Menu
Hochschule Bochum, Fachhochschule Dortmund, and Westfälische Hochschule in Gelsenkirchen are the three major universities of applied sciences in the Ruhr metropolitan region.
For many years, they have been working together at various levels in the areas of teaching, research, and the so-called “third mission.” Since 2020, under the umbrella of the Ruhr University Alliance, they have been strategically and systematically leveraging their combined potential.
The declared goal of the alliance is to actively and sustainably shape the transformation of the region by contributing applied scientific excellence and providing practice-oriented education for skilled professionals in future-relevant fields.
Together, the three universities are among the most research-intensive universities of applied sciences in Germany. The activities of the universities are funded and supported through numerous projects by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the Mercator Foundation.
The strategic alliance of Hochschule Bochum, Fachhochschule Dortmund, and Westfälische Hochschule has, through numerous joint initiatives in recent years, developed into a focal point for regional momentum and impulses from applied sciences in the Ruhr region.
“Third Mission” refers to the activities of universities aimed at engaging with and connecting to their surrounding environment—for example, with municipalities, companies, associations, and initiatives. The primary focus is on bringing academic expertise into society, while taking current trends and needs into account (in short: knowledge transfer).
Hochschule Bochum is a university of applied sciences specializing in engineering, business, and health, with nearly 10,000 students. Its eight faculties—Architecture; Civil and Environmental Engineering; Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Geodesy; Health Sciences; Mechatronics and Mechanical Engineering; Nursing, Midwifery and Therapy Sciences; and Business—offer 52 bachelor’s and 24 master’s degree programs. Modern laboratories and skills labs, tailored learning environments, and a close-knit, supportive atmosphere foster individual learning and practice-oriented solutions. In this way, students actively drive future-oriented topics and help shape social change. Closely connected with the regional economy, the healthcare sector, and a broad network of international partners, Hochschule Bochum provides excellent conditions for outstanding teaching and research
“We focus on students”: Fachhochschule Dortmund is committed to academically educating young people through high-quality teaching, personalized support, and an internationally oriented outlook, supporting them in developing their potential and enabling attractive career paths.
With around 13,500 students, FH Dortmund is among the ten largest universities of applied sciences in Germany. Its programs are designed to provide practice-oriented education. Around 70 degree programs offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science; engineering, business, and social sciences; as well as in architecture and design. Established international partnerships enable students to acquire global competencies. Strong third-party funded research and numerous knowledge transfer projects create direct links to local companies. In this way, FH Dortmund also provides sustainable impulses for the academic landscape and the region.
Die FH Dortmund gehört mit etwa 13.500 Studierenden zu den zehn größten Fachhochschulen in Deutschland. Das Studium ist daran orientiert, anwendungsnah auszubilden. Rund 70 Studiengänge bieten Bachelor- und Master-Abschlüsse in der Informatik, in Ingenieur-, Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften sowie in den Bereichen Architektur und Design. Etablierte internationale Partnerschaften ermöglichen den Studierenden, globale Kompetenzen zu erwerben. Drittmittelstarke Forschung und zahlreiche Transferprojekte schaffen direkte Zugänge zu Unternehmen vor Ort. Die FH Dortmund setzt damit zugleich nachhaltige Impulse für den Wissenschaftsstandort und die Region.
Since 1992, Westfälische Hochschule, with its three campuses in Gelsenkirchen, Recklinghausen, and Bocholt, has been setting regional and international benchmarks in the practice-oriented education of skilled professionals and future leaders. Equal opportunities through talent development, sustainability, and a forward-looking approach are central to its research and teaching. Across more than 60 technology- and business-oriented degree programs, around 7,200 students prepare for the challenges of tomorrow. Together with more than 760 staff members and partners from industry, the university creates innovative solutions for processes, products, and services through application-oriented research.
The Ruhr University Alliance brings together the strengths of Hochschule Bochum, Fachhochschule Dortmund, and Westfälische Hochschule to shape research, teaching, and knowledge transfer in innovative ways. Together, we develop practice-oriented solutions, qualify skilled professionals, and provide momentum for the sustainable transformation of the Ruhr metropolitan region.
The Ruhr region is defined by transformation—it always has been. The Ruhr University Alliance builds on this legacy: we, too, are shapers of transformation. We contribute our insights from research and teaching, work together with partners from industry and society to develop solutions to today’s challenges, and create impulses for innovation for the people of our region.
Rektorin der Fachhochschule Dortmund
Each of our three universities has its own distinct profile and unique strengths. With the Ruhr University Alliance, we have created a platform that bundles these strengths. Together, we develop innovative new formats in teaching and knowledge transfer and contribute to the sustainable transformation of the region.
Präsident der Hochschule Bochum
If the Ruhr region has experience with one thing, it is constant change. In light of major societal challenges, the ongoing transformation process—from digitalization to decarbonization—once again demands profound change from our region. We see ourselves as a partner in qualifying young people to shape this process in a future-proof way with creativity, courage, and sound judgment.
Präsident der Westfälischen Hochschule
More than five million people, 53 cities, the densest higher education landscape in Germany, and a growing start-up scene: people in the Ruhr region value our region for its diversity and the opportunities it offers. As a university alliance, we aim to attract even more international skilled professionals, students, and researchers by highlighting the strengths and opportunities of the Ruhr metropolitan region, and to contribute our best-practice examples to the global dialogue on the green transformation of industrial regions
Kanzler der Hochschule Bochum
At universities and other public institutions, experimentation within existing structures is often difficult. As a university alliance, we therefore create new spaces that offer greater freedom—freedom for new approaches to jointly develop solutions, but also the freedom to fail. Because sometimes it is precisely from failures that we can learn, and from which profound and effective innovations ultimately emerge.
Kanzlerin der Fachhochschule Dortmund
Hier finden Sie eine Übersicht der aktuellsten Neuigkeiten
Hier finden Sie eine Übersicht der aktuellsten Neuigkeiten
Hier finden Sie eine Übersicht der kommenden Veranstaltungen
Hier finden Sie eine Übersicht der kommenden Veranstaltungen
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Vimeo. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou need to load content from reCAPTCHA to submit the form. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou are currently viewing a placeholder content from Google Maps. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou are currently viewing a placeholder content from Mapbox. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou are currently viewing a placeholder content from OpenStreetMap. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou are currently viewing a placeholder content from Google Maps. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou need to load content from hCaptcha to submit the form. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou need to load content from reCAPTCHA to submit the form. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou are currently viewing a placeholder content from Turnstile. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More Information