Religious Studies Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Religious Studies is an academic discipline of its own. It aims to scientifically understand and explain religions around the world both in past and present times.

Religious Studies is not theology, even though it is often mistaken for it. There often appears to be a fundamental misunderstanding about what Religious Studies is as a discipline. Like theology, it focuses on religion – but it does so without any religious convictions and applies different methods and research questions. Religious Studies focuses on the human and social dimension of religions. This academic discipline is not about proving the existence of god(s) and other transcendent beings or detecting and proclaiming the one and only true religion. Religious Studies is about a social-scientific understanding of religions.

In German, this discipline is called "Religionswissenschaft". This literally means the "science of religion". The objects of its research are empirical data obtained by a variety of academic approaches. Humanities, social sciences and even natural sciences provide methodological tools used in the Religious Studies research.

Religious Studies deals with religion as a social fact and part of human interaction. People believe (or do not believe) in a realm beyond themselves and perform certain practices according to what they believe. These beliefs affect the social world; conversely, people’s social environment also affects what they believe (or do not) and how they act. Therefore, the focus of Religious Studies is on the rituals, communities, politics, ideas, materials and techniques that form religions. It is the understanding of religion as a social fact – both in past and present – that makes it observable from a social-scientific perspective.

At the Center for Religious Studies (CERES), Religious Studies is practised from an interdisciplinary perspective. Many disciplines contribute to this, each with its respective expertise, theories, and methods. These disciplines include History, Philology, Sociology, Anthropology, Art History, Economics and more. All of these help expand our knowledge and understanding of religion as a social fact. Accordingly, researchers at CERES have very different disciplinary backgrounds, and the MA programme of CERES warmly invites graduate students from various disciplines to apply.

The MA programme in Religious Studies is designed with a four-semester or two-year duration of study. It can either be studied as one-major or a two-major MA. Students from abroad will more likely opt for the one-major option. If you are interested in the two-major option, please consider that the other major of your programme may only be taught in German, which will require proficient German language skills for enrolment.

Learn more about the options for your second major subject.

The MA programme of Religious Studies consists of four separate areas:

• Theories, Comparison and Methods in the Study of Religion (two modules)
• History of Religion (three elective modules, two of which must be chosen)
• Applied Study of Religion (two modules, one of which must be chosen)
• Complementary courses

Requirements:

BA Degree in Religious Studies or equivalent: The degree should prove a minimum of three years of university study in Religious Studies or a related discipline.

Basic Knowledge in Theories: In order to maintain an academically advanced course level, all future graduate students are required to have a basic knowledge in theories and methods in the study of religion. According to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), this should account for 10 credit points in undergraduate studies or equivalent.

Basic Knowledge in History of Religions: Applicants must prove basic knowledge in the history of religion or in at least one religious tradition – to an amount of 10 credit points. This knowledge should correspond to the desired specialisation in religious traditions, regions, and historical periods chosen while a graduate student at CERES.

Students have to pay a social contribution fee of approx. 380 EUR per semester, including a semester ticket covering public transport in Germany (https://studium.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/re-registration-and-social-contribution).

Minimum of 950 EUR per month to cover personal and living expenses in Germany

Students with outstanding academic performance who are involved in special social activities may apply for a scholarship of 300 EUR per month for a year from the Ruhr-Universität Scholarship Fund “Deutschlandstipendium”: http://www.rub.de/bildungsfonds/info-studierende/en/index_en.html.

International students with good to very good academic performance who need financial support during the final phase of study may apply for a graduation grant of 400 EUR per month for four months from the International Office at RUB: https://international.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/scholarships-international-office.

The Career Service for International Students was established to support international students as they move from their studies into the German job market.

• Events & workshops: From networking events to online seminars – learn the best tips from career experts and meet start-ups from the region.
• Digital Career Guide: The Moodle course “Career Service for International Students” prepares you for starting a job in Germany.
• FIT4Job – Mentoring for Internationals: RUB alumni share their professional expertise and good practices 1:1 with you.
• Counselling services: Identify your talents and career goals in a personal counselling session. Our RUB Career Service team provides support in preparing application documents and interviews.

In the city of Bochum, you can find different types of accommodation. On average, students in Bochum pay approximately 400 to 800 EUR per month for a single apartment, which is below the average rent in Germany. A room in a shared apartment is usually less expensive.

About 5,000 students in Bochum live in multiple student halls close to the campus, which are run by the Akademisches Förderungswerk (AKAFÖ). In the halls, each student has a single room and shares a kitchen and bathroom with other students, rents an apartment with a private bathroom and kitchen, or shares an apartment with one or several flatmates. 

More information on the student halls can be found at https://studium.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/de/wohnen.

In addition, private and church-affiliated student halls accommodate up to 1,000 students: http://www.stuwo.de/wohnheim-region/bochum/.