About Hochschule Bochum
Bochum University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule Bochum) is a publicly funded Fachhochschule in Nordrhein-Westfalen with almost 10,000 enrolled students. It is organised into eight departments spanning architecture, civil and environmental engineering, geodesy, electrical engineering and computer science, business, health sciences, and nursing/midwifery/therapy sciences. All professors are required to have several years of professional practice in their field before entering academia, giving the institution a distinctly applied, industry-oriented character.
The university operates across three locations: the main Central Campus in Bochum, the Health Campus in Bochum, and the Campus Velbert/Heiligenhaus. Together these sites offer over 60 bachelor's programmes and more than 20 master's degree programmes, including four programmes taught fully or partly in English. The university has been building international partnerships since the 1990s and provides a dedicated International Office to support degree-seeking students from abroad.
International applicants from outside the EU/EEA apply through the uni-assist portal. Those whose prior qualification is not recognised directly may qualify for admission via a satisfactory TestAS result (at least 24 percentile rank points in both core and subject-specific sections), which can serve as an alternative to completing a Studienkolleg (foundation year).
Key facts
- Students
- 10,000
- Faculties
- 8
Almost 10,000 students across three campuses in NRW
Eight practice-oriented departments; all professors required to have prior industry experience
Four English-taught programmes including International Management and Geothermal Energy Systems master's
Non-EU applicants apply via uni-assist; TestAS score can substitute for Studienkolleg
No tuition fees for non-EU students (NRW does not charge the non-EU surcharge)
International partnerships across Europe and Asia established since the 1990s
Admissions & costs
Tuition & fees
As a public university in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Hochschule Bochum does not charge tuition fees for bachelor's or consecutive master's programmes — this applies to both EU and non-EU students. NRW does not impose the non-EU tuition surcharge introduced by Baden-Württemberg. Students pay a per-semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) covering administrative costs and student services; the exact current amount was not published on the pages accessible during research and should be confirmed directly with the university.
Admission requirements
International applicants who obtained their university entrance qualification outside Germany/EU must apply via uni-assist (uni-assist.de). EU/EEA citizens with German qualifications apply directly through the university portal (studonline.hs-bochum.de). Required documents include a CV, passport copy, and proof of language skills (or confirmation of registration for a language test, with results due within one month of application). Bachelor applicants additionally need admission certificates and, where applicable, internship documentation; master applicants require degree certificates and complete transcripts. Applicants whose foreign qualification is not automatically recognised may qualify for direct admission by submitting a TestAS result of at least 24 percentile rank points across core and subject-specific sections — this can substitute for the Studienkolleg pathway. Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants are required to obtain an APS certificate before applying, as per German embassy rules for those nationalities.
Application deadlines
Winter semester (starting October): deadline 15 July for restricted-admission (NC) bachelor and master programmes; 31 August for unrestricted bachelor programmes; 30 September for unrestricted master programmes. Summer semester deadlines were not published on the pages accessible during research. Non-EU applicants applying via uni-assist should check uni-assist.de for their specific processing deadlines, which may be earlier.
Languages of instruction
The primary language of instruction is German. Four programmes are offered fully or partly in English: Bachelor International Business and Management, Master International Management, Master Environmental Engineering (Umweltingenieurwesen), and Master Geothermal Energy Systems. German language courses are available to international students through the BO Akademie.
Campuses & locations
Main campus; engineering, business, and most bachelor/master programmes
Health sciences, nursing, midwifery, and therapy sciences programmes
Engineering and applied sciences; separate application contact
Living in Nordrhein-Westfalen
Bochum is a city of approximately 365,000 residents in the Ruhr metropolitan area of Nordrhein-Westfalen, situated between Dortmund and Essen. It is well connected by S-Bahn, U-Bahn, and intercity rail, making the wider Ruhr region easily accessible. Bochum has a strong student population — the city is home to Ruhr-Universität Bochum as well — and offers an affordable cost of living by German standards, with a range of cultural institutions, music venues, and the Deutsches Bergbau-Museum (German Mining Museum).
Student life & support
The International Office at Hochschule Bochum provides support from programme selection through to enrolment, and offers guidance on visa and residence permit procedures, health insurance, and working regulations for international students. German language courses at various levels are available through the BO Akademie on campus. The university does not operate its own student dormitories; housing is arranged through the Studierendenwerk Bochum, which manages student residences in the city. An orientation programme (Welcome Week) is offered at the start of each semester for new international students.
101
Accredited Programmes
31
Master
70
Bachelor/Bakkalaureus
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