RWTH

(Rheinisch-Westfälische ),

Aachen,

http://www.rwth-aachen.de/

Arts, & Social Sciences units (2 years of German required) & Faculty of , Computing & Maths (PhD only) students only

City Population: 255,000 Enrollment: 30,000 students Course Load: 4 courses

ABOUT RWTH AACHEN UNIVERSITY 1960s onwards to offer a broad range of subjects in almost The RWTH Aachen University is the largest university of all areas. The Faculties of Humanities and were technology in Germany and one of the most renowned founded in the 1960s, followed by the Faculty of technical in , with around 30,000 in the 1980s. students, more than the half of which are in engineering. Almost 5,000 international students are currently enrolled at Teaching and research are characterised by an both undergraduate level and graduate and PhD level. international, innovative, and interdisciplinary approach and a close interrelationship with industry. The main objectives The RWTH was founded as a Polytechnic in 1870 with of the RWTH education are a solid knowledge of the basic considerable support from local industry and was conferred scientific subjects with the ability to apply this knowledge to the right to award doctoral degrees in 1899. It was re- engineering problems and a high level of expertise within established after the Second World War as the Institute of the field of specialisation and the ability to transfer scientific Technology of the Land North Rhine-Westphalia (Rheinisch- results into economic and technical application. In addition, Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen) later the intensive interaction between all sciences in research achieving the status of a university. The number of students and teaching is a direct response to the demands placed increased within a period of forty years from around one on future young professionals. Engineering thousand to 30,000 students in the 1990s. usually held leading positions in industry before they became faculty members and other experts from industry The rapid advance in science and engineering and teach special courses thus enabling students to benefit subsequent growth of departments resulted in further from the expertise and practice-related knowledge. faculties in science and engineering being founded. In addition to its recognised strength and success in , the RWTH expanded from the early

COURSES pay for accommodation at the Studentenwerk during their The main language of instruction at RWTH Aachen first day at the RWTH. The rent depends on the hall of University is German except for a few special courses residence (ranging from older buildings to new buildings of (although the majority of RWTH professors and staff speak higher standard. The accommodation will comprise a English). RWTH offers intensive training standard single room with a single bed, wardrobe, desk, for students the entire month of September until mid- lamp, bed linen. October. The language courses are open to all students from UWA covered by the official exchange agreement, provided Private Rented Accommodation that they meet their own costs of accommodation and living Some students prefer to live in a rented accommodation in expenses. The course is free of charge. the local area. There is a good amount of accommodation available within a convenient distance of RWTH. If a Communications Science student confirms a reservation made for private English Linguistics accommodation they are in any case obliged to pay the first English Literature instalment of rent even if they does not move in. European Studies German Linguistics HEALTH German Literature (Modern) UWA has insurance to cover its outgoing exchange History students: UWA Corporate Personal and Travel Policy. No History of Architecture extra health cover is required by Aachen.

History of Arts ABOUT AACHEN History of Economics and Social History Aachen lies in a virtual valley, surrounded by fields, woods Romance Linguistics and hills. At its portals – close by where three countries Romance Literature meet, Germany, the , Belgium - you find the nature reserves of the Ardennes and the Eifel. Aachen’s Politics warm water springs have been enjoyed for more than two Psychology thousand years! Sociology In the year 768 came to Aachen for the first Theology, Catholic time. He liked the place and began to build a palace twenty Engineering, Computing & Maths (PhD Only) years later. The magnificent chapel of the palace later became the . Charlemagne spent most SEMESTERS winters between 800 and his death in 814 in Aachen in Winter semester: October to February order to enjoy the hot springs. Afterwards the king was Summer Semester: April to July buried in the chapel, where his tomb can still be found. In 936 Otto I was crowned king in the cathedral. From then HOUSING on the kings of the Holy Roman Empire were crowned in RWTH tries to arrange accommodation upon arrival for Aachen for the next 600 years. The last king to be crowned exchange students. This is usually possible when a here was Ferdinand I in 1531. registration form is submitted to RWTH‘s International Office Badly damaged in World War II, on October 21, 1944, (Akademisches Auslandsamt) at least three months prior to Aachen was the first German city to be captured by Allied the beginning of the intended period of stay. Exchange troops. While Charlemagne's palace doesn't exist students will be placed either in a student hall of residence or anymore, the cathedral is still the main attraction of the city. in private rooms. For those students whose registration After its construction it was the largest church north of the forms arrive later than three months ahead of their intended for 400 years. The tombs of Charlemagne and Otto III period of stay and who miss this deadline it will be quite a are in the church. problem (or even impossible) to secure a room in Aachen. From Roman times there have been good connections with Upon request the International Office may provide students the rest of Europe. Today, the town is reachable by from abroad with addresses of private landladies/landlords in motorways from and Dusseldorf, Amsterdam, and around Aachen. Brussels and Paris. Via the airports of Maastricht/Aachen, Dusseldorf, Cologne and Brussels, or by fast train from The Accommodation Office Cologne/Dusseldorf, Brussels, Paris/London. The Accommodation Office on campus deals with all applications and enquiries regarding university residences OTHER INFORMATION for exchange students, provides lists of private sector Read the Aachen section in the blue files in the Study accommodation and provides assistance to students looking Abroad Office. You will find some very useful information for temporary accommodation. from returned UWA students.

Student Halls of Residence at RWTH Aachen University CONTACTS (Studentenwohnheime) RWTH Aachen http://www.rwth-aachen.de Rooms are provided for a limited number of exchange students in student halls of residence. Priority is given to Our contact details: students registering under exchange schemes. http://www.international.uwa.edu.au/se/welcome Accommodation is always available on the first day of a Tel: 6488 8199 month. Students booking accommodation in a hall of [email protected] residence will be invoiced on arrival and will be required to 2