Disclosed are a method and a device for mounting a fastening element (12, 12′) on a part, e.g. a sheet metal part (13, 13′). Said fastening element comprises an axis of symmetry (18), a head piece (14) with a contact surface (22) that comes in contact with the part (13), a fastening section encompassing a thread (15, 15′), and at least one undercut (24, 82) which accommodates the material of the part. The material of the part is pressed against the contact surface and into the undercut by means of a first tool (26-26′″″) which is provided with a female die that is suitable for embodying the fastening element. The inventive method and device are characterized in that a local force (K) is applied to the head piece (14) of the fastening element (12, 12′) or to the tool (26-26′″″) at the side of the axis of symmetry (18) and moves in a circular manner around said axis of symmetry (arrow 43) while performing a relative advancing movement (arrow 28) between the tool (26-26′″″) and the fastening element (12, 12′), between which the part (13, 13′) is positioned, in order to press the material of the part into the undercut (24, 82).