Your most important questions - Our answers
If you can’t find an answer to your question here, the Student Advisory Service will be happy to help you!
Why is a degree program worth it?
You...
will become an expert in your field of interest, as you will receive excellent and in-depth specialist education.
receive many benefits and support, e.g. a cheap public transport ticket or discounted tickets for the theater, also many companies grant discounts.
hast nach dem Studium sehr gute Karrierechancen und bist qualifiziert für Führungsaufgaben. Akademiker*innen haben konstant eine niedrigere Arbeitslosenquote als andere Bevölkerungsgruppen (Quelle: Bundesagentur für Arbeit).
entwickelst dich persönlich weiter: Während des Studiums stellst du dich vielen (geistigen) Herausforderungen und entwickelst immens wichtige Skills für dein weiteres Leben, wie z.B. die Problemlösefähigkeit.
hast sehr gute Gehaltsaussichten. Das Studium ist eine lohnende Investition – auch während des Studiums hast du die Möglichkeit, gut bezahlten Nebenjobs nachzugehen. Je höher dein Bildungsabschluss ist, desto höher ist in der Regel dein Gehalt (Quelle: Statistisches Bundesamt).
kannst internationale Erfahrungen sammeln. Das Studium kann dein Ticket ins Ausland sein: Während eines finanziell unterstützten Auslandssemesters kannst du Erfahrungen sammeln und dabei etwas für den Lebenslauf tun.
benötigst es für manche Berufe. Für z.B. Ärzt*innen oder Jurist*innen ist ein Studium eine zwingende Voraussetzung.
Das Studium gehört für Viele zu der besten Zeit ihres Lebens. Du hast viele Freiheiten und lernst tolle Leute kennen.
What does RUB have to offer?
At the Ruhr-Universität Bochum you benefit from...
excellent professional education. With us, you will learn from world-renowned researchers and benefit from their good reputation. Our faculty is home to a cluster of excellence for IT security and is technically well-equipped.
the advantages of one of the largest universities in Germany with a very broad range of subjects – there is hardly a subject that you cannot study here or take as a free elective. Almost 40,000 students, around 16% of whom are international, make for a lively campus.
the advantages of a state university: you don’t have to pay tuition fees, only a semester contribution is due, which is used to finance your public transport ticket, for example.
many ways to spend your free time: These include university sports, the botanical garden and the music center.
comparatively cheap living space. In 2021, students paid an average rent of € 377 (source: RUB).
a diverse university city: Bochum has a rich cultural offering, many green spaces, great gastronomy and much more to offer.
Why should I study computer science?
As a computer scientist you are...
in high demand on the job market: computer scientists are sought after in almost every industry, especially those with a scientific degree (see industry association Bitkom).
an important part of society: computer scientists can make a significant contribution to solving social challenges.
often part of an (interdisciplinary) team, so challenges can be solved faster and better.
at the interface with other disciplines and professions if desired, in order to further develop them with technology.
creative: During your studies, you will be given the tools you need to develop creative solutions to problems.
innovative: After graduating, you will be able to work on new developments, independently develop or protect systems and become an innovator.
How does a study program work? | Important terms
In general, you can determine the duration of your studies yourself and adapt them to your life situation.
The standard period of study for our Bachelor’s degree courses is 6 semesters. This means that you should ideally complete your studies after 6 semesters. Exceeding the time limit is not a problem, but can have an impact on your Bafög entitlement, for example. The Student Advisory Service provides support in planning courses of study that differ from the typical course of study.
A semester is a six-month period of study. At RUB, each summer semester usually starts on April 1st and runs until September 30th, the winter semester usually starts on October 1st and runs until March 31st.
One credit point (CP), also known as ECTS, is a “unit of measurement” that indicates how extensive a course is and means that you would have to invest around 30 hours to complete the material. Once you have successfully completed all of the required 180 CP, you will be awarded a Bachelor’s degree.
At our faculty, knowledge is delivered in various teaching formats:
- Lecture: In a lecture, the lecturer presents a topic, often using a script or a presentation, usually to a larger group of students.
- Exercise: In an exercise, you apply the theoretical knowledge you have gained in a lecture by completing tasks.
- Seminar: In a seminar, you deal with a topic in depth. Unlike a lecture, the group is usually smaller and students are expected to actively participate.
- Practical training: Practical skills (e.g. programming) are learned and trained in a practical course.
A faculty is a teaching and administrative unit of a university and usually combines related scientific fields. A faculty is therefore essentially a large department or division of a university.
The Dean heads the faculty and represents it externally, for example to the Recorate. The administration of the faculty is therefore his or her responsibility.
A student body basically refers to all students in a subject or department. The students at our faculty are organized into three student bodies (Applied Computer Science, Computer Science and IT Security), which work closely together. So if you start studying computer science, you will also become part of the computer science student body.
However, the word “Fachschaft” often also refers to the student council (similar to a student representatives in school). The student council is there for you if you have any questions about your studies or problems. It stands up for your opinion and helps where it can. As a prospective student, you can also contact the student council and ask questions about the study programs.
In addition to the formal requirements (see application and enrollment), you should bring the following with you to study with us:
- Enjoyment of the topic and enthusiasm
- Openness, curiosity and receptiveness
- Ability to work in a team
- Basic mathematical knowledge and affinity for mathematics
- English language skills
- An interest in technology and a basic technical understanding
- Innovative ability
- Resilience, stamina and endurance
- Systemic thinking, association and transfer skills
- a PC or laptop
Our Student Advisory Service recommends that your laptop/PC should meet the following minimum requirements:
- Processor (CPU): At least Intel Core i5, Apple M1, AMD Ryzen 5 or comparable
- Working memory (RAM): At least 4 GB RAM
- Hard drive (SSD): At least 256 GB SSD
