Mechanical Engineering at the RWTH-Aachen in Germany

Summer 2009

May 12 – July 31, 2009

Sponsored by the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

Each year, the Department of Mechanical Engineering offers a unique opportunity for students to pursue their normal studies at the RWTH-Aachen (Technical University) in Germany.  Students will have an outstanding opportunity to carry out five (5) credits of independent study in a German research lab, explore industrial activities, and experience German culture and lifestyle.   All students will have at least German 101 or the equivalent before departure.  The MSU course German Language (GRM 102 and higher) is also offered to provide the required nine credits.

ACADEMIC AND CULTURAL CHALLENGES

"Work hard and play hard!" is excellent advice for participants in this program. The cultural experiences to be gained by traveling throughout Europe are an extremely valuable aspect of this program. In fact they are formally encouraged since the required academic load is "only" 9 semester credits and the academic work-week for this program is organized so that three-day weekends are possible. However, nine credits is a significant load, and studying and working in another culture is inherently more demanding than at home. Furthermore your academic "home" will be the RWTH-Aachen, one of the top technical universities in all of Europe - where expectations are high. You will be able to balance your desire for excellence in the formal academic program with the desire for maximum exposure to European culture gained by extensive traveling.  The best way to do it is to: "Work hard and play hard!"

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAM

What can I study?

The following courses are offered.  All courses are taught in English.

Students are required to enroll for nine (9) or more credits; ME 490 and four credits of German language are required.  The German language classes will be at the student’s appropriate level.

Students will enroll in ME 490 for one credit during spring semester at MSU in the same area that will be pursued at the RWTH.  This on-campus experience will be with the same MSU faculty member who will have responsibility to evaluate the ME 490 report that is prepared at the RWTH and to assign the student’s grade for this course.  Your RWTH host researchers will also evaluate that report and they will give their assessment of the student’s performance to the responsible MSU faculty member.  This combination of the MSU and RWTH independent study projects is to maximize the student’s learning opportunity in the summer semester and to allow our students to maximally contribute to the research efforts of their RWTH hosts.

If you are considering this program, you should consult your academic adviser to arrange your curriculum accordingly.  Non-MSU students should consult their home university adviser and Professor J.F. Foss at Michigan State University.

What are the requirements?

Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 3.0 at the time of application. Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

Additionally, students must submit an essay with their application stating why they wish to participate in this program, as well as three letters of reference to the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

This program is only open to students who have completed GRM 101 or the equivalent.

It will be expected that the student’s grades in the prerequisite courses for this program are nominally 3.0 or higher.  It is also expected that the students who will be in Aachen for the next summer, will be identified and accepted by the end of the current fall semester that precedes the summer semester of the RWTH experience.

This program is intended primarily for juniors and seniors in Mechanical Engineering.  Other majors will be considered if their individual background provides an appropriate basis for their participation.  Graduate students can be considered for this program.

Enrollment is limited to 10 participants.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

Suitable housing will be prearranged for students in cooperation with the RWTH and may include living in dormitories, fraternities or in private rooms.

Who can tell me more about this program?

John Foss
Mechanical Engineering
118 Engineering Research Complex
Phone: (517) 355-3337  

NOTE:  Professor Foss can provide e-mail links to former students of this program who are willing to share their insights regarding this opportunity.

Gaile Griffore
Mechanical Engineering
210 Engineering Building
Phone:  (517) 355-3338

For further information, you can visit the Engineering Web site.

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States.  If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date.  If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of eight to ten weeks is usually required for processing.  During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required.  Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices.  They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit the web page.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose.  The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early.   It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.

For more information about visas visit the web page.

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

See the "Health Issues" section of the Student Handbook for further health information and recommendations.

How much does it cost?

The program fee in 2008 was $3,099 and included the following:

Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:

Excluding tuition and fees*, these additional costs are estimated at $4,197 (US08).  Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

*Check Student Accounts for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee.  Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses.  (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid. 

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing.  This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university.  If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid, visit the Web page.

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships.   Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need.  Requirements are listed in the scholarship application.  The deadline to apply for these scholarships is March 1st for summer programs.  

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering and the College of Engineering also offer financial assistance to both MSU and non-MSU students.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit the web page.

How do I apply?

There is a two-step application process for this program.  Students will apply and be considered through the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) – ideally a year before participation.  Once the ME department has approved participation, students will then need to submit an additional application to the Office of Study Abroad.

First, students should contact Ms. Gaile Griffore in the Department of Mechanical Engineering to be certain that they are prepared for GRM 102 (or higher).

Second, students should contact Ms. Jill Bielawski by e-mail.  She will provide the ME application materials.  Three letters of reference are required.  Each reference should be from someone who is recognized as an impartial commentator (not friends or family).  One reference should address your personal qualities as an ambassador for MSU/ME and two additional references should address your technical competence.  The latter can be from an employer (a technically challenging job), an MSU professor, etc.

It is the intent of the faculty leaders to establish the composition of the student group for the summer semester of a given year by the end of the prior fall semester.  This is to allow the faculty leaders to seek appropriate ME 490 projects for participants, to allow participants to apply for the special ZF scholarship , and to allow participants to enroll in an on-campus, one-credit course (ME 490) in the same area that will be pursued at RWTH.

Once the above information has been submitted and approved by ME, students will need to apply for this program at the Office of Study Abroad by completing a study abroad online application or by downloading an application form.

The OSA application materials must be received by March 1, 2009.

A $100 application fee is required.  Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program.  Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter.

 

What's next?
Come to a study abroad fair
Talk with a Peer Adviser
Read program evaluations
Attend an info meeting
Apply online
Additional Resources...
Office of Financial Aid	252 Student Services http://www.finaid.msu.edu
MSU Travel Clinic	East Circle Drive http://travelclinic.msu.edu
Academic Advisers	http://www.msu.edu/common/academic/units.html
Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities	120 Bessey Hall http://www.rcpd.msu.edu
Area Studies Centers	International Center http://www.isp.msu.edu
MSU Global Access	Information about the world -- its regions and peoples and important international issues International Center http://www.msuglobalaccess.net/
OSA contact info:	Office of Study Abroad Michigan State University 109 International Center East Lansing, MI 48824-1035 Phone: (517) 353-8920 Fax: (517) 432-2082 Email: studyabroad@osa.msu.edu

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