What Students Say
Likes
- German universities offer quality education at 1/3rd or even 1/4th the cost of american colleges. I already was learning German, and being a mechanical engineering student, it seemed like the right choice for me.
- State of the art infrastructure, low tuition fees, happening student life, student benefits, world class research in numerous fields. These are the major plus points.
Dislikes
- Weak placement support, the courses are in english but the job market demands german language. Students are not made aware of this. Almost no lab work is included in the curriculum, even for production-related subjects.
Masters at RWTH was a dream come true for me. More than any technical or educational learning, I gained life lessons. Educationally, the most beneficial part was my master thesis. I enjoyed working hands-on at the laboratories. Germany is a suitable destination for higher studies, if you want value for your money and you don't wish to drown in student debt. Make every day count- you will have to grab opportunities, they will not come to you easily. Be aware of the job market beforehand and seek help when required. Master the german language if you want to settle down after your masters.
Course Curriculum
My course has been discontinued and replaced by a renewed syllabus under the name 'MSc Networked Production Engineering'. This course has more flexibility and verticals to choose from. Industrial or hands-on experience was not included in the syllabus- you are expected to take up student jobs at the uni for that exposure.
Faculty
Student to faculty ratio is around 55:1. Faculty is decent- they do not spoon feed you. It is up to you to absorb the teachings and engage with the staff. Prof. Christiann Brecher, Chair of WZL at RWTH taught us Mechatronics- this was my favourite course. I worked as a student assistant and master thesis student under Mark Sanders- a PhD candidate at WZL. This also was an educational experience for me.
Campus Life
Student life at RWTH is happening and eventful. I took part in salsa dance club, INCAS cultural evenings and SKY Campus Aachen meditation group. I also went to the uni gym which is well equipped. WiFi is free everywhere on campus.
Placement
Opportunities are scarce if you don't speak German fluently. Currently, they are scarce either way. The European job market is not looking so good at the moment. You are basically on your own after graduation. There are no direct campus placements, but there is a dedicated team at the university who counsels you about job opportunities.
Accommodation
For the first year I shared a private apartment with 2 other girls. After that I shifted to a student dormitory with 15 other people on my floor. It is the cheapest option, but not everyone's cup of tea- if you prefer quiet and peaceful atmosphere instead of a party and intercultural vibe, go for private housing.
Exams
TOEFL- scored 110. GRE- scored 312. No other exams required. They prefer knowledge of german and atleast a year of work experience, but this is not compulsory.. I had 3 letters of recommendation- one from my college professor, one from our company's stake holder and one from our Belgian customer for whom I had done my final year project. I did not hire any counsellor. Work for a year for real; don't 'arrange' for a certificate of work experience. Trust me it will change your perspective before higher studies. Your statement of purpose aka letter of motivation must be completely, authentically yours. You may refer the generally accepted format from the net-lots of samples out there- but don't copy anything from anyone. You might lose your chance of admission. No, I did not give any interviews for german university applications.
Fees
13,500 EUR for three semesters (90 credits).
Scholarship
No, I did not receive any scholarship.
