Bochum University of Applied Sciences: List of all tuition-free study programs (2026/27)

Bochum University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule Bochum), founded in 1971, is a public Fachhochschule with over 10,000 students studying technology, business, and health sciences across three locations—Central Campus and Health Campus in Bochum plus a campus in Velbert/Heiligenhaus, 20 kilometers away. This regional university offers approximately 30 bachelor's and 20 master's programs in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, business administration, and increasingly health-related fields including nursing and health management, reflecting the Ruhr region's economic transition from heavy industry to services and healthcare. Located in Bochum (365,000 residents) in the heart of the Ruhr metropolitan area, the university operates in a post-industrial city undergoing transformation, with living costs around €650-850 monthly and the broader academic environment of 55,000 total students across six institutions creating a substantial student presence despite the urban industrial character. Programs operate primarily in German requiring B2-C1 proficiency for bachelor's degrees, though select master's programs including Environmental Engineering with Geothermal Energy specialization and International Business and Management are taught in English, while the typical Hochschule structure includes mandatory 20-week internships with regional companies and healthcare facilities.