Graduation From RWTH and Financing Your Studies With a Scholarship
Are you aiming to graduate from RWTH and to finance your doctoral studies with a scholarship or your own funds?
Are you aiming to graduate from RWTH and to finance your doctoral studies with a scholarship or your own funds?
If so, you do not have to register as a doctoral candidate. However, we recommend that you do enroll at the beginning of your doctoral studies, since the application process will include a review of the academic requirements for your doctorate. If you then have certain conditions to fulfill as part of your doctorate, you will have plenty of time to do so and will not suddenly find out about them when you register for your doctorate.
All enrolled students will receive an RWTH BlueCard as a student card. You can use this as a means of payment in the dining halls and cafeterias, as a library card, and a form of ID for exams, university sports, and internal university elections. All RWTH students also receive a Semester Ticket, letting them use buses, trams, and local trains in second class throughout the state of North Rhine-Westphalia as often as they wish.
In order to apply for a doctoral program, you need a written confirmation from the person who will supervise your doctorate here at RWTH.
Step-by-Step to Your BlueCard and Semester Ticket
1. Submit an application for a study place as a doctoral candidate
Once you have received your confirmation of supervision, you can apply for a place as a doctoral candidate. Please make sure you observe the application and enrolment deadlines!
When planning your application, please remember that you must present the original documents when you enroll. It is therefore essential that you bring the originals with you from your home country. We also recommend that you apply for a place from your current country of residence. This way, you can clarify your admission before paying to travel to Germany.
2. Have your formal suitability for doctoral studies checked
Once you have created an online application in RWTHonline, your transcripts will be checked and you will receive a report on your formal suitability for a doctorate. You will need this report to submit your application for the award of the doctoral prerequisites to the doctoral committee responsible for you.
3. Submit an application for the recognition of the doctoral requirements to the relevant doctoral committee
Once you have prepared your application in RWTHonline and received the report on formal suitability for a doctorate, please submit an application for the recognition of the doctoral requirements to the doctoral committee responsible for you straight away. Here you will find a list of the doctoral advisors of the faculties where you can find out more about deadlines and required documents. You will find further information on doctoral studies from the faculties in the Guide to Doctoral Studies.
4. Complete your application for a study place as a doctoral candidate
Attach the faculty's letter of acceptance of the doctoral requirements to your application in RWTHonline to complete the application process.
5. Get your letter of admission to the doctoral program
If you meet all the admission requirements and have uploaded all the necessary documents, you will find the electronic letter of admission in the SelfService area of RWTHonline. If you need a visa to enter Germany, you can print out this letter of admission and submit it to the German embassies and consulates. The letter of admission is usually accepted by the German authorities in this form.
6. Enroll in your doctoral studies program
Once you have received your admission, you will have to enter some data in RWTHonline and upload further documents required for enrollment. You are automatically guided through the process in RWTHonline. As soon as all the documents are available and you have paid the semester fee, your enrollment is complete.
7. Create your BlueCard
The RWTH BlueCard is the multifunctional student card of RWTH. Once you have successfully enrolled, you will have to upload a photo to then create your BlueCard. You can find further information in the FAQ on the RWTH BlueCard.
8. Get your Semester Ticket
You will receive your Semester Ticket as an eTicket. This allows you to use buses, trams, and local trains in second class throughout the state of North Rhine-Westphalia as often as you like. The ticket will be sent to you by the local public transportation provider, ASEAG, to the address given at registration. Therefore, make sure that your current address is always stored in RWTHonline, especially if you started the application process from your home country.