Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
Aachen, Germany • Founded 1870 • World Rank #232
Updated May 2026
Overview
Founded in 1870, the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH Aachen University) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the medium city of Aachen (population range of 250,000-499,999 inhabitants), North Rhine-Westphalia.
Officially recognized by the Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen (Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia), Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH Aachen) is a very large-sized coeducational German higher education institution. Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH Aachen) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctorate degrees in several areas of study.
This 153-year-old German higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on students' past academic records and grades. International students are welcome to apply for enrollment.
RWTH Aachen also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, sports facilities, financial aids and/or scholarships, study abroad and exchange programs, as well as administrative services.
Location & Contact
Looking to reach Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen? Address, contact details, and online links below. For finance and tuition payment queries, the bursar or finance office is typically a separate contact point.
Academic Details
Enrolment scale, staff balance, and accreditation context for Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen are below. Female student percentage signals admissions reach and shapes the student-life environment.
Academic Structures
The institutional units housing Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen's programmes. Subject overlap across faculties is normal — interdisciplinary fields like data science or environmental studies often span multiple units.
Unit 9 items
- Faculty of Architecture
- Faculty of Arts and Humanities
- Faculty of Business and Economics
- Faculty of Civil Engineering
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
- Faculty of Georesources and Materials Engineering
- Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
- Faculty of Medicine
Degrees
Final State Examination (Staatsexam) in Medicine and Dentistry; Teacher Training State Examination (Lehramt); Master's Degree Programmes are taught in English in: Geophysics, Automotive Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Information Technology and Computer Engineering, Media Studies, Metallurgical Engineering, Physics, Software Engineering
Bachelor's 51 programs
Bachelor's programmes build foundational expertise, preparing graduates for entry-level professional roles and further postgraduate study.
- Architecture
- Automotive Engineering
- Biology
- Biotechnology
- Building Technologies
- Business Administration
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Communication Studies
- Computer Education
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Earth Sciences
- Electrical Engineering
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Energy Engineering
- English
- Environmental Engineering
- Foreign Languages Education
- Geography
- German
- History
- Humanities and Social Science Education
- Industrial Engineering
- Information Sciences
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Materials Engineering
- Mathematics
- Mathematics Education
- Mechanical Engineering
- Modern Languages
- Molecular Biology
- Native Language Education
- Natural Resources
- Physics
- Political Sciences
- Production Engineering
- Psychology
- Religious Education
- Science Education
- Secondary Education
- Social Studies
- Sociology
- Special Education
- Technology
- Technology Education
- Textile Technology
- Transport Engineering
- Vocational Education
- Wood Technology
Master's 63 programs
Master's programmes develop advanced specialised expertise, suited to senior industry positions and applied research.
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
- Architecture
- Automotive Engineering
- Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Business Administration
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Communication Studies
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Dental Technology
- Earth Sciences
- Ecology
- Economics
- Educational Administration
- Educational Research
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronic Engineering
- Electronics and Automation
- Energy Engineering
- Engineering
- English
- English Studies
- Environmental Engineering
- European Studies
- Foreign Languages Education
- Geography
- Geography (Human)
- Geophysics
- German
- History
- Humanities and Social Science Education
- Industrial Engineering
- Information Technology
- Laboratory Techniques
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Materials Engineering
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Media Studies
- Metallurgical Engineering
- Molecular Biology
- Natural Resources
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Sciences
- Power Engineering
- Production Engineering
- Psychology
- Science Education
- Secondary Education
- Sociology
- Software Engineering
- Speech Studies
- Technology Education
- Telecommunications Engineering
- Textile Technology
- Town Planning
- Transport Management
- Transport and Communications
Doctoral 13 programs
Doctoral programmes train independent researchers, leading to academic, scientific, and senior advisory careers.
- Architecture
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Electrical Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medicine
- Natural Resources
- Natural Sciences
- Philosophy
Other 12 programs
- Architecture
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Electronic Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medicine
- Natural Resources
- Natural Sciences
- Philosophy
Faculties & Divisions
All faculties operate under Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen.
Architecture (Faculty) 10 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Architectural and Environmental Design
- Architecture
- Art History
- Design
- Fine Arts
- Landscape Architecture
- Painting and Drawing
- Regional Planning
- Structural Architecture
- Town Planning
Common Career Paths
- Architect
- Urban Planner
- Interior Designer
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Arts and Humanities (Faculty) 12 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Educational Sciences
- English
- German
- History
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Philosophy
- Political Sciences
- Psychology
- Romance Languages
- Sociology
- Theology
Common Career Paths
- Researcher
- Editor
- Cultural Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Business and Economics (Faculty) 15 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Accountancy
- Banking
- Business Administration
- Commercial Law
- E-Business/Commerce
- Economics
- Finance
- Industrial Management
- Information Sciences
- International Business
- Management
- Operations Research
- Taxation
- Technology
- Transport Management
Common Career Paths
- Business Analyst
- Operations Manager
- Strategy Consultant
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Civil Engineering (Faculty) 12 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Business Administration
- Civil Engineering
- Construction Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Geological Engineering
- Hydraulic Engineering
- Management
- Mechanical Engineering
- Town Planning
- Transport Engineering
- Waste Management
- Water Management
Common Career Paths
- Civil Engineer
- Construction Project Manager
- Structural Engineer
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (Faculty) 11 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Biomedical Engineering
- Computer Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronic Engineering
- Engineering
- Information Technology
- Measurement and Precision Engineering
- Petroleum and Gas Engineering
- Power Engineering
- Sound Engineering (Acoustics)
- Telecommunications Engineering
Common Career Paths
- Electrical Engineer
- Power Systems Engineer
- Automation Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Georesources and Materials Engineering (Faculty) 5 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Geology
- Materials Engineering
- Metallurgical Engineering
- Mining Engineering
- Waste Management
Common Career Paths
- Engineer
- Project Manager
- Technical Consultant
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences (Faculty) 6 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Natural Sciences
- Physics
Common Career Paths
- Software Engineer
- Data Scientist
- Systems Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Mechanical Engineering (Faculty) 26 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
- Automotive Engineering
- Biochemistry
- Ceramics and Glass Technology
- Chemical Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Electronics and Automation
- Heating and Refrigeration
- Industrial Engineering
- Laser Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechanics
- Medical Technology
- Metal Techniques
- Nuclear Engineering
- Operations Research
- Optical Technology
- Physical Engineering
- Polymer and Plastics Technology
- Power Engineering
- Production Engineering
- Railway Engineering
- Textile Technology
- Thermal Engineering
Common Career Paths
- Mechanical Engineer
- Design Engineer
- Manufacturing Engineer
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Medicine (Faculty) 14 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Anaesthesiology
- Cardiology
- Dentistry
- Medicine
- Neurology
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Ophthalmology
- Orthodontics
- Orthopaedics
- Plastic Surgery
- Psychiatry and Mental Health
- Radiology
- Surgery
- Urology
Common Career Paths
- Physician
- Medical Researcher
- Clinical Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Programs Offered
Look through Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen's programmes by level or filter for keywords. Programme-level scholarships exist alongside institution-wide ones; the programme page typically lists them.
204 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Germany
Bachelor's Degree 83 programmes
Showing 10 of 83.
Master's Degree 121 programmes
Showing 10 of 121.
How to apply to Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
Below is a five-step path through the application process at Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, useful for first-time applicants and international students.
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1
Research programmes at Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
Use the programme finder to browse Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen's 204 active programmes. Filter by keyword or scan by degree level. Read curriculum details on each programme's dedicated page if available.
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2
Review admissions criteria
Programme-level requirements at Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen typically include academic transcripts, language proficiency proof, identity documents, and a personal statement or interview. Confirm specific requirements with the admissions office.
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3
Gather supporting documents
Prepare academic transcripts, ID/passport copies, language proficiency proof, a personal statement, and reference letters. International candidates may need apostilled or notarised translations — start early to avoid deadline pressure.
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4
Lodge your application
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen processes applications through www.rwth-aachen.de. Create an account, fill out the application form, and submit your documents. Note application deadlines, which vary by intake and programme.
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5
Confirm receipt and track progress
Confirm receipt of your application with the admissions office and keep an eye on your portal for status changes. Reach the institution by phone at +49 (241) 801. Quick responses to any follow-up requests keep your application moving smoothly through the review process.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
Frequently asked questions about Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, covering the institutional basics most prospective applicants want to confirm first.
How old is Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen?
The institution opened in 1870 (approximately 156 years ago).
Where can I find Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen?
The institution is located in Aachen, Germany.
Is Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen public or private?
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen is a public institution.
How many students does Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen have?
The institution has a student body of 35,000-39,999.
Where does Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen stand in university rankings?
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen is ranked #232 globally and #6 in Germany.
What programmes are available at Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen?
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen delivers bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes across its academic units.
How many faculties does Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen have?
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen has 9 academic units.
Who recognises Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen?
The institution holds recognition from ASIIN; Systemakkreditierung.
How do I find Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen online?
You can find Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen online at www.rwth-aachen.de.
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Members of European University Association (EUA)
Sabbatical exchange agreements among European University Association (EUA) members create faculty mobility patterns. Students benefit indirectly through visiting-faculty courses and cross-institutional supervision arrangements.
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