The Freshman College at the Academy of Ruhr-University Bochum prepares international applicants, who do not yet meet all the admission requirements for studying at a German university, for a BA course at Ruhr-University Bochum.
The programme is divided into two semesters of 19 weeks each, i.e. a total of 38 weeks. Including two weeks of Christmas vacation and all public holidays, the Freshmen College runs for about 10 months.
The programme begins on Monday, 14 September 2026 and the first semester ends on 5 February 2027. There is a two-week Christmas break from 18 December 2026 to 4 January 2027. The second semester runs from 8 February 2027 to 18 June 2027. The final exams with TestAS and TestDaF will then take place from 8 to 18 June 2027 at the latest.
Programme Structure
The programme consists of 32 teaching units (TU) per week, whereby one TU corresponds to 45 minutes. With appropriate preparation and follow-up work, participation in the Freshman College is therefore a full-time undertaking!
The core of the course is a German course of between 10 and 32 units per week. Studies show that the key to a successful study in Germany are language skills and in order to successfully complete the Freshman College, students will need the C1 qualification level in the European Framework of Reference for Languages at the end of the 10 months. But don’t worry, our experienced lecturers will guide them along the way!
In the second semester, we enrich the language lessons with technical language exercises so that students come into contact with the vocabulary of their future study programme as part of Freshman College. Specific exercises such as preparing and giving presentations in German will help to practice academic work and presentations at an early stage.
At the end of the second semester, students will be intensively prepared for the final German exam with the TestDaF. The exam takes place in a DaF test centre, which is also located at the Ruhr University Bochum, i.e. in a familiar environment.
In addition to the German course, students can choose one of the science tracks and specialise in their desired degree course at an early stage. They can choose from a combination of chemistry and mathematics, physics and mathematics or computer science and mathematics – depending on their interests. Students will be taught an average of 4 to 10 units per week in this subject.
We will also bring our students into contact with current students and lecturers from their chosen study programme at an early stage, so that they can develop an understanding of how the course really works and what they can do with it from the outset – and also network with older students.
A Joint Start
To make it easier for you to arrive in Bochum and settle in at the Freshmen College, all Freshmen are accommodated together at RUBs Language Institute (LSI) for the first two weeks. At the beginning, an intercultural workshop will take place, which will allow you to get to know your fellow students and develop a common foundation for cooperation and learning.
The Freshman College is exclusively taught in German.
Students need at least a completed German A2 language certificate to apply.
Over the course of the Freshman College, students will improve their German language skills to C1 level.
After successfully completing the Freshman College by passing the TestAS and TestDaF final examinations, students are guaranteed to be offered a place in the Bachelor’s degree courses in: Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Applied Computer Science or IT Security at Ruhr-University Bochum.
Please note: Unlike other “Studienkollegs” in Germany, the Freshmen College of the Academy of the Ruhr-University does not(!) conclude with a so called “Feststellungsprüfung” (FSP). This saves you the fees that other providers charge for this assessment method. Another advantage: the final exam via TestAS and TestDaF is very flexible and allows you to tailor your preparation. However, you cannot transfer to any German university after graduation, but only to the designated BA programmes at Ruhr-University Bochum listed above.
7,500 EUR
Included in the fees are the following:
As a participant in our Freshman College, students will be enrolled at Ruhr-University Bochum. They are not yet an official student but have the status of a “Kollegiate”. This means that they are not yet allowed to attend lectures and seminars at the university (this will only happen when they officially start their studies after successfully passing the Freshman College final exam) – but they can take advantage of the wide range of offers at RUB, such as discounted meals at the different canteens (Mensen), the cultural and sports programme.
Applicants need a school-leaving certificate that entitles them to study at a university in their home country.
If you are unsure whether your school-leaving certificate is sufficient to apply to a preparatory college (Studienkolleg) in Germany, kindly check this DAAD database for clarification.
For any further questions, please contact info@akademie.ruhr-uni-bochum.de.
The Freshman College is exclusively taught in German.
A completed German A2 language certificate is the minimum requirement to apply for the Freshman College.
Before being admitted to the Freshman College, we carry out an onSET language placement test to see whether your German language skills are sufficient / on A2 level. This is done online and quickly – the onSET takes a maximum of 40 minutes.
Apply through the website of our Freshman College.
Contact Ms Kuan-Hui Wu for details.
For the first two weeks, from 15 to 30 September, all Freshmen will be accommodated together in rooms at the Language Institute (LSI) of Ruhr-University Bochum. The costs for this period are already included in the Freshman College fee.
Our experience shows that it is very beneficial for a relaxed arrival in the new environment to have a place on-site and also to get to know your new fellow students straight away. This allows you to make contacts immediately and not feel alone from day one!
After the first two weeks, students will have to book and pay for their own room. We are happy to help with this and put students in touch with private student accommodation providers. We also provide a list of other options if students prefer to live more cheaply and look for a room in a shared flat, for example.
If you have any questions, of course, we will be happy to help you!
Students can take advantage of the huge range of sports on offer at RUB, from aerobics to basketball, from archery to diving, from climbing to soccer or from karate to Zumba, and make full use of all the courses to work out! They also have the opportunity to work out in the university’s own fitness studio, “Unifit”.
The status as a RUB fellow also allows them to take advantage of cultural offers at a reduced price. Thanks to a cooperation with the Schauspielhaus Bochum, they can get flat rate tickets at low prices and watch great plays.
Ruhr-University Bochum
Located in the heart of the dynamic Ruhr metropolitan region in the heart of Europe, Ruhr-University Bochum with its 21 faculties is home to around 40,000 students and a driving force for social change.
The Ruhr-University was built to bring about change: it set out to overcome boundaries between people, between subjects and between science and society. Our listed campus architecture ensures short distances, flat hierarchies and diverse encounters for almost 50,000 people from all over the world, so that new things are constantly being created here.
No other university has produced as many first-time graduates as Ruhr-University Bochum. It is the driving force behind the rise and transformation of a region that is now the densest and most exciting science region in Europe. A real laboratory for social change. A paradise for pioneers and innovation-driven people of all kinds.
Ruhr-University Bochum uses its diversity as a strength: it promotes the cooperation of all university members, regardless of gender, origin, skin colour and religion.
Ruhr-University Bochum is open to people from all over the world and promotes the international exchange of students and teachers. It helps young people from a wide range of nations to integrate socially during their academic education and to feel at home in Bochum. Its global networks connect researchers with teams of experts around the world and make it easy to spend shorter or longer periods abroad during your studies.
The Ruhr Area
The Ruhr area is a unique mix of more than five million people and 53 cities. A mixture that cannot be found anywhere else in Europe. A mixture that makes the region one of the continent’s major metropolitan areas. The Ruhr region is a diverse place where big city meets green, culture meets old industry – and a place that has many surprises in store.
University Stronghold
With an area of just under 4,440 square kilometres, the “Ruhrgebiet” is one of the smaller regions in Germany. But nowhere else do more people live in this area. And almost one in 20 of them is a student – more than in any other German metropolis. No wonder, because with 22 universities and 50 non-university institutes, science forms a denser network than anywhere else in Germany and Europe!
Where Science and Business Are Closely Intertwined
Where there are many young professionals, there is a lively start-up culture. In the Ruhr area, this culture not only meets a dense scientific network, but also an industry rich in tradition. Here, continuity and solid economic activity meet an innovation-driven mindset. This creates unique synergies and dynamics for future-oriented structural change in the Ruhr area.
Deep in the West
By the way, according to a survey by the British opinion research institute Censuswide, Bochum is the most hospitable city in Germany and scores highly for its politeness and helpfulness towards visitors and strangers.
The renowned “Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft” also attests Bochum a top position for affordable student accommodation in its student accommodation report. As a result, people in Bochum have a particularly good reason to celebrate. And that in turn makes Bochum the ultimate party city, with countless clubs and pubs around the famous "Bochum Bermuda3eck". And if you get bored of what’s on offer locally, other major cities such as Düsseldorf and Cologne are just an hour away by train.
In short, it is a great place to live and study!
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