# Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB)

> public · Bochum · germany

## Facts

- **Tuition, non-EU:** €0 — verified 2026-06-02
- **IELTS minimum:** 6.5 — verified 2026-06-02
- **Financial proof for a student residence permit:** €11,904 per year (2026, DAAD / Study in Germany — proof of financing (blocked account, 992 EUR/month for 12 months): https://www.study-in-germany.com/en/plan-your-studies/requirements/proof-of-financing/)

**Intakes and deadlines**

| Intake | Deadline | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SoSe | Jan 15 | Same portal; window early December to Jan 15. Some programs WiSe-only — no SoSe entry. |
| Winter semester — Bachelor & Master, 1st semester, restricted and non-restricted programmes | 15 July | Confirmed, matches stored row. Source: https://studium.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/semester-deadlines |
| Winter semester — Bachelor, programmes with no admission restriction (later application window) | 15 October | Not in stored data; added for completeness. Page states program-specific deadlines override these general dates. Source: https://studium.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/semester-deadlines |

Deadlines verified 2026-06-02.

## Profile

- **Country:** germany (DE)
- **City:** Bochum
- **Region:** Nordrhein-Westfalen
- **Type:** public
- **Fields:** engineering, it, stem, social-sciences, law, economics, business, humanities, medicine, health, natural-sciences
- **Study routes:** studienkolleg, direct-master, language-prep
- **Website:** https://ruhr-uni-bochum.de
- **Address:** Universitätsstraße 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany
- **Data verified:** 2026-06-02

## About

Bochum is a Ruhr valley city with post-industrial character—gritty, affordable (€650–850/month), and unexpectedly creative. The former mining region has transformed into a student-friendly hub with galleries, music venues, and a young population that keeps rents low and community strong.

## Strengths

- RUB is a public research university in NRW, charging zero tuition for international students — unlike private German peers.
- Engineering, IT, science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), law, economics, and humanities are all available under one campus, covering most CIS student profiles.
- A German public university degree is an EU-recognised diploma, opening the full Schengen labour market upon graduation.
- Bochum sits in the Ruhr metropolitan area — one of Germany's densest industrial and tech corridors, rich in engineering and IT employers for internships.
- Germany's 18-month post-study job-seeker visa gives graduates substantial time to convert their degree into a work permit.
- NRW's large student population keeps cost of living lower than Munich or Frankfurt, stretching the €11,904 blocked-account budget further.

## Watch out for

- Most bachelor programmes at German public universities are taught in German — CIS students without C1 German face a major language barrier.
- Non-EU school leavers whose diploma is not directly recognised may need to complete a preparatory year (Studienkolleg) before starting a degree programme.
- Opening a German blocked account (Sperrkonto) requires depositing roughly €11,904 upfront — a significant financial hurdle before the visa is even issued.
- The Ruhr region's industrial legacy means student social life and international networking scenes are less developed than in Berlin or Munich.
- Admission to research-intensive programmes at a large public university is competitive; meeting IELTS 6.5 is necessary but rarely sufficient on its own.

## Scholarships

- **National schemes:** DAAD, Deutschlandstipendium
- **Note:** DAAD: Master's/PhD, merit-based (RU/BY de-facto restricted post-2022). Deutschlandstipendium: €300/mo, all nationalities, merit + social commitment. Apply via university portal (Apr–Jun).
- **Researched:** 2026-05

## Accommodation

- **University dormitory:** yes
- **Dormitory cost:** €250–350
- **Private housing:** €350–450
- **Rent figures describe:** the city of Bochum
- **Notes:** AkaFö (Akademische Förderungswerk): 4,200 places in 21 residences near campus. Single rooms €176–420/mo all-inclusive (electricity, heating, internet). Average ~€342/mo. Waiting time up to 12 months — apply immediately upon receiving admission letter.

## National and EU scholarships for this destination

- [DAAD Scholarships](https://studyroute.app/scholarships/daad.md) — Monthly stipend + travel & insurance (varies by programme)
- [Erasmus+](https://studyroute.app/scholarships/erasmus-plus.md) — Monthly mobility grant set by the home institution + possible top-ups
- [Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters](https://studyroute.app/scholarships/erasmus-mundus.md) — Full scholarship: tuition + travel, visa & a monthly living allowance (set per programme)
- [Deutschlandstipendium](https://studyroute.app/scholarships/deutschlandstipendium.md) — €300/month (€150 federal + €150 private donor), for at least 2 semesters — 2026

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Canonical page: https://studyroute.app/institutions/ruhr-universitaet-bochum
Source of this file: https://studyroute.app/institutions/ruhr-universitaet-bochum.md

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