International Office

Events & recreational activities

All events

Please register via the event-specific registration forms.

All events are held in English.

Information events

April 8, 2025: Welcome Hour for Doctoral Researchers with RUB Research School

This event is aimed particularly at our new, international PhD students. Together with the RUB Research School, we will give you an overview of our services. While the Research School will support you especially with your academic questions during your stay, the Welcome Centre mostly advises on bureaucratic matters like visa or residence issues, health insurance, registration matters, etc.

You will also have the opportunity to ask questions.

We are looking forward to seeing you!

Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Format: online via Zoom
Costs: free of charge
Registration: via the registration form of the Research School

June 10, 2025: Find your Pension

Save the Date! (Currently being planned, details TBA)

Repeated monthly:

April 17, 2025: Welcome Session

The Welcome Session is an online event designed to inform you about the first steps in Germany. Topics that are relevant for many researchers before the start of their stay and during the first weeks in Germany will be explained. You will also have the opportunity to ask general questions about your research stay at RUB and about life in Germany. You are welcome to attend a Welcome Session before your arrival, alternatively, we recommend that you attend the first Welcome Session after your arrival. The sessions are offered on a monthly basis.

Date: Thursday, April 17, 2025, 11 a.m. - approx. 12:30 p.m.
Format: online via Zoom
Costs: free of charge
Registration: by Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Upcoming dates: May 13, 2025, June 12, 2025, July 15, 2025

Inside RUB

May 8, 2025: Guided Tour of RUB Campus by the Department of Organizational and Professional Development

The campus tours are an exclusive offer as part of the onboarding of new employees at RUB. With lots of information about the history and architecture of RUB, new employees explore some of the most interesting stations on campus – including the Audimax with the largest organ of its kind in all of NRW. The tours last about 90 minutes, this specific one will be in English. Registration is required due to the limited number of participants.

Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025, 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Format: Guided Campus Tour
Costs: free of charge
Registration: via the registration form of RUB's service-portal until May 2, 2025. (If you don't have access to the service-portal, you can register via e-mail as well: zekiye.eken@rub.de.)

Networking Events

June 4, 2025: Sundowner with the Welcome Centre & the Rectorate

Let's meet for a sundowner after work! We cordially invite you and your colleagues to our sundowner networking event for international researchers, hosted in collaboration with the Rectorate and the Welcome Centre of Ruhr University Bochum. Join us for a relaxed evening to connect with fellow researchers and enjoy light refreshments as the sun goes down. Whether you are new at RUB or have been here a while: this is a great opportunity to share experiences, enjoy good company and expand your network at RUB. We will have summer drinks, popsicles, snacks and great music waiting for you.

Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Format: Get-together on campus, outside the Welcome Centre offices (UV building)
Costs: free of charge
Registration: by Wednesday, May 21, 2025 via our registration form (limited capacity, incl. accompanying persons)

June 14, 2025: Guided Tour at the Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site in Essen

Gasometers, blast furnaces and particularly Zeche Zollverein, once the largest colliery in Europe, are visible reminders of the industrial past of the Ruhr area. What was once the heart and backbone of Germany’s coal and steel industry, has undergone an exemplary transformation into one of the country’s most vibrant regions for science and research. Industrial sites have been transformed into exciting venues for cultural events and recreational activities. Come join us on a guided walk at the Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site and explore the living history of the Ruhr area first hand.

The tour will start at 11 a.m. and will take approx. 2 hours. After a lunchbreak you will have the possibility to join the group for a second tour at the former coke plant, or you can have time at your own disposal.

*Highlight: this will be a joint event with researchers from TU Dortmund and the University of Duisburg-Essen.

*Please note that there is a maximum number of participants for this event and that a confirmation of your registration by the Welcome Centre is required for participation. In addition to your registration, please leave a deposit of 10€ at the Welcome Centre by May 30. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. You will receive further information on this after registering for the event

Date: Saturday, June 14, 2025, 10 a.m. – approx. 4 p.m.
Format: Guided tours, 2 hours each, starting at 11 a.m., the second tour starting at approx. 2 p.m. If you intend to bring children to the event, please get in touch. The event may not be suitable for all ages.
Costs: The guided tour is free of charge, possible costs for train tickets and lunch (for more information on train tickets, please click here)
Registration: by Friday, May 30, 2025 via our registration form (limited capacity, incl. accompanying persons)

Further events for the upcoming semester may be announced.

We would like to point out that photos may be taken at all in-person events and that these photos may be used for the purposes of the Welcome Centre. If you do not wish to have photos taken of you, please contact us.

Other Cultural & Recreational Activities

Bochum Hauptbahnhof
Information about Bochum
Bochum Compact

University Sports is the place to go for all questions relating to sport and offers a wide range of courses.

RUB's University Language Centre (ZFA) offers German courses every semester.

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