Overview

RWTH Aachen University (Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen) is a prestigious public research university located in Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Established in 1870, it is the largest technical university in Germany.  Located at the tripoint of Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, RWTH Aachen's unique geographic position gives it a distinctly international character and deep cross-border industry connections.

In 2007, RWTH Aachen was chosen as one of nine German Universities of Excellence for its future concept "RWTH 2020: Meeting Global Challenges." RWTH was selected to receive funding from the German federal and state governments for the third Universities of Excellence funding line starting 2019. 

At RWTH Aachen, 44,382 students are enrolled for the winter semester 2025/26, of which 15,811 are international students from 141 countries. RWTH is a founding member of the CESAER association of universities of Science and Technology in Europe and the IDEA League.  RWTH Aachen is also ranked at #3 in the list of universities granted the most DFG-funding in Germany. 

RWTH Aachen has educated several notable individuals, including Nobel laureate Peter Debye, who received a degree in electrical engineering from RWTH Aachen and is known for the Debye model and Debye relaxation. Another notable alumnus is B.J. Habibie, the third president of Indonesia, who contributed many aviation advancements. Franz Josef Och was the chief architect of Google Translate. 

In the 2023 QS Subject Ranking, RWTH Aachen ranks first in Germany in mechanical engineering and materials sciences. In the 2023 THE Subject Ranking, RWTH Aachen ranks second in Germany in engineering and computer science. In the 2022 ARWU Subject Ranking, RWTH Aachen ranks first in Germany in chemical engineering. 

Intakes

RWTH Aachen offers two intake windows for international students each academic year.

Winter Semester (October) — Primary intake; open to all undergraduate and most graduate programs.

• Bachelor's programs: Application deadline July 15 for non-EU applicants
• Master's programs (non-EU applicants): Application deadline January 15 (documents accepted until February 1)
• Some programs with restricted admission: Deadlines extended to October 20

Summer Semester (April) — Available for select Master's programs.

• Non-EU applicants for open-admission Master's: Applications open from June 1
• Application deadline: March / April (varies by program)

Important for Indian Students:

• An APS (Academic Evaluation Centre) Certificate is mandatory for Indian students before enrollment
• Applications submitted via RWTH's official online application portal
• No application fee charged by RWTH Aachen for undergraduate or postgraduate programs

Note: Polygon Campus primarily assists with graduate-level admissions. Students are encouraged to confirm specific intake dates with their chosen RWTH department.

Top Courses

RWTH Aachen University offers more than 190 degree courses at the UG and PG levels, across 10 faculties and around 290 institutes. Popular programs include Engineering Sciences, Natural Sciences, Business, Management, Economics, Humanities, and Medical Subjects.  Key faculties and popular graduate programs include:

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

• MSc in Mechanical Engineering (English-taught)
• MSc in Automotive Engineering (English-taught)
• MSc in Production Engineering
• MSc in Simulation Sciences (English-taught)

Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology

• MSc in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
• MSc in Communications Engineering (English-taught)
• MSc in Automation Engineering

Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences

• MSc in Computer Science (partly English-taught; International Track available)
• MSc in Data Science (English-taught — most popular among Indian students)
• MSc in Mathematics
• MSc in Physics

Faculty of Civil Engineering

• MSc in Civil Engineering
• MSc in Environmental Engineering
• MSc in Applied Geosciences

Faculty of Georesources and Materials Engineering

• MSc in Materials Science and Engineering
• MSc in Applied Geophysics (joint international program — English-taught)
• MSc in Metallurgical Engineering

Faculty of Architecture

• MSc in Architecture

Faculty of Business and Economics (RWTH School of Business)

• MBA (Aachen MBA — partly English-taught)
• MSc in Business Administration
• MSc in Industrial Engineering and Management

Faculty of Medicine

• MSc in Biomedical Engineering (English-taught; joint with Aachen University Hospital)
• State Examination in Human Medicine

Among Indian students, the most popular RWTH Aachen courses are MSc in Data Science, MSc in Automotive Engineering, and MSc in Computer Science. A majority of Indian students choose the MSc in Data Science course — taught in English over 4 semesters.

Cost of Studying at RWTH Aachen University

RWTH Aachen University continues its policy of not charging additional tuition fees for international students from non-EU countries. All students, regardless of citizenship, are responsible only for the standard semester fee.  Students are required to pay a semester fee of around €304, which covers administrative services and public transport. 

Note: Aachen is one of Germany's more affordable university cities. The German government requires international students to hold approximately €11,904 (≈ ₹12L) in a blocked account annually for visa purposes. Please refer to RWTH's official website (rwth-aachen.de) for the most current fee structure.

Scholarships

RWTH Aachen University offers several scholarships to support international students. The Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarship supports academically strong students committed to social or environmental causes, offering €850 (approx. ₹86,000)/month for Master's and €1,200 (approx. ₹1.2L)/month for PhD students, plus tuition coverage.

Key funding opportunities include:

• Deutschlandstipendium — €300 per month for a minimum of two semesters; RWTH's most prominent scholarship; awarded based on academic excellence; apply through RWTH's portal
• RWTH International Academy Country Scholarship — 50% waiver of program fees for RWTH International Academy Summer School participants; promotes cultural diversity
• DAAD Scholarships — Germany's largest funding body; covers living expenses, travel, and sometimes additional support; apply through DAAD website
• Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarships — €850–€1,200/month for high-achieving students with social engagement; open to international students
• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Scholarships — For students with strong academic records and civic engagement
• Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM — For exchange students from RWTH partner universities; coordinated by the home institution's International Office
• RWTH Emergency Financial Aid — Short-term monthly support for students in unexpected financial difficulty; available for students maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.5

Note: APS Certificate is mandatory for Indian students before enrollment. The large Indian student community at RWTH (2,400+ students) makes it one of the most India-friendly universities in Germany. Students are encouraged to connect with the RWTH Indian Students Association (ISA) for peer support and guidance.

Admissions

The RWTH Aachen University acceptance rate is highly competitive (around 10–12%), especially for popular fields like engineering.  With over 44,000 students and more than 15,000 international students, RWTH is highly selective but also one of the most internationally welcoming technical universities in Germany.

For Graduate (Master's) Programs:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field from a recognised university; minimum GPA of 2.5 on the German scale (equivalent to 70%+ or CGPA 7.0+)
• German Proficiency: TestDaF TDN 4, DSH-2, or C1 Telc/Goethe certificate (for German-taught programs)
• English Proficiency: IELTS 6.5+ / TOEFL iBT 90+ / PTE 58+ (for English-taught programs)
• GRE / GMAT (recommended for Management programs)
• Motivation Letter
• 2 Letters of Recommendation
• CV / Résumé
• APS Certificate (mandatory for Indian students before enrollment)
• Proof of financial means: €11,904 (approx. ₹12L) per year in a blocked account
• Official transcripts with certified German or English translations

For Undergraduate Programs:

• Higher secondary school certificate equivalent to German Abitur (Indian students with CBSE/ISC typically require Studienkolleg completion or may take the TestAS exam)
• German language proficiency (DSH-2 / TestDaF 4×4) — most Bachelor's programs are taught in German
• APS Certificate is mandatory for Indian students

Indian students can check RWTH's specific admission requirements for their chosen program directly through Polygon Campus.

Placements

RWTH Aachen's unique position at the border of Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands — giving graduates access to three major European economies — combined with Germany's dominance in automotive, engineering, and manufacturing, creates exceptional career opportunities for its graduates. RWTH Aachen University boasts strong placement outcomes, with 93% of graduates securing employment within six months of graduation. Graduates from STEM disciplines such as Engineering and Computer Science are in exceptionally high demand. Average annual salaries range from €55,000 to €70,000, depending on industry and experience. 

In 2009, Handelsblatt and Wirtschaftswoche ranked RWTH Aachen first in Germany in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, and computer science — disciplines that remain the backbone of German industry. 

Jobs After Graduating from RWTH Aachen University

Note: Salary figures are indicative and may vary based on role, employer, industry, and experience.

RWTH Aachen's career support ecosystem includes:

• RWTH Career Center — Personalised career advising, application reviews, employer connections, job fairs, and career workshops; serves all students and alumni
• RWTH Industry Connections — Deep partnerships with Bayer, Bosch, Daimler-Benz, Ford Europe (Cologne HQ), Henkel, and major steel and chemicals companies in North Rhine-Westphalia
• IDEA League Network — RWTH is a founding member, with partners including TU Delft, ETH Zurich, and Imperial College London — enabling pan-European career mobility
• 3 Clusters of Excellence — Research fellowships and career pathways in cutting-edge interdisciplinary research clusters
• RWTH Aachen Indian Students Association (ISA) — Active peer network supporting 2,400+ Indian students with orientation, integration, and career guidance
• Erasmus+ & Global Exchange — Partnerships with 400+ universities worldwide through bilateral and Erasmus+ agreements
• Post-Study Work Visa (Germany) — International graduates can remain in Germany for up to 18 months after graduation to seek employment, with a particular advantage given RWTH's reputation among German and European employers

For personalised guidance on RWTH Aachen University admissions, connect with the experts at Polygon Campus today.