FH Aachen

Coordinates: 50°45′25.11″N 6°5′42.77″E / 50.7569750°N 6.0952139°E / 50.7569750; 6.0952139

FH Aachen – University of Applied Sciences
Motto Praktisch gut. Theoretisch auch.
Motto in English
 Good in practice. And in theory.
Type Public
Established 1971
Chancellor Volker Stempel
Vice-Chancellor Marcus Baumann
Academic staff
 520
Administrative staff
 700
Students 11,302 (WS 2011/2012)
Location Aachen and Jülich, North Rhine-Westfalia, Germany
Campus 4 Urban Campus in Aachen
1 Rural Campus in Jülich
Colors Mint, White and Black             
Website http://www.fh-aachen.de

The FH Aachen – Aachen University of Applied Sciences is one of the biggest Fachhochschulen in Germany with roughly 11,300 students, 220 professors, 300 contract lecturers, and 340 assistants. It is specialized in certain topical areas (e.g. technology, engineering, business, design).

FH Aachen ranks as the first best among the Universities of Applied Sciences in Germany in the fields of Electrical and Mechanical engineering.[1] Ten Faculties offer 48 Bachelor's, 22 Master's and three cooperative degree programmes.

The FH Aachen is situated in Aachen and in Jülich.

History

The FH Aachen was established in 1971 as a result of the amalgamation of several universities of applied sciences and vocational training centres. Thus, it can look back on a practice-oriented educational tradition going back more than 100 years.[2] The Federal Framework Law for Education in 1976 raised the legal status of all Fachhochschulen to a position equal to that of traditional universities. Within the context of law, the FH Aachen, like all other FHs, is autonomous, meaning that freedom of teaching, research and academic self-administration are guaranteed rights.

Faculties

Degree Programmes

FH Aachen offers 48 Bachelor's, 22 Master's and three cooperative degree programmes. Dual degree programmes have been developed in recent years at the FH Aachen in close cooperation with the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Some of the degree programmes have an international focus[3] (IOS),which means that the courses are given in English during the first two semesters and in German in the following semesters.[4]

Locations

Seven of the ten faculties, with a total of over 8,000 students, are located in Aachen: Architecture, Civil Engineering, Design, Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Aerospace Engineering, Business Studies, Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics. Furthermore, the Rectorate, the Head Office and the Central Library are also here. Three faculties with more than 3,000 students altogether are located in Jülich: Chemistry and Biotechnology, Medical Technology and Applied Mathematics as well as Energy Technology. All services for students, such as academic counselling, the Department of International Affairs, the Registrar’s Office, department libraries, student dormitories and cafeterias, are available both in Aachen and in Jülich. While the Jülich site displays a campus atmosphere since all facilities are together in one place, the Aachen site is not a campus university. Its facilities are spread across the city of Aachen in seven buildings, some of which have a long tradition.

International Activities

The FH Aachen maintains partnerships with 170 universities around the world. The students benefit from this cross-border network because it enables them to gain valuable overseas experience in the framework of their studies. The Department of International Affairs[5] is the contact concerning all international topics at the FH Aachen.

Freshman Institute

The Freshman Institute is a central academic organization within the FH Aachen (Aachen University of Applied Sciences). Its aim is to enable international applicants to qualify for a place on a degree program in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). Due to the Program’s special status, the regulations of the German Central Office for External Education Systems (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen, ZAB) are replaced by the Program’s own entrance examinations. After successfully completing the Freshman Year, students can apply to universities in North Rhine-Westphalia. Resembling in its form and function the first year of a four-year bachelor's degree programme common in the Anglo-Saxon education system, the Freshman Year is financed solely from the fees paid by its students.

2001
• The first complete Freshman year under the provisional management of the AcIAS (Aachen Institute of Applied Sciences e.V.) with 30 students from China
2002
• Decrease in the number of students after the establishment of the "Akademische Prüfstelle" (APS) at the German embassy in Beijing and the outbreak of the SARS epidemic
2005
• Establishment of the Freshman program as a model project through the North Rhine-Westphalia Department of Education
2006
• Approved by the "Akademische Prüfstelle" (APS), 60 students, of which 44 are Chinese
• FH Aachen/Freshman Institute offers its own entrance exam in the home countries of prospective students
• Students live and learn on the Linnich Campus.
2007
• Establishment of the Freshman Institute as a central organization of the FH Aachen
• 130 students, mostly from China, Azerbaijan and Turkey
2008
• 190 students from China, India, Indonesia and Iran
• Partner universities expanded to include the University Duisburg-Essen and the Fachhochschule Südwestfalen.
2009
• 240 students
• 45 students live and learn in Geilenkirchen at Loherhof and, for the first time, students are prepared to study business
• The Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences becomes a partner institution
• 40 state scholarships are granted for the first time
2010
• The Geilenkirchen campus expands to include programs in business, humanities and medicine.
• The Forschungszentrum Jülich (Research Centre Jülich) offers the first internships for Freshmen.
• 285 students
2012
• Campus Bedburg-Hau opens with 85 students.
2013
• Linnich campus is closed.
• New student housing is built on the Geilenkirchen campus.
2014
• Due to limited capacity at the Geilenkirchen and Bedburg-Hau campuses, 40 students live and study in Aachen.
• The city of Düren offers the option of a campus where 84 students can live and study at the Glashütte campus, Düren.
2015
• In February 2015, the FH Aachen and the company GHT Park II GmbH sign a contract for the Glashütte campus.
• 500 students from 30 countries are enrolled in the Freshman program in the winter semester 2015.

Institutes

Institutes are scientific institutions of the university. They bundle competencies to carry out intensive research and development. This takes place in cooperation with institutes of other universities in Germany and abroad, with research institutions and frequently with industry. The FH Aachen currently has the following institutes:[6]

Rectors

References

  1. ↑ FH Aachen website covering recent ranking results of the German business publication "WirtschaftsWoche"
  2. ↑ Brochure: Studying at the FH Aachen
  3. ↑ International Oriented Studies
  4. ↑ Brochure: Studying at the FH Aachen
  5. ↑ Department of International Affaires
  6. ↑ Institutes (German)
  7. ↑ German Newspaper Article about Marcus Baumann
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