The Ruhr region: Between lecture halls and blast furnaces – studying in Germany's industrial ‘’Pott’’ region

In the heart of one of Europe's biggest conurbations lie the cities of Bochum, Duisburg and Essen. The Ruhr region attracts students from all over the world not only with its young universities and prestigious research institutes but also because of its diverse range of cultural and recreational activities. 

by Janna Degener

The Ruhr region at a glance

 

‘Sun still fighting / through smoke and steam / life here's better / than you could ever dream / life here's better / life here's better,’ sang the famous German musician Herbert Grönemeyer about his hometown of Bochum in the 1980s. Like Duisburg and Essen, Bochum is located in the middle of Germany's biggest conurbation, the Ruhr region, or ‘Pott’ as it is fondly known. The Ruhr region lies at the heart of Europe and together with the Rhineland forms a metropolitan area which bears comparison with cities such as London and Paris, with its population of 11 million and a well-developed infrastructure. For many years, the former industrial region was regarded as Germany's black lung. But today, students from all over the world value not only the Ruhr's clean air but also its dense educational and research landscape and the broad spectrum of recreational and cultural activities: whether you like shopping, dancing at hip nightspots, visiting art exhibitions or attending national league football matches – you're sure to find what you're looking for here. One of the special things about the region is its fascinating industrial heritage: where coal was once mined, you'll now find art and design exhibitions, where smokestacks once belched forth smoke, locals and visitors now stroll through lush green recreational parks. Representing the whole of the Ruhr region, the city of Essen was nominated European Capital of Culture in 2010.

Universities at a glance

 

Ruhr University Bochum (RUB)

The Ruhr University Bochum was the first new university to open in the Federal Republic of Germany after the Second World War, in 1965. With around 32,000 students, it's not only one of the country's biggest universities, it is also known for pioneering the introduction of Bachelor and Master's degrees in Germany. Over 4000 foreign students from around 120 countries are enrolled at the RUB. All major disciplines such as the natural sciences, engineering, humanities and medicine are brought together on one large campus, where it takes just five minutes to get from lecture hall to canteen. Short distances not only facilitate everyday life, they also promote cross-departmental exchange. Interdisciplinary research focuses include neuroscience, protein research, structural biology, plasma research, systems chemistry, materials science, IT security and religious science.

University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE or UNI DuE)
Like the Ruhr University Bochum, the University of Duisburg-Essen is one of Germany's biggest universities with around 32,000 students, almost 5000 from abroad. North Rhine-Westphalia's youngest university is the result of a merger of the comprehensive universities in Duisburg and Essen in 2003, which still have their own campuses in the two cities. The university's research activities focus on five key fields: nanoscience; genetic medicine and medical biotechnology; urban systems, logistics and transport; change of contemporary societies and empirical research in education.

Bochum University of Applied Sciences (BO)
Bochum University of Applied Sciences, which specialises in technology, engineering and business, is the city's second largest university with 4,600 students. At the former polytechnic, particular importance is attached to a practice-oriented and vocational education.

Fachhochschule Gelsenkirchen University of Applied Sciences (FH Gelsenkirchen)
Founded in 1992, Gelsenkirchen University of Applied Sciences offers 20 study courses in the fields of technology, computer science, natural sciences, business, law and journalism. Around 5,100 students are enrolled at the sites in Gelsenkirchen, Bocholt and Recklinghausen.

Folkwang University of the Arts Essen
Founded in 1927, Folkwang University offers artistic training in music, theatre and dance. Around 1,360 students are enrolled at its sites in Essen, Duisburg, Bochum and Dortmund, 30 percent from abroad. 

Recreational activities in the Ruhr region

 

In the morning, you can go on a shopping spree in Europe's biggest shopping centre in Oberhausen, in the afternoon you can visit Essen's Museum Folkwang or the Wilhelm-Lehmbruck Museum in Duisburg, and in the evening you can attend the lively musical Starlight Express in Bochum – thanks to excellent public transport services, it's possible to enjoy a wide and varied programme of activities in the Ruhr region all within the space of a day. And with the super cheap NRW Ticket for students, there's no reason why you can't venture further afield to the Rhine cities of Düsseldorf or Cologne or even cross the border into Holland.
If you're interested in the history of the Ruhr region, you can admire up to 52 witnesses of the area's industrial past on the Industrial Heritage Trail. During the Ruhrtriennale festival, the region's most famous industrial monuments, such as the Zeche Zollverein in Essen, the Landscape Park Duisburg-Nord  and the Jahrhunderthalle Bochum are transformed into venues for concerts, plays, literary events and dance performances. If you'd rather spend the evening in a bar or beergarden, check out the Bochumer Bermuda Triangle or Duisburg's Inner Harbour. Nature lovers and hikers also find plenty to do and see in Duisburg, Essen and Bochum with the six-lake region, the Baldeneysee, Kemnader Stausee and numerous cycle trails.

Interview with Ju aus China

 

Ju Zhang (28) from China is completing a Master's degree at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Technical Logistics and Mechanical Engineering. In this interview, she describes her life in Duisburg.

What made you decide to study in Duisburg?
I wanted to study in Germany and my university in China has an exchange programme with the Uni Duisburg-Essen. That's why I decided to come here. It was more or less a coincidence. I later found out that this is supposed to be the best university in Germany for the course I'm doing in Technical Logistics.

How did you imagine the Ruhr area to be while you were still in China?
I learnt a lot about the Ruhr area in geography lessons at primary school. In a class test, we had to locate Dortmund, Leverkusen and Duisburg on a map. I remember that well. Back then, I associated the region with lots of industry and high-rise buildings and ships with black smoke that travelled up and down the Ruhr and Rhine. (laughs)

And how would you describe it now?
It's true that the Ruhr is traditionally an industrial region. But it's not dirty here, and the sky is blue. I've never seen such a green and clean industrial area. A lot of old industrial buildings have also been converted, for example, into museums.

And how do you like living in Duisburg?
Very much! The people here are very open and I like the fact that they're so direct (laughs). The city also has a lot to offer. For example, I enjoy going to the Landscape Park. You can look at the remains of the old steel industry there, but you can also just relax: go for a walk, drink coffee, have fun. I like that a lot. And I'm also a big fan of Duisburg Zoo.

Do you have any more recommendations for students who are new in town?
When you arrive in Duisburg, you should go to one of the many museums here. I liked the Lehmbruck Museum, for example. The best place for shopping is Königsstrasse, and in my opinion, café Panciera sells the best ice-cream. Between April and October, you can go on a tour of the Inner Harbour and learn about Duisburg's industrial past.

Useful links

 

Information from the Ruhr University Bochum with links to cultural events in Bochum and the Ruhr region
Information and links about life in Duisburg and Essen, the public transport network and cultural activities are available on the websites of the University of Duisburg-Essen
Student welfare services of the Ruhr University Bochum and University of Duisburg-Essen
Local public transport Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr
More information about recreational activities and cultural events is available on the websites of nonstop, Ja-zu-Bochum.de, Metropohle Ruhr and Coolibri