Campus Wegweiser

RUB, Kramer

After Enrollment

First Steps at Ruhr University Bochum

Welcome to RUB, and we wish you the best of luck as you begin your student life. During registration, you already received a lot of important information to help you get off to a great start in your studies. Please use the time until classes begin to prepare for your studies.

Find out about events (even before classes start)

In some Degree Programs, there are events for first-year students even before classes begin. Please check your Degree Programs website to see if there are any preparatory courses, introductory courses, placement tests, tutorials, or academic advising sessions. Some of these events may be mandatory.

The introductory events are definitely recommended: Here you’ll get to know the university and your fellow students and receive valuable information. To get off to a good start in your studies, you’ll find many general offerings at RUB in addition to those provided by your Degree Programs. You can participate in these on a voluntary basis.

Always Up to Date

Your faculties will communicate with you via your RUB email address. You received your login credentials upon enrollment; please log in as soon as possible.

You’ll find initial information at the bottom of this page

Tips for getting started with your studies, course announcements, contact points, and much more are available on the RUB’s WhatsApp channel exclusively for first-year students.

WhatsApp Channel for First-Year Students

Also, be sure to check out the websites of your faculty, department, and student council—you’ll often find information and (WhatsApp) channels there as well.

Take Digital Introductory Courses

Available online anytime: There are several interdisciplinary courses to help you get off to a good start in your studies.

The Moodle course covering all the important information about starting your studies

Information and Registration

The Moodle course for first-semester students from eTeamDigi focuses on e-learning and online activities

Go to the course

The “Orca” portal offers free online courses. First-year students can use it to fill gaps in their knowledge—for example, in math, language, and reading comprehension—or to build on what they learned in high school.

Go to Orca

Through a Moodle course, international students can connect with and exchange ideas with Campus Guides. Campus Guides are students majoring in the respective subject.

For more information, visit the International Office website

Get to Know the Library

Working with academic literature is a key part of any degree program—and you can prepare for this here as well: The University Library offers courses that provide an introduction to research and literature management.

University Library website: Resources and information for first-semester students

Pay Your Social Security Contribution

After completing your online registration, you received an email with the most important information regarding the social security contribution. Please transfer this amount to the RUB’s account as soon as possible. You will not officially be a student at RUB until the payment has been credited to the account. Only then will you be able to print your certificate of enrollment as proof for the child benefit office or other institutions.

More about the social contribution

Semester Ticket

With the Semester Ticket, you can travel by bus and train throughout Germany for free. You can download the Semester Ticket only after your social contribution has been received.

All information about the Germany Semester Ticket

Student ID Card

The digital student ID is also available in the RUB mobile app once your student fee has been received.

To access it in the app, you’ll need to link your RUB account. Check out our guide to learn how.

Everything You Need to Know About the Student ID

Getting Familiar with Online Services

eCampus

You can use the eCampus online service to organize and manage your studies. eCampus is available just one day after you enroll.

You’ll receive your login ID when you enroll. With eCampus, you can register for courses at the start of your studies and create your class schedule—don’t worry, the orientation sessions will show you how to create your class schedule and what you need to keep in mind. Through eCampus, you can also access the Germany Semester Ticket and print out your enrollment certificates.

More about eCampus and the eCampus workstations

RUB Webmail

Email is the primary means of communication at RUB, so every student receives their own RUB email address.

Your login credentials are provided upon enrollment; your account will be available by the following day at the latest, and you can change your password then. All important information related to your studies is communicated via your RUB email account and eCampus, such as notifications about your registration status for courses or changes to course dates. If you still wish to use a different email address, it’s best to set up forwarding for your rub.de email address. You can do this at the earliest one day after setting the password for your login ID.

Microsoft Office

All RUB students can sign up for Office 365 for free using their LoginID. The license includes, among other things, the Office applications Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. These apps can be activated five times on personal computers, tablets, and cell phones for academic purposes.

All information and links for signing up can be found on the IT.Services website.

Get Information and Ask Questions

If you haven’t already done so, read the program information for your degree program(s). You can access all the important information through the RUB’s program offerings. The annotated course catalogs published by the departments themselves are also helpful. They contain more detailed information about the courses and provide study tips and recommendations for first-semester students. Questions about creating a class schedule can be addressed in the orientation tutorials.

If you have further questions about your studies or your major, the Central Student Advising Office and the academic advisors are there for all new RUB students. The student councils provide valuable insights from a student’s perspective. Especially during your first semesters, take advantage of this opportunity for a casual conversation with fellow students.

About the programs of study (see the contact information under “Who can help?”)
About the Central Student Advising Office

Stay Well-Informed

Even aside from your studies, there may be many things to organize in advance, such as housing or funding for your studies. For example, you can apply for Bafög financial aid as soon as you’ve enrolled.

The Academic Support Service (Akafö) is responsible for providing financial aid for your studies under the Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz. You can also apply for a spot in a student residence through Akafö.

New to RUB?

Overview