Study related Information

By plane: The most common way to travel to Aachen is by plane, arriving at one of the airports in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Aachen/Maastricht or Brussels. From there, you continue your travels by taking the train to Aachen (duration 30 mins. to 2 hours, depending on the location of the airport).

By train: You will find schedules, prices and tickets on the website of “Deutsche Bahn”.

By bus: Some international bus lines stop in Aachen at the Kühlwetterstraße next to the Bendplatz or at Wilmersdorfer Straße (Hüls).

Generally it is possible to retake exams. But you have to consider a few things: You may only write exams if you are registered at our university. Exams are written at the end of a semester only. This means that you need to re-register at the FH Aachen and then wait for the next exam period at the end of the following semester in order to write the exam again. An exception is the summer semester. In this case, you have a second exam period in September. If you‘ve failed the exam and want to retake it, you definitely have to re-register for the next semester. Don‘t miss the deadlines! External exams are not possible.

The “FH Karte” serves as student identity card, library card, as payment card in the dining halls (Mensa) and cafeterias of the FH Aachen and the RWTH Aachen, and as access control ID for university sport. In order to get the FH Karte, newly registered  students should first log on to our Welcome Site with their student ID number and the one-time password that was sent after registration at the FH Aachen. On this page, you have to first apply for your login data before you can use the online services of the FH Aachen. After that, you can apply for your FH Karte just like all other regular students.

Aachen is one of the most popular student cities in Germany. Therefore a lot of students are looking for accommodation at the same time.

The International Faculty Office has a very small contingent of rooms offered by the Studierendenwerk in Aachen which you can apply for. Thus, we highly recommend to look for housing options by oneself. Students will be notified by e-mail after the application process if rooms are available and how to apply for it.

Nevertheless, we recommend that you look for a private room on your own. Further information on housing options can be found online.  

All applicants and students must prove to the university at the time of enrolment that they are insured in a statutory health insurance or that they are exempt from compulsory insurance or are not subject to compulsory insurance. The legal basis for this is § 199 a of the 5th Social Security Code (SGB V).

The proof must be provided via a statutory health insurance in the digital student registration procedure (SMV).

For this purpose, the chosen health insurance company has to be requested to send the insurance confirmation to the FH Aachen via the SMV.

For the communication with the health insurances a separate sending number of the FH Aachen is required. This number is H0000947.

Basically: No enrolment without the notification of the insurance status!

European students usually have the “EHIC” (European Health Insurance Card). This insurance will cover you adequately in case of emergencies, acute illness or accidents, but it will not provide coverage for regular check-ups and such. For the latter, an additional insurance coverage might be indicated.

If you are an EU student without the EHIC card or if you are a non-EU student, you will have to get special health insurance for your study abroad. You can buy such insurance in your home country. Please make sure that it covers the full semester(s) of your study abroad stay.

Students without valid health insurance need to take out general health insurance from a German insurance company prior to student registration. All German health insurance providers charge the same fees. Normally the cost for this insurance amounts to about 100€/month.

Please find external information on student health insurance, possible individual additional contributions, comparison portal, here:

http://www.krankenkasseninfo.de/personengruppen/studenten/

In order to be registered as a student at the FH Aachen, you have to take certain steps. After you have arrived in Aachen, you will have to hand in several documents to the Registrar‘s Office. You need to hand in a CV, a proof of health insurance and the proof that you have paid the student activity fee for the semester. If all documents are complete, you will get confirmation of your student status and the semester ticket.

Please note that you are obliged to retrieve your emails from your FH email account. In urgent cases, you will be contacted via this email address and therefore it is important that you regularly check this email address. There is also the possibility to have these mails sent to your private email address.

Aachen has a convenient public transportation system, using mostly buses. As a registered student, you will get the so-called Semester Ticket which you can use in the whole area of North Rhine-Westphalia. Your student ID serves as a ticket for public transport which, in case of a ticket check, you have to show the ticket inspector.

Before registration, please buy a regular ticket either at a ticket vending machine at the tram/bus stop or directly from the bus driver. Using public transport without a valid ticket will be fined.

Here is a map of the region depicting where you can use your Semester Ticket:

Before you leave Aachen, there are several important things to do.

Return all your borrowed books to the library and, if need be, pay your debt.

You will probably need a Certificate of Attendance before you leave the FH Aachen. Please fill in the form, which you can find at the download center, and take it to the IFO so that we can sign it.

You need to deregister at the "Einwohnermeldeamt" (Residents' Registration Office). You have to do this in person. You will need the following documents:

• Your ID or passport
• The „Wohnungsgeberbestätigung“ (This is the confirmation by your landlord/landlady which he or she needs to fill in.)
• The „Abmeldebestätigung“ stating that you will move out of your flat and that you will leave Germany. Please ask your home university for the right document.

Your transcript of records will be prepared at the end of each semester. If you stay for just one semester, the transcript will normally be sent to your home university and to your home adress, as specified in your application form. If you stay for the whole academic year, you can pick up your transcript of records at the IFO. The transcript for the second semester will be sent to your home university and to your home adress, as specified in your application form. Please note that it takes about 8 weeks after the exam period before the transcript is ready.

Depending on where you come from, a visa may be required for Germany. You should contact the embassy to find out what kind of visa you need and which possibilities this visa offers.

You should apply for a visa as soon as possible because it often takes a while to be processed. 

The Federal Foreign Office abroad can provide further information on how to apply for a visa.

Information on the residence permit, sufficient funds for studying and on the blocked account can be found online, too.

EU nationals as well as nationals of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway only need a valid passport or ID card as well as the registration certificate issued by the Citizens’ Service Office during their stay in Germany.

All international students who wish to study for more than two months at the FH Aachen have to register at the local Residents' Registration Office within seven days of arrival.

Hackländerstraße 1 (next to the train station)
52064 Aachen

Non-EU residents need to register at the Foreigners’ Office (“Ausländerbehörde”) within 3 months after their arrival.

Hackländerstraße 1
52064 Aachen
3rd Floor, room 319