The best of engineering education in Europe

There’s no shortage of complex challenges for today’s engineers to solve. The world needs climate change solutions like better, cheaper solar panels and healthcare revolutions like prosthetic limbs that can integrate with the nervous system. Achieving any of this takes a new generation of compassionate, forward-thinking problem solvers — the kind produced by the best master’s degrees in engineering today. 

Engineers benefit personally as well. As competition intensifies, advanced credentials become strategic advantages. Studies show a master’s degree keeps your skillset relevant, equipping you for current and emerging industry issues, like the growing demand for engineers who can design self-driving cars or create sustainable water treatment solutions.  Essentially, it transforms you into an invaluable asset for any team.

If it’s career opportunities, skills development, and a chance to make a difference that you’re after, the following universities in Europe are your best bet:

University of Oulu

Under the Northern lights and in a Finnish city lauded for its natural beauty, cultural vibrancy, and educated populace, lies the University of Oulu. Its motto is “naturally technological, uniquely creative” — and it has a location that serves this purpose well. As one of the world’s northernmost universities, what’s soon to be the European Capital of Culture in 2026 is where students can immerse themselves in stunning natural landscapes and connect with the world’s happiest people. 

At its Faculty of Technology, engineering students master the knowledge and tools to build a more sustainable, intelligent, and humane world. The faculty offers postgraduate programmes that transform students and professionals into future pioneers, such as the  Master’s in Environmental Engineering, Master’s in Interdisciplinary Product Innovation and Creation, Master’s in Chemistry of Sustainable Processes and Materials, Master’s in Architecture, Master’s in Mineral Resources and Sustainable Mining, Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Sustainable Mineral and Metal Processing Engineering and more — all taught in English.

Regardless of the programme you choose, you’ll benefit from Oulu’s student-centred approach. Thanks to a high faculty-to-student ratio, you’ll get to interact closely with and find support from expert professors. They are some of the best minds in the world, known for world-class research. With their guidance, you’ll learn how to tackle challenges through a multidisciplinary lens and address complex issues with innovative solutions. 

Oulu’s 2,000 researchers specialise in a wide range of areas, from sustainable materials to digitalisation, and the changing crisis. For example, a project currently underway near Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park is investigating how the restoration of peatland affects the carbon and water cycles, vegetation, and microbial communities in the area. Apply to the Faculty of Technology today.

University of Southampton

The University of Southampton is a global top 100 university. The university is ideally situated in the friendly and idyllic city of Southampton, which has earned the third spot in the list of the UK’s most affordable cities for students. Its School of Engineering is ranked third for aeronautical and aerospace engineering, fifth for civil engineering and eighth for mechanical engineering (Complete University Guide 2024)

The university has one of Europe’s largest and most diverse engineering schools. Here, you’ll find a wide range of programmes, including acoustical and vibration engineering, biomedical engineering, chemistry and chemical engineering, civil engineering, environmental monitoring and assessment, and many more.

A Southampton engineering education is defined by access to expert academics and world-class facilities. Students are supported by a dedicated team of academic supervisors who provide guidance and research expertise. Fasciitis are state-of-the-art facilities and include the UK’s largest towing tank and a wind tunnel complex used by Formula One and Olympic athletes.

“One of the largest and most diverse engineering schools in Europe, we provide a research-led education in world class facilities that equips and empowers our students to apply fundamental scientific understanding and knowledge to complex, real-world engineering challenges,” says Professor David Richards, Professor in Ground Engineering.

University of Bologna

Nestled in the heart of Italy, Europe’s eighth-largest economy and a global leader in manufacturing, lies the University of Bologna (Unibo). Founded in 1088, Unibo is the oldest continuously operating university in the Western world. This institution consistently ranks among Italy’s top five universities, attracting scholars seeking a quality education steeped in history.

For aspiring engineers, Unibo offers many possibilities. Their English-taught programmes cover a wide range of disciplines, including Advanced Automotive Engineering, Building Engineering – Architecture, Chemical Innovation and Regulation, Artificial Intelligence, and Biomedical Engineering. 

Unibo prioritises student well-being. Despite its large student body, the university fosters a supportive environment. A dedicated campus organization ensures that students receive personalised assistance whenever needed. What’s more, you’ll get to work with professional and university teaching staff of the highest level.

Unibo’s research endeavours are equally impressive, consistently ranking among Italy’s best and attracting significant funding from the Italian Ministry of Education and the European Commission. This robust research environment, coupled with the university’s esteemed faculty, equips graduates with a competitive edge upon entering the workforce. In fact, Unibo was ranked second in Italy and within the top 17% worldwide for graduate employability.

“Being among the world’s best universities in these rankings is a great achievement,” says Rector Francesco Ubertini. “These results crucially acknowledge the work we have done in recent years on four main areas: teaching innovation, students’ soft-skills development, the enhancement of the University’s international dimension, and the ongoing strengthening of the relations between public and private institutions at the local level.”

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International