Faculty of Medicine
Facts about the faculty
| University | Ruhr-University Bochum |
|---|---|
| Programmes | 1 programme |
| Language of programmes | German C1 — 1 programme |
| Campus | University Campus Bochum |
| City | Bochum |
| Website | https://www.medizin.ruhr-uni-bochum.de |
What the faculty's programmes require
The university-wide requirements are complemented by the faculty's own — they are missed most often, because the university page does not list them.
For 1 German-taught programme: DSH, TestDaF or telc C1 Hochschule — before you apply, not after.
About the faculty
The Faculty of Medicine at Ruhr-Universität Bochum positions itself as one of Germany's youngest and most reform-oriented medical schools, built around a tight 'bench-to-bedside' philosophy that connects laboratory research directly to patient care across eight affiliated university hospitals. Its integrated Reform Curriculum in Medicine (iRM) prioritises interdisciplinary, practice-first teaching from day one, while two internationally oriented Master's programmes — Molecular and Developmental Stem Cell Biology and Stem Cell Medicine — open pathways into cutting-edge biomedical research. The faculty's three core research themes of neuroscience, protein sciences, and oncology are supported by clinical competence centres covering cardiology, oncology, trauma care, rare diseases, and neurovascular medicine across sites in Bochum, Herne, and Ostwestfalen-Lippe.
Medicine and Stem Cell Programmes at Ruhr-Universität Bochum
State Examination (Staatsexamen) — Medicine
The flagship integrated Reform Curriculum in Medicine (iRM) leads to the German Staatsexamen (state medical licence) and is taught in German. What sets it apart is its emphasis on interdisciplinarity and clinical exposure from the very first semester — students practise clinical skills in dedicated SkillsLabs under realistic conditions long before their clinical rotations begin. Teaching is distributed across university hospitals and academic teaching hospitals from Bochum to Ostwestfalen-Lippe, giving students exposure to a regional healthcare network of exceptional scale.
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Master's level
The faculty offers two postgraduate science programmes aimed at researchers and internationally trained graduates. Molecular and Developmental Stem Cell Biology (taught in German/English) bridges classical cell biology, histology, and developmental biology with epigenetics and bioinformatics. The Stem Cell Medicine Master's is explicitly described as one of the first of its kind in Germany and is internationally oriented, combining novel therapies, biomedical research, and drug development in a single curriculum — making it the most distinctive English-accessible entry point for international applicants at this faculty.
PhD / Doctoral studies
The faculty runs a structured doctoral pathway (Promotionsverfahren) supervised by a professor and culminating in a dissertation and the award of a doctorate (Dr. med. or Dr. rer. nat. depending on field). A recently updated doctoral regulations framework (Promotionsordnung 2026) governs the process. The HEALTH+ INKUBATOR transfer project additionally supports doctoral and postdoctoral researchers who want to spin out medical-sector start-ups.
Why Study Medicine at Ruhr-Universität Bochum?
- Reform curriculum (iRM): Unlike traditional lecture-heavy German medical degrees, the iRM integrates clinical reasoning and practical skills — including SkillsLabs simulation — across all years, so graduates enter residency with hands-on confidence.
- Eight affiliated university hospitals: Clinical training spans the Universitätsklinikum sites in Bochum, Herne, and Ostwestfalen-Lippe (including the Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW in Bad Oeynhausen, rated five stars by the Federal Association of Clinical Diabetes Institutions — a mark reached by only 19 of 91 German clinics), giving students access to a broad case mix uncommon at smaller faculties.
- English-taught Master's pathway: The Stem Cell Medicine Master's is one of the first programmes of its type in Germany, making it a concrete entry point for international graduates who do not hold a German-language medical licence.
- Interdisciplinary research infrastructure: Medical Research Services infrastructure (biobanking, clinical trials unit, bioinformatics, sequencing) is available to students and researchers across faculties.
- Start-up and transfer support: The HEALTH+ INKUBATOR supports medically focused entrepreneurship, connecting research with real-world application.
Research Areas in Medicine at Bochum
The faculty organises its research around three strategic pillars and a network of clinical competence centres:
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Core research themes: - Neuroscience — investigation of complex brain processes and development of treatments for neurological disorders. - Protein Sciences — study of protein roles in disease pathways to identify new therapeutic targets. - Oncology — precision and innovative therapies for cancer, translating basic findings directly into clinical protocols.
Clinical Competence Centres: - Herz- und Kreislaufzentrum Bochum/Herne (Cardiovascular Centre) - Traumazentrum (Trauma Centre) - Onkologisches Zentrum (Oncology Centre) - Zentrum für seltene Erkrankungen (Rare Diseases Centre) - Neurovaskuläres Zentrum (Neurovascular Centre)
Supporting infrastructure: The Medical Research Services platform provides centralised biobanking, clinical study coordination, bioinformatics, and sequencing capabilities shared across the faculty and partner departments in Psychology, Biology, Chemistry, and Social Sciences. The Forschungsatlas Universitätsmedizin Bochum maps all active research projects across departments and institutes. Guest researchers can access this infrastructure through an established visiting scientist programme.
Medicine for International Students
International applicants should distinguish clearly between the two programme tracks. The Staatsexamen in Medicine (iRM) is conducted entirely in German — strong German language proficiency (typically TestDaF or DSH) is required, and admission follows the national Hochschulstart system with places allocated each winter semester.
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For applicants from non-German-speaking countries, the more accessible entry point is the Stem Cell Medicine Master's, described as internationally oriented and one of the first of its kind in Germany — check the faculty's admissions page for specific language-of-instruction and prerequisite details for this programme. The Molecular and Developmental Stem Cell Biology Master's integrates epigenetics and bioinformatics and may also offer English-language components.
The faculty has a dedicated Internationales Medizin office supporting international study periods (including Erasmus and exchange mobility). Visiting scientists can join ongoing research projects in neuroscience, protein sciences, or oncology through the international research programme, with access to shared Medical Research Services infrastructure.
Studying Medicine — Bochum Campus and Clinical Sites
The Faculty of Medicine is based on the main RUB campus in Bochum, in the heart of the Ruhr metropolitan region (Ruhrgebiet) in North Rhine-Westphalia. Bochum is well connected: Bochum Hauptbahnhof (main railway station) is reachable by campus shuttle and public transport, and Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) is approximately 40–50 minutes away by train — one of the most accessible international gateways in western Germany.
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Clinical teaching extends beyond the main campus to Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil (a major trauma centre in Bochum), the Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW in Bad Oeynhausen, and further teaching hospitals across Herne and Ostwestfalen-Lippe. This multi-site structure means students gain exposure to one of the largest university hospital networks in Germany.
On-campus academic facilities include the Zentrum für medizinische Lehre (ZML), the Zentrum für digitales Lehren und Lernen in der Medizin (ZdLLM), SkillsLabs for clinical simulation training, and the University Library with medical collections.
Career Paths for Medicine and Biomedical Graduates
Graduates of the iRM Staatsexamen are licensed to practise medicine in Germany and across the EU, entering residency (Facharztausbildung) in specialities ranging from cardiology and oncology to neurology and emergency medicine — all areas covered by the faculty's own clinical competence centres, creating a natural alumni pathway into the regional hospital network.
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For Stem Cell Medicine and Molecular Biology Master's graduates, career trajectories include: - Biomedical R&D at pharmaceutical and biotech companies (drug development, cell therapy, regenerative medicine) - Clinical research roles in university hospitals and contract research organisations (CROs) - Medical start-ups — the HEALTH+ INKUBATOR programme actively supports graduates who want to commercialise research in the medical sector - Academic research and doctoral study leading to faculty or industry research positions
The faculty's cross-disciplinary ties with Psychology, Chemistry, Biology, and Social Sciences departments at RUB broaden employability into health data analytics, medical technology, and public health policy roles.
Programmes of the faculty
Where the faculty's students study
Classes take place at University Campus Bochum — when choosing housing, go by this campus, not by the university's main address.
Questions about admission to the faculty
Where do the faculty's students study?
In which language are the programmes taught?
Do I apply to the faculty or to a programme?
Will you get in with your grades at this faculty?
We will convert your certificate to the German scale and compare it with the committee's requirements, including subject requirements.