Concerning Corona & COVID-19

Current measures and information

The current situation is definitely a big challenge for everyone – but our team is still here for you! Be assured, our whole team is working diligently to support you with any kind of questions and to ensure smooth-running processes. Let us know how we can be of help to you.

We as RWTH Business School are doing our best to offer you a safe and smooth continuation or start of your studies – be it on campus or online depending on future developments. As we have been working with blended learning in most of our courses already we are quite experienced with video lectures, screencasts or interactive online sessions and are now bringing it to the next level for entirely digital programs – if the situation demands it. We will inform you well in advance in case of any changes and would be more than happy to have you all back with us as soon as possible.

FAQs

Are you thinking of online lectures for future certificate courses / the next semester?

For the last years, we have been working with blended learning in most of our courses already. Thus, we are very experienced with video lectures, screencasts or interactive online sessions. We are all set for an entirely digital version in case the situation demands it.

Will the upcoming certificate courses take place?

The upcoming certificate courses will be held online. The safety of our lecturers and participants is our top priority here, while at the same time we are striving to guarantee the high quality of the courses.

Does the current situation have any effect on the start of the M. Sc. programs of RWTH Business School in October 2020?

We are happy to inform you that RWTH Aachen University decided to postpone the start of the upcoming winter semester. Courses for first-semester students will begin on November 2, 2020, while those for students in higher semesters will begin on October 26, 2020. This postponement offers more time for visa application, scheduling of travel modalities etc.

We are fully on track for a start with our programs in the upcoming winter semester of 2020 – be it here in Aachen or online with the help of the newest technologies. We are constantly keeping an eye on the current developments and will adapt our processes according to the situation to avoid any disadvantages.

Does the current situation have an impact on the current enrollment process?

Right now everything is working as planned. We are constantly evaluating the further developments and will adapt our enrollment process according to the situation to avoid any disadvantages.

I can’t keep the deadline for sending back my signed contract. What should I do?

Under the given circumstances, we kindly ask you to send us a signed copy via email within the deadline given in your contract. We are accepting this digital form for now (!) and kindly ask you to keep us posted on the developments with regard to postal services again.

I can´t keep the payment deadline because the bank loan processes and services are very slowed down. Can we extend the payment deadline?

Should you have problems to keep the payment deadline due to the current situation and inherent restrictions, please contact us on time under master@business-school.rwth-aachen.de We will look into the matter and work out a solution.

What happens if I don’t receive my visa on time?

We know about the stop of visa processes at this stage and would like to assure you that this will not have any disadvantage for you. We will be able to offer our program entirely online for the beginning in case you cannot manage to arrive on time. You will then be able to switch to an on-campus mode at any time later.

Are there any entry regulations for Germany?

Please note that there are compulsory regulations that are obligatory for all students who travel to Germany from risk areas:

The Robert-Koch-Institute provides a list of risk areas. Please inform yourself about all the current regulations before you travel to Germany and adhere to them.

The federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia also has decided to impose a quarantine on persons who return from travelling in these risk areas. The regulations concerning quarantine can be found here.

IMPORTANT: These regulations are legally binding. If you do not comply with them, you risk being punished.

Please note that the generally known regulations for a two-week quarantine order and free testing possibility now also apply to students coming from a risk area. The former exemptions for students traveling from risk areas to NRW in order to complete or prepare for their exams are no longer valid. The only exception to this rule applies to students entering the state from a risk area only to take an examination and who will leave again within 72 hours of their arrival.

For students who enter the country daily (commuters) or who are only in the country for up to 5 days because of their studies, the obligation to self-quarantine and notify the public health department does not apply. However, any students who arrive in Germany and stay for longer than 5 days must report to the Health Office immediately. The public health department can shorten the quarantine period if students present a negative test result. As soon as the (shortened) quarantine period is over, students may attend courses and take exams at RWTH.

Regarding the application of these regulations you should contact the respective health department of your place of residence. You can find information of the health department of Aachen here.

There is also a lot of helpful information offered by RWTH Aachen University. You can find their FAQs here. For additional support and answers please visit the website of the ASTA (RWTH Student Union) here. We have also summarized the most important information for you below:

Prohibition of contact

The state government of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) has issued a Coronavirus Protection Ordinance in line with the other federal states. These measures are to be understood as a minimum standard. The following regulations must be observed in all areas of RWTH Aachen University:

  • Physical work meetings of two or more persons may only be held if they are absolutely necessary for the current operation of the RWTH and a digital form of work cannot be made possible even with restrictions.
  • A minimum distance of two metres between two persons must be maintained for all activities. If this is not possible, the activity may only be carried out under compensation measures previously agreed with the occupational safety department.
  • Infected university members (no suspected cases) must be reported immediately to the university medical facility.

You can also find information about an infection with the virus here.  For further information of the city of Aachen please click here.

For your reference we have also included a link to information by the WHO.

Studying at RWTH Aachen University

RWTH Aachen University decided to postpone the start of the upcoming winter semester. Courses for first-semester students will begin on November 2, 2020, while those for students in higher semesters will begin on October 26, 2020. This postponement offers more time for visa application, scheduling of travel modalities etc.

Most of the study rooms at RWTH Aachen University will remain closed until further notice. This also means that students should not be at the study tables in the corridors or in open parts of the building. But it is possible to book study places in the university library. The university library would like to point out that there is only limited capacity to comply with the hygiene and distance rules. It is possible to book via the study place reservation page. Further information can be found in the FAQ on this topic.

After the closure due to the pandemic, the Studierendenwerk Aachen is set to reopen its dining halls. They will gradually be reopened, starting with Mensa Academica and Mensa Vita offering a take-out only service.

The University Sports Centre (HSZ) has now resumed limited sports activities. For the time being, the program is primarily offered “outdoors” without contact or the joint use of sports equipment. Participation is only permitted for registered people with access-authorization. From June 2 contactless indoor activities will also be possible, including the RWTH gym. Registration is always offered in the form of single appointment bookings. The booking for each offer is activated 24 hours before the start of the offer.

It is the explicit aim of the university to offer more digital services in the area of teaching and examinations. As a pioneer in the digitization of teaching, the RWTH also wants to use this opportunity for the benefit of its students.

For EU-applicants: Our application process is also entirely online, no need to send us any printed documents. Check out our step-by-step guide for an easy application. We even created a video starring our talented students!

Offers for students

Time to Sweat Digitally – HSZ Digital Workouts

The RWTH Aachen University Sports Center (HSZ) has come up with an ingenious solution to enable you despite the current circumstances to continue to be able to enjoy at least a part of the HSZ sport program from the safety of your own home! Sport courses in the disciplines Fitness, Yoga and Mental Training will now take place regularly as livestreams on the RWTH Instagram channel (@rwthaachenuniversity)! Their goal is to stream every day at around 5pm, the videos are still available afterwards. Find more information here.

Changed rental conditions in the dormitories to reduce social hardships

The loss of jobs to finance living expenses, the postponement of the beginning of the semester, the cancellation of exams and the entry ban from risk areas have a considerable impact on the tenancies in the halls of residence. The goal is to mitigate social hardship caused by the measures taken to contain the corona pandemic. Therefore, you can find changes to the rental conditions here.