Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik) is one of RWTH Aachen University's largest engineering faculties, alongside Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science. Like RWTH's Mechanical Engineering programme, it's a bachelor's degree taught in German, with no separate English-taught route at the bachelor's level. If you were expecting an English-taught electrical engineering degree, this programme works differently, and the rest of this guide explains how.
This guide covers the acceptance picture, the semester fee and living costs, admission requirements, the German test you need, and what the German post-study residence permit means for graduates.
RWTH Electrical Engineering Acceptance Rate
RWTH does not publish an acceptance rate for the Electrical Engineering and Information Technology B.Sc., and we did not find an official figure. What matters more is the programme's admission status: in the sources reviewed, the bachelor's programme is listed as open admission (zulassungsfrei), meaning applicants who meet the formal entry requirements and complete the mandatory subject-specific self-assessment are admitted without a competitive numerus clausus selection. Admission rules can change from year to year, so confirm the status on RWTH's current programme and application pages before you apply.
Tuition and Cost of Attendance
Like most RWTH bachelor's programmes, Electrical Engineering charges no tuition fee, including for non-EU international students. You pay a semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) each semester instead, covering the student body and social contributions and a public transport pass.
- Semester contribution: the RWTH-linked figure for summer semester 2025 was about EUR 298, and a third-party source puts summer semester 2026 at about EUR 358. Confirm the current amount on the AStA page, since it changes each semester.
- Proof of funds: a non-EU student applying for a German study visa must show funds. The 2026 blocked account requirement is EUR 11,904 per year (about EUR 992 per month), per German Federal Foreign Office and DAAD guidance. A blocked account typically costs EUR 70 to EUR 150 to set up.
- Living costs in Aachen: we could not verify a city-specific living-cost figure for Aachen from an official source, so budget using the blocked-account amount as your minimum and check RWTH's accommodation and cost-of-living pages for current rent estimates.
Admission Requirements
For international applicants to the Electrical Engineering and Information Technology B.Sc., the core requirements are:
- A higher education entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung) recognised as equivalent to the German Abitur, with official transcripts and certified translations
- German language proof at C1 level, which RWTH requires for this bachelor's programme
- Completion of RWTH's mandatory subject-specific self-assessment (an online advising process), with proof of participation required to enrol
- A minimum academic standard broadly equivalent to a 2.5 GPA on the German scale (roughly 65-75% in many international grading systems), consistent with RWTH's general bachelor's entry expectations
- Application through RWTHonline by the published deadline for your intake
- Proof of funds for the student visa, if you are applying from outside the EU or EEA
How to Get Into RWTH's Electrical Engineering B.Sc.
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Plan around German, not English. Electrical Engineering and Information Technology is German-taught, so C1 German is the gate. A strong IELTS or TOEFL score will not replace it.
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Complete the mandatory self-assessment before you apply. RWTH requires proof of participation in its subject-specific online self-assessment as part of enrolment, so build this into your application timeline rather than leaving it for the deadline.
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Book a recognised C1 German certificate early. Accepted certificates include DSH-2 or DSH-3, TestDaF at level 4 in all four sections, Goethe-Zertifikat C1 or higher, ÖSD C1, and telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule. Build time for preparation and retakes into your timeline.
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Confirm open-admission status for your intake, since admission rules can change year to year even for currently open-admission programmes.
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Prepare your visa funds and the semester contribution together. The blocked account and the semester fee are both part of your first-year budget.
English Proficiency and German Language Requirements
This programme is taught in German, so IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and Duolingo are not the tests that gate admission. RWTH requires C1 German for this bachelor's programme. Accepted certificates are:
| German test | Accepted level |
|---|---|
| DSH (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang) | DSH-2 or DSH-3 |
| TestDaF | Level 4 in all four sections (TDN 4) |
| Goethe-Zertifikat | C1 or higher |
| ÖSD (Österreichisches Sprachdiplom) | C1 |
| telc Deutsch | C1 Hochschule |
Applicants with a German school-leaving certificate from Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, German-speaking Switzerland, or the German-speaking communities in East Belgium or South Tyrol are generally exempt, as are applicants with a first professionally qualifying German-language degree from a German higher education institution. Check RWTH's current language-skills page for the full list before you book a test.
For how this compares with RWTH's Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science programmes, see the RWTH Aachen guide.
Career Outcomes and Post-Study Relevance
Germany's main post-study route is the job-seeker residence permit under Section 20 of the Residence Act. After completing a degree in Germany, a graduate can receive a residence permit of up to 18 months to look for qualified work, provided they can show their livelihood is secured during that period. The permit is not extendable, so you need to move into a qualifying job or another eligible residence title before it expires. Apply at the local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) before your student status ends, and confirm current rules on make-it-in-germany.com or the BAMF website.
RWTH does not publish an electrical-engineering-specific employment rate in the sources we reviewed. A third-party summary quotes about 92% of RWTH graduates finding work within six months, but we could not verify that figure against an official source. Electrical engineering graduates generally see strong demand in Germany's manufacturing, automotive, and electronics sectors, but that is a general market observation rather than an RWTH-published statistic, and German language proficiency affects most professional roles.
FAQ
Is RWTH's Electrical Engineering bachelor's programme taught in English? No. The bachelor's programme is taught in German, so you need C1 German. IELTS and TOEFL are not the gate for this degree.
What IELTS score do I need for RWTH Electrical Engineering? You do not need IELTS for this bachelor's programme. You need C1 German, shown through a recognised certificate such as DSH, TestDaF, Goethe-Zertifikat C1, ÖSD C1, or telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule.
Does RWTH charge tuition for international students? RWTH does not charge tuition for this bachelor's programme, including for non-EU students. You pay a semester contribution each term instead.
Is the programme competitive to get into? The programme is listed as open admission, meaning eligible applicants who complete the mandatory self-assessment are admitted without NC selection. Confirm the status for your intake, because admission rules can change.
What is the mandatory self-assessment? RWTH requires applicants to complete a subject-specific online self-assessment (an advising process) and show proof of participation to enrol. Build this into your application timeline.
Can I stay in Germany after graduating? Yes. Under Section 20 of the Residence Act, graduates can receive a job-seeker residence permit of up to 18 months. It is not extendable, so plan to move into a qualifying job or another residence title before it expires.