What to Bring

  • If you are coming as a Ph.D. student receiving a scholarship, you need a visa which states clearly that you will be a Ph.D. student for the next 3 years (or at least for the next 3 months. The latter has to be renewed in Germany).
  • If you are coming as a BSc student for the graduation year of the BSc-PhD-programme, you need a student visawhich states that you are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week. To obtain this you need a signed letter from the department which you will be working for.
  • If you come as an associate student to work at the university and to do your PhD, you also need a student visawhich states that you are allowed to work up to 20hours a week. To obtain this you need an official letter which states that you are working at the Ruhr University of Bochum.
  • You need the original of your master's degree certificate and a notarised translation of it into the English language! This means that it has to be translated into English, in your home country by a professional translator and has to be authenticated by him/her.
  • You need your transcript of studies (and an English translation thereof, if it was not originally written in English).
  • You need a valid passport. Three passport pictures will be necessary.
  • You need your personal letter of acceptance (which will be sent to you by the IGSN). Always keep the original. Make copies of it for applications etc.
  • You need German health insurance (this will cost you about 55 Euro a month, but can be arranged in Germany with our help). In Germany every student has to have health insurance in order to be registered at the university.
  • You have to pay the "Sozialbeitrag". This "social contribution" has to be paid when you register at the university for the first time and then for every term you re-register. This also means that you tell the University before the start of each semester that you are continuing your studies. If this "Sozialbetrag" is not paid or is not paid on time you will have to leave your university and discontinue your studies. At the present time the contribution is 335.09 Euros per semester (6 months). With this "Sozialbeitrag" every student makes a contribution to:
    • Our "Semesterticket". This is a ticket with which you can use all public transport for free within NRW for 6 months (= 1 semester). This is really useful, as otherwise travel costs are quite high.
    • Our "Akademisches Förderungswerk," which is responsible for student residences, the refectory, sport classes, sports facilities etc.)
    • Our general student representatives, who represent student interests at university
  • You need a German bank account (this can be arranged in Germany with our help). The university will pay your scholarship or your salary only into this account.
  • It is important that you arrange to arrive in Bochum before 12:00 p.m., so that you can get your key to your room/flat directly upon arrival. If you tell us in advance (by the end of June, would be fine) what sort of accommodation (flat/room or student residence) you require, we can make reservations for you.