, operations, project and innovation management, technical procurement, sales, controlling, and management consulting. IEM graduates combine technical expertise with management skills and make decisions that would otherwise require two people.
Book an Online Information Session
Before you apply, get to know us: Program Director FH-Prof. DI Dr. Erich Alois Hartlieb will provide a detailed overview of the program during the online information session–including course content, admission requirements, the structure of the part-time program, and the range of career paths available.
FH Professor Erich Alois Hartlieb, DI, Ph.D.
Program Director, Industrial Engineering & Management
+43 5 90500 2220
e.hartlieb(at)cuas.at
Research and Teaching Facilities
The laboratories at CU Carinthia University provide a modern infrastructure that supports hands-on learning and innovative research. Equipped with state-of-the-art technologies and specialized equipment, they enable students and researchers to work on projects across a wide range of fields, including engineering, computer science, business, and health.
The laboratories are designed to meet current industry standards and requirements, providing an ideal environment for developing new ideas, technologies, and solutions.
INFORMATION & APPLICATION
Virtual Campus Tour
Contact
Alexandra Reithofer
Administration
a.reithofer(at)cuas.at
On foot
From the Villach Seebach train station, you can reach the campus in about 20 minutes on foot (1.6 km). The route follows the Drau River to the campus.
By public transportation
The campus is directly accessible from Villach Central Station via bus lines 3 and 8 to the “Technologiepark” stop. From the Villach Seebach train station, you can also reach the campus by taking bus line 8 to the “Technologiepark” stop. The Villach city bus schedules are coordinated with the ÖBB schedules.
By car
Coming from Klagenfurt/Vienna, take the A2 Südautobahn to the Wernberg exit. From there, follow the B83 Kärntner Straße toward Villach for about 2 km, then follow the signs toward Magdalenen See or Technologiepark.
Coming from Salzburg/Munich via the A10 Tauern Autobahn, take the Villach/Ossiacher See exit and follow the B33 Kärntner Straße for about 2 km toward Wernberg/Klagenfurt. Then turn toward Magdalenen See and follow the road to the Technology Park.
There are several free parking spaces right in front of the building, and additional paid parking spaces are available in the surrounding area.
By Plane
There are several airports in the area:
- Klagenfurt: approx. 30-minute drive
- Ljubljana (Slovenia): approx. 1-hour drive
- Graz: approx. 2-hour drive
- Salzburg: approx. 2-hour drive
- Trieste and Venice (Italy): about 2 to 3 hours by car
- Vienna: about a 4-hour drive
- Munich: approx. 4-hour drive
From there, you can continue your journey to the Villach campus by train, bus, taxi, or car.