Student advisory service
Ruhr University Bochum is one of the few universities in Germany where students can study physics with a focus on astronomy or astrophysics. To gain an insight into astronomy during the early semesters, students may attend the lecture “Fundamentals of Astronomy” (“Freier Wahlbereich”, marked in yellow). For a first in-depth exploration of the subject, the lecture “Introduction to Astrophysics” is recommended. It can be taken as part of both the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs (“Wahlpflichtmodul” A or B, marked in grey).
If you wish to pursue further specialization in astronomy within the Master of Science program, it is advisable to take “Introduction to Astrophysics” already during the Bachelor’s program.
Both Bachelor’s and Master’s theses can be written in the astronomy/astrophysics specialization area.
In the Bachelor of Science program, 22 weeks are allotted for the Bachelor’s thesis; in the Master of Science, one year is provided for the Master’s thesis. In the two-subject Bachelor’s program, the thesis must be completed within 6 weeks, while in the Master of Education, the period ranges from four to six months.
A selection of possible thesis topics can be found on the websites of the respective research groups.
All relevant information on credit points and the individual subject areas can be found in the module handbooks below. They provide a comprehensive overview of the content, requirements, and structure of the modules in the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs in Physics (B.Sc. / M.Sc.).