Ten years ago, I was admitted with a recommendation to the master's program in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Tsinghua University. Encouraged by my advisor, Zhang Wenzeng, I learned about the Tsinghua-Aachen Double Degree Program. Given RWTH Aachen's profound expertise and rigorous academic culture in mechanical engineering, and wanting to gain a deeper understanding of Germany's industrial development, I resolutely applied. Looking back now, this decision became a crucial step in my academic and professional journey.
In the autumn of 2016, after completing the necessary procedures at Tsinghua, I arrived at RWTH Aachen University to officially begin my dual-degree studies. During my time in Aachen, in addition to learning German, I took 10 specialized courses. The quality of the courses was excellent; the instructors were all top professors from their respective departments, and each course came with meticulously prepared, uniformly styled lecture notes. The Welding and Joining Technologies course left a particularly deep impression on me. Its clear logic and ability to explain profound concepts in simple terms fully demonstrated Germany's rigor and professionalism in the fields of welding, processing, and mechanical manufacturing.
Final exams in Germany are voluminous, with each paper being around 40 pages long. To meet the credit requirements, my classmates and I undertook more than two months of high-intensity review during the exam period, spending every day in the library outside of meals and rest. In the end, we managed to pass all our course exams and earn the full credits in just one semester.
German education balances theory with practice, and at RWTH Aachen, both the off-campus professional internship and the mini-thesis count toward academic credits. After completing my coursework, I secured an opportunity to intern and write my mini-thesis at Edge Wave, a company near Aachen, which gave me a close-up look at the operations of German industry. I was deeply struck by the extreme rigor of product design in German companies. Designing even a small component required collaborative discussion and validation among multiple specialists, and after the drawings were completed, they still had to be evaluated from various dimensions such as quality and cost. These experiences have benefited me for life.
The extracurricular life of the double degree program was also very rich. Taking advantage of Europe's convenient transportation, I used my spare time to travel to many countries. I learned to ski in the Netherlands, honed my cooking skills in Aachen, saw the Eiffel Tower with my own eyes in France, and enjoyed a wide array of artworks, architecture, and natural landscapes, which greatly broadened my horizons. Among them, my favorite country was Germany. Although the locals are not fashionable in their dress or diet, their quality of life is high, and social services are human-centered. Public facilities are well-designed for accessibility, allowing people with disabilities to travel freely. The populace generally respects rules and is meticulous in their conduct; from the freshman handbook to the cafeteria menu, all instructions were detailed, standardized, and clearly laid out.
From 2016 to 2026, ten years have flown by in an instant. The Tsinghua-Aachen Double Degree Program provided me with a platform to broaden my horizons and embrace the world. Through it, I made close friends, advanced my professional knowledge, experienced the charm of German industry, and acquired habits and skills that will benefit me for a lifetime. I am grateful to Tsinghua University for this precious opportunity and wish the program continued success, helping more students to achieve growth and progress.
By Luo Chao, Class of 2019
