Graduate studies at

Templergraben 57 Building SuperC Room No. 329 52062 Aachen Germany Phone +49(0)241/80-906 60 Fax +49(0)241/80-926 62 international@rwth-aachen.de Editorial details Graduate Studies at RWTH Aachen University Published by the International Office (Dezernat 2.0) on behalf of the Rector of RWTH Aachen University Templergraben 55 52062 Aachen Germany www.rwth-aachen.de Editorial board Dr. Heide Naderer (responsible) Britta Piel, M. A. Victoria Busch, M.A. Art Director Klaus Endrikat DTP ZAHRENdesign Printed by Emhart Druck und Medien GmbH Aachen, last updated September 2008

Table of contents
Welcome RWTH Aachen University past and future Graduate studies your way to excellence English-taught courses: expertise and intercultural skills How to apply for English-taught courses Admission requirements and documents Experience the German language German-taught courses: expertise and German culture Admission requirements and documents fees Your life at Aachen Enjoy the European flair The International Office Your partner at RWTH Aachen University Necessary documents: visa and residence permit How to enjoy your free time 4 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 13 14 16

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Prof. Dr. Ernst Schmachtenberg Rector of RWTH Aachen University

Welcome

Dear student, I am pleased that you are interested in graduate studies at RWTH Aachen University. Since our technical university is constantly aiming to improve its research and teaching performance, we want to attract the best students from all over the world. In return we offer you top-level study and research opportunities in Engineering, Natural Sciences and other fields as well as important connections to German companies. As you will know, RWTH Aachen University is one of Germanys most renowned technical universities. Due to its outstanding performance in the excellence initiative of the German federal and state governments, it has gained even more in reputation. Top-level students from Asia, Africa, America and Europe already benefit from RWTH Aachen Universitys very high standard of education and research. Numerous partnerships between RWTH Aachen and international companies offer you great professional and personal perspectives. This brochure provides you with detailed information on the content and structure of our graduate studies programmes as well as on formal and language requirements. Some general information on Aachen, the beautiful city of Charlemagne, will give you a first impression of the city of your future studies. It will be a pleasure to welcome you as a member of RWTH Aachen Universitys academic community in the near future.

RWTH Aachen University past and future

Tradition the basis of excellence RWTH Aachen University was founded in 1870 with considerable support from local companies. Originally a polytechnic institute, it subsequently became the Rheinisch-Westflische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH), i.e. the NorthRhine-Westphalian Institute of Technology, in 1948. Present international expertise Today, RWTH Aachen University is one of the most renowned technical universities in Europe. It has about 30,000 students and an academic staff of 2,420, 420 of whom are full-time professors. RWTH Aachen Universitys long-standing reputation for research and educational distinction attracts students from all over the world: Currently over 5,000 international students from more than 130 different countries are part of our academic community. Partnerships sharing innovation and technology Close cooperations in research and development between the faculties of Engineering and Natural Sciences and numerous important companies contribute decisively to RWTH Aachen Universitys competitiveness at a national and international level. The establishment of international research centres by major companies such as Microsoft, Ford, United Technologies and Philips as well as a large number of start-up companies in the Aachen region demonstrate the universitys strength in innovation.

7 Olga Osetska from Ukraine: RWTH Aachen University gave me the opportunity to perform high-level research during my doctoral studies by providing an exceptionally good infrastructure. Modern equipment as well as great team spirit were crucial factors for innovative and successful research.

Your benefit form choosing RWTH Aachen University

We can offer you a: 1. academic excellence 2. long-standing tradition of research and teaching in Engineering, IT and the Natural Sciences 3. interdisciplinary research with external partners 4. close cooperation with international companies 5. research-oriented education 6. state-of-the-art facilities 7. international atmosphere and cooperation 8. excellent career prospects 9. cultural variety 10. a supportive and stimulating environment

Graduate studies your way to excellence

Standardisation of degrees: the Bologna Process Since 2000, RWTH Aachen University has been offering advanced study opportunities to its international and German students in all fields of studies. Within the restructuring of the European Higher Education Area RWTH Aachen University has adopted the two-cycle study system consisting of Bachelor's and Master's degrees as comparable qualifications throughout Europe. Bachelors and Masters programmes replace the former Diplom and Magister Artium programmes. All Masters programmes require a good Bachelor's degree (at least 2.5 in the German system) in a related or equal field of study. Please contact the International Office in order to find out which grade is equivalent to yours in the German grade system.

English-taught courses: expertise and intercultural skills

Due to the language of instruction, RWTH Aachen Universitys English-taught Masters programmes particularly attract international students. Therefore you can benefit from the high quality of teaching, the close collaboration with national and international industrial partners and the intercultural exchange with your fellow students from all over the world. Currently, we offer our students six courses that are taught entirely in English (Biomedical Engineering, Communications Engineering, Electrical Power Engi-neering, Media Informatics, Metallurgical Engineering, Software Systems Engine-ering) and take about two years to complete. On completing the course successfully you will obtain the final degree Master of Science. Within the next years the number of courses offered in English will steadily increase. Tuition fees for these programmes are Euro 500 per semester. Please find more detailed information on each course in the leaflets inserted in this brochure.

English-taught courses at RWTH International Academy

RWTH International Academy, a spin-off of RWTH Aachen University, offers four English-taught Masters courses in Mechanical Engineering (Automotive Engineering, Combustion Engines, Production Systems Engineering, Computer Aided Conception and Production of Machines Simulation) and a programme in dentistry (Lasers in Dentistry). The tuition fee for these programmes amounts to Euro 3,700 per semester. For detailed information please visit: www.master-mechanical-engineering.com

How to apply for English-taught courses

The early bird catches the worm Many international students from all over the world are eager to be accepted for one of RWTH Aachen Universitys graduate courses. Therefore we advise you to submit your application as early as possible. Application deadline: 1 March Please consider that sending your application by regular airmail can take up to four weeks or even longer. To ensure timely receipt at our International Office, please send out your application as early as possible. Application address RWTH Aachen University International Office Templergraben 57 52062 Aachen, Germany international@rwth-aachen.de Apply online In order to save time and money please use our online application form at www.rwth-aachen.de/ioam. It is also the safest way to send your application to us.

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Admission requirements and documents

Please undertake the following steps: 1. Application form Please print and sign the application form (Adobe Acrobat Reader required) that you find at: www.rwth-aachen.de/ioam 2. Enclose a copy of your Bachelors degree (Bachelor of Science or Engineering) or an equivalent, internationally recognised degree awarded by an accredited university or equivalent degree-awarding institution. Please note: In order to be admitted to RTWH Aachen University, it is imperative that you have an undergraduate degree with a minimum grade equivalent to a good (2.5) in the German grading system. 3. Enclose a copy of official or certified transcripts of your academic record to give evidence of your undergraduate studies including credits and grades obtained in every single subject and a translation into German, English or French by an officially recognised translator (a copy of an official University transcript originally written in English is sufficient). 4. Add a copy of your English language certificate You must have an excellent command of English (spoken and written) in order to fully understand the course lectures, textbooks and manuals, and to participate in lab projects, industrial internships and to take the relevant examinations. Therefore you are obliged to add a copy of either your IELTS certificate (score 6.0) or your TOEFL certificate (score 550 paper-based/213 computer-based/80 internet-based).

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Please note that the TOEFL qualification must be obtained no more than two years prior to the commencement of the course you are applying for. the original TOEFL Score report must be received by RWTH Aachen University directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). the ETS/TOEFL code for RWTH is 8504. Nationals and/or first-degree-holders of USA, Kanada, Irland, Great Britain, Australia and New-Zealand do not have to submit their language certificates. You do not have to prove German language proficiency in order to apply for an English-taught course since you will take an obligatory German course in September, one month prior to the beginning of your studies. 5. Add your GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) certificate. For some programmes, applicants are advised to take a GRE test, so please check the inserted course-leaflets. 5. a For Chinese students only: Enclose your certificate of authenticity from the Academic Acknowledgement Bureau (APS) in Beijing for the Chinese certificateslisted under points 1 and 2. 6. Add you CV (Curriculum Vitae) and your letter of motivation. Please find the questions to be answered in your letter of motivation within the application form (online-application: at the end of the form, paper-application form: item 11).

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Experience the German language

Although your academic life in Aachen will be structured around English, we advise you to gain at least a basic knowledge of the German language, thus making sure that you can enjoy and take a full part in the non-academic life in Aachen. Therefore, all English language Masters programmes have German courses as part of their core curriculum. German courses are available at all levels, from beginners to advanced students.

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German-taught courses: expertise and German culture

RWTH Aachen University offers Masters programmes taught in German in all subject areas. The number of these programmes is steadily increasing. You can find a complete list of all courses offered in German at: www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/las/. Individual leaflets for each Masters programme are available at the Students Affairs Office.

Admission requirements and documents

Except for the proof of your German language skills, the admission requirements, deadlines and documents to be enclosed are the same as those for the Englishtaught courses. Please prove your German language proficency by submitting one of the following language certificates: Deutsche Sprachprfung fr den Hochschulzugang (DSH 2 or 3) Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache (TestDaF): Level 4 in all four test sections Deutsches Sprachdiplom der Kultusministerkonferenz Zweite Stufe (KMK II) Goethe-Institut: Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom (KDS), Groes Deutsches Sprachdiplom (GDS) or Zentrale Oberstufenprfung (ZOP) Deutsche Sprachprfung II of the Sprachen- und Dolmetscher-Institut Mnchen You can obtain these certificates at the worldwide TestDaF centres (www.testdaf.de) or at the Goethe Institutes (www.goethe.de). It is also possible to sit the DSH test or the TestDaF at a German university. Please note: If you apply for a restricted course a copy of the required language certificate has to be submitted within the application deadline, which is 15 July.

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Where and when you should learn German Good German language skills are a prerequisite for successful studies in Germany. A residence permit allowing you to study the language in Germany is usually valid for only up to 12 months. Thus, we advise you to gain basic language skills already in your home country. In most cases this should be less expensive. Moreover, this is the only way to make sure that you really fulfil all requirements for your studies in Germany. Please find information on language schools on the internet and consider the duration and prices of such preparation courses. The several international Goethe Institutes offer German language courses on every level (www.goethe.de), and Deutsch-Uni-Online (DUO) provides online-language courses www.deutsch-uni.com

fees
Application Fee In order for your application to be considered in our admissions procedure, you will have to pay an application fee of Euro 50. This fee cannot be refunded, irrespective of the decision on your application. If you want to apply again at a later stage, the fee becomes due again. Methods of payment You may pay this fee by cheque or by bank transfer. More information on methods of payment can be found at www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/ert/ Please note contact your local bank and inquire about charges for international transfers, and add the respective amount to your transfer. We can process your application only after we have received your fee in full.

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Tuition fee The regular tuition fee amounts to Euro 500 per semester (Please note, however, that the tuition fee for the International Academy is Euro 3,700 per semester). Studentbody and social contribution fee There is an additional studentbody and social contribution fee of Euro 194,80 per semester. This fee includes a ticket for public transport in the city of Aachen and from Aachen to the cities of Cologne and Dsseldorf. The ticket is valid for the entire semester. Please note that you have to pay both fees. Typically the total sum of Euro 650 has to be paid to the account mentioned above. Pursuing a doctoral degree In case that you are interested in pursuing an doctoral degree after having finished your Graduate Studies at RWTH Aachen University, you have to undertake your own research project under the supervision of and in cooperation with your professor. The duration of the entire process is three to five years. As a rule the prerequisites for the admission of international graduates to a doctoral programme of RWTH Aachen Universitys are as follows: a Masters degree from RWTH Aachen University or any other internationally recognised university above average performance in your graduate studies written confirmation from a RWTH Aachen University professor that he or she is willing to admit you to his or her research team. Please find more detailed information on this topic at: www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/pvz/

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Your life at Aachen Enjoy the European flair

Aachen is an ancient city which was already greatly appreciated by the Romans for its thermal springs. To this day Aachen is famous for the curative effects of its thermal waters. Its historical importance dates back to the days of emperor Charlemagne, the father of Europe. Aachen cathedral, which became the first German building to be listed as a UNESCO world heritage, the gothic city hall and the cathedral treasury give testimony to the citys rich cultural heritage and beauty. Aachen is a medium-sized, international city of 250,000 residents, whose life is perceptibly influenced by its geographical location: Being Germanys most western city, Belgium and the Netherlands can be easily reached within just a few minutes. Other major cities such as Brussels, Cologne and Dsseldorf are just a short trip away.

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The narrow winding streets in the city centre and its numerous fountains render Aachen a very romantic and idyllic place. Aachen is also famous for its annual events such as the CHIO, the World Equestrian Festival, and the awarding ceremony of the International Charlemagne Prize, which is awarded in recognition of services promoting European peace and unity. The initial impulse for a structural change in the region from its focus on the mining industry to a more general one on technology was given by a cooperation agreement between RWTH Aachen University and the Aachen Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This cooperation was the first German cooperation between a university and a regional board of trade. Since 1981 RWTH Aachen University has been contributing considerably to the economic growth of the border region between Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

The International Office Your partner at RWTH AachenUniversity

The International Office is the main contact point for you as a prospective foreign student prior to your studies and also after having registered at our university. Our well-informed, friendly staff, fluent in several languages and including international students, is happy to assist you in all aspects of studying and living in Germany. The International Offices InfoServiceCentre (ISC) offers you information and services concerning the following issues: visa and residence permit admission and enrolment accommodation registering your address at the local authorities opening a bank account insurance locating pertinent university and city offices tips for finding a job in Aachen We offer you these services during the orientation phase at the beginning of each semester. You have also the opportunity to take part in a social programme called Leisure and Pleasure that helps you to get to know other students as well as the city of Aachen and its surroundings. You can also subscribe to a monthly newsletter which is edited especially for international students and researchers.

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Necessary documents: visa and residence permit

Applicants from member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland do not need a visa to travel to Germany. Citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and the United States do not need a visa to enter the country, but they will have to apply for a residence permit for the purpose of studying at the foreigners registration office within three months of arrival. Foreign citizens of all other countries need a special student visa which allows them to enter the Federal Republic of Germany for the purpose of studying. They must apply for this visa at a German Consulate or Embassy in their home country as early as possible, as the processing time for visas usually takes at least eight weeks and can take up to four months. For detailed information on entry clearance, visa and other immigration issues please contact the InfoServiceCentre of the International Office. Health insurance All students in Germany must have a health insurance policy, and an additional liability insurance policy is strongly recommended. Since insurance and legal matters are quite complex and important, please contact the InfoServiceCentre for further information. Your home is your castle your accommodation There are different options for finding a room or a flat in Aachen. The InfoServiceCentre is happy to provide you with further information prior to or on your arrival. Please check the website at www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/mac/ for detailed information relating to accommodation in Aachen. Living and other expenses The averagecost for living and studying, including food, accommodation, personal and social expenses as well as study-related costs are estimated to be Euro 700 per month.

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How to finance your studies You are advised fully to explore possible funding opportunities before you apply for one of RWTH Aachen Universitys study programmes. At HYPERLINK "http://www-zhv.rwth-aachen.de/zentral/english_scholarships.html" http://www-zhv.rwth-aachen.de/zentral/english_scholarships.html we offer you detailed information on exchange programmes and scholarships. You are also welcome to contact the International Office directly for advice and assistance.

How to enjoy your free time

Sports Sport plays an important role for your integration into university life. The University Sports Centre (HSZ) covers a total of 70 sports disciplines. Please check http://hochschulsport.rwth-aachen.de for the entire programme. RWTH Aachen Universitys student organisations There are various student groups and associations which address both your academic and social interests. Please find further information at: www.rwth-aachen.de/aw/zentral/english/Audience/~ky/international/ Humboldt-Haus Over the past years the Humboldt-Haus has become a lively meeting point for international and German students and thus an integral part of student life at RWTH Aachen University. It hosts various events and activities such as events organised by international and German student organisations and societies as well as courses, workshops, open talks and lectures, etc. All students are invited to take part in the various intercultural activities at RTWH Aachen University. For further information please visit: http://www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/dvz/

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