For many decades, the developing field of Subsurface Engineering has become increasingly important in civil, geosciences and underground engineering applications. Reacting to this, the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Faculty of Geosciences at Ruhr-Universität Bochum established the Master of Science programme Subsurface Engineering in 2022.
The Master programme Subsurface Engineering is a specialised post-graduate program, which offers an engaging integrated taught and research curriculum in the field of civil engineering, geosciences and underground engineering. The Master's course is embedded in a robust research environment with an excellent international reputation, which involves worldwide experts in a broad research area from tunnel engineering, geosciences, geotechnics, geothermal energy and computational engineering. The Subsurface Engineering programme provides its students with key skills in applied mathematics, geotechnics, geology, geophysics, and numerical methods required for innovatively designing and analysing geotechnical and underground structures, subsurface and utilisation resources.
All courses and lectures of the Master's programme are held in English. Most of the lecturers spent an essential part of their career in countries abroad, thus having profound teaching skills paired with much international experience.
The Master programme Subsurface Engineering starts every winter term and takes four semesters (2 years) to complete. After the first semester with fundamental courses, depending on their own qualifications, students can choose to focus on two directions to deepen their knowledge:
During the first three semesters, students attend a number of compulsory, compulsory-optional and optional courses (see curriculum). The compulsory courses in the first semester provide students key-skills in the field of geology, mathematics, soil mechanics, hydrogeology and numerical methods. Advanced courses in the second and third semesters offer advanced and state-of-the-art knowledge in the field of geotechnics and tunnelling as well as in characterisation and exploiting underground space.
The fourth semester is dedicated to the Master thesis, which accounts for 30 ECTS (900 hours in the semester). In this context, students are free to write their Master thesis in an academic environment at various university departments while being supported by a lecturer of the Master programme. When they have completed the programme, Ruhr-Universität awards the title Master of Science (M.Sc.) to the successful candidates.
To complete the Master's programme, students must obtain 120 ECTS (including the Master's thesis).
Due to the high academic standards of the programme and the condensed timetable, we demand a firm commitment from our students. In order to study successfully, students are expected to work focused and with effort and dedication.
The Ruhr-University Bochum (RUB), founded in 1962, is located outside the city centre in the south of Bochum. It is one of the ten largest universities in Germany and serves around 43.000 students. More than 3.000 international students and several partnerships with universities from countries all over the world ensure the university's cosmopolitan and international character. RUB thus provides excellent conditions for interdisciplinary studies and on- and off-campus cultural and leisure-time facilities.
Different from other, more traditional universities like Muenster or Aachen, all RUB faculties are located on one modern campus, thus bringing about a significant strategic advantage for the cooperation between the faculties: Only some hundred meters in walking distance separate the mechanical engineers from the chemists, the psychologists from the biologists and the civil engineers from the physicians.
For more general information about the RUB, please visit the RUB homepage.
With the knowledge obtained from the Master programme, graduated students can work in various engineering positions, from planning to construction roles in tunnelling, mining, and sewer and pipeline construction, as well as field and laboratory subsurface investigations for the planning and usage of underground energy systems.
All lectures and examinations are held in English. Master's thesis is written and defended in English.
German language skills are not required to be admitted to the programme. However, pre-knowledge of the German language will be very helpful in everyday life and considerably help you socialise with other RUB students. We thus strongly recommend you take German classes before coming to Germany. Besides, Ruhr-Universität Bochum offers free German language courses for all levels each semester, which could be counted as optional credits.
Our students come from all over the world. Therefore, the composition of the classes is very diverse. Studying Subsurface Engineering in Bochum, you will find yourself in a stimulating, culturally diverse environment. Internationalisation is a word which has much been talked of lately - here, and it comes to life when students are talking and working with other people from a variety of cultural backgrounds.
Like in most engineering subjects, women are a minority in Subsurface Engineering; only about 20% of our students are female. Thus, we would like to encourage female students to apply for our course and join us. We feel a solid commitment to support our female students.
If you get an acceptance for the Master's course Subsurface Engineering, you will be assigned to one of our personal tutors from the Subsurface Support team, who will be your future contact person for any organisational questions (Visa, Accommodation, Health Insurance, etc). In addition, senior students and members of the student council will be available to answer your questions and give tips to ensure that you will have the best possible starting conditions at Ruhr-University Bochum.
In general, all students of Ruhr-Universität Bochum have to pay a social contribution of about 360€ per semester. The social contribution includes free use of public transport in the whole federal state of North-Rhine Westphalia, and reduced prices for food and drinks bought in the canteen (Mensa) and the cafeterias. The semester contribution must first be paid after enrolment. Thereafter, it is due before the start of the next academic semester. Beyond that, there are no further tuition fees at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum.
More information about the social contribution the Registrar's office website.
Subject: Subsurface Engineering
Duration: 2 years
Degree: Master of Science
Location: Bochum, Germany
Language of Instruction: English
Social Contribution: 362,62 € per semester (approximately)
Course Start: October (winter semester)
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Last update: Mar 15, 2023
