RWTH Aachen University is the largest public research institution based in Germany. Presently, the university is home to 47,269 students, of which 13,354 are international students belonging to 138 diverse nations worldwide. International students can choose from over 170 RWTH Aachen Courses that are offered in 16 academic disciplines. Some of the popular programs offered by the university include Economics and Management, Natural Sciences, Biology, and Law.

Ranked #147 as per the QS rankings 2023, the university is regarded globally for its world class teaching and exceptional research facilities. Bielefeld University adopts an extremely competitive admissions policy with an acceptance rate of 5-10%. International students must meet the entry requirements, submit strong letters of recommendation, motivation letters and ELP scores such as IELTS, TOEFL to get accepted at the university. 

As a public university based in Germany, RWTH Aachen University does not charge any tuition fees. The university doesn't offer any scholarships to international students. Students seeking funding to study at the university, must check out other external funding options like DAAD Scholarships, Heinrich Boll Scholarship, etc.

RWTH Aachen University Rankings

• QS World University 2023 Rankings places RWTH Aachen University at #147 in the world. 
• QS ranks RWTH Aachen #7 in Germany and #58 for graduate employability.
• RWTH Aachen University was ranked #108 worldwide by THE Rankings 2022
• RWTH Aachen University was ranked #192 in Best Global Universities by US News and world report rankings. 

RWTH Aachen University Campus

RWTH Aachen University campus is located in Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The city is rich in tradition and has many distinctive linguistic and cultural features.

• Its proximity to Eifel, Ardennes, Maastricht, and Brussels attracts many international students who are seeking such diverse student life.
• The campus is among the largest in Germany with technology-oriented landscapes spread over an area of 800,000 sq meters.
• There are six clusters with more than 30 centers: Bio-Medical Engineering, Sustainable Energy,
• Photonics, Production Engineering, Heavy-Duty Drives and Smart Logistics. On the RWTH Aachen Campus, 16 thematic research clusters are being developed.

Initial innovative lighthouse initiatives are already being developed on the RWTH Aachen Campus. Campus Melaten is the first stage of RWTH Aachen Campus development. On 473,000 m2, eleven research clusters will be created in phases. Campus West is the second part of RWTH Aachen Campus's two-stage development. Five research clusters will be constructed in a 325,000 m2 area surrounding Aachen's train station Westbahnhof.

RWTH Aachen University Accommodation

RWTH does not own nor manage any student dorms and therefore cannot provide or guarantee any housing facilities. Due to limited places in RWTH Aachen guesthouses, international students are recommended to come early and arrange for their housing. The university only has three guesthouses and thus it is necessary that you book them several months in advance.

Also Check: Student Accommodation in Germany

RWTH Aachen University Programs

With more than 170 courses to study, the nine RWTH Aachen faculties offer a wide range of programs in fields like engineering sciences, natural sciences, geosciences, business and economics, humanities, and medical subjects.

• Like most German universities, programs at RWTH Aachen University are either open or restricted, for which the applicant needs to check that program’s page properly.
• Students must note that other courses of study with the Diplom and Staatsexamen degree can only be studied in higher core semesters.
• There are also some English-taught master's programs aimed to attract international students. These are typically four-semesters long.
• Popular programs include Applied Geophysics, Civil Engineering, Data Science, Physics and Transport Engineering & Mobility.

RWTH Aachen University Admission Process

The university attracts students from all over the world. Application requirements differ with programs, whether they are open or restricted and the medium they are offered in. A general outline of the process is given below for those interested in securing admission at RWTH Aachen University.

Application Portal: Online Application RWTH

Basic Requirements:

• All official transcripts of colleges and universities previously attended
• A copy of all transcripts translated in English or German
• Proof of the university entrance qualification.
• Tabular Resume
• Proof of German Language Proficiency (TestDaF, DSH, telc, Goethe Certificate)
• Proof of English Language Proficiency, for masters programs only (TOEFL, IELTS, CAE)

Application Deadlines:

RWTH Aachen University Cost of Attendance

RWTH Aachen University does not charge any tuition fees from international students. However, It is estimated that a single student studying at RWTH Aachen will need around 1000 EUR a month to meet basic living expenses. Approximately 10,236 EUR is required annually to manage all expenses while studying in Germany.

RWTH Aachen University Financial Aid

Sources for funding are limited at RWTH and it is suggested that international students seek help to fund studying in Germany through other sources. RWTH University provides a large number of scholarships through its funding programs to the students. Some of the scholarships are-

RWTH IIT Madras Junior Research Fellowship

• Eligibility
  • Masters and Doctoral candidates from IIT Madras
  • Masters and Doctoral candidates from RWTH Aachen University
• Amount and Funding Period
  • 900 EUR per month for up to 6 months (Master’s Students)
  • 1250 EUR per month for up to 6 months (Ph.D. Students)

After providing evidence of their greater need, single parents, as well as individuals with chronic illness or disabilities, can be awarded more funding.

DAAD Program STIBET III Matching Funds

• Eligibility
  • Must be enrolled in a degree program at RWTH Aachen and have foreign citizenship and have earned their university entrance qualification abroad (Bildungsausländer)
  • Are in the final period of their studies
  • Are living in Germany for this final period
  • Can provide proof of a good average grade (at least 2.5)
  • Will complete their degree in the next 12 months (from the start of funding)
• Amount and Funding Period
  • 250-850 EUR per month for up to 5 months

UNITECH International

• Eligibility
  • RWTH students of engineering, science, physics, and biotechnology exhibiting outstanding academic performance and important soft skills
  • The ones in Master’s or at the end of their Bachelor’s Degree
• Amount and Funding Period
  • Participation in the program is free once the student is selected. Travel expenses will be covered up to around 1000 EUR.

Also Check: Scholarships in Germany for International Students

RWTH Aachen University Alumni

All graduates, former employees, visiting researchers stay in touch through the worldwide alumni network of RWTH Aachen. Some of the notable alumni of RWTH Aachen Include:

• Peter Debye: Nobel laureate in Chemistry, Dutch-American physicist.
• B.J. Habibie: Former President of Indonesia and a former Engineer
• Sonia Seymour Mikich: German TV journalist
• Franz Josef Och: German computer scientist, famous for being the chief architect of Google Translate
• Astrid M. Funderich: German actress

RWTH Aachen University Placements

The Career Center at RWTH Aachen University provides various seminars and career training opportunities to help students enter the professional world. Many programs like the Femtec Career Building Program, job banks, bulletin boards, and personal advising on portfolios and application processes are available. RWTH Aachen graduates work for companies like:

• Audi, Bosch,
• ARM
• Broadcom
• Cisco
• Devolvo
• Microsoft

Furthermore, Many programs like the Femtec Career Building Program, job banks, bulletin boards, and personal advising on portfolios and application processes are available. Many in-campus placements are conducted at RWTH Aachen University. The salary range of RWTH Aachen University graduates is 55,000 EUR to 1,30,000 EUR.

With a wide variety of study courses to choose from, RWTH Aachen University is one of the best choices of study abroad destinations for students desiring to acquire international education. Also, the low scale expenditure compared to other countries makes admission easier for candidates wanting to pursue higher studies in Germany.

Despite being an age-old university, it is always on the verge of expansion and growth to provide the best quality tuition for its students landing from different parts of the world. The RWTH Aachen University visibly stands tall in making individuals successful and ready to take up challenges of tomorrow that impact the global scenario.