VERIFIED HOUSING
UNIVERSITY
Student Accommodation Near RWTH Aachen University
Find student accommodation near RWTH Aachen in Germany. Browse rooms, prices and amenities close to campus. Book your stay today.
Campus
Campus Melaten
Campus
Main Campus (City Centre)
Campus
Campus West
ACOLYTE COMMUNITY
1000+ Student Housed
NO BROKER FEES·
VERIFIED RWTH AACHEN UNIVERSITY LISTINGS·
FULLY FURNISHED · BILLS INCLUDED·
£50 PER REFERRAL·
INSTANT SUPPORT·
NO BROKER FEES·
VERIFIED RWTH AACHEN UNIVERSITY LISTINGS·
FULLY FURNISHED · BILLS INCLUDED·
£50 PER REFERRAL·
INSTANT SUPPORT·
The Cribs
Verified student homes near RWTH Aachen University.
The Lore
Eat & DrinkStudySocial
Pontstraße Indian & Asian Restaurants
10–15 min walkA lively street near Aachen's historic centre with a variety of Indian and Asian restaurants.
Aachener Printen
Old TownTaste Aachen's famous gingerbread specialty, available at bakeries throughout the historic centre.
Side Quests
EARN CASH FOR REFERRALS
Refer and earn
Tell a friend — and earn real cash — paid straight to your bank
Refer Now →ACOLYTE SCHOLARSHIP 2026£500 scholarship.
£500 scholarship.
50 winners. Every year.
We created the Acolyte Scholarship to give international students — including RWTH Aachen University students — a meaningful head start on the biggest financial challenge of studying abroad: the cost of housing.
- ✓Open to all nationalities — no restrictions
- ✓No GPA or grade requirement
- ✓Must be studying internationally
- ✓500-word essay — your story, in your words
- ✓£500 paid directly to your bank account
Student FAQs
Pontviertel is the most popular choice for proximity to Campus Mitte and Templergraben, while Frankenberger Viertel and Westviertel offer a quieter or more affordable alternative within cycling distance of most faculties.
No, RWTH does not own, rent, or manage any student residence halls. Students apply to the Studierendenwerk Aachen for subsidised housing or search the private market for WG shared apartments, with waiting times of six months to one year for Studierendenwerk places
RWTH's main campus sits roughly an hour from Cologne by train and around 90 minutes from Brussels, with Aachen Hauptbahnhof offering direct rail connections to both cities
Aachen's compact size makes cycling and walking practical for most students, and the ASEAG local bus network connects all campuses and neighborhoods. Students can also benefit from the Deutschlandticket for affordable nationwide public transport.
RWTH does not publish an official acceptance rate, with most third-party sources citing 10%, though many RWTH programs are open admission with no seat cap, meaning any applicant meeting formal requirements is admitted. NC-restricted programs represent only around 13% of the total program portfolio.
RWTH Aachen University
RWTH Aachen University, whose name stands for Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, was founded in 1870 and has grown into Germany's largest technical university, with around 44,000 students and one of the strongest engineering and technology reputations in Europe. The university is ranked 105th globally in the 2026 QS World University Rankings and 92nd by Times Higher Education, with particularly strong subject positions in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science. RWTH's close ties to German industry and its position in the Aachen region, at the intersection of Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, give it a genuinely international character, with more than 14,000 international students representing 125 countries.
For students searching for student accommodation near RWTH Aachen University, Aachen is a much more compact and affordable city than Munich or Berlin, making the housing search somewhat more manageable, though demand still consistently outpaces supply for subsidised options. Like TUM, RWTH does not operate its own student housing, instead directing students to the Studierendenwerk Aachen, which manages dormitories across the city, while most students rely on private shared apartments in neighborhoods like Pontviertel, Frankenberger Viertel, and Westviertel. Starting the search early remains essential for securing accommodation near RWTH Aachen University.
RWTH Aachen University is spread across multiple locations within the compact city of Aachen, in Germany's westernmost corner, where the borders of Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands meet. The central campus, known as Campus Mitte, sits at the heart of the city, home to the university's historic main building and many of its humanities and social science facilities. Campus Melaten, stretching west of the city centre, hosts the faculties of medicine, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering, and is directly adjacent to University Hospital Aachen, one of Germany's largest teaching hospitals. Campus West, located further toward the Belgian border, houses technical and applied science departments, while Campus Nord sits to the north of the city. The C.A.R.L. auditorium, opened in 2015, serves as the university's central lecture hall for large cohorts and sits near Templergraben at the heart of the university district. Beyond Aachen, RWTH runs partnerships and research activities in the broader Aachen-Jülich research area, including links with the Forschungszentrum Jülich, one of Europe's largest scientific research centers. Students searching for accommodation near RWTH Aachen University typically look for housing that provides easy walking, cycling, or bus access to Campus Mitte or Campus Melaten, since these host the largest concentrations of students.
RWTH Aachen University ranks 105th globally in the 2026 QS World University Rankings and 92nd in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, with a strong performance in subject-specific rankings that places it among the world's leading universities for engineering. The university consistently ranks among the top five in Germany across multiple ranking systems and performs particularly well in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and materials science, all reflecting its roots as an industrial and technical powerhouse. RWTH is supported by Germany's Excellence Initiative and the Excellence Strategy, recognizing it as one of Germany's elite research universities.
RWTH Aachen University has built its reputation as Germany's leading technical university and one of Europe's top engineering schools. It is best known for:
Engineering excellence: Among the world's leading universities for mechanical and electrical engineering, with deep roots in the industrial heritage of the Rhineland-Westphalia region.
University Hospital Aachen (UKA): One of Germany's largest teaching hospitals, directly integrated with RWTH's medical faculty at Campus Melaten.
Strong industry connections: Deep partnerships with companies including Ford, Philips, BASF, and German automotive manufacturers, supporting applied research and graduate employment.
Excellence Initiative recognition: Designated as one of Germany's elite research universities, supported through federal and state excellence funding.
Location at three national borders: Sitting at the junction of Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, giving students a uniquely international setting and cross-border opportunities.
Forschungszentrum Jülich partnership: Close ties with one of Europe's largest scientific research centers, offering extensive research placement and collaboration for RWTH students.
No tuition fees: RWTH charges no tuition fees for most programs regardless of student nationality, requiring only a semester contribution of approximately EUR 298, a notable advantage over many peer institutions.
C.A.R.L. and campus architecture: A modern central auditorium and a mix of historic and contemporary campus buildings across Aachen.
RWTH Aachen offers more than 190 degree programs across ten faculties, spanning engineering, natural sciences, medicine, humanities, and business. The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is RWTH's largest and one of its most internationally recognized, covering automotive engineering, production engineering, and aerospace, with strong industry ties to Germany's manufacturing sector. The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology and the Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences together form another major pillar of the university's academic identity, with computer science and data science programs drawing significant international interest.
RWTH's Faculty of Medicine, based at University Hospital Aachen, trains physicians and health researchers in a fully integrated clinical and research environment, supported by one of Germany's largest teaching hospitals. The School of Business and Economics offers undergraduate and MBA programs with a strong quantitative and technology-management focus, while the Faculty of Civil Engineering covers infrastructure and environmental engineering linked to the Aachen region's construction and transport challenges. Many of RWTH's master's programs are available in English, making them accessible to international students, and the university operates a B.Sc. in Computer Science International Track specifically designed for high-achieving students without prior German language proficiency. Students choosing accommodation near RWTH Aachen University typically prioritize proximity to Campus Mitte, Campus Melaten, or Campus West depending on their faculty.
RWTH Aachen University Library, known as the Universitätsbibliothek (UB), serves as the university's main academic library system, with collections and study spaces spread across multiple locations throughout the campus. The main library on Templergraben provides extensive resources for engineering, sciences, and humanities, while faculty libraries serve individual departments at Campus Melaten and elsewhere across the city. Students benefit from access to major research databases, scientific journals, and interlibrary loan services, alongside quiet study areas, group rooms, and digital access to collections available around the clock. The library system is a central resource for RWTH's research-intensive academic programs, particularly given the university's strong output in applied sciences and engineering.
Like TUM, RWTH Aachen University does not own, rent, or manage any student residence halls of its own, as confirmed on the university's official housing page. Instead, students are directed to the Studierendenwerk Aachen, which manages dormitories across the city for students of RWTH, FH Aachen, and other local institutions, with rooms allocated on a first-come, first-served basis with waiting times of six months to one year in many cases. Exchange and program students may apply for quota rooms through the RWTH International Office, though allocation is not guaranteed. Because demand greatly exceeds supply, most students rely on private accommodation near RWTH Aachen University in WG shared apartments found through platforms like WG-gesucht, notice boards on campus, or the university's own housing resources page.
RWTH Aachen's campus facilities are spread across its city-wide multi-campus structure. The C.A.R.L. central auditorium, opened in 2015 near Templergraben, provides a modern, high-capacity lecture space for large student cohorts, while individual faculty buildings across Aachen house specialist labs, workshops, and research facilities supporting RWTH's strong engineering and natural sciences programs. University Hospital Aachen, integrated with Campus Melaten, gives medical students access to a fully equipped clinical environment and research center, one of the largest of its kind in Germany.
The Studierendenwerk Aachen operates several Mensa cafeterias across campus, offering subsidised hot meals throughout the semester, while the AStA student union runs additional services including a legal advice bureau, social counselling, and student events throughout the year. RWTH's sports facilities offer a wide range of student athletic programs, and the university's numerous student organizations, Fachschaften, and international student groups provide social infrastructure for the university's large international community. Students also benefit from access to the broader Aachen cultural scene, including the Ludwig Forum for Contemporary Art and the internationally respected Aachen Cathedral. For students weighing accommodation near RWTH Aachen University, cycling distance to Campus Mitte or Templergraben is often the defining practical factor.
Aachen's location at the triple border of Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands gives RWTH students a genuinely unique geography. Cologne Bonn Airport sits roughly an hour's drive east, while Brussels Airport is accessible in about 90 minutes, and Düsseldorf Airport a similar distance northeast, giving students several international flight options. Aachen main station, known as Aachen Hauptbahnhof, connects directly to Cologne, Brussels, and Amsterdam by train, making the city well integrated into Europe's rail network.
Within Aachen, the city is compact enough that many RWTH students manage daily life by bicycle or on foot, and the ASEAG local bus network connects all major campuses and student neighborhoods. Students can benefit from the Deutschlandticket, Germany's flat-rate monthly public transport pass, covering all local and regional transport nationwide for a fixed monthly fee, making both in-city travel and regional day trips to Cologne or Düsseldorf genuinely affordable. EU students may also choose to live across the border in the Dutch municipality of Vaals, a short cycling or bus distance from Campus Melaten, though non-EU students must hold a German address for visa registration purposes. Many properties offering accommodation near RWTH Aachen University in Pontviertel or Westviertel sit within cycling distance of most campuses.
Students searching for accommodation near RWTH Aachen University tend to cluster around a handful of neighborhoods within the compact city. Pontviertel, close to Campus Mitte and Templergraben, is the most popular student neighborhood, known for its lively cafes, bars, and shops and its density of WG shared apartments, though it also commands the highest rents in the city. Frankenberger Viertel, slightly further from the central campus, has a classic European neighborhood feel with a local Saturday market and Frankenberger Park, offering a quieter, more residential atmosphere than Pontviertel and generally more reasonable rents. Westviertel, a relaxed area within easy cycling distance of Campus Melaten and Campus West, provides good proximity to the engineering faculties while being close to Westpark and Stadtwald for outdoor recreation. Laurensberg, located between the city and the Belgian border, offers larger apartments at lower rents than the city centre, suited to students willing to cycle a little further or use the bus. Brand, on Aachen's southern edge, appeals to students who prioritize space and value over walkability, with rents among the city's most affordable and reasonable bus links back to campus.
Aachen is significantly more affordable than Munich, making the costs for accommodation near RWTH Aachen University considerably lower than for TUM students. Here is a general breakdown:
Studierendenwerk Aachen dormitories: Single rooms typically cost between EUR 197 and EUR 297 per month, shared flat rooms between EUR 197 and EUR 395, and apartments between EUR 247 and EUR 507, all-inclusive with no additional charges, making them the most affordable option when available.
Waiting time caveat: Studierendenwerk rooms carry a waiting time of six months to one year, making immediate availability difficult for new arrivals.
Private WG shared apartments: Rooms in shared apartments on the private market typically run between EUR 250 and EUR 400 per month, broadly comparable to or slightly above Studierendenwerk pricing.
Private apartments: One-person apartments on the private market typically range from EUR 270 to EUR 450 per month.
Private dormitories: Single rooms from approximately EUR 180 to EUR 300 per month, with WG-style rooms from EUR 300 to EUR 420.
Vaals, Netherlands: For eligible EU students, rooms in the Katzensprung dormitory across the Dutch border run approximately EUR 363 per month for 22 square metres including internet.
All-inclusive billing: Studierendenwerk rents cover all utilities; private rentals may or may not include these.
Since RWTH does not operate its own student housing, the meaningful comparison is between Studierendenwerk dormitories and private market rentals. Studierendenwerk rooms, at EUR 197 to EUR 507 all-inclusive, are generally the most affordable option in Aachen and significantly cheaper than private apartments. However, waiting times of six months to one year make them inaccessible for most new arrivals who need immediate housing. Private WG shared apartments in Pontviertel or Frankenberger Viertel at EUR 250 to EUR 400 per month represent the most practical and often most social alternative. For students prioritizing the lowest possible cost of accommodation near RWTH Aachen University, securing a Studierendenwerk place as early as possible remains the best strategy.
Aachen and the surrounding region offer a rich range of attractions within easy reach of campus. Aachen Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest cathedrals in Germany, sits in the heart of the city just minutes from Campus Mitte, housing the throne of Charlemagne and a remarkable collection of medieval treasures. The Centre Charlemagne, Aachen's city history museum, explores the city's role as Charlemagne's capital and the birthplace of European unity. Elisenbrunnen, the city's historic spa complex, reflects Aachen's centuries-old tradition as a thermal spa town. Dreiländereck, the precise point where Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands meet, is a popular cycling or hiking day trip just outside the city. Finally, Cologne, roughly an hour's journey by train, offers the iconic Cologne Cathedral, the Rhine waterfront, and a major cultural and nightlife scene, making it an easy and popular weekend escape from accommodation near RWTH Aachen University.
University Acceptance Rate by RWTH Aachen University
| Programme | Estimated Acceptance Rate | Typical GPA / Test Score |
|---|---|---|
| Overall (Unofficial Estimate) | RWTH does not publish an official rate; third-party estimates commonly cite 10% to 15%, though these primarily reflect competitive programs | Varies by program; minimum German Abitur equivalent of 2.5 GPA typically required |
| Open Admission Programs (164 available) | Any student meeting formal requirements is admitted; no seat cap applies | Equivalent of German Abitur or recognised international secondary school leaving certificate |
| NC-Restricted Programs (13% of programs) | Limited seats allocated by grade point average; NC cutoff varies each semester | Higher Abitur or equivalent required; specific cutoff published each semester by RWTH |
| Master's Programs (International Applicants) | Varies by program; criteria-based assessment for many, quota-limited for others | Bachelor's degree with minimum GPA of 2.5 or better on German scale; IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 90 for English-taught programs; TestDaF or DSH for German-taught program |
| Mechanical Engineering and Computer Scienc | Among RWTH's most competitive programs given high demand | Strong academic background in relevant mathematical and technical subjects |
| MBA Programs | Selective holistic assessment; minimum 2 years of professional experience required | GRE Quantitative score around 160; GMAT accepted; SOP and references required |
