Important Information for the Start of Studies in Winter Semester 2025/26 for Medical Students at RWTH Aachen
Dear Freshers,
First of all, on behalf of the administration of the model medical curriculum and the entire Medical Student Council, we would like to warmly congratulate you on receiving your place to study at RWTH Aachen!
We are already looking forward to welcoming you personally to the University Hospital Aachen very soon.
We know that starting university comes with many questions and perhaps some uncertainties for most of you. You will soon see that many people here are dedicated to making sure you feel comfortable, stay informed about everything important, and do not miss any important dates. But before all of that, your studies first have to begin — so here you will find all the essential information for getting started.
When researching the beginning of the semester in Aachen, you may come across terms such as “start of the semester,” “start of lectures,” “RWTH-wide orientation weeks,” or “ESA Team.” However, these mainly apply to the university’s bachelor’s degree programs and are therefore not relevant for you.
For medical students at RWTH Aachen, the program begins on October 13, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in Lecture Hall 3 of the University Hospital with the start of the orientation weeks.
Dieser Start-Termin spielt auch deshalb eine Rolle, weil Studierende der Medizin im Rahmen ihres Studiums 90 Tage Krankenpflegepraktikum ableisten müssen und dieses auch schon vor dem Start des Studiums beginnen dürfen. Das Pflegepraktikum darf generell nur in der vorlesungsfreien Zeit abgeleistet werden. Das bedeutet, dass ihr in dem Zeitraum ab dem Ausstellungsdatum eures Abiturzeugnisses bis einschließlich zum 12.10.2025 in der Pflege arbeiten dürft. Das empfiehlt sich auch, da in der vorlesungsfreien Zeit nach dem ersten Semester Pflichtpraktika in Chemie und Biologie stattfinden werden und zu dieser Zeit nicht in jedem Fall Pflegepraktika absolviert werden können.
Ausführliche Informationen zum Thema Krankenpflegepraktikum sowie ein Merkblatt zum Krankenpflegepraktikum und einen Vordruck zum Bescheinigen des Pflegepraktikums findet ihr unter folgendem Link (auf der Website im unteren Teil, unter Downloads):
https://www.medizin.rwth-aachen.de/cms/Medizin/Studium/Rund-ums-Studium/~dnnx/Formularschrank/
In summary: you may continue completing shifts for your nursing internship up to and including October 12, 2025, and we look forward to welcoming you to the hospital on October 13, 2025.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, we will explain many important aspects of the first semester during the orientation days. Some students will already have their first classes on Wednesday afternoon, October 15, 2025. The introductory block officially begins for everyone on Thursday, October 16, 2025, and
the city rally will take place on Friday afternoon, October 17, 2025. Information about rally registration will be provided during your first week.
During the semester, there may occasionally also be online classes. Therefore, you should make sure you have suitable IT equipment (e.g. a laptop with microphone and camera, a mobile phone) as well as internet access.
For further information about the program, it may be worth taking a look at the faculty website (https://www.medizin.rwth-aachen.de/cms/~iiq/Medizin/) or the website of the Medical Student Council (www.fsmed-aachen.de).
From the Medical Student Council side, we will also support you in the WhatsApp group (see the document “My First Week”) if you need any information.
Further information about the model medical curriculum will be provided by us during the first few days. You will also receive your individual timetable, which lists all courses and events.
Until then, we wish you a wonderful time and look forward to meeting you soon!
Kind regards from Aachen,
Stefan Galow
Year Coordinator for the 1st and 2nd Semester
Delphine Geurts
Representative for Freshers’ Affairs, Medical Student Council
You will receive further important information via your Student Council year mailing list (https://lists.rwth-aachen.de/mailman3/lists/fsmedac-26.lists.rwth-aachen.de/). Please register using your new RWTH email address.
ErstiTeam
The “Ersti Team” takes care of the new students who start in Aachen each year. We organize the orientation events, the preparatory trip to Ulmen, and we also offer a trip to Wellerlooi for the new first-semester students every year shortly after the start of the winter semester. In addition, we plan many parties and other events that are part of student life. A few examples are listed below. We also serve as the link between the semester cohort and the Medical Student Council (MSG), so we always pass on your feedback.
Of course, all team members always have an open ear for anything that may be on your mind, even during more difficult times. We are around 30 active students from all semesters. Under the leadership of our first-semester representative, our task and our wish is to make the start of your studies as comfortable and easy as possible.
Because they are not the only ones who may feel a bit nervous about their “new life” — we felt the same way, were warmly welcomed ourselves, and want to pass that experience on to the new students.
We are also looking forward to welcoming around 280 new fellow students to our student council this year and to sharing an exciting, eventful, but above all fun and sociable student life during the first semester and beyond.
Wellerloi
The first-semester trip to Wellerlooi takes place every year after the end of the orientation weeks and is intended to give new first-semester students the opportunity to get to know each other better outside of their studies. It is organized by the Ersti Team, and information about registration will be provided to students during the orientation event and via email.
Not too many words should be spent on the legendary first-semester weekend — what happens in Wellerlooi, stays in Wellerlooi. Anyone who does not join the trip to Wellerlooi will miss out on something truly great.
ErsTea
Every year during Advent and shortly before the Christmas holidays, we invite all first-semester students, their professors, as well as the tutors from the 3rd semester, to the “quiet study room.” It is decorated for Christmas, and there are treats, festive Christmas music, and mulled wine/non-alcoholic punch to bring some warmth to this cold time of year.
It is a great opportunity to ask questions, give feedback, or simply have a friendly chat with someone who is ready to listen. Of course, a few surprises are also prepared, and traditionally one or two poems are recited as well. Always a heartwarming way to end the year!
Tutor Trip
For the upcoming 3rd-semester students, the Ersti Team also organizes a tutor trip. On the weekend before the start of the winter semester, the focus is on preparing the orientation week in terms of content and training the tutors.
BAföG situation in Aachen
As in all cities, the situation with applying for BAföG and the waiting times is difficult. For more information, please visit the General Students’ Committee of RWTH Aachen. here .
