Lukas Kainz

2025 | Environmental Engineering

Career Development

When I used to be asked what I would like to do for a living, my answer was usually that I would like to have a multifaceted job that fulfills and challenges me at the same time challenging - so that I can grow with new tasks. 

For this reason, I informed myself at various trade fairs and on the Internet about possible career fields. I came across the new environmental engineering course. I found it particularly appealing that this degree program offers an exciting and future-oriented training that enables graduates to play an active role in solving engineering actively participate in solving engineering problems. I find it particularly exciting that the degree program offers the opportunity to gain valuable and practical knowledge in future-oriented areas such as waste management, water and wastewater technology and renewable energies. At the same time, the course also teaches important basics, for example in the mathematics module.

I also think it's helpful that the environmental engineering course is interdisciplinary. Especially in the first semesters, many modules overlap with other courses, such as civil and construction engineering, which makes it easier to exchange ideas outside of your own course. As I would like to deepen and expand my knowledge, I am continuing my Bachelor's degree with a Master's degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering. 

Reminiscing allowed: remember your student days

For this reason, I decided to complete my Master's degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering also in Deggendorf in order to familiarize myself further with the various different areas and to deepen the knowledge I had already acquired. 

The informal atmosphere within the faculty and the relatively small lecture groups offer a clear advantage: this makes it easier to get into conversation with lecturers and fellow students, to discuss topics or to address aspects that often don't find a place in large lectures. 

The final excursion to the construction site of the Brenner Base Tunnel was a special experience that I always remember fondly and would not want to miss. The opportunity to go on an exciting, educational and entertaining excursion together with fellow students and lecturers shortly before completing my Bachelor's degree was breathtaking. This experience was also an additional motivational boost during the stressful phase of writing the Bachelor's thesis. 

What advice would you give to today's students?

The Environmental Engineering degree course offers numerous facets that enable even undecided students to get to know different sub-areas. It can happen that a subject that was initially perceived rather negatively or neutrally ends up being a positive surprise. 

There are some valuable tips for future students in Deggendorf to make their time at university successful and enjoyable. One particularly nice aspect is the close proximity to nature: the campus in Deggendorf is located directly on the Danube and borders the Donaupark, which invites you to sit and relax with your fellow students after long days of lectures in the summer. 

Deggendorf also has a lot to offer in terms of sport: As the gateway to the Bavarian Forest, the region offers ideal conditions for hiking and cycling tours - even in mountainous terrain, where you are rewarded for every effort with impressive views from one of the many peaks. If you prefer more action, you can let off steam as a mountain biker in the Geißkopf Bike Park. For more relaxed tours, the flat landscape along the rivers is ideal for cycling or jogging. All of this not only helps to clear your head, but also offers a wonderful opportunity to enjoy nature to the full. Especially
recommended is the university sports club, which also gives you access to facilities such as the Elypso or the climbing hall. If you don't like being alone, you'll quickly find people to be active with.

It is also easy to make contacts at the Deggendorf campus. The advantage of the small faculty is that students and professors know each other well. Student groups and clubs offer a platform to meet like-minded people and make new friends. 

It is also helpful to be open to practical experience during your studies. Deggendorf attaches great importance to practice-oriented training. The practical semester, for example offers the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in real projects. This not only provides valuable experience, but also contacts in the industry.

With these tips, you are well prepared to make your time studying in Deggendorf a successful and enjoyable one. Make sure you find a good work-life balance and allow yourself enough free time to get through stressful exam phases. And you should always be aware of one thing: If you don't understand something in a module or face other challenges in your studies, you are rarely alone. Talking to fellow students is often very helpful - learning together not only makes things easier, but also allows you to support and benefit from each other. 

Hanna Wöltje

2025 | Environmental Engineering

Career Development

During my time at school, I was already interested in the field of environmental engineering - the combination of environmental and technical topics in particular appealed to me. However, it was not yet clear to me which specialist direction I would like to take later on. It was only during my studies that I got to know the many possibilities and fields of study and realized how broad the spectrum is.

During my practical semester, I went to Heidelberg and worked in an engineering office that deals with traffic facilities, civil engineering structures and outdoor facilities. There I gained exciting insights into the planning and implementation of infrastructure projects, water management, sewer rehabilitation and environmental planning. I particularly enjoyed working in the field of road construction and sewer renovation.

Nevertheless, I wanted to get a taste of a different direction and therefore wrote my Bachelor's thesis in collaboration with the Lindner Group. I got in touch with the company through one of my professors, who works there himself. There I worked on the ecological evaluation of products. This practical experience was the best way for me to find out which topics really interested me in the long term. In the end, I realized that civil engineering and road construction was the area that best suited my interests and strengths.

Reminiscing allowed: remember your student days

The Environmental Engineering degree program at DIT is super versatile. It covers a huge range of environmental and civil engineering disciplines - from transportation engineering to wastewater disposal and energy engineering. This versatility has helped me to get a good overview of possible career fields and to discover my own interests.
I particularly appreciate the close contact with my fellow students and professors. Thanks to the informal atmosphere in the degree program, you quickly make friends and always find someone ready to listen - both from fellow students and lecturers. The numerous excursions and trade fair visits were highlights of the degree program and provided valuable insights into practice as well as opportunities to network with companies and potential employers.

One of the most unforgettable experiences was definitely the excursion to the Brenner Base Tunnel. Shared experiences like this bond us together and make studying not only educational, but also really exciting.

What advice would you give to today's students?

Network with your fellow students - it's easier to learn together and you can motivate each other. Try to get in touch with senior students. They can give you valuable tips on how to best pass the exams and what you should focus on. Don't hesitate to contact the professors if you have any problems or criticism, they will always try to help.

Use your internship semester to get out and about - abroad or in another federal state. The organizational effort is definitely worth it!

And yes, Deggendorf may not be the big party town, but you shouldn't miss out on the pub crawl and the Christmas party - events like these make your studies truly unforgettable!
Don't stress too much and enjoy your time at DIT!

Laura Bürgel

2021 | Civil and Environmental Engineering

During my time at the Deggendorf Institute of Technology (2015 - 2021), I was able to enjoy a well-founded and practice-oriented education that prepared me excellently for my professional life in both the fields of Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering. 

From day 1 of my bachelor's degree, I immediately felt very comfortable in my new environment thanks to the collaborative and cheerful atmosphere. The faculty places great value on team spirit and cohesion and offers numerous events and opportunities to get involved and make new friends outside of the lecture period thanks to the intensive cooperation with the “Verein Deggendorfer Bauingenieur” (VDBau for short). The support and encouragement from the professors is also unbeatable and provides a great introduction to the new challenges of studying engineering.

A major plus point of the course was the comprehensive range of environmental and construction engineering modules, which enabled me to gain a broad knowledge in both areas. In addition to the in-depth theoretical lectures, we were also able to gain valuable experience in the working world through numerous excursions and practical projects. In addition, the faculty offered us numerous opportunities to exchange ideas with potential employers and find internships and working student positions thanks to the extensive networking with construction companies, engineering offices and authorities. 

After working as a student trainee in landfill and civil engineering for many years during my studies, I focused on power plant engineering after my master's degree. Since 2022, I have been working in project management at Stadtwerke München and am responsible for the planning and implementation of future geothermal plants. I am very grateful that I was able to realize this career path through my studies and that I am now part of this innovative project team.

I can recommend the Deggendorf Institute of Technology to anyone who is looking for a first-class education in the field of Civil and Environmental Engineering and is interested in helping to shape our construction and energy sector in a sustainable way.

Quirin Pietta

2014 | Ressourcen- und Umweltmanagement (heute: Umweltingenieurwesen)

Quirin Pietta describes his time studying in Deggendorf as a very formative period in his life. From today's perspective, he would choose the degree programme again if he were in that situation again. 

Career Development

After successfully completing my studies in Resource and Environmental Management, I started as a project manager for floodlight masts at Europoles in Neumarkt, Upper Palatinate. It was a very civil-engineering job in which I was able to learn a lot about the exciting construction industry, such as calculations of material and personnel costs and project management. After three years at Europoles, I decided to switch to the mechanical engineering sector, and since 2017 I have been working as Regional Sales Manager in Export at DEPRAG SCHULZ GMBH u. CO. in Amberg. Here I am responsible for looking after subsidiaries or exclusive partners abroad with regard to our product portfolio in screwdriving and feeding technology and automation solutions. In addition, I have also been Managing Director of our Swedish subsidiary Deprag Scandinavia AB since 2021.

Reminiscing allowed: remember your student days

My student days in Deggendorf were a very formative period of my life. The small campus, the manageable hard core of fellow students in the course, allowed for a very efficient and, for me, very pleasant RUM study. Afterwards, I came into contact with all the subjects in my professional and private life: whether it was the basic mathematical training at engineering level to prepare demanding calculations, traffic management for construction site facilities at Europoles or contract law to survive in tough industries such as construction or mechanical engineering.

What advice would you give to today's students?

RUM education at DIT is broad and it's really about training engineering skills. I myself never worked in the environmental field after graduating, it just didn't work out, but many of my fellow students are, for example, project managers for wind turbines, work in municipalities in water supply and/or disposal or are in research. It is a degree programme that I would take again today, supplemented by a few modules from mechanical engineering, because my interest and professional career developed in this direction. All options are open to you, use the tutorials offered at the TH and attend as many lectures as possible. Talk to professors about possible practical semesters or Bachelor's thesis tips. They always had an open ear and useful tips for me.