The "Studienbrücke" program was created on the basis of a modification of §49 (5) of the Higher Education Act (HG) in NRW. It is about enabling direct access to German universities after obtaining a university entrance certificate. Previously, applicants first had to spend a year studying in their home country or attend a preparatory year at the Studienkolleg.
The Ruhr-Universität Bochum was one of the five pilot universities that tested innovative models for recruiting and integrating highly qualified target groups who had no direct access to German universities under the previous regulations as part of Studienstart. In the process, the "Studienbrücke" (Study Bridge) format was developed, in which the universities of the University Alliance Ruhr cooperate with the DAAD and the Goethe-Institut under the leadership of the Ruhr University. For the University Alliance Ruhr, the project is coordinated by Elena Resch.

The requirements for participation in the current Studienbrücke program are:

• Student in the 9th to 11th grade.
• proof of the required language level (see question 5)
• High motivation to study in Germany: proven by a letter of motivation, participation in student Olympiads, competitions, regional and international projects in the STEM subjects
• above-average academic performance in STEM subjects
• written consent from parents or legal guardians

As part of the program, prospective students from the participating countries are prepared linguistically and professionally by the Goethe-Institutes working on site for studying here in the University Alliance Ruhr. This preparation also includes the German teaching, learning and campus culture and introduces students to the social environment.

For more information, visit the Goethe-Institut website.

• School-leaving certificate. Alternatively: if this is not yet available - grades from the last two semesters.
• Proof of very good German language skills: TestDaF - grade 4x4 or 16 points, DSD II, or Goethe certificate C2.
• TestAS: At least 100 points must be achieved in both the core test and the subject test.
• Certificate of participation from the Goethe-Institut confirming successful completion of all modules in the "Studienbrücke" program.
• In addition, successful participation in competitions such as mathematics Olympiads or regional/international projects is desirable (please enclose certificate(s)).