Application for Exchange Programs and Study Abroad at RWTH
You would like to come to RWTH Aachen for an exchange stay, but are not sure where to start your application process? Please consult our Application Process guidelines.
All incoming students, both exchange and project students, are required to register their stay on the Incoming Online Portal. In our step-by-step guide you will find detailed information about creating a user account, registration and application.
Detailed and Program Specific Application Information
Erasmus+ Student Mobility
In order to participate in Erasmus exchange studies at RWTH Aachen, your home university and RWTH Aachen must have an Erasmus+ agreement. All Erasmus+ Student Mobility students need to first be nominated by their home university before applying via the Incoming Students Online Portal.
Required documents:
- Online Learning Agreement with selected courses signed by you and also the coordinator at your home university. Please also see more information on Useful Information for Course Selection.
- Language certificate B1.1 or B2.1 level German or English depending on your choice of courses and faculty
- Transcript of records
- If you intend to complete an internship, project or thesis work under the supervision of RWTH Aachen, please include a signed confirmation from your academic supervisor.
Application deadlines:
- Winter Semester (October 1 to March 31) Application open from April 1 to May 31*
- Summer Semester (April 1 to September 30) Application open from November 1 to December 31*
* Please note:
- For Faculty of Medicine the Application Deadline is May 31 for both semesters.
- Due to long Visa procedures students from Turkish, Chinese, and Indian universities need to finish their application one month before the deadline.
Erasmus+ Traineeship
Participants in the ERASMUS+ Traineeship need to find a supervisor on their own. For tips on how to do this, please see our leaflet How to find a supervisor. Once you have found a supervisor, please start the application process at least two months before planned start of your stay by applying via Incoming Students Online Portal.
Required documents:
- Signed Confirmation of supervision
- Evidence of student status at your home university, such as an enrollment certificate
- Erasmus+ trainees: Learning Agreement for traineeships, provided by your home university and signed by your RWTH supervisor
* Students who are going to conduct a project, work on their thesis, or complete an internship at Forschungszentrum Jülich or at the Fraunhofer-Institute must be supervised by a RWTH professor in case they want to be enrolled during their stay at RWTH.
Important: If you need to apply for a visa, make sure to apply for a student visa and not an internship or traineeship visa. The latter are intended for internship and traineeships in industry, and they are not suitable for Erasmus trainees. Even though you will be doing an internship at a University institute, the primary reason for your stay at RWTH is your studies.
RWTH Exchange Worldwide und Faculty Exchange Partnership
In order to participate in exchange studies at RWTH Aachen, your home university and RWTH Aachen must have a Partnership Agreement. All exchange students need to be nominated by their home university before applying via Incoming Online Portal.
Required documents:
- Learning Agreement signed by you and also the coordinator at your home university. Please also see more information on Useful Information for Course Selection
- Language certificate B1.1 or B2.1 level German or English depending on your choice of courses and faculty
- Transcript of Records
- If you intend to complete an internship, project or thesis work under the supervision of RWTH Aachen, please include a signed confirmation from your academic supervisor.
Application deadlines:
- Winter Semester (October 1 to March 31) Application open from April 1 to May 31*
- Summer Semester (April 1 to September 30) Application open from November 1 to December 31*
* Please note:
- For Faculty of Medicine the Application Deadline is May 31 for both semesters.
- Due to long Visa procedures students from Turkish, Chinese, and Indian universities need to finish their application one month before the deadline.
Free Movers
From the Winter Semester 2023/24 onwards, we no longer accept Free Mover applications due to limited capacity. If you have chosen RWTH as your prospective host university, but your home university does not have a partnership agreement with RWTH, your home university’s outgoing coordinator may contact the Incoming Student Services Team to inquire whether admission is possible. In this case, it is not helpful for students to contact the Incoming Student Services Team directly.
Visiting Project Students
Visiting Project Students need to find a supervisor* independently. Please see tips in How to find a supervisor. Once you have found a supervisor, please start the application process at least 2 months before planned start of your stay by applying on Incoming Students Online Portal.
Required Documents:
- Confirmation of supervision
- Evidence of student status at home university, such as an enrollment certificate
- Erasmus+ trainees: Learning Agreement for Traineeships, provided by your home university and signed by your RWTH supervisor
Important: If you need to apply for a visa, make sure to apply for student visa and not internship or traineeship visa. The latter one is intended for internship and traineeships in the industry and is not appropriate for Visiting Project Students. Even though you will be doing an internship at an institute, the primary reason for your stay at RWTH is your studies.
* Students, who are going to conduct a project, a thesis work or an internship at Forschungszentrum Jülich or at the Fraunhofer-Institute, must be supervised by a RWTH professor in case they want to be enrolled during their say at RWTH.
Other Programs and Network Initiatives
Enhance Incomings
For exchange opportunities for students at one of the ENHANCE universities, please visit: ENHANCE Incoming Students
T.I.M.E and Other Double Degree Programs
For detailed information on T.I.M.E. and other dual degree programs, please visit: T.I.M.E. Double Degree Master's Program for Incomings
UNITECH Incoming Students
Inncoming UNITECH students find more information at: UNITECH Incoming Students.
Exchange and Study Abroad at RWTH
On this website you will find everything you need to know about exchange opportunities at RWTH.
Degree Students
These web pages provide (prospective) degree students you with useful information:
Visiting Researchers
Useful information for (prospective) visiting researchers at RWTH: