Ruhr University Bochum
Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Germany's first post-war university: 21 faculties on one hilltop campus and a European pioneer in IT security.
- Students
- 37,653
- International
- 18%
- of students
- Tuition
- Free
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1962
About RUB
Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) was founded in 1962 as the first new public university in West Germany after the Second World War, and teaching began in 1965. It was built to help turn the Ruhr, once a coal and steel region, into a knowledge region, and its motto is 'Education for all!'. With 37,653 students it is one of Germany's largest universities, and 6,739 of them are international.
Unusually for a German university, almost everything sits on one compact 4.5 km² campus south of Bochum city centre: 21 faculties covering the humanities, social sciences, law, economics, natural sciences, engineering and medicine. The campus is a landmark of 1960s brutalist architecture, with near-identical high-rise faculty buildings arranged around the Audimax and joined by bridges and walkways.
RUB's research is organised in six key research areas, and it is home to two Clusters of Excellence: CASA, on cyber security, and RESOLV, on solvation chemistry, which RUB runs with TU Dortmund. It suits students who want a big, research-driven university with a strong German-language undergraduate offer, especially in IT security, engineering, psychology and medicine. Bachelor's and state examination programmes are taught in German, so you need C1-level German to apply.
Why students choose RUB
The IT Security / Information Engineering bachelor's is taught by researchers in the CASA Cluster of Excellence, and RUB describes itself as a European pioneer in IT security.
All 21 faculties share one campus, so switching between labs, libraries, the Botanical Garden with its Chinese Garden, and the sports facilities is a short walk.
There are no tuition fees for German, EU or non-EU students; the semester contribution of 380 euros (winter 2026/27) includes a Deutschland-Semesterticket for local and regional public transport across Germany.
International applicants apply directly to RUB through its own online portal rather than through uni-assist, and RUB says it does not generally ask for CVs, motivation letters or references.
Admissions
Winter semester 2027/28 entry (standing annual deadlines)
Selectivity
RUB publishes no admission rate. Applicants who meet the requirements for a non-restricted (zulassungsfrei) programme are guaranteed a place. Restricted programmes select locally, single-subject bachelor's and Law run through the national DoSV procedure, and Medicine is allocated through hochschulstart. Leftover places in restricted programmes are released in a lottery procedure in September.
Typical entry requirements
| German Abitur or EU/EEA school-leaving certificate | Direct entry to non-restricted programmes; restricted programmes rank applicants (DoSV via hochschulstart for single-subject bachelor's and Law) |
|---|---|
| Non-EU school certificate | Must give access to higher education in Germany; some countries also need a passed university entrance exam, and certificates that only give indirect access need the Feststellungsprüfung (assessment test) |
| German language (bachelor's and state examination) | TestDaF with at least 16 points, DSH-2 or DSH-3, DSD II, Goethe C2 (ZOP/KDS/GDS), ÖSD C1, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, or the German part of the Feststellungsprüfung |
| English language | All bachelor's and state examination programmes are taught in German; non-EU applicants must upload proof of German with the application, while EU applicants can submit it at enrolment. The bilingual IT-Engineering BSc (German and English) also requires English at B2 by enrolment, e.g. via IELTS or TOEFL. English-only degrees are at master's level. |
Deadlines
- Winter semester: restricted programmes and all international (non-EU) first-semester applications Non-binding Next deadline · In ~9 months15 July 2027
Standing deadline; the portal opens at the beginning of May. All documents must be uploaded by 15 July, and nothing can be added after the deadline.
- Lottery procedure (remaining places in restricted programmes) Non-binding In ~12 months30 September 2027
For winter 2026/27 the lottery application window ran from early September to 30 September 2026.
- Summer semester entry Non-binding15 January
Applications from early December to 15 January for the summer semester.
RUB publishes 15 July (winter) and 15 January (summer) as standing deadlines. For winter 2026/27 it also allowed international applicants to apply for non-restricted programmes until 15 October 2026 and German and EU applicants to enrol in non-restricted bachelor's programmes until 15 October 2026. DoSV and Medicine deadlines are set by hochschulstart.
How to apply
Apply online directly in the RUB application portal (not uni-assist), uploading your passport, school certificate with a certified German or English translation, German language certificate (non-EU applicants), any entrance exam or Feststellungsprüfung result, and an APS certificate if your certificates are from China, Vietnam or India. International applicants must apply even for non-restricted programmes. German and EU applicants for single-subject bachelor's and Law register with hochschulstart (DoSV) first; Medicine is applied for through hochschulstart.
What admissions looks for
- A school-leaving certificate that gives access to higher education in Germany, or a passed Feststellungsprüfung.
- German at C1 level or above, shown with one of the certificates RUB accepts (e.g. TestDaF 16 points, DSH-2).
- For restricted programmes, a competitive grade average; for Psychology, the BaPsy-DGPs aptitude test result.
- A complete upload by the deadline: RUB does not accept documents after the application period closes.
Tips for applying to RUB
- 1 Apply even if your programme is open admission: international applicants must go through the RUB portal for every programme.
- 2 Upload everything before 15 July; RUB states that it is no longer possible to upload documents after the deadline.
- 3 If your school certificates are from China, Vietnam or India, get an individual APS certificate addressed to RUB; collective APS for other universities is not accepted.
- 4 Apply for an AKAFÖ hall of residence early: the halls are close to campus and RUB warns of waiting times of up to six months.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
RUB charges no tuition, only the semester contribution, which funds the student services organisation AKAFÖ, the student union and the Deutschland-Semesterticket. International students can look at scholarships, student loans, BAföG (for eligible students) and part-time work, and RUB runs a study financing advice service.
- 380 euros
- Semester contribution, winter 2026/27
- 226.80 euros
- Of which Deutschland-Semesterticket
- 130 euros
- Of which AKAFÖ (canteens, halls of residence)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (winter semester lectures 12 October 2026 to 5 February 2027)
IT Security / Information Engineering (BSc)
A six-semester, non-restricted programme combining IT security, information technology and computer science, taught in German and English.
IT-Engineering (BSc)
Bilingual German and English programme from winter 2025/26, with specialisations from autonomous driving to machine learning and medical technology.
Medicine (Staatsexamen)
A 13-semester integrated reformed curriculum structured by themes, combining basic science with hands-on patient care; places allocated through hochschulstart.
Psychology (BSc)
A restricted single-subject programme that uses the BaPsy-DGPs aptitude test in admission.
East Asian Studies
Taught by RUB's own Faculty of East Asian Studies, one of its 21 faculties.
Research
- Two Clusters of Excellence under the German Excellence Strategy: CASA (Cyber Security in the Age of Large-Scale Attackers), in its second funding phase, and RESOLV (Ruhr Explores Solvation) with TU Dortmund, in its third from 2026.
- Six key research areas, including Mind, Cognition and Health; Matter, Materials and Energy; and Digital Society and Information Security.
- Research buildings such as THINK (neuroscience) and ZESS (smart product-service systems) on the Mark 51°7 technology campus, a former Opel car plant.
- 36 ERC projects and 797 million euros in total funds in 2024.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Philosophy, Education and Journalism
- Faculty of History
- Faculty of Philology
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Economics
- Faculty of Social Science
- Faculty of East Asian Studies
- Faculty of Psychology
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
- Faculty of Computer Science
- Faculty of Medicine
Student life
Student life at RUB centres on its big, self-contained campus: lectures, canteens, the Audimax concert hall, the arts centre (Musisches Zentrum), university sport and the Botanical Garden with its Chinese Garden are all within walking distance. The semester ticket covers local and regional transport across Germany, so Dortmund, Essen and Düsseldorf are easy to reach. Most students rent in Bochum or live in halls run by the student services organisation AKAFÖ, which also runs the canteens.
- The Botanical Garden includes a Chinese Garden built from 600 tonnes of stone shipped from China.
- The Unifit gym and university sport offer a wide range of disciplines on campus and in the city.
- RUB is part of the University Alliance Ruhr with TU Dortmund and the University of Duisburg-Essen, and of the UNIC European university network.
- The semester contribution includes a theatre flat rate for the Schauspielhaus Bochum and metropolradruhr bike hire.
Housing. Most halls of residence in Bochum are run by AKAFÖ close to campus; places are in high demand, with waiting times of up to six months, so apply online early.
Location
Bochum lies in the heart of the Ruhr, a dense chain of former coal and steel cities that RUB has helped turn into a knowledge region. The campus sits on high ground at the edge of a green belt above the Ruhr valley south of the city centre. Dortmund, Essen and Düsseldorf are within easy reach. The semester ticket covers local and regional transport, and the semester contribution even includes a theatre flat rate for the Schauspielhaus Bochum and bike hire through metropolradruhr, so getting around the city and the region costs little extra.
Nearest airport: Dortmund Airport (DTM); Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) for more international flights
Notable alumni
- NL Norbert LammertPresident of the German Bundestag from 2005 to 2017
- RM Reinhard MarxCardinal and Archbishop of Munich and Freising
- AF Andreas FloerMathematician who invented Floer homology in symplectic topology
- HN Hartmut NevenGoogle engineering vice president leading the Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab
- SS Svenja SchulzePolitician, German federal minister for economic cooperation and development from 2021 to 2025
- HB Hans-Paul BürknerManagement consultant and former global chair of Boston Consulting Group
- MR Melanie RaabeNovelist and journalist
- MR Maximilian ReineltRower and physician, Olympic gold medallist in 2012
Frequently asked questions
Does Ruhr University Bochum charge tuition fees?
No. German, EU and non-EU students pay only the semester contribution, 380 euros for winter 2026/27, which includes a Deutschland-Semesterticket.
Can I study a bachelor's in English at Ruhr University Bochum?
Not fully. All bachelor's and state examination programmes are taught in German, so you need C1-level German such as TestDaF 16 points or DSH-2. IT-Engineering and IT Security / Information Engineering use both German and English; English-only degrees are at master's level.
Do international students apply to RUB through uni-assist?
No. International applicants apply directly in RUB's online application portal and upload their documents there, including an APS certificate if their certificates are from China, Vietnam or India.
What is the application deadline at Ruhr University Bochum?
15 July for the winter semester (portal opens in early May) and 15 January for the summer semester. RUB's semester deadlines apply 15 July to international first-semester applicants for both restricted and open-admission programmes, although for winter 2026/27 it also accepted international applications to open-admission programmes until 15 October 2026.
How many students does Ruhr University Bochum have?
37,653 students, including 6,739 international students, across 21 faculties on one campus (May 2026 figures).
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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