Where do I get the necessary Information?
Study Opportunities Abroad
Even though the International Office provides information brochures was well as personal assistance on study abroad queries, pleaser take into account that we don't have all the necessary information on courses and study opportunities at the potential destination universities abroad.
So please try to get hold of specific information on potential host universities yourself.
The International Office does not have all information on subjects and courses on offer at the host university but offers a wide range of information brochures and personal assistance and guidance. You may also contact the German Academic Exchange Service, AEGEE, foreign embassies and consulates as well as foreign cultural institutes (see below).
Semester or Trimester?
When you decide to study abroad, you will have to get information about the structure of the academic year at your prospective host university. Some universities have a trimester (i.e. three terms per academic year), others a semester – if you intend to go abroad for less than a year, you should plan your period abroad in such a way that it fits in with the academic year at your home university.
How Do I get hold of the necessary Information?
You will probably not find a complete information package tailored to your specific needs - thus you should gather information from a wide range of sources such as brochures, university advisors, the internet, etc.
In order to discuss and clarify your personal goals and professional perspectives you should contact the Student Advice Centre. For specific questions regarding your field of study, please contact the student advisors listed in the course catalogue or the study guide.
Your professors and their assistants are your persons of contact if you wish to complete a research study or a master's thesis abroad. First you could ask the respective faculty advisor for the professor's foreign contacts – these may open up further study opportunities abroad apart from official exchange programmes. You may also contact students who have returned from their year abroad and who are thus in a position to help you prepare your stay. The International Office is glad to assist you in getting in touch with former exchange students. Helpful reports by study abroad students on their experience at a foreign university can be found on the iAgora website, an ERASMUS and general study abroad information resource.
International Office (Department of International Relations)
The International Office can provide you with a host of useful information und studying abroad, and personal counselling sessions can be arranged.
You can find our staff in the new SuperC building on Templergraben 57. We are glad to assist you with your queries during our offices ours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9.30 am - 12.30 pm
Wednesday 1.00 pm - 4.00 pm
Among other things, our information material includes:
- a current DAAD brochure on language courses abroad
- a current DAAD scholarships information brochure
- current information leaflets on various countries
- a current overview of and information on ERASMUS programmes offered by RWTH
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
The DAAD has compiled study guides for a large number of countries, which can be seen to be excellent introductory texts on the subject of studying abroad. Apart from providing an introduction to the educational system of the destination country, each study guide contains a host of practical tips on plaanign your stay as well as an address list of universities.
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Kennedyallee 50
53175 Bonn
Phone: 0228 882-0
Faculty Student Councils
The faculty student councils are experienced with all issues relating to study abroad opportunities and know about the typical difficulties and problems of students planning a stay abroad. They also know about students who have returned from abroad and who are willing to give interested students useful tips and share their experience of living abroad as a foreign student.
AEGEE
The international AEGEE student organisation (Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de l'Europe) strives to strengthen the ties between students of all European countries and to promote intercultural exchange between European countries and cultures. AEGEE members are glad to assist you in planning your stay abroad and exchange their experiences of studying in a foreign country.
c/o RWTH
52056 Aachen
Phone +41(0)241 80 97 12 1
Email: aegee@rwth-aachen.de
Foreign Embassies and Consulates
It is the responsibility of prospective students to ensure that they meet the host country's immigration regulations. You can get information on immigration issues at the embassies and consulates of your destination country.
You can find the addresses of embassies and consulates on the internet or in the OECKL-Taschenbuch des Öffentlichen Lebens - Deutschland ("OECKL Directories of Public Life – Germany"), Festland Verlag, Bonn.
Foreign Cultural Institutes
International cultural institutes in Germany also provide a host of information on working and studying abroad:
- British Council, Alexanderplatz 1, 10178 Berlin. Phone: +49(0)30 31 10 99 0
- Institut Francais, Theaterstr. 67, 52062 Aachen (Tel.: 0241 33 27 4)
- Amerika Haus München, Karolinenplatz 3, 80333 München. Phone +49(0)89-55 25 37-0.
- Amerika Haus Nordrhein-Westfalen, Apostelnkloster 14-18, 50667 Köln. Phone +49(0)221-16 92 63 50.