The process of turning Germany's industrial center into a place of education and research was not always easy for the locals. But these days, they are proud of their renowned university.

Opened in 1965, the Ruhr University or Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) had around 32,000 students and 5,200 employees in the 2009-2010 winter semester. It is one of Germany's ten largest universities and wins one prize after another - for example, as "best practice school" or in the national competition for the best concept for fostering women's research.

In the field of research, the Ruhr University is at the forefront in the areas of neuroscience, materials science, plasma research and renewable energy technologies. One pioneer achievement was the establishment of Unikontakt, known today as rubitec GmbH, which was the first information exchange center for science and economics. It delivers university research results to medium-sized businesses, thereby setting an example for many other universities.

Many possibilities

In study options, the university covers the entire spectrum of natural sciences, engineering studies and social sciences. Its 20 faculties offer around 120 bachelor and master's courses. The university's interdisciplinary approach means that the students don't only get the chance to excel in one area, but may combine any subjects of their choice. Also, thanks to the Universitätsallianz Metropole Ruhr (UAMR) - an alliance with the neighboring universities of Dortmund and Duisburg-Essen created in 2007 - subjects from different faculties can also be combined. Even a PhD can be multidisciplinary here, which is not the norm among German universities.

Knowledge without borders

The Ruhr University is already far ahead in its cooperation with the so-called Bologna process, whose aim is to make university degrees more standardized across Europe. Some courses of study are specially targeted at foreign students. Certain lectures and exams are carried out either partly or entirely in English. Foreign students can also enjoy thorough supervision here. The Academic Foreign Office and tutors help the 4,000 or so foreign students with their questions and problems.

A city within a city

The university is situated on green lawns, and is only a short metro ride away from the city center. Its 1960s-style concrete architecture might not appeal to everyone, but the short distances within its grounds help to compensate for this. You only need a maximum of 15 minutes to walk from one end to the other. There is affordable student accommodation all over the place, as well as the Uni-Center, which has shops, clinics, cafes and bars.

The Students' Union Executive Committee AStA, the Bochum Student Culture Operative boSKop and the cultural office of the student union AKAFOE organize a lot of student parties, as well as concerts, workshops, theater days and trips.

In the large lecture hall, there are a lot of concerts by the renowned orchestra Bochumer Symphoniker and a whole array of other artists. Even an art museum can be found on the campus grounds. Meanwhile, the university's art center offers courses in painting, sculpture and photography.

After all the partying and studying, whoever craves some contact with nature doesn't need to walk very far in order to find green landscapes. The nearby botanical garden and Chinese garden are idyllically situated in a small forest, offering the perfect escape from university stress.

Author: Suzanne Cords