Ruhr-Universitat Bochum*
GERMANY
THE UNIVERSITY /Located in the midst of the dynamic, hospitable metropolitan area of the Ruhr, in the heart of Europe, the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) with its 20 faculties, RUB’s disciplinary institutional units, is home to 5,000 employees and over 36,500 students from 130 countries. All the great scientific disciplines are united on one compact campus.
The RUB is on its way to becoming one of the leading European universities of the 21st Century. Almost all courses are offered as Bachelor and Master degree programmes. Our excellence programmes have made themselves an international name: Our Research School is an international college for structured doctoral research in the life sciences, natural sciences, engineering, the humanities and social sciences. Interfaculty and interdisciplinary Research Departments, which are mutually, nationally and internationally networked, sharpen the profile of the RUB. Added to this is an unsurpassed programme for the promotion of Early Career Researchers, and an excellent infrastructure.
What makes it all come alive is the people who meet on campus with their thirst for knowledge, their curiosity, and their commitment. They help shape the RUB and their open-mindedness makes the RUB an attractive place for people from around the world.
THE CITY / Bochum has a population ofsome 400,000 inhabitants and is situated in the Ruhrarea,the economic nervecenter of western Germany. It is a very vivid city with alot of cultural and sportiveactivities, complemented bythe large studentpopulation.Being an industrial townhistorically, Bochum still has a lot of parks and green spots. TheUniversity is located at the border of a little valley, not far from a lake:'Kemnader See.' The cultural scene in Bochum is quite unique. Bochumhas one of Germany's best known theaters and there are variousmuseums.
LOCATION / Bochum, Germany
GENERAL
WEBSITE /
EXCHANGE
STUDIES
APPLICATION / 1. Apply for an exchange programme at your home university.
2. If you are accepted onto the exchange programme, your home university or the organization funding your grant will send RUB's International Office confirmation of your exchange visit.
3. Complete the pre-enrolment process online.
4. Please send the required documents (available below) to RUB's International Office by post.
Required documents (81.3kB)
Pre-enrolment (first stage of your enrolment process to be completed online)
APPLICATION
DEADLINES / Fall Semester: February 15 Spring Semester: September 15
HOUSING / You will require accommodation if you are going to be studying in Bochum, and you have two possibilities when searching for this. You can either apply to live in the halls of residence or search the private housing market for a room.
Rooms in the halls of residence for exchange students
The International Office offers a special service for Erasmus students and students from partner universities. You can book accommodation through us for the duration of your exchange (1-2 semesters).
Rooms in the halls of residence for exchange students
The private housing market
Here you can find information about how to approach looking for a room or a flat in Bochum on your own.The private housing market
INSURANCE / You require health insurance to study in Germany. You can't be enrolled at the university without proof of valid health insurance.
Proof of valid health insurance is also necessary to extend your visa.
There are different regulations depending on the purpose of the stay and the age of the student:
For students from all other countries
Students from other countries (non-EU and non-EEG) must take out a health insurance policy in Germany up until their 30th birthday or 14th semester!
You have the choice between private or statutory health insurance in Germany. Statutory health insurance companies often have cheaper fees for students.
If you opt for private insurance, you require confirmation that you are exempt from statutory health insurance.
LANGUAGE
REQUIREMENTS /
The language of instruction at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) is German, and only a few degree courses are taught in English. The English-taught programmes have individual application procedures. A high level of German language skills is required to successfully complete a regular degree course at RUB; language skills can be proven by presenting a certificate gained for passing one of the following examinations:
- DSH examination (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang) (level 2 or 3)
- ZOP examination (Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung) of the Goethe-Institut
- German language diploma, level II, of the Goethe-Institut
- TestDaF (Deutsch als Fremdsprache) with the grades 4 x 4 or 16 points (website in German only)
- Goethe-Institut
- Testdaf
Applicants who do not possess sufficient language skills may apply to take fee-based German language courses at RUB beginning at Level A2.
EXPECTED
COSTS /
Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) charges no tuition fees. However, a social security contribution of approx. 250 Euros per semester must be paid. You should also take into consideration that you have to pay for accommodation, clothes and food, and we recommend putting aside approx. 650 Euros per month for this. You may also have to spend some extra money on books at the beginning of the semesters and during the examination period.
*Please keep this in mind when you are planning your studies!
ADDITIONAL
INFO / Residency Registration
If you're planning on staying in Bochum for longer than two months, you need to register with the City of Bochum within one week of your arrival.
The International Office has set up a service for exchange programme students at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB).
The International Office makes a special appointment with the Foreign Nationals Registration Office of the City of Bochum to go through the legal formalities of registration and visa extension. You will receive the date and time of your appointment after your arrival in Bochum.
Please bring the following documents with you to your appointment:
Students from the EU
More information for EU members (64.9kB)
Students from non-EU countries
More information for non-EU members (65.2kB)
If you cannot make this special appointment, the Citizens' Advice Bureau of the City of Bochum will be responsible for registration and the Foreign Nationals Registration Office of the City of Bochum is the contact point for visa extensions.
Contact
International Office
Magdalena Bichmann
FNO 01/177
Tel: +49 (0) 234 32-27248
Fax: +49 (0) 234 32-14640
Email:
More information available at:
* Information subject to change