Evangelische Hochschule Rheinland-Westfalen-Lippe
About
Evangelische Hochschule Rheinland-Westfalen-Lippe in Bochum is tuition-free, teaching social work, education, and health with IELTS 6.0 entry. Its EU-recognised degree opens the Schengen labour market and the 18-month German job-seeker visa, while Bochum's low cost of living stretches student budgets further.
Bochum is an industrial city in the Ruhr with a young student vibe and surprisingly affordable living costs — about 30% cheaper than Munich or Berlin. Student bars, cultural spaces, and parks line the city, making it easy to build a social life without breaking the bank.
Application deadlines
- Winter semester — Bachelor programmes15 July
Applications are handled through the institution's shared application portal ('ich will Sinn'), used by this and sister Evangelische Hochschulen. Source: https://www.ich-will-sinn.de/bewerbung
- Summer semester — Bachelor programmes15 January
Applications are handled through the same shared application portal. Source: https://www.ich-will-sinn.de/bewerbung
- Winter semester — Master programmes30 June
Applications are handled through the same shared application portal. Source: https://www.ich-will-sinn.de/bewerbung
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to study at Evangelische Hochschule Rheinland-Westfalen-Lippe as a non-EU student?
Tuition for non-EU students at Evangelische Hochschule Rheinland-Westfalen-Lippe is €0 per year. Living costs in Bochum are separate.
What IELTS score do you need for Evangelische Hochschule Rheinland-Westfalen-Lippe?
English-taught programmes at Evangelische Hochschule Rheinland-Westfalen-Lippe typically require IELTS 6 or equivalent. Confirm the exact requirement per programme on the official admissions page.
How much money do you need to show for a student visa to Germany?
For a student residence permit in Germany you must prove €11,904 per year (2026, DAAD / Study in Germany — proof of financing (blocked account, 992 EUR/month for 12 months): https://www.study-in-germany.com/en/plan-your-studies/requirements/proof-of-financing/).
Where is Evangelische Hochschule Rheinland-Westfalen-Lippe located?
Evangelische Hochschule Rheinland-Westfalen-Lippe is in Bochum, Germany. Immanuel-Kant-Straße 18, 44803 Bochum, Germany
What can you study at Evangelische Hochschule Rheinland-Westfalen-Lippe?
Fields offered include: Social Work, Education, Health.
Accommodation
EvH RWL has no dormitory of its own; housing runs through AKAFÖ, the joint Studierendenwerk serving Bochum's public and church-run universities, so EvH students compete for the same limited AKAFÖ rooms as Ruhr-Universität Bochum and Hochschule Bochum students. Apply as soon as you have an admission or enrollment letter — winter-semester (October) intake rooms fill up fastest.
Source- Studierendenwerk Bochum · regional student services — it allocates the halls, not the university
- WG-Gesucht
- HousingAnywhere
- ImmobilienScout24
National funding for this destination
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Why this works
- Zero tuition for international students makes this institution exceptionally affordable compared to private German universities charging €10,000–20,000 per year.
- An EU-recognised degree opens the full Schengen labour market and qualifies for Germany's 18-month post-study job-seeker visa.
- Social work, education, and health are applied fields with strong demand in Germany's ageing society and public-sector job market.
- IELTS 6.0 entry threshold is accessible for CIS students without advanced language preparation.
- Bochum is a mid-sized Ruhr city with low cost of living compared to Munich or Hamburg, making student budgets stretch further.
- The Ruhr metropolitan area hosts major hospitals, social services, and NGOs, giving practical placement and internship options close to campus.
What to check
- Most bachelor programmes at German Fachhochschulen run in German; daily study and placement require B2–C1 German regardless of IELTS score.
- Non-EU students must prove roughly €11,904 in a blocked account (Sperrkonto) before a student visa is issued, requiring significant upfront capital.
- Students from CIS countries with non-recognised school diplomas typically must complete a preparatory year (Studienkolleg) before admission, adding one extra year.
- Social-work and education degrees often require German language proficiency for internships and are harder to transfer internationally than science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) credentials.
- Bochum's economy is undergoing post-industrial transition; private-sector internship and graduate-job options are narrower than in Frankfurt or Munich.
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Tuition and deadlines change with each academic year — the date beside the figures says when we last confirmed them on the official source. Visa rules are set by governments and can change between our checks.
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