Academics & Administration
This section is intended to provide interested applicants and enrolled master students with important information about academics as well as the course structure which is valid for academic intake between 2015 and 2018 as well as rules and regulations in academic matters. Please not that the course's structure provided is valid for the academic intake between 2015 and 2018 and therefore the 2019 intake will have slight changes made to it.
Course Structure - Coursework Track 2019
Course Structure - Research Track 2019
Course Structure - Coursework Track 2015-2018
Course Structure - Research Track 2015-2018
Master thesis
The master thesis is the final examination to complete your studies. Students have a maximum duration of four months to complete their master thesis (minimum duration is 2 months). You need to formally register your master thesis with the master thesis registration sheet. Please note that you need to fill in the German "Erfassungsbogen" (the English version is not valid anymore, but you can use it for your understanding). As a requirement, students need to have completed at least 92 CP in order to register their master thesis. For further details please see the examination regulations.
Internship
The 12-week internship is an integral part of the Textile Engineering program introduced in the new 2019 examination regulation in order to improve and further develop the program based on students' feedback. The goal of the internship is to improve students' ability to apply what they have learned in a practical context and thus prepare them for a career in textile engineering and related fields.
There are a few important points to note about your 12-week internship:
- Students themselves are ultimately responsible for finding an internship placement;
- Internships are always initiated on the basis of an official contract;
- Internships are always paid;
- Interns have to reach the agreed number of days worked and have to make up for sick-days;
- Interns must be insured (seek advice from your insurer);
- Internships at institutes of your home university or at family businesses are not recognized;
- Recognition and approval for the internship will be granted by the Examination Board;
- Students must hand in a written internship report (15-20 pages) and their proof of internship, 2 months after the end of their internship at the very latest.
For help with finding an internship, please contact our Career Services (career@academy.rwth-aachen.de) or your Study Advisor (veit@ita.rwth-aachen.de).
Academic Calendar
All RWTH International Academy Master's degree programs starts with the winter semester in early October of each year.
The German academic year is made up of a winter and a summer semester. Lectures are held until the middle of February in the winter semester and until the middle of July in the summer semester. Most exams are held in the lecture-free period (mid February to the end of March/mid July to the end of September).
For more info, check the RWTH Aachen University Academic Calendar.
Winter Semester |
1 October |
31 March |
Exams Winter Semester |
mid February |
end March |
Summer Semester |
1 April |
30 September |
Exams Summer Semester |
mid July |
end September |
Curriculum Changes
Please refer to this website of the faculty of Mechanical Engineering for a detailed description how to change your curriculum.
The curriculum change process encompasses all the steps necessary so that you receive a different curriculum from the standard curriculum.
This particularly applies to:
- Stays abroad, during which alternative courses are used.
- Taking modules in an elective field outside of the elective catalogue in order to create an individual academic profile
- Taking modules outside of the course of study in preparation for changing a course of study.
Counseling and Advice
If you are confronted with a problem, the RWTH International Academy it always happy to help you tackle it. It is our mission to provide support from the beginning as best as we can so that nothing gets in the way of your studies. If you are in need of our support, please get in contact with us.
You might want to take a look here, to find out more if you have general questions with regards to everyday university life.
Graduation
- RWTH International Academy's Graduation Ceremony: RWTH International Academy organizes an exclusive ceremony in Spring for all the students who have graduated in the past year. The event will be announced well in advance by email to all students in their last semester .
- Yearbook of your Master's Class: Students of the international master's programs will be invited to submit a picture and to send in a short personal statement about their study experience in Aachen for the yearbook. You will be presented with it during the RWTH International Academy's graduation event or upon request.
- Alumni Gallery: We would be happy to include your testimonial in our Alumni Gallery. This is a nice way to keep your fellow class members updated and share your experiences with prospective students.
- Graduation Event of the RWTH Aachen University: This ceremony is for students of all disciplines and all degree levels. See the website here.