Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum

About the Faculty

The Faculty of Medicine at Ruhr University Bochum (Ruhr-Universität Bochum, RUB) came into existence alongside the university itself in 1962, making it part of the first newly founded West German university after the Second World War. RUB’s campus in Bochum is the largest contiguous university campus in Germany.

Curriculum — The Bochumer Modell

Since the winter semester of 2013/14, the faculty has delivered teaching through the Integrated Reform Curriculum (iRM), commonly called the Bochumer Modell. The iRM integrates basic science and clinical medicine from the very first semester, replacing the rigid separation between preclinical and clinical phases that characterises the traditional standard curriculum. Teaching is organised around organ systems and clinical problems, fostering early clinical thinking.

Clinical Training — The Hospital Consortium

Unlike most German medical faculties, Ruhr University Bochum does not have a single central university hospital. Clinical training is distributed across a consortium of independent affiliated hospitals:

• Bergmannsheil Bochum (trauma surgery, occupational medicine)
• Knappschaftskrankenhaus Langendreer (general and visceral surgery, internal medicine)
• Katholisches Klinikum Bochum (broad spectrum of specialties)
• Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW, Bad Oeynhausen (cardiology, cardiac surgery, diabetology — one of Europe’s leading cardiac centres)

This distributed model exposes students to diverse clinical environments and patient populations across the Ruhr region.

Research

The faculty conducts research across a range of disciplines with particular strengths in cardiovascular medicine, neuroscience, and infection biology. The affiliation with the Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW provides access to one of Europe’s highest-volume cardiac surgery and intervention programmes.

Admission

Admission is through the centralised Hochschulstart portal. Places are allocated via the standard three quotas: Abitur grade, waiting time, and a university-specific quota. The university-specific selection criteria — which may include the TMS and/or interview — should be verified on the faculty’s official admissions pages for the relevant semester, as these may change.

Finances

Ruhr University Bochum is a public university in North Rhine-Westphalia. No tuition fees are charged. The semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) covers student services, the student union, and a Semesterticket for public transport in the Ruhr region (VRR). BAföG is available to eligible students. The cost of living in Bochum is among the most affordable of any German university city.

Recognition of the Degree

The Staatsexamen leads to the Approbation under § 3 BÄO. The qualification is automatically recognised across the EU under Directive 2005/36/EC and Delegated Decision (EU) 2023/2383. Recognition in third countries depends on the bilateral agreements and national licensing requirements of the destination country.

Further Training

Graduates may pursue postgraduate specialist training (Facharztausbildung) at any of the consortium hospitals or at other approved training centres. The Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW in Bad Oeynhausen is particularly sought-after for cardiology and cardiac surgery residencies.

Campus and Student Life

Ruhr University Bochum occupies the largest contiguous university campus in Germany, a self-contained campus city with lecture halls, institutes, sports facilities, dining halls, and student residences all within walking distance. The campus has an unmistakeable Brutalist architectural character and a strong community atmosphere.

Bochum is a city of around 360,000 in the heart of the Ruhr region, offering affordable rents, excellent public transport connections, and easy access to Dortmund, Essen, and Düsseldorf. The VRR Semesterticket provides unlimited travel across much of the Ruhr. The city has a vibrant music scene, numerous theatres, and a growing tech and creative economy.

What is the Bochumer Modell?

The Bochumer Modell is the name for RUB’s Integrated Reform Curriculum (iRM), introduced in the winter semester of 2013/14. It integrates basic science and clinical medicine from the first semester, organising teaching around organ systems and clinical cases rather than the traditional preclinical/clinical split.

Why does Bochum not have a central university hospital?

The distributed hospital model is a structural feature unique to Bochum among major German medical faculties. Clinical training takes place at a consortium of affiliated hospitals across the Ruhr region, each with its own specialties. This gives students broad exposure to different hospital cultures and patient populations.

What is the Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW?

The Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW in Bad Oeynhausen is one of Europe’s leading specialist centres for cardiac surgery, interventional cardiology, and diabetology. As an affiliated teaching hospital, it is a key clinical training site for RUB medical students.

How affordable is studying in Bochum?

Bochum is one of the most affordable university cities in Germany. Rents are low, the VRR Semesterticket covers extensive public transport, and the campus provides most daily amenities. BAföG support is available for eligible students.