Composites United opens applications for 2026/27 composites trainee program

Source | Composites United e.V.

Composites United e.V. (Berlin, Germany) is accepting applications for its winter semester 2026/27 CU Trainee Program, a study-concurrent training program for graduate students pursuing additional technical education in fiber-reinforced composites. The application deadline is Aug. 7, 2026, with the program running October 2026 through March 2027.

The program is structured across two semesters. The first focuses on theoretical fundamentals delivered across 7 in-person lecture days held at research institutions throughout Germany, earning participants 3 ECTS credits (two semester hours per week). Topics covered in the lecture series include:

Ceramic composites
Thermoplastics
Fiber technology and textile preform technology
Epoxy resins
Testing technology
Structural mechanics
Hybrid composites and testing methods for fiber-reinforced composites.

The second semester optionally includes a thesis project completed in collaboration with a Composites United industry partner. At the close of the first semester, students sit a written exam prepared by the program’s instructors; those who pass receive a certificate of participation. Credit recognition toward a student’s degree is determined individually by their home university.

The program is aimed primarily at students holding a bachelor’s degree and currently pursuing a master’s degree. Applicants must demonstrate fluency in German, as lectures and application materials are conducted in German. In-person attendance is required for at least six of the seven sessions; remote participation is not permitted. The cohort is capped at 14 students, and a travel allowance of up to £1,000 per participant is available.

A secondary goal of the program, according to Composites United, is to give member companies early access to motivated student talent as a pipeline for future recruitment.

Applications — submitted as a single combined file including a cover letter and current transcripts — must be sent in German to: trainee-programm@composites-united.com.

Full program details are available at composites-united.com.