Admissions·Europe· 9 min read

How to Get Admission in RWTH Aachen University

A step-by-step admission guide to RWTH Aachen University for international students: the RWTHonline application route, the APS certificate for Indian applicants, deadlines and documents.

Last updated 3 July 2026

Key facts

University: RWTH Aachen University (TU9), Germany
Application portal: RWTHonline (university's own portal; no application fee)
APS certificate (Indian applicants): Mandatory for the German student visa — verify on aps-india.de
Main intake: Winter semester (summer intake also available)
Deadlines: Differ for open vs restricted (NC) programmes — verify on RWTHonline
Language: Bachelor's largely German (DSH/TestDaF); many master's English (IELTS/TOEFL) — per programme

Why RWTH Aachen, and what makes its admission distinct

RWTH Aachen University is one of Germany's TU9 technical universities and a major destination for international engineering and science students, with a large master's intake from India. It offers German-taught bachelor's programmes and a wide range of English-taught master's programmes.

What sets RWTH apart from the generic German-university route is that you apply directly through the university's own portal, RWTHonline, rather than through uni-assist for most programmes. Admission is decision-relevant at two levels: the International Office first checks whether you are eligible, and then the relevant examination board reviews whether your academic background matches the specific programme.

This guide walks through that process for international applicants and flags the extra step Indian applicants must complete before a visa: the APS certificate.

TU9 technical university with German-taught bachelor's and many English-taught master's programmes
Applications run through the university's own RWTHonline portal
No application fee for applying at RWTH
Indian applicants additionally need the APS certificate for the visa

Eligibility: entrance qualification and degree recognition

For a bachelor's programme, RWTH assesses your school leaving qualification and academic grades. International applicants whose secondary schooling is not directly equivalent to the German Abitur may need to complete a Studienkolleg (foundation year) with a Feststellungsprüfung before direct entry; whether this applies depends on your country and qualification, which RWTH assesses case by case.

For a master's programme, applicants from outside the EU/EEA need a first degree (generally a bachelor's) from a recognised university. The examination board then checks that your subject background fits the programme. You do not always need to have fully completed your bachelor's at the time of applying, but final admission requires the completed qualification.

Recognition of your qualification is checked against the German anabin database standards. Exact eligibility for a specific programme is set by that programme, so always confirm on the programme page.

Bachelor's: school qualification + grades assessed; a Studienkolleg may be required depending on your country
Master's: recognised first degree from a recognised university + subject match reviewed by the examination board
Qualification recognition follows the German anabin standards
Programme-specific requirements are set per programme — verify on the official programme page

The APS certificate for Indian applicants

Applicants with Indian academic qualifications must obtain an APS certificate. APS India (the Academic Evaluation Centre) is a service of the Science Section of the German Embassy in New Delhi, established in 2022, that verifies the authenticity of your Indian academic documents against German recognition standards.

The APS certificate is a mandatory requirement for the German student visa — without it your visa process cannot proceed. Many German universities, including RWTH, also expect it as part of the application. It is now issued as a digitally signed PDF delivered to your registered email.

Start the APS process early, because it is separate from and additional to the university application. Exact documents, fees and processing times are set by APS India and change over time — check aps-india.de and verify current requirements before you apply.

APS India = Academic Evaluation Centre of the German Embassy, New Delhi (since 2022)
APS certificate is mandatory for the German student visa for Indian applicants
Issued as a digitally signed PDF
Documents, fees and timelines are set by APS India — verify on aps-india.de

How to apply through RWTHonline (step by step)

All applications are submitted online through RWTHonline, RWTH's own digital application portal. There is no application fee. You create an account, select your programme, and upload the required documents as PDFs.

For master's programmes, typical uploads include your transcript of records and diploma supplement, module descriptions or course catalogue, and a CV. Depending on the programme and the examination board, additional documents such as GRE or TestAS results may be requested.

After you submit, the International Office checks eligibility and the examination board reviews the subject match. If admitted, you receive an offer and then complete enrolment. Always follow the document checklist shown for your specific programme in RWTHonline.

Apply online via RWTHonline — no application fee
Upload transcript, diploma supplement, module descriptions and CV as PDFs
Some programmes/examination boards ask for GRE or TestAS results
Eligibility check (International Office) then subject-match review (examination board)

Application deadlines and intakes

RWTH admits into a winter semester (the main intake) and a summer semester, and deadlines differ between open-admission and restricted-admission (numerus clausus) programmes.

For non-EU/EEA master's applicants, published deadlines have followed the pattern of around 1 March (winter) and 1 September (summer) for open-admission programmes, and around 15 July (winter) and 15 January (summer) for restricted-admission programmes. These dates can change year to year and vary by programme.

Because you must factor in the APS certificate, visa processing and, for some, a language test, plan several months ahead of the deadline. Always confirm the exact current deadline on RWTHonline for your programme before relying on any date.

Main intake is the winter semester; a summer intake also exists
Non-EU deadlines differ for open vs restricted (NC) programmes
Add lead time for APS, visa and any language test
Confirm the exact current deadline on RWTHonline — dates change yearly

Language requirements and English-taught programmes

RWTH's bachelor's programmes are largely German-taught, so they require German proficiency (commonly assessed at levels such as DSH or TestDaF), while many master's programmes are taught in English and require an English certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL.

The exact language and score requirement is set per programme — an English-taught master's states its English requirement, and a German-taught programme states its German requirement. Some programmes require both.

Do not assume a level; read the language requirement on the programme page in RWTHonline. If you need German, factor in the time to reach the required level before the deadline.

Bachelor's are largely German-taught (e.g. DSH/TestDaF); many master's are English-taught (IELTS/TOEFL)
The exact test and score are set per programme
Some programmes require both German and English
Check the specific language requirement on the programme page

Frequently asked questions

Do I apply to RWTH Aachen through uni-assist or directly?

For most programmes you apply directly through RWTH's own portal, RWTHonline, and there is no application fee. A small number of cases may differ, so always follow the application route stated on your specific programme page.

Is the APS certificate mandatory for Indian applicants?

Yes. Applicants with Indian qualifications need an APS certificate from APS India (the Academic Evaluation Centre of the German Embassy, New Delhi). It is mandatory for the German student visa, so start it early. Verify current requirements on aps-india.de.

Are RWTH Aachen master's programmes in English?

Many are English-taught and require an English certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL, while bachelor's programmes are largely German-taught. The exact language requirement is set per programme — check the programme page.

Is there an application fee at RWTH Aachen?

No — applying via RWTHonline is free of charge. Note that separate costs (such as the APS procedure or a language test) are not part of the RWTH application and are set by those providers.

When should I start my RWTH application?

Begin several months before the deadline. You need time for the APS certificate, any language test, gathering documents, and later the student visa. Confirm the exact current deadline for your programme on RWTHonline.

Official sources

This guide explains the process and is for guidance only. Eligibility, dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.

Verified against: RWTH Aachen — Application for Admission; RWTH Aachen — International Applicants (Master); APS India — Academic Evaluation Centre.

Last verified: 3 July 2026.