RWTH Aachen University

RWTH Aachen at a glance

RWTH Aachen University is a public technical university in Aachen, in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, close to the Dutch and Belgian borders. Indian students mostly look at its Master's programs in computer science and engineering.

Four things Indian applicants should know first:

• No tuition fees, only a semester fee. Students pay a semester contribution of €375.19 for the winter semester 2026/27, which includes the nationwide Deutschlandsemesterticket and regional transit in the Netherlands border area.
• Direct online application via RWTHonline, not uni-assist. All Master's applications must be submitted through RWTH Aachen's own digital portal. You do not send paper documents by post.
• Early application deadlines for non-EU applicants. For open-admission Master's programs, applicants from non-EU/EEA countries must apply by 1 March for the winter semester and 1 September for the summer semester.
• MSc Computer Science needs German as well as English, and a strong GRE. With a degree from abroad you must prove both German and English to enrol, and send a GRE with Quant above the 75th percentile. If you want a program taught only in English, look at MSc Software Systems Engineering.

What it really costs

Tuition: none. RWTH's study costs page lists the semester fee and living costs, but no tuition, for regular degree programs.

Semester contribution. For the winter semester 2026/27, the total semester fee (Semesterbeitrag) published by the student government (AStA) is €375.19, made up of:

For continuing students, re-registration fees must reach the RWTH account by 1 September for the winter semester. Re-registering after the deadline incurs a late fee of €7.60. If payment is not transferred by 31 October (winter) or 30 April (summer), enrollment is terminated ex officio.

Living costs and the blocked account. For the German student visa, international applicants must show €11,904 a year in a blocked account, paid out at €992 a month. RWTH notes that housing in Aachen is in high demand, with over 9,000 new students arriving each winter semester. See our blocked account guide and total cost guide.

Health insurance is compulsory to enrol in Germany. See our health insurance guide.

Can you reduce the cost?

• Part-time work. International students from outside the EU/EEA are legally permitted to work 140 full days or 280 half days per year. See our guides to part-time work rules and Werkstudent jobs.
• Scholarships. See our DAAD scholarships guide.

Getting in: what RWTH Aachen looks at

From RWTH Aachen's International Admissions regulations:

1. Degree: a first recognized university degree in computer science, engineering, or a related discipline. The examination board reviews your academic background against RWTH's course requirements. You must upload your transcript of records showing all semesters studied except your final two semesters. You do not need to have fully completed your bachelor's degree at the time of application. Indian applicants need an APS certificate for the German student visa. The Master's programs run by RWTH International Academy (such as Robotic Systems Engineering and Smart Production Engineering) require it with the application from winter semester 2027/28. See our guides to ECTS mapping, 3-year degrees in Germany, and the APS certificate.
2. Module catalog / course descriptions: you must upload a detailed module catalog or course descriptions of all subjects completed in your undergraduate studies. Applications without a module catalog risk rejection by the examination board due to insufficient subject detail.
3. GRE General Test (MSc Computer Science): required if your first degree is from outside the EU, with Quant above the 75th percentile, Verbal above the 15th percentile and Analytical Writing of at least 3.5. The department says that if you don't meet this, you should not apply. Send scores through ETS to institution code 8504 (department: all departments) and upload them in the portal. Other programs set their own test rules. See our GRE guide for Germany.
4. English proficiency (§ 3 Abs. 9 ÜPO): accepted tests are TOEFL iBT with at least 90 points (or 4.5 overall on the 1–6 scale), IELTS Academic with at least 6.0, Cambridge B2 First (grade B), C1 Advanced, or PTE Academic with at least 60 points. TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted; minimum scores must be achieved in a single test sitting. Only school or university qualifications earned in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada or the US give an exemption, and citizenship alone does not. See our English tests guide.
5. German proficiency: the MSc Computer Science (Informatik) is taught in German and English, and the department says applicants with a degree from abroad cannot enrol without proof of both German and English, even if admitted. The MSc Software Systems Engineering is taught in English.

How to apply

1. Apply online in RWTHonline. No physical documents are mailed to the university; all materials are uploaded as PDFs.
2. Observe non-EU deadlines:

- Winter semester (open admission): 1 March. - Summer semester (open admission): 1 September. - Restricted admission (NC) programs: 15 July (winter) or 15 January (summer).

1. Submit required PDF documents: transcript of records, comprehensive module catalog, resume (tabular format), certified English or German translations if issued in another language, GRE score report (code 8504) where required, and the APS certificate if your program asks for it.

Popular Master's programs for Indian students

• M.Sc. Computer Science: 4 semesters (120 ECTS), open admission, taught in German and English; German and English proof needed with a degree from abroad; GRE required (non-EU degrees).
• M.Sc. Software Systems Engineering: 4 semesters (120 ECTS), taught in English, starts in the winter semester.

Compare RWTH Aachen with other German technical universities in our MS Computer Science in Germany comparison.

Where you'll live

RWTH Aachen does not own or operate student dormitories. Student residence halls are managed independently by Studierendenwerk Aachen. Because RWTH welcomes over 9,000 new students each autumn, the university strongly advises beginning your accommodation search two to three months before arrival.

After you graduate

International graduates of a German university can get a residence permit of up to 18 months to look for a job, and may take any job during that time. Once you find qualified work, you switch to an EU Blue Card or standard work permit. See our guides to the job seeker visa and the EU Blue Card.

Who RWTH Aachen is a good fit for

• A strong choice if you have a strong computer science and maths background, a GRE with Quant above the 75th percentile, and either German as well as English (for Computer Science) or want an English-taught program like Software Systems Engineering.
• Think carefully if you want a program taught entirely in English but choose the standard M.Sc. Computer Science (which requires German proficiency; consider Software Systems Engineering instead), your GRE Quant is below the 75th percentile, you cannot provide a detailed module catalog, or you cannot meet the 1 March winter deadline.

Sources

Every figure on this page comes from these official pages, checked on 22 October 2026:

• AStA RWTH Aachen: Semester contribution breakdown
• RWTH Aachen: Re-registration process and late fee
• RWTH Aachen: Study costs and financing overview
• RWTH Aachen: International Master's application guidelines and deadlines
• RWTH Aachen: Language requirements overview
• RWTH Aachen: Comprehensive language requirements regulations (PDF)
• RWTH Aachen: M.Sc. Computer Science program profile
• RWTH Aachen: M.Sc. Software Systems Engineering program profile
• RWTH Computer Science: Master's application process (GRE, language rules)
• RWTH International Academy: your way to us (APS for its programs)
• Make it in Germany: prospects after graduation
• RWTH Aachen: Accommodation in Aachen advice

Fees and rules change. Always confirm on RWTH Aachen's own pages before you pay or apply.