On 15 April 2020, the NRW Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of published a University Ordinance dealing with the impact of the Coronavirus Epidemic on university studies, which also affects the standard period of study.
It defines the summer semester 2020, which started in North Rhine-Westphalia as an online semester on April 20, as an optional semester.
RWTH, however, largely continues to operate, with a few exceptions (concerning excursions, for example). “We are doing everything possible to avoid extending the period of study for our students,” explains Professor Aloys Krieg, RWTH Vice-Rector of Teaching. For example, RWTH has been offering online teaching resources since April 6, 2020.