- Ruhr-Universität Bochum
10 reasons why studying at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at RUB is worthwhile!
#1: Engineering makes you happy!
Surveys show: The engineering profession makes people happier than average. Why? The work is diverse, interesting, fairly crisis-proof and offers good development opportunities. It is meaningful because – as in the case of a wind farm, for example – you create something visible and lasting that improves our living conditions. It also requires a lot of creativity and teamwork.
#2: Very good support ratio
When it comes to studying engineering, many people often think of overcrowded lecture halls and impersonal lectures. Of course, lectures are also part of the curriculum of our students. However, we also offer tutorials in small groups, in which the theory from the lecture is deepened with practical examples and questions are answered individually. These and other courses offer more than enough opportunity to form study groups, to build up contacts and to make new friends.
#3: Top facilities
New labs, modern seminar rooms, bright lecture halls, wide corridors: the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is housed in the IC building, one of the most modern buildings on the university campus. Two lecture halls with 340 seats each, 57 technically state-of-the-art laboratories and numerous seminar and office rooms serve both research purposes and the education of students. Our students also have access to three CIP isles with around 120 workstations, all of which have the software required for their studies, which is also used in industry and research. In addition, our students can produce three-dimensional models in the 3D-CIP isle and print them in the 3D-Fablab.
#4: Individual profile
After the first four semesters, in which mainly technical and scientific basics are taught, you decide on a major. In mechanical engineering, for example, these are: Modelling and Simulation of Mechanical Systems, Energy and Process Engineering, Construction and Automation Technology, Materials and Micro-Engineering and Turbomachines – there really is something for everyone! With us, you will receive a flexible education that can be adapted to your individual preferences, which is close to practice, but also enables you to enter large research institutions. Whether in practice or in science: all paths are open to you after graduation.
#5: Research-based learning
Today’s students are tomorrow’s top researchers. That is why our approximately 65 professors and over 270 research assistants involve students in research activities at an early stage. The research strength of our faculty makes it possible for many of our students to become involved in top-level research after just a few semesters; as student assistants or as project, bachelor or master workers. And this, in return, enables them to give new impulses in their professional life right from the start.
#6: Simply practical!
Studying engineering at university is just theory? That is definitely not the case at RUB! Our students can put themselves to the test in various practical courses accompanying their studies and in our practical laboratories such as the LPS Learning and Research Factory, the 3D Fab Lab, our wind tunnel and much more.
When training our students, we attach great importance to the fact that they are not only taught by scientists, but also by teachers from the practical field. That’s why many of our honorary professors and lecturers come directly from industry.
In courses such as the non-technical module “Technical English for Mechanical Engineering”, students gain practical knowledge through industrial projects in addition to a sound linguistic education, which optionally certifies them a C1 level. In cross-university projects such as RUBMotorsport, students can gain further practical experience by developing, designing and building racing cars on their own to compete in international competitions.
#7: Bright future prospects
Whether you decide to start your professional life after your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, the career fields of our academically trained graduates in mechanical engineering are very diverse.
They can be employed in all technical areas of industry in research and development as well as in production, maintenance, quality assurance, sales, leadership and management, consulting, service and as consultants, experts, test and inspection engineers. And not only are the job prospects in engineering good; the earnings prospects are also promising for engineering graduates.
In addition, as a former industrial centre, the Ruhr region has developed into a dynamic metropolitan area. New occupations and fields of work are emerging here, and there is a high demand for qualified young people, for example in the sectors of services and science.
#8: Germany’s largest campus university
At the RUB, academic areas with 21 faculties and over 185 degree programmes come together on one large campus site. This makes it the largest campus university in Germany. And although over 50,000 people study, teach and research here, there are many quiet places to study and relax in addition to the lively hustle and bustle in the middle of the campus. In addition, there is a lot to discover and experience on campus: be it in the 400 courses in over 90 types of sports offered by the Hochschulsport, in the cultural offerings of “boskop”, the cultural office of the student union, the music centre and the student council, or in a culinary way in the large refectory, shops and various cafés directly on campus.
#9: International networks
You would like to gain experience abroad? No problem! Through numerous partnerships with other universities, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering offers the opportunity to spend a study period on any continent. The world is practically open to you. To ensure a smooth process, there is a dedicated internationalization advisor who provides advice and information on everything. Financing a stay abroad is also often easier than you think. In addition to scholarships, which are available through cooperation programs such as ERASMUS, there is also assistance such as Auslands-BAföG. In addition, the faculty itself repeatedly promotes the path of its students abroad with scholarships.
#10: Student life in Bochum
Bochum is a student city with tradition. Students like to get lost in the Bermuda Triangle pub district. Former industrial sites such as the Bochum Jahrhunderthalle now serve as important cultural venues and host a variety of events. Bochum is located in the heart of a vibrant metropolis. The entire Ruhr region and also the Rhineland are perfectly accessible from Bochum. With the NRW ticket, which is included in the semester fee, our students can also explore the state in all its facets.
In addition, living in Bochum is very affordable: a square metre of living space costs an average of 7.82 euros (as of 2021) cold. In Munich it is about three times as high. There are many dormitories for students, offering a wide range of accommodation from simple rooms to small flats.