Program Overview

International Applicants – Master

All Master’s programs at RWTH require a formal application for admission. In addition to our German-taught programs, RWTH offers several Master’s degree programs conducted entirely in English.

Online Application

All applications must be submitted online via our digital application portal. No physical documents need to be mailed to the University.

• EU/EEA citizens and current RWTH students: Applications open on May 2, 2025, for the 2025/26 academic year.
• International students from outside the EU/EEA can apply for open-admission master’s programs starting in the summer semester of 2026 beginning on June 1, 2025.

Application and Enrollment Deadlines

• Application and Enrollment Deadlines are available in a pdf document.

Step-by-Step Instructions

• Step-by-Step Instructions for the application for a Master’s Program are available in a pdf document.

Application for a German or English Language Master’s Course of Study

Please note the application deadlines listed further down this page. Applications are only accepted during specific periods and cannot be submitted outside of these times.

Before you start your application, make sure you have all the required documents ready as PDF files. You’ll find a list of the required documents further down this page.

Once you have your PDFs ready, fill out the online application form.

Required Documents

Please upload the following documents as PDFs at the end of your application:

• Copy of your transcript of records or your diploma supplement.
• A module catalog or course descriptions of all the courses you completed in your studies.
• If you are applying to start in an higher course semester (“advanced standing”): a copy of your final academic transcript (e.g., bachelor’s degree transcript) and a transcript from your master’s level studies.
• Resume (list format)
• If applicable, you must upload additional documents required by the Examination Board of your master’s course of study (for example Graduate Record of Examination (GRE) result, TestAS).

Translation of Your Documents

If your documents were not issued in German or English, you must have a certified translator translate them into either German or English. The copies do not need to be notarized. Please note that in such cases, the copy of the translation or the copy of the original alone is insufficient – make sure to upload both!

Deadlines for Applicants from Non-EU/EEA Countries

Subject | Application Deadline for the Winter Semester | Application Deadline for the Summer Semester
---|---|---
Open admission | March 1 | September 1
Restricted admission (NC) | July 15 | January 15

Exemption

If you are currently enrolled as a student at RWTH (for example as an exchange student or in a German course and you have a student ID number), your application deadline is July 15 for the winter semester and January 15 for the summer semester. These application deadlines also apply to applicants who hold a German university degree relevant to the qualification for the Master's program they are applying for.

Deadlines for Applicants from EU/EEA Countries

Subject | Application Deadline for the Winter Semester | Application Deadline for the Summer Semester
---|---|---
Open admission | July 15 | January 15
Restricted admission (NC) | July 15 | January 15

Please note: These are final deadlines. Applications submitted after these dates will not be considered.

• For restricted-admission master’s programs:
  You may submit additional supporting documents until August 1 (for winter semester applications) or February 1 (for summer semester applications).
• For open-admission master’s programs:
  There is no extended deadline for additional documents. Your application will be evaluated solely on the documents submitted by the official application deadline.

Good to know: You do not need to have fully completed your bachelor’s degree at the time of application in order to apply for a master’s program.