RWTH stands for "Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule," or "Rhenish-Westphalian Technical University." It's a place where you can study almost anything, except law. One-hundred-and-one degree courses are offered here in the fields of medicine, humanities, natural science, economics, architecture and engineering. A large proportion of students studies engineering, which means that many electrical and mechanical engineers of the future will be Aachen graduates.

Officially excellent

RWTH Aachen was established in 1870 as the Royal Rhenish-Westphalian Polytechnic University. The non-technical faculties were created after World War Two, transforming the purely technical educational institution into a university. In 2007, as part of Germany's Initiative for Excellence, RWTH Aachen was classified as one of nine outstanding German universities. Thanks to this status, RWTH Aachen will receive 180 million Euros ($235 million) in extra funding, which can be invested in research. The university's rector sees this as a confirmation of RWTH Aachen's research achievements, but also as an obligation: "Whoever is good should become even better."

A men's club?

The rumor that there are too many male students at RWTH is not true. Approximately equal numbers of men and women are enrolled here. However, the accusation is true in the case of certain courses, such as engineering. Only every tenth student in the engineering classes is female. Luckily, though, things equal out again when you leave the lecture hall. In the canteen, clubs and bars, the male-to-female ratio is pretty even.

The university buildings and the "Super C"

The university buildings are scattered all over the city. All organizational matters are managed in the newly-built "Super C" building. These modern premises house offices like secretariats, the International Office, the registrar's office and a branch of the Foreign Department of the City of Aachen.

Foreign students

The University is also known outside of Germany. Its engineering courses have a particularly good reputation abroad. Every year, many foreign students enroll at RWTH Aachen. Most of them come from Asia, followed by European countries.

Author: Anna Grabowski