RWTH Aachen University

Templergraben 55, 52062 Aachen, Germany

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Overview

RWTH Aachen University is an institution of higher education located in Aachen, the westernmost city of Germany. Founded in 1870, it has become a notable center of technological innovation over the past century and a half. Today, it is home to almost 48,000 students, of whom approximately 30% are from outside Germany.

The academic organizational structure of RWTH Aachen University contains 9 Faculties (Mathematics, Computer Science & Natural Sciences, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Georesources and Materials Engineering, ...

University Highlight

Establishment year	1870
Total Students	47,078
International Students	14,150
QS World University Rankings 2024	106
Campus Size	N/A
Total Number of Campuses	1
University Website	https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/~a/root/?lidx=1
No. of Schools and Divisions	9 Faculties
Nobel Prize Winner Alumni	1 (Peter Debye)
No. of Education Programs	173
Student to Faculty ratio	6.9:1

Course Highlight

RWTH Aachen University offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses through 9 Faculties, which are further subdivided into Departments and Institutes.

The Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences provides UG and PG taught and research programs through five Departments: Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
The Faculty of Architecture conducts undergraduate and postgraduate programs through eighteen Departments and Institutes, including Structural Design, Conservation of Cultural Heritage, History of Art, Building Technology, and Design Computation.
The Faculty of Civil Engineering teaches UG and PG courses, and carries out research via its five Institutes: Sustainable Buildings & Infrastructure, Water & Environmental Engineering, Building Materials & Structural Engineering, Computational Engineering, and Mobility, Informatics, Surveying & Geotechnics.
The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering provides UG and PG taught and research programs through eighteen Institutes, including Automatic Control, Energy Systems Engineering, Materials Applications in Mechanical Engineering, Machine Dynamics, Robotics, and Automotive Engineering.
The Faculty of Georesources and Materials Engineering conducts undergraduate and postgraduate programs through three Research Divisions (Earth Sciences & Geography, Mineral Resources & Raw Materials Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering), which have several Institutes within them.
The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology provides UG and PG taught and research programs through ten Institutes, including Networked Systems, Higher Frequency Technology, Automation of Complex Power Systems, and Theoretical Electrical Engineering.
The Faculty of Arts and Humanities conducts undergraduate and postgraduate programs through three Departments: Literature, Linguistics & Philosophy, Social Sciences, and Education, Cognition & Communication.
The School of Business and Economics provides UG and PG taught and research programs related to Business Administration.
The Faculty of Medicine conducts undergraduate and postgraduate programs through 7 pre-clinical Institutes, 18 Clinical Theoretical Institutes, 31 Departments, and 3 Dental Departments.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants to Bachelor’s programs at RWTH Aachen University must satisfy the following requirements:

Possession of a high school leaving certificate. Depending on the country of origin, this may be subject to a further round of verification by the German Embassy. In certain cases, the University may recommend that the candidate join a one year preparatory course before being accepted into a full time Bachelor’s degree program. Students with a vocational degree or diploma can also apply to undergraduate programs at RWTH.
Detailed academic transcripts: Some courses have restricted admission, which means that there are certain prerequisite subjects with a minimum level of required performance in each.
Language requirements: Most programs at RWTH Aachen are taught in German. A minimum proficiency level of B2 is required, with many courses requiring C1 level. A few Master’s programs are taught in English; for these courses, TOEFL or IELTS scores can be submitted, with exact score cutoffs listed on each program webpage.
Possession of a valid international passport; this also serves as an identity document.

Applicants to Master’s programs at the University have similar eligibility requirements. However, they must have a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized University, and submit detailed transcripts of all courses taken. Most postgraduate courses have many program specific requirements, including creative portfolios, detailed professional resumes, and relevant industrial experience. Specialized Master’s programs at RWTH Aachen may also only allow students from certain undergraduate disciplines to apply.

Admission

There are two kinds of programs at RWTH Aachen University: restricted admission and open application. In the former, there is a cap on the total number of seats, and a minimum grade required for admission. Typically, restricted admission programs have more complex admission forms and more documents to be submitted. The first step is to check the webpage of the relevant program to verify all the requirements and eligibility.

Applicants to Master’s programs at RWTH Aachen University must follow these steps:

Registration on the RWTH Online portal. Applications must be submitted through this website.
Completion of the application form, including a Statement of Purpose and Essays, if required. All details must be accurate and match those in the documents.
Uploading all required documents. They must be scanned PDF copies, certified, and notarized by the relevant authorities. If the original documents are not in either German or English, they must be translated by a German Embassy accredited service.
Certain Master’s programs have entrance tests. For example, the School of Business and Economics has a selection examination called the TM-WISO; this has a weightage of 49%, with undergraduate grades counting for the other 51%.
Applications must be submitted by February 1 for the summer semester, or August 1 for the winter semester.
The University responds to all applicants within a month of submission. Candidates who receive an offer of admission must proceed to the enrollment step. After paying the semester fees and choosing the courses for the first semester, RWTH Aachen sends a confirmation email, which can then be used to apply for a long term German student visa. After arriving in Aachen, students can apply for a Residence Permit valid for the expected duration of their stay in the country.

Applicants to undergraduate courses at RWTH Aachen University follow a similar process. However, high school grades in countries other than Germany must be converted according to the German system. This can be done by applying to the relevant office in Düsseldorf.

Fees

RWTH Aachen University is a public institution of higher education in Germany; as such, there are no tuition fees for both domestic and international students. The only fees to be paid to the University are administrative and student costs. In RWTH University, this is known as the social contribution fee, and is equal to 318.66 Euros per month. This amount is made up of:

Student Body Fees: These are used to organize student events and deal with administrative and office costs.
Social Contribution: This allows the University to provide common amenities for the welfare of all students.

While applying for a residence permit, students must prove that they have access to at least 861 Euros per month to cover living costs. However, the University estimates that the average living cost is 1,080 Euros per month. The breakdown of this amount is below:

Accommodation, utilities, and WiFi Internet: 470 Euros.
Food and other basic living expenses (including transportation): 400 Euros.
Health Insurance Premium: 110 Euros.
Books and other Study Material: 100 Euros (may be higher for certain courses).

Campus facilities

The campus of RWTH University is located in Aachen, an ancient city in Western Germany that is also young and vibrant due to its large population of students, with residents from over 160 countries. It is located in a hilly area near the border with the Netherlands and Belgium; students with a Residence Permit can travel freely throughout Europe. The location of RWTH Aachen University makes it ideally suited as a startup hub. Several high tech companies are located in the RWTH Science Park. Many of these companies collaborate with research labs at the University.

Student Associations allow members of the RWTH Aachen University community to explore aspects of cultural and sporting life. Many clubs organize trips and hikes to prominent parts of the city, including the Cathedral, the Town Hall, and the Healing Springs of Elisenbrunnen. Several city traditions and events are a part of university life, including the World Equestrian Festival, the Christmas Market, and the September Special Festival. Clubs also allow students to pursue their extracurricular passions and access high quality training to enhance their artistic and creative skills.

All students at RWTH University can access sports facilities for free. Within the University campus, there are football grounds, tennis courts, swimming pools, and indoor halls to organize table tennis and badminton matches. There are also gyms and studios where paid fitness classes (for example, yoga and aerobics) happen regularly. These amenities, in addition to the acres of green open land, ensure that students and staff members can stay active and healthy.

Scholarship

RWTH Aachen University maintains a dynamic database of more than 40 scholarships that are available for various categories of students. The most prominent German State Scholarship for students of RWTH Aachen University (both domestic and international) is the Deutschland Stipendium. This is awarded based on academic potential and other factors, like social welfare work. Awardees receive a monthly stipend of 300 Euros for a year. This covers roughly a third of the monthly living costs. There is no limit on the number of students who can apply for or receive this scholarship.

The Indo-German Centre for Sustainability, a joint venture between RWTH Aachen University and the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, offers unique opportunities for students who wish to complete part or all of their degree in Germany. Through this initiative, postgraduate students in certain majors can avail of scholarships to fund their studies at RWTH University, and incur the same level of costs they would in an Indian institution of higher education. This is available for both exchange programs and long term degree studies.

The Scholarship for Special Commitment is awarded to international students based on extreme financial need or emergency circumstances - for example, students who have been affected by the war in Ukraine. There is no limit to the amount awarded.