RWTH for the Next Generation

RWTH’s Student Counseling and Advising Center offers a wide range of academic and career exploration programs designed for middle to high school students. Whether students are curious about life on a university campus, interested in exploring their academic strengths, or just beginning to consider possible career paths, RWTH provides inspiring opportunities to learn, discover, and grow. Programs for younger children are also part of the mix, because a love of science and learning knows no age!

High school is a time of big decisions: Should I go to college? If so, where? What should I major in? Will I enjoy studying the subjects I like now? For nearly two decades, RWT has supported teens in finding their own answers through a wide variety of taster and enrichment programs. These offerings are designed to help students explore potential majors, get a feel for university life, and gain insight into diverse academic and professional fields.

Hands-On Learning Outside of School

RWTH’s Learning Labs offer after-school and vacation-week programs that give students hands-on access to exciting areas of science and engineering. These labs allow students to experiment, build, code, and discover, inspiring a lasting curiosity about research and innovation.

Summer STEM Programs for High School Students

Over summer break, high school students can dive into STEM fields through immersive weeklong programs These School Student University give teens a chance to explore their interests, attend lectures, visit labs and research centers, and take part in hands-on experiments and fieldwork.

In addition, during spring and fall breaks, RWTH’s and FH Aachen’s Student Counseling and Advising Centers team up to offer joint sessions on preparing for university. These info days provide guidance on everything from choosing a major to navigating admissions.

One program designed especially for girls is Girls in Engineering: A Taster Program for School Students. It introduces participants to the wide range of opportunities in civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering, as well as in environmental and waste management technology. Students connect with female university students and faculty to learn from their experiences and exchange ideas in a supportive environment.

STEM Adventures for Middle Schoolers

Middle school students can also experience science in action through engaging summer programs at LTE. In the Youth STEM Campus, seventh and eighth graders rotate through different labs each day, learning about topics like robotics and app development. This year’s participants built self-driving robots in the Roboscope and created their first apps in the InfoSphere coding lab.

Another standout offering is STEM & Fit, a weeklong program just for girls in grades 7 and 8. Mornings are spent in STEM workshops, while afternoons focus on physical activity – from boxing to team sports – at the University Sports Center.

As part of the Engineering Student University, participants also toured the technical center of RWTH’s Teaching and Research Unit for Thermal Processes and Emission Control in Waste Management and Recycling (TEER), where they explored the science of thermal recovery.

Programs for Younger Children and Families

Even younger students can experience the excitement of university learning. The Kinderuni offers fun, age-appropriate lectures for children ages 8 to 12, sparking early interest in science and discovery. Meanwhile, accompanying adults can take part in the new Elternuni (“Parents’ University”), which features parallel programming on educational topics and family learning.

– Autor/in: central student advisory service