Exchange programs

Erasmus

What is ERASMUS?
The EU called ERASMUS (European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students) to life in order to support the mobility of European students. To be more exact, the organization strives for as many students as possible to complete a part of their studies in another European country and in another European language. The goal is, that university graduates are better qualified to work in a Europe without borders.

How does ERASMUS work?
The RWTH negotiates contracts with partner universities about student exchanges. To be more exact, every department must define, with which partner universities an exchange should occur.

Information:
The department or the given contact person informs about the academic aspects of study abroad (content, transfer questions, grade conversion, etc). The Department for International University Relations informs about the application formalities for participation in an ERASMUS/SOKRATES exchange in every winter semester in group advising meetings. Further information on ERASMUS at RWTH Aachen you can find on the RWTH Aachen website.

Unitech International Program

Together with the RWTH Aachen, a group of European businesses and a group of leading technical academic institutions, including the ETH Zürich and the Imperial College London, have called a program to life under the name UNITECH International to support future leaders for internationally operating businesses. The program offers especially qualified students of engineering (including also physics and computer science) a year of comprehensive additional training. This is comprised of business and engineering modules, as well as the opportunity for a work-study project at a top international academic institution and an internship in the managing department of a business of the UNITECH network.

The UNITECH consortium awards the chosen students 1,350 euros per semester during their study abroad at one of the academic institutions belonging to the UNITECH network, as well as a land-appropriate grant for the arranged and specially mentored internship with a UNITECH business.

Mobility within the frame of the IDEA League

The Imperial College London, the Delft University of Technology, the ETH Zürich and the RWTH Aachen belong to the IDEA League.

Exchange and mobility programs for students
Within the frame of their cooperation, the IDEA League called a new kind of exchange and mobility program into life that should allow for horizontal and vertical mobility of students.

What is horizontal and vertical mobility?

• Horizontal mobility means student exchanges during their specialization for a pre-defined period of study in which the complete transfer of credits and the home university is guaranteed. Within the frame of horizontal mobility, the already available ERASMUS study abroad grants should be used and – analog to ERASMUS – tuition exemption at the guest university should apply.
• Vertical mobility means student exchanges after the completion of the first three years of study (Bachelor-Level) at their home university. The students should be offered the opportunity to attain a Masters Degree without problem at one of the other three IDEA academic institutions. Within the frame of the vertical mobility, every IDEA institution advertises one scholarship per partner institution that should support the financing of the student’s stay abroad, guarantee tuition exemption, and cover a part of the cost of living. The amount of the scholarship varies, depending on the institution and length of the stay abroad for attaining the Masters Degree.

The application deadline is – like for the ERASMUS-programme – February 28. You can pick up application materials in the Department for International University Relations (Templergraben 57) from Ms. Hanke.

Exchange with the Keio University, Japan

Since 1956, there has been a university partnership between the RWTH Aachen and Keio University, one of the most reputable and oldest private university in Japan. Next to academic collaboration, a student exchange is a part of the pact.

Up to two RWTH students yearly can be nominated for a study abroad at Keio University.
For this, there are two options:

• Participation in a language program at the Center for Japanese Studies or
• Participation as a research student at the English-language International Graduate Programs on Advanced Science and Technology

Prerequisite for the application:

• Completed intermediate diploma with a good grade
• Semester of specialization
• Very good English skills
• Japanese basic skills are desirable

Applications must be turned in to the Department for International University Relations; for the winter semester by the end of January, for the summer semester by the end of June.

Services:

• Tuition exemption
• Support during the apartment hunt

Further information on the exchange with Keio University is available at the website of RWTH Aachen.

International Study and Training Partnerships

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) provides for students during their advanced studies three department-related scholarships for an academic year at two US American and one Japanese universities.

Nagoya University / Japan
RWTH Subject: Chemistry
Institute for Inorganic Chemistry, Prof. Dr. Jun Okuda
Information: Dr. Thomas Spaniol,
Phone: +49 (0)241 80 99664
E-mail: Thomas.spaniol@ac.rwth-aachen.de

Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA
RWTH Subject: Mechanical Engineering
Institute for Process Technology, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Marquardt
Information: Norbert Kail,
Phone: +49 (0)241 80 94773
E-mail: kail@lpt.rwth-aachen.de

University of California, Davis
RWTH Subject: Mechanical Engineering
Institute for Technical Thermodynamics
Prof. Dr. Klaus Lucas
Information: Dr. Kai Leonhard
Phone: +49 (0)241 80 98 174
E-mail: leonhard@.ltt.rwth-aachen.de

Stay at an Indian Institute of Technology

Within the frame of a collaboration between a group of seven technical institutions in Germany and seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), there is the opportunity for students of engineering to work on a thesis paper or final thesis during a three to four month stay at an IIT.

Further information on the exchange with the IITs is available at the website of RWTH Aachen.

Exchange with the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (Valparaíso Chile)

There has been a student exchange agreement with the USM since October 2005. Within the frame of this agreement, the USM allots up to 5 tuition-free spots for RWTH Aachen students. From the RWTH Aachen side, this exchange is supported by the departments of chemistry, civil engineering and mechanical engineering. From the USM side however, the program is generally open for natural science and engineering students.

Further information on the exchange with USM is available at the website of RWTH Aachen.