RWTH Aachen University is a public technical university in Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, with 44,382 students in the winter semester 2025/26, of whom 15,811 are international students from 141 countries.[1] It is ranked 104th in the QS World University Rankings 2027.[2]
RWTH does not charge tuition fees to international students, including those from outside the EU; every student pays only a semester fee that includes the semester ticket.[3][4] Bachelor’s programmes are taught mainly in German (proof at C1 level at enrolment), while RWTH also offers master’s programmes taught entirely in English.[5][6]
Key facts
| Official name | Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH Aachen University) |
| Location | Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (administration: Templergraben 55)[7] |
| Type | Public research university; member of TU9[8] |
| Founded | 1870 (lectures began 10 October 1870 as the Royal Rhenish-Westphalian Polytechnic School)[8] |
| Students | 44,382 in winter semester 2025/26[1] |
| International students | 15,811 from 141 countries (winter semester 2025/26); the press release of 1 December 2025 gives 15,881, 36% of students[1] |
| Faculties | 10[1] |
| Professors | 570 (2025)[1] |
| Institutes | 260 (2025)[1] |
| Excellence Strategy | University of Excellence, with 3 Clusters of Excellence (CARE, FSC², ML4Q)[1] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 104th[2] |
| Tuition (international students) | None; all students pay a semester fee[3] |
| Semester ticket part of the fee | €226.80 per semester from winter semester 2026/27[7] |
| Official website | rwth-aachen.de |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 9 November 2026.
About RWTH Aachen University
RWTH Aachen University began teaching on 10 October 1870 as the Royal Rhenish-Westphalian Polytechnic School in Aachen. It became a Royal Technical University around 1880.[8] Today it is a public research university and a member of TU9, the alliance of leading German technical universities.[8]
The university has 10 faculties and 260 institutes.[1] A new Faculty of Computer Science was established in the winter semester 2025/26 and already had 4,425 students on 1 December 2025.[9] Mechanical Engineering is the largest faculty with about 10,771 students.[9]
RWTH is one of Germany’s Universities of Excellence and hosts or takes part in three Clusters of Excellence: CARE, FSC² (Integrated Fuel and Chemical Science Center) and ML4Q, the last coordinated by the University of Cologne.[1]
How is RWTH Aachen University ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, RWTH Aachen is 104th. A news article of 19 June 2026 lists it as the fifth of the German universities it names, behind TUM (25th), LMU Munich (61st), Heidelberg (86th) and the Free University of Berlin (98th); KIT follows at 110th.[2]
RWTH’s own facts page says the university performs “very well” in many national and international rankings but gives no positions on the page itself.[1] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at RWTH Aachen University?
RWTH’s programme list covers engineering, natural sciences, medicine, humanities, social sciences, economics and teacher training, for example Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Architecture, Physics, Psychology and Medicine (state examination).[10]
In winter semester 2025/26 the largest faculties by student numbers were Mechanical Engineering (about 10,771), Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (5,296), Mathematics and Natural Sciences (5,253) and Computer Science (4,425).[9]
RWTH’s overview of language requirements lists bachelor’s and state-examination programmes by name; we do not count programmes here because we found no total on the pages we read.[10] Besides the regular master’s programmes, the RWTH International Academy runs master’s programmes taught entirely in English.[6]
How much does RWTH Aachen University cost?
RWTH states: “There are no tuition fees at RWTH Aachen, with the exception of the programs from RWTH Academy.”[4] It also says it does not charge international students from non-EU countries additional tuition, and that all students regardless of citizenship pay only the standard semester fee.[3] Applying is free of charge.[3] The pages do not give a year for this policy statement.
Semester fee
Every student pays a semester fee each semester, made up of a student body contribution, a mobility contribution (the semester ticket) and a social contribution to the student services organisation.[11] RWTH’s FAQ says the exact amount varies and is on average about €300 per semester; that page has no date.[4]
The student body regulation of 2 June 2026 sets two parts for the winter semester 2026/27: the Deutschlandsemesterticket part is €226.80 per semester, and the childcare part is €1.00.[7] The add-on for Zuid-Limburg (Netherlands) is €7.77 per semester from the summer semester 2026.[7] The social contribution is not in that regulation. Because the ticket part alone is €226.80, treat the “about €300” as a rough guide and check the amount in your enrolment notice.
Living costs
RWTH advises budgeting at least €1,100 per month, with €400 to €600 for accommodation, €200 to €300 for food and €100 to €150 for health insurance. The page has no date.[11] For city costs and visas, see our Germany guide and the Study in Germany guide.
How do you apply to RWTH Aachen University?
Applications go through RWTH’s own online portal (RWTHonline); the pages we read do not mention uni-assist.[5][6]
- Bachelor’s and state examination: you upload your application documents in RWTHonline. If your school-leaving certificate does not entitle you to study in Germany, RWTH points to a preparatory college (Studienkolleg) or study in your home country first; use the ANABIN database to check your certificate. The overall grade must be at least the equivalent of German 2.5 unless a TestAS result compensates.[5]
- Master’s: apply online and upload PDFs of your transcript, module descriptions and CV. Some programmes also require tests such as the GRE or TestAS. Documents not in German or English need a certified translation.[6] The International Office first checks formal eligibility, then the examination board assesses your bachelor’s background, which may take several months.[3]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by programme. Check the application page of your programme before you start.
Which language level do you need?
RWTH says that all bachelor’s programmes are taught in German, so proof of German at C1 level is required at enrolment; for some bachelor’s programmes B2 English is required as well.[5][4] You can apply before you hold the certificate, but you cannot enrol without it during the enrolment period.[4]
RWTH’s language overview marks each bachelor’s programme as needing German, or German and English. Mechanical Engineering and Physics need German; Computer Science B.Sc. needs German and English.[10] The overview itself notes that the examination regulations of each programme are binding.[10]
For master’s programmes, RWTH says some require both English and German certificates, while the International Academy’s master’s programmes are taught in English and need an English certificate.[4][6] Accepted certificates and scores vary by programme, and the pages we read do not list them, so check the examination regulations of your programme.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is RWTH Aachen University free for international students?
How much is the semester fee at RWTH Aachen?
Do I need German to study at RWTH Aachen?
How do I apply as an international student?
How is RWTH Aachen ranked?
It is 104th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, the fifth of the German universities listed by that article.[2]
More about studying in Germany
- Germany: best universities
- Study in Germany: complete guide
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Germany
- Freie Universität Berlin
- Heidelberg University
- Humboldt University of Berlin
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
- Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
- Technical University of Berlin
- Technical University of Munich
- TU Darmstadt
- TU Dresden
- University of Bonn
- University of Cologne
- University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)
- University of Freiburg
- University of Göttingen
- University of Hamburg
- University of Mannheim
- University of Münster
- University of Stuttgart
- University of Tübingen
Sources
[1] RWTH Aachen University: Facts, Figures and Rankings (page without a date; student figures winter semester 2025/26, staff data 1 Dec 2025)
[2] IamExpat: TUM only German university to make top 50 in QS ranking 2027 (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (article of 19 Jun 2026)
[3] RWTH Aachen University: Particulars of international applicants (page without a date)
[4] RWTH Aachen University: International Student Center FAQ (page without a date)
[5] RWTH Aachen University: Admission requirements for international bachelor and state examination applicants (page without a date)
[6] RWTH Aachen University: Master’s application for international applicants (page without a date)
[7] RWTH Aachen University: Official announcement 2026/078, contribution regulation of the student body (dated 2 Jun 2026; PDF)
[8] Wikipedia: RWTH Aachen University (history, type and TU9)
[9] RWTH Aachen University: Currently 44,382 students enrolled at RWTH (press release of 1 Dec 2025; it gives 15,881 international students while the facts page gives 15,811)
[10] RWTH Aachen University: Language requirements by programme (bachelor’s and state examination) (PDF without a date)
[11] RWTH Aachen University: Costs (international students) (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.