Exchange Students

Courses in English in the summer semester 2023:

Business Administration:

• Introduction to Management
• E-Commerce
• Case Study Seminar in International Retail Management (3 ECTS)
• International Trade
• Let's battle for some attention - Brand Development and Marketing
• Meet you client and his expectations
• Marketing

Computer Science (M.Sc.):

• Project 1
• Project 2
• Global information and knowledge management
   

Electrical Engineering:

• Optoelectronics (Lab)
• Microcontroller Technology / Communications Engineering (Lab)
• Automation Technology II (Lab)

Languages:

• German as a Foreign Language I
• German as a Foreign Language II
• Business English I
• Business English II
• Technical English

ourses in English in the winter semester 2023/2024:

The following courses will be offered in the winter semester 2023/24.

Engineering:

• Automotive Electronics and Sensors (only if enough students register in this elective course)
• Computer Aided Product Development and Manufacturing
• Production Planning and Control
• Microtechnology
• Sustainable Production through Sustainable Product Design
• Fluid Mechanics - Campus Bottrop (possibly also in Mülheim)
   

Business Administration:

• Basics of Lean Management
• Meet you client and his expectations
• Net Economy
• Introduction to Management
• Marketing
• Blue Science
• Retail Marketing
• M&A and Business Cooperations

Languages:

• German as a Foreign Language I and II (depending on demand)
• Academic English
• Business English I
• Business English II
• Technical English for Engineers

Click on the course titles to retrieve detailed module descriptions. Each completed course is worth 6 ECTS credit points, unless otherwise noted. Most modules are taken from the fifth semester of undergraduate study.

The IES programme is open to all students, thus giving international and domestic students the opportunity to take the same courses together. All IES courses are based at the Mülheim campus unless otherwise noted.

Requirements

International Exchange Students should check the requirements for the modules they want to attend, as they may require basic knowledge in the particular field of study. In addition, good English language skills (at least B1 level, depending on the faculty and course) are required. Knowledge of German is helpful but not mandatory for courses taught in English.

Registration

Registration for courses begins during the application process for the exchange semester. Erasmus students use the Learning Agreement for their course choice. Exchange students from outside the EU will receive a similar form from the International Office at HRW, unless their home university provides their own document.

If possible, the International Office team at HRW will register you for your courses even before you arrive. Changes are possible within the first two weeks of the lecture period. Sometimes courses might not be available, for example if the number of participants is too low or because of time table discrepancies, if you choose courses from several faculties.

For nominated exchange students from partner universities, the International Office at HRW provides assistance with registration for a room in a dormitory in Muelheim, Essen or Duisburg (two neighboring cities). Please note that the dormitories are managed by Studierendenwerk Essen-Duisburg, an independent student services organisation that also operates the university’s dining halls and cafeterias. HRW does not have any influence on the application process or the rental contracts.

For more information click here

More detailed information on grades by percentage is available here

Whether or not you need a visa to enter Germany and study here depends on your country of origin. Special regulations apply to citizens of the following countries:

• Students from the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland do not need a visa or residence permit to enter Germany. They simply need to register with a local Bürgeramt (Citizens’ Office) within the first two weeks after their arrival and will automatically receive a 'Residence Permit for Study', provided they can show proof of sufficient funding and health insurance coverage. 
• Students from Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of South Korea, and the United States of America as well as Brazil, El Salvador, Andorra, Honduras, Monaco and San Marino do not need a visa to enter Germany. In addition to registering with a local Bürgeramt (Citizens’ Office) within the first two weeks after their arrival, students from these countries need to apply within three months to the local Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners Office) for the 'Residence Permit for Study'.

All other students require a German student visa (issued by a German Embassy) before entering Germany. Please note that even if you come from a country (other than those mentioned above) whose citizens can enter Germany with a simple tourist visa, you must possess a German student visa in order to apply for the residence permit. Tourist visas cannot be converted into residence permits under any circumstances. So if you don’t have a student visa at the Citizens’ Office, you will be required to return to your home country. This regulation applies both to holders of a residence permit from another EU country and to persons who entered Germany with a tourist visa. There is absolutely no exception to this regulation and Ruhr West will not be able to assist you.

Applying for a student visa

Apply for your student visa at the German Embassy or Consulate in your home country, and do so well in advance, as processing may take several weeks. Your visa will be valid for up to 90 days. You will normally be required to submit the documents listed below. The Embassy, however, can ask for additional documents or further clarifications. The information provided by them takes priority.

• Visa application form (available at the Embassy)
• A valid passport
• Zulassungsbescheid (Letter of Admission) from Ruhr West (issued upon admission)
• Finanzierungsnachweis (proof of sufficient financial resources)
• Proof of health insurance coverage
• Proof of any academic credits gained or examinations passed
• Proof of German proficiency
• 2 passport-sized photographs (35mm x 45mm)

For further questions, please refer to the German Embassy or Consulate in your home country. Addresses are available at the website of the Federal Foreign Office, which also provides further information on the visa process and the appropriate application forms.

Non-EU students in Germany are required to submit evidence of sufficient funds to finance their studies in Germany. In most cases, this proof of financial resources (German: Finanzierungsnachweis) must be included with the visa application. Expected living expenses are estimated by the Foreigners Office based on BAföG, a German funding programme for living expenses. At present, you must prove you have at least € 934 per month or € 11208 per academic year at your disposal.

Proof of financial resources can be provided in various ways. The following forms are generally accepted:

• Paying the required amount of money to a blocked bank account in Germany.
• Having a German resident provide the Aliens’ Registration Office with a written statement that they will cover your expenses (sponsorship).
• Receiving a scholarship from a recognised scholarship provider.
• Providing a bank guarantee from a bank institute in Germany.
• Submitting evidence of your parents’ income and financial assets.

Please contact the German Embassy or Consulate in your country to find out which form of financial proof is required.

Please note: Although international students are allowed to work in Germany under certain conditions and to a certain limit of hours per week, you should not expect to work to cover the cost of your education at Ruhr West.