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BOCHUM AT A GLANCE

Bochum is located in the North Rhine-Westphalia state between rivers Ruhr and Emscher and is the sixth largest city in this region. In the past the city used to be famous for its mines, winding towers and metal melting furnaces as it was located in the Ruhr region where German’s heavy industry used to flourish back in the days. This has left a mark over the city’s appearance but at a second glance one will find beauty that lies hidden behind the grey buildings and closed factories. Nowadays Bochum has changed into a modern cosmopolitan city with a diverse cultural life, green parks and very honest, friendly environment attracting people from all over the world. Similar to rest of Germany, the climate in Bochum is mild and temperate with a considerable amount of precipitation throughout the year mostly during the summer months. Summers here are with an average temperature of around 17 °C, whereas winters are quite cold and snowy. The city has an excellent transportation system that consists of four types of transport: metro, tram, bus and train. The latter connects the city with many locations in and outside of Germany, with cities like Dortmund, Düsseldorf and Cologne. Ticket fares for public transport vary depending on the Zone one is travelling within and a single ticket might also be valid for all four means of transport. Many people with different foreign backgrounds are coming to Bochum each year, which contributes to the diversity of the international community established in the city. The main spoken language here is German, although many students in any of the universities speak in English or other international languages. Students who have not had the chance to learn German in their country can do so here without a problem by signing up for language classes. By communicating with locals, they will quickly get used to speaking German.

Academic Year

Summer semester: April – September / Winter Semester: October - March

Official Language

German

Higher Education Institutions

6

Population

365529

Living Costs

850 EUR

STUDYING IN BOCHUM

Bochum is seen as a university town with universities carrying out excellent reputations around Germany. The city has six higher education institutes with over 55,000 students enrolled last year. The Ruhr University Bochum and the Bochum University of Applied Sciences are among the top universities in Germany and are a common choice among students coming to Bochum for their studies. Each university offers an array of courses varying from arts and music, through neuroscience and even Japanese. Some universities like the Ruhr University make study experiences even easier by implementing an interdisciplinary approach allowing students to combine courses in different areas of studies. International students are also welcomed here but depending on their country of residence certain requirements in terms of visas might apply. It is recommendable that such information is researched before applying for any of the universities in Bochum. Another good thing for exchange students is that there are programs taught in English, however students should check if the amount of such courses is sufficient enough for them before they apply. To be able to find a place to live in Bochum as a student requires research actions to be taken as soon as possible and a good amount of patience. There are many student halls in Bochum with rooms in shared flats or studios, some of which might come unfurnished but at low prices and including bills. Some of the residential complexes are equipped especially for disabled students. In order to apply for a spot students must fill in an application form prior to their arrival in Bochum as the waiting time might take between three to six months for them to get a reply. Private housing is also available and the market for it can be researched online again for rooms in shared houses or private apartments but rented directly through the landlord.

BOCHUM LIFESTYLE

Bochum is a very interesting city offering many activities to its inhabitants such as cultural venues outlining the history of the city, outdoor activities for the nice sunny days and of course lots of concerts and parties for the young adults who wish to distract from the studying environment. Those who are curious to know how the city used to be like in the past can visit Bochum’s most notable museum, i.e. the Deutsches Bergbau-Museum. Another example of the major changes that are still taking place in Bochum is the Jahrhunderthalle – a former gas power station has now transformed into one of the most magnificent and unique festival theaters in Europe. Of course, the city has also a lot of cocktail bars and clubs where students can enjoy a night out with friends and attend an awesome party. One of the hot spots in Bochum and a place where locals often meet up is the Bermuda3eck - an area in the center of the city filled with bars and restaurants offering not only German specialties but also various international cuisines. For those craving for some outdoor activities or just a mere contact with nature, Bochum proposes beautiful landscapes, green parks and a botanical garden where people spend quality time with friends, explore the nature or practice sports in their free time. Great traditional and international food combined with nice atmosphere can be found around the streets of Bochum in some of the local restaurants or street food kiosks that can be recognized easily by the long queues of people waiting to taste some delicious Bratwurst.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN BOCHUM

Bochum’s industrial sector is not the most active one anymore as the city has changed a lot over the past 20 years and has transformed from an important coal-mining area to a modern cosmopolitan city with a knowledge society. Nowadays, its economy is varied and more balanced offering many career opportunities. Sectors like the service or the technological ones are just as important and have contributed to the establishment of many headquarters of large German and international firms in Bochum. Car manufacturing enterprises have also their factories running in the city, which only adds up to the number of job positions available also to expats. Although university degrees are internationally recognized there are many career opportunities for those who wish to continue with their lives in Bochum. Universities offer Career Service offices to help with guidance and prepare students for the job market. Students can also engage in workshops that will train their skills such as writing a cover letter, developing and optimizing a CV and of course how to deal with interview questions. Workshops are available in English and German and cover the entire job application process. Students who would also need to find a job during their studies must bear in mind that in Germany they are entitled to 15 to 20 working hours per week during lecture periods. Job availability varies here from work within the campus to jobs with an employer around the city; however the latter might require good knowledge of the German language. Job offers can be viewed in the “Career” section of universitaet.com.