About the university
Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) is one of Germany's largest universities. Unusually, almost all its faculties sit together on one campus, so engineering, natural sciences, medicine, humanities and social sciences work side by side.
RUB offers several IT Security master's, as well as strong programmes in for engineering, materials science, physics and the life sciences. A growing number of master's are taught in English, including Computational Engineering, Lasers and Photonics, Materials Science and Simulation, Subsurface Engineering and Molecular Sciences.
For Indian students the draw is no tuition fee, a strong engineering and computing offer and relatively low rents in the Ruhr area. Most bachelor's and many master's still need good German, so check the classroom language of each programme before you apply.
Bochum is in the Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia, a former coal and steel area that is now a dense network of cities and universities. Dortmund, Essen and Düsseldorf are a short train ride away, and the semester ticket covers local and regional transport across Germany.
- Founded
- 1962
- Type
- Public research university on a single campus
- Students
- 37,653 enrolled (university homepage)
- International students
- 20% (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Student–staff ratio
- 36.3 to 1 (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Tuition
- No tuition fee; social contribution €380 (winter 2026/27)
- Intakes
- October (winter); some master's also start in April
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
=402 in the world
THE World University Rankings 2027
=261st in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €760
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- Taught in English; above-average English needed (see the faculty)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €760
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- German and English; check both requirements with the faculty
- Postgraduate
MSc IT Security / Networks and Systems
- Fee / year
- €760
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- German and English; check both requirements with the faculty
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €760
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- Taught in English; excellent English expected
- Postgraduate
MSc Materials Science and Simulation
- Fee / year
- €760
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- Taught in English (see the faculty for proof)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €760
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- Taught in English (see the faculty for proof)
- Postgraduate
MSc Global Sustainability Economics
- Fee / year
- €760
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- Taught in English; English proficiency required
- Postgraduate
MSc Molecular Sciences – Spectroscopy and Simulation
- Fee / year
- €760
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- Taught in English (see the faculty for proof)
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (EUR) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Computational Engineering | 2 years (4 semesters) | €760 | ≈ ₹80,560 |
| MSc Applied Computer Science | 2 years (4 semesters) | €760 | ≈ ₹80,560 |
| MSc IT Security / Networks and Systems | 2 years (4 semesters) | €760 | ≈ ₹80,560 |
| MSc Lasers and Photonics | 2 years (4 semesters) | €760 | ≈ ₹80,560 |
| MSc Materials Science and Simulation | 2 years (4 semesters) | €760 | ≈ ₹80,560 |
| MSc Subsurface Engineering | 2 years (4 semesters) | €760 | ≈ ₹80,560 |
| MSc Global Sustainability Economics | 2 years (4 semesters) | €760 | ≈ ₹80,560 |
| MSc Molecular Sciences – Spectroscopy and Simulation | 2 years (4 semesters) | €760 | ≈ ₹80,560 |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Ruhr University Bochum with similar universities in Germany.
Scholarships
- Enrolled students
Deutschlandstipendium at RUB
Value: €300 a month for up to 12 months
Eligibility: Outstanding, socially committed students, including international students. Applications are usually due in May or June.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Enrolled international students
International Office scholarships
Value: Set in each call
Eligibility: Usually for strong academic results and voluntary commitment.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Mainly master's and above
DAAD scholarships
Value: Depends on the programme
Eligibility: RUB advises applying about a year in advance.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Bachelor's programmes almost always need good German; RUB runs preparatory and German courses for international applicants.
- Your Indian school certificate must be recognised by the university first; RUB's step-by-step guide explains the entrance-qualification check.
- Apply online through the RUB portal: early May–15 July for October, early November–15 January for April.
Postgraduate
- A bachelor's degree in a related subject. Many English-taught master's are not restricted but need an application to the faculty.
- Apply online through the RUB application portal: early June–15 July for October, early December–15 January for April.
- Indian students also need an APS certificate for the German student visa.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Bachelor's degree certificate and transcripts
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
- Proof of English (and German, where the programme asks for it)
- CV and motivation letter, if the faculty asks for them
- APS certificate
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| English-taught master's | Each faculty sets the proof it accepts; check the programme page before you apply |
| TOEFL | Named by Stem Cell Biology as proof of English |
| Mixed-language programmes | Applied Computer Science and IT Security are taught in German and English |
| German | Needed for almost all bachelor's and for many master's |
Accommodation and living costs
Akafö, the student services organisation for Bochum's universities, runs the student halls, with single apartments, flat shares and family flats. The university says rents in Bochum are relatively low. It warns against scams: never pay a deposit before signing a contract and never send passport copies or bank statements to unknown landlords.
| Item | In EUR | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| RentUniversity estimate | €350–700per month | ≈ ₹37,100 – ₹74,200 |
| FoodUniversity estimate | €200–350per month | ≈ ₹21,200 – ₹37,100 |
| Health insuranceApproximate, university estimate | €115per month | ≈ ₹12,190 |
| Phone, internet and broadcast licence feeApproximate | €35per month | ≈ ₹3,710 |
| Social contributionWinter 2026/27 | €380per semester | ≈ ₹40,280 |
Campus and location
RUB's single, compact campus in the south of Bochum brings almost all faculties together, which makes it easy to take courses across subjects.
- One campus for engineering, sciences, medicine and humanities.
- Akafö runs canteens, cafés and student halls.
- The semester ticket covers local and regional transport across Germany.
- The Ruhr area around Bochum has several large cities within a short train ride.
Careers and graduate outcomes
RUB graduates in engineering and IT security are in demand across the Ruhr area and Germany, and the university reports more than 135 spin-offs since 2019. German language skills widen your options a lot. See our Germany guide for work rules while studying and after graduation.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Spin-offs since 2019 | More than 135 | Ruhr University Bochum homepage |
| Job-search permit after graduating | Up to 18 months | Make it in Germany |
| Work allowed while studying | 140 full days or 280 half days a year | Make it in Germany |
Studying in Germany
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Germany. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in Germany
- Public
Often chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Data Science & AI
- Public
Often chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT
Photo: juhotski, CC BY-SA 3.0 PublicOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Life Sciences
Photo: TU Berlin/Pressestelle/Ulrich Dahl, Copyrighted free use PublicOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Business & Management
Photo: Seeott, CC BY-SA 4.0 PublicLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich) (official website, opens in a new tab)
Munich, GermanyOften chosen for Life Sciences, Medicine & Health Sciences, Law
Photo: Hermann Luyken, CC0 PublicHeidelberg University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Heidelberg, GermanyOften chosen for Medicine & Health Sciences, Life Sciences
FAQs
Does Ruhr University Bochum charge tuition?
No. You pay only the social contribution, €380 for winter 2026/27, which includes a Germany-wide transport ticket.
Which master's are fully in English?
Among others: Computational Engineering, Lasers and Photonics, Materials Science and Simulation, Subsurface Engineering, Global Sustainability Economics, Molecular Sciences, Stem Cell Biology and Development Management.
When do I apply for a master's?
Early June to 15 July for October, and early December to 15 January for April, through the RUB portal.
How much does living in Bochum cost?
RUB lists rent at about €350–€700 a month, food at €200–€350 and health insurance at about €115.
Is there a scholarship for international students?
Yes. The Deutschlandstipendium (€300 a month) is open to international students, and the International Office runs its own scholarships.
Sources
- Ruhr University Bochum: homepage (student numbers, spin-offs) (opens in a new tab)
- RUB: programme finder (master's) (opens in a new tab)
- RUB: MSc Computational Engineering (opens in a new tab)
- RUB: re-registration and social contribution (opens in a new tab)
- RUB: application for international prospective students (opens in a new tab)
- RUB International Office: your path to studying at RUB (opens in a new tab)
- RUB International Office: costs of studying (opens in a new tab)
- RUB International Office: scholarships (opens in a new tab)
- RUB: accommodation (opens in a new tab)
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027: Ruhr University Bochum (opens in a new tab)
- QS World University Rankings 2027: Ruhr University Bochum (opens in a new tab)
- Make it in Germany (Federal Government): studying in Germany (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: Ruhr University Bochum (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details