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Programme Details
Programme Details
Minimum mark 60%
Level Undergraduate
Language/s B1 German required
Agreement Scope Chemistry department exchange, for MChem students in fourth year of study
Mathematics department exchange
Exchange Places
1 full year places for Chemistry students for 2025/26
1 full year place for Mathematics students for 2025/26
Overview
Overview
About:
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen University is the largest technical university in Germany and one of the most renowned in Europe. Every year, numerous international students and scientists come to the university to benefit from its high-quality courses and excellent facilities, both of which are recognised at an international level.
Highlights:
The city of Aachen has developed from a Roman settlement and spa to a quaint city with numerous historic sites, great transport links to its neighbouring countries of Belgium and the Netherlands and several cafés, restaurants and bars to enjoy with your fellow students.
Location:
Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Academic information
Academic information
Courses / Modules:
RWTH Aachen University offers a wide variety of courses, some of which are taught in English. Consult their webpage for information about the courses offered.
Credit (Full-time Load per semester):
RWTH Aachen University uses the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) to show credit values. 30 ECTS is the equivalent to 60 York credits, and 60 ECTS is the equivalent to 120 York credits.
MChem students in their fourth year take the majority of credits as a Research Project - you should discuss this with your departmental coordinator in York in the first instance. You may be able to take some taught courses at the host university to complete your credit load. Please be aware that host organisations may class students taking a research project as being on a traineeship, rather than a study placement. Please contact the host organisation with any queries and note that if you are completing a traineeship, you may not be considered a registered exchange student.
Teaching Periods:
Teaching takes place over two semesters. Winter semester tends to begin at the start of October, ending late March and Summer semester tends to begin at the start of April, r ending late July.
Language:
German language level of at least B1 is required, although some of the modules offered by RWTH Aachen University are taught in English
RWTH Aachen University offers an intensive German course at the start of their academic year. Fees may apply.
Student life
Student life
Accommodation:
There are some rooms in student dorms available for exchange students. The Accommodation in Aachen page gives more information on the options available.
Student services:
RWTH Aachen University recommends that all incoming visiting students register with their BeBuddy mentoring programme to help them adjust to university life and living in a new city and to meet, mix with, and learn from other RWTH students
Welcome week:
RWTH Aachen University offers a welcome week to help you settle in
Visas:
You may need a visa to study in Germany. If you are a UK National you must refer to the Gov.uk Travel Advice page for Germany and its Living in Germany guide to check on any visa requirements, and raise any queries directly with the relevant embassy/consulate. If you are not a UK national you should check equivalent advice for your home country.
Travel insurance:
If you complete the Travel Authorisation process and are approved by the University of York to participate in this programme, you will be covered by the University's Travel Insurance Policy. This is a complimentary policy to cover you for the duration of your University of York mobility experience. Please refer to the Insurance website for all travel insurance queries. You may be required to obtain health insurance valid during your exchange.
Health insurance:
Students travelling to Europe may be able to apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or in some circumstances a new UK-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which gives the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the EU. You are strongly recommended to obtain a GHIC / EHIC if eligible. To check your eligibility and find out how to apply if you are eligible, go to the NHS page on Applying for healthcare cover abroad (GHIC and EHIC).
If you’d like to study in Germany, you have to have health insurance. You will need to present proof of health insurance when you enrol at university and apply for a residence permit. Make sure to take care of your health insurance status before you come to Germany. RWTH Aachen University provide additional information on health insurance requirements
Student experiences
Student experiences
Sarah, RWTH Aachen University, 2018-19
"[…] I feel as though I have developed personally as well as mathematically. I feel like I have continued to learn resilience, perseverance and resistance to stress, with regards to my studies. I feel that I have gained initiative and also the ability to study more independently drawing from different resources to deepen my understanding of a topic."
Marian, Study Abroad in Germany, 2019-20
"Pushing myself to go to events and meet new people also really helped me settle in, especially now I feel like I have a good network of friends. Also immersing myself in the culture, such as trying new foods and drinks and participating in German holidays (such as Karnival) is definitely important!"
Have a look at some more student stories on the Global Opportunities website.
Top Tips for Studying in Germany
Top Tips for Studying in Germany
Please note: these tips have been provided by the RWTH Aachen University or by former exchange students- Global Opportunities recommends that you use these as a guide only and do your own research on what is best for you.
Money and Banking:
Monthly budget: the estimated cost of living per month for an RWTH student is around € 800, including rent. There is also a "social contribution" for student services which costs approximately € 290 per semester (includes public transportation ticket).
Banking: Get a card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees so that you can take cash out easily without opening a bank account. There are several companies that offer these cards, such as Caxton, Starling, Monzo and Moneycorp.
Staying Connected:
Make plans: Going to International events is a good way to meet people, especially the trips the international desk organise early in the term A great way to connect with people is also by joining clubs, groups and societies.
Call or send a postcard to your friends and family at home: A little thing like sending a postcard to your friends or family or having a quick catch-up on the phone can make all the difference and can help you feel a bit more settled.
Food:
Food shopping: Prices for groceries are relatively moderate in Germany and supermarkets are generally open from Monday to Saturday between 8:00 and 20:00.
Local food markets: You can also buy good quality fresh fruit and vegetables at very reasonable prices at your local market. In Germany, all shops are closed on Sundays. Petrol station shops and the shops near the train station are the only places that remain open during the night as well as on Sundays and public holidays.
University catering: There are university dining halls all over the city. For more information about RWTH Aachen University's catering visit this link.
There are many cheap restaurants on Pont straße which is where many of the students would go to eat.
Paperwork and bureaucracy:
Be organised: There will be a lot of paperwork to do throughout the year, so be as organised as possible! Make a list of things that need to be done and by when and start working your way through it as soon as you can. The earlier you do it, the better, as sometimes it can take quite a while for documents to be signed and approved.
Remember your supervisor: They are here to help! If you are struggling with the amount of paperwork, both your supervisor in York and your host insition are there to support you if you feel stuck or overwhelmed.
What I wished I'd known...:
Making the most of your experience: I wish I'd known that you never know if your time abroad is going to be unexpectedly cut short so make the most of every second.
Examinations and workload: I would have liked to have known that the structure of the degree is different to the English structure and more focused on pure mathematics and proofs. In order to take the exams, you first need to qualify for them during the semester. In some modules you were required to hand in assignments in groups, having a study group is extremely helpful and it is very difficult to complete the assignments and to deal with the workload without working with other people.
Useful links
Useful links
The University of Heidelberg social media links:
Facebook: @RWTHAachenUniversity https://www.facebook.com/RWTHAachenUniversity/
Instagram: @rwthaachenuniversity https://www.instagram.com/rwthaachenuniversity/?hl=en
Twitter: @RWTH https://twitter.com/rwth?lang=en
If you find any broken links, please email us at global-opportunities@york.ac.uk
Contact Global Opportunities
Contact Global Opportunities
Global Opportunities - Find us in Derwent College
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