Located in the Bergisches Land, a low mountain range in western Germany, the University of Wuppertal (BUW) attracts around 21,000 students to its three campuses across nine faculties, offering over 100 study programmes. The university combines a commitment to the highest standards of scientific research with a network of regional partnerships that promote active knowledge transfer and intensive cooperation with industry and society.

Safety Engineering

The degree programme (B.Sc. / M.Sc.) ‘Sicherheitstechnik’ (Safety Engineering) is one of the first of its kind in Germany to cover the full spectrum of engineering-related safety and security issues. Taught in German, it focuses on environmental, occupational and traffic safety as well as fire, explosion and civil protection, dealing with the risks to which humans and their environment are exposed — especially when dealing with technology. Students receive a comprehensive education in the emergence of risks, assessment methods, and the optimization of protection concepts.

Research: Public Safety and Emergency Management

The Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management works at the interface between engineering and sociological research, addressing critical-infrastructure resilience, the spatial context of risk and security, and organization and management before, during and after emergencies. Researchers combine expertise in disaster and crisis management, civil-military and interorganisational cooperation, and security-related perspectives on administrative culture, communication, trust and responsibility.

International opportunities

As part of an international network of over 220 partner universities worldwide, the University of Wuppertal promotes student exchange programmes and joint research projects. To date, admission of international exchange students for selected courses in the Safety Engineering programme remains limited to German-speaking students. Exchanges are coordinated through established partner universities and the BUW International Office.