Language Requirements for an Exchange

 

To prepare for your exchange stay at RWTH Aachen, we recommend taking a German course that brings you up to Level B1 of the European Reference Framework for Languages. In addition to the usual courses in language schools, language institutes, or the language center of your home university, there are numerous other opportunities to improve your language skills.

 

Deutsch-Uni Online

ERASMUS students can prepare for their stay in Germany with Deutsch-Uni Online, DUO for short. DAAD covers the costs for a total of 500 students from Great Britain, Italy, Poland, and Spain.

Students, who would like to participate in the course, should contact their home university or their ERASMUS agency directly. You will receive a voucher to activate your participation in the course. With the course, students receive intensive language training before their stay in Germany. Experienced DUO tutors advise you and credit you with ECTS points upon successful participation.

 

Preparatory Intensive German Course

We offer an intensive German course in September, specifically suited for exchange students from partner universities. This language course is an intensive continuation course for international exchange or program students, who already have a basic knowledge of German, that is at least a A2 level. All exchange and program students can apply, who are also applying for the winter semester or whole academic year. An intensive German course is not offered before the summer semester. The RWTH Aachen Language Center organizes the EURO courses.

Please send us a registration form and proof of your language skills with at least an A2 level by June 30.

 

RWTH Aachen Academic Calendar

Please take note of our semester dates when planning your stay:

Semester	Duration
Winter Semester	October 1 to March 31
Summer Semester	April 1 to September 30

The academic year starts in the winter semester. The start and end of the lecture period varies from year to year, but courses take place around October 15 to February 15 in the winter semester and from April 15 to July 15 in the summer semester. Please take note of the current semester dates.

 

Course Selection

Do you want to take courses and exams during your stay at RWTH Aachen? Or do you want to do a project or write a thesis under a professor at our university? You should have a clear topic before you apply. You can also combine both options. We recommend doing so over a two-semester long stay.

Studies: Seminars, Lectures, Exams

If you wish to take courses, you need to have select suitable courses from the course catalogue and include them in your Learning Agreement. The Learning Agreement is not a binding registration for the courses. This happens after your arrival. The Learning Agreement must be signed by the coordinator of your faculty and your international office and is a mandatory part of the application.

A majority of the courses of study at RWTH Aachen are offered in German. Below you can find the modules that are regularly offered in English by the faculties. Please note, that you must always check whether the courses are currently offered for the respective semester.

English language modules from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

English language modules from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology

School of Business and Economics Course Catalogue

Project or Thesis

You have the possibility of completing a project or writing your thesis under the supervision of a RWTH Aachen professor. To do so, it is important that you work to find an academic supervisor at our university as early as possible. You should look for a supervisor before you submit your application. In Germany, it is standard for students to independently look for a supervisor.

When we receive your application, we will review who your supervisor at RWTH Aachen is. You must submit a Learning Agreement even if you are working on a project. The agreement must be signed by your faculty and international office.