Can I contact companies already during the studies?

This is quite possible and in many ways.

Within the bachelor and master studies a thesis project have to be done respectively. These projects can be carried out in corresponding firms, organizations or consultant companies. Mostly, organizations suggest topics of projects to the professors. It is also possible that students themselves propose topics.

Such contacts between students and organizations sometimes result in the employment of the student (young graduate engineer) in the company.

Furthermore, in each semester numerous colloquiums and seminars take place in various institutes of the department, in which engineers report about different topics from their practical experience. In such cases there is also a good chance of making contacts.

Finally, many professors have close contacts to many companies, they are willing to help you either.