International Students' Clubs

  Antje Becker

Currently, more than 5000 students from all over the world are enrolled at RWTH Aachen University. Many of those students are engaged in various international student clubs and societies, who take care of international students – especially newly enrolled ones – and contribute to the cultural life in Aachen and at the university.

The Intercultural Centre of Students in Aachen (INCAS) consists of a group of students who work on behalf of the International Offices of RWTH Aachen University and of the Aachen University of Applied Sciences with the aim to promote contact between students from all over the world and to help international students settle into life in Aachen and make some new friends before the start of their course. Both universities provide INCAS with financial and logistic support. INCAS organises excursions, field trips and weekly meetings as well as offers advice to internation students at the INCAS Office in the Humboldt Haus. It also arranges language tandems between German and foreign students.

It is the goal of AEGEE-Aachen e.V. to bring European exchange students together, to have fun and to meet new people by organising numerous cultural events such as tours, parties, talks, regular meetings, and other leisure activities. Further, its members offer advice and assistance with formalities visiting students have to complete upon their arrival in Aachen.

List of international student organisations
 

Advice offered by International Student Organisations

The student organisations and socities perform very valuable work in contributing to the guidance and integration of international students at RWTH Aachen University. Due to their efforts, German and foreign students are better able to make contacts and get to know each other. Their voluntary work is being supported and promoted by the International Offices of the Aachen universities, which offer assistance with and advice on the following topics: launching a new society or student club, planning and organising events, applying for third-party funding (e.g. through the DAAD), topics of special interest to international students, such as regulations according to the Foreigners Act, etc.

 

Funding by the Federal Foreign Office

The Federal Foreign Office provides the International Offices of German universities with funding for the support and guidance of international researchers and students. Between the ministry and the International offices, the German Academic Exchange Service acts as an intermediary. There are clearly defined official guidelines concerning the use of the funds.

The International Office of RWTH Aachen University is responsible for the administration and distribution of these federal funds. Eligible for funding are also so-called multiplying agents or agencies organising events for internationals. Thus student organisation officially registered with RWTH Aachen University may obtain funding for certain kinds of event, such as introductory tutorials or events introducing international students to German society and culture, for example.

If members of a student organisation wish to arrange such an event, they are advised to contact the International Office early on in the planning stage to inquire about funding opportunities and, if applicable, submit an application for funding support (document in German).

If the application is approved, a bill of costs including evidentiary documents such as receipts, a list of participants, and an event report must be submitted to the International Office 14 days after the event at the latest (Bill of Cost for a Funded Event).

Rooms for Events

Registered student organisations may book rooms for events with the International Office. Before applying for a room, it is recommended to find out whether the room in question is not already book at the time and date of the event by using the CAMPUS system. If the room is available, please apply for a reservation by filling in the room application form.

E-Mail: Room Allocation Service
Phone: +49 (0) 241 80 94048

Further Rooms and Venues for your Events

University facilities are not suitable for all types of events. Alternatives outside of the university would be as follows:

You can book rooms at the Humboldt Haus, the university's intercultural centre, which is a lively meeting point for international and German students. It is located at Pontstraße 41, right accross the "Chico Mendes" Café. Rooms at the Humboldt Haus can be booked free of charge.

Most halls of residence have bars and other suitable rooms for parties. Student organisations may have members residing at the hall of residence, who would be th perfect contact person for booking the facilities.

The Evangelic Student Community, located on Nizzallee, has several beautiful rooms suitable for smaller seminars, talks, and celebratory and other special events.

The Catholic Student Community, Pontstraße 74-76, has a multi-function room as well as several smaller seminar rooms. For bookings, please call their office on 47000.

For the bigger events and larger-scale parties, you can book the Theatre Hall of Mensa Academica, located in the building of the Main Dining Hall of RWTH Aachen University. Please note that you have to book the Hall very early on! To do so, please contact the Student Services Aachen ("Studentenwerk").

Borrowing of Audio-Visual Equipment

At the Center for Learning and Knowledge Management (ZLW) located in the Technology Centre close to the Europaplatz (Dennewartstraße 27) you can borrow video equipment, projectors, microphones, transportable screens as well as, for a small fee, beamers. Your contact person is Mr. Spanjersberg, office hours for the service is Monday to Friday from 10 to 12 am. Please note that you have to make arrangements at least two weeks prior to the event.

At the Center for Computing and Communication of RWTH Aachen University (CCC) you can borrow technical equipment such as notebooks, video cameras, tripods, etc. For more information, please visit the web pages of the CCC.

 

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