Information for
Students
The Basics
The certificate consists of three modules worth 5 ECTS credits each, amounting to a total workload of 15 ECTS credits. It is designed to be highly flexible and is open to all regularly enrolled students at Ruhr University Bochum, including those in Bachelor’s, Master’s, state examination, and doctoral programs. The modular structure allows you to complete the certificate within your degree program, without any overall workload.
The Modules
The Basic Module “Sustainability and the Future – Interdisciplinary Perspectives” provides students with cross-disciplinary insights into selected fields of action in sustainable development. It is worth 5 ECTS credits and consists of a central lecture series, “Climate Change, Sustainability and Future Visions”, combined with a selection of accompanying seminars. From which you can choose the one that best fits your interests.
The Basic Module is a mandatory component for all students pursuing the certificate. It must be completed as offered and cannot be replaced by the recognition of other coursework. We strongly recommend completing the Basic Module before taking the Advanced or Practical Module.
The Advanced Module is worth 5 ECTS credits and is designed to enable an in-depth academic engagement with key questions of sustainability. There are two ways to complete the Advanced Module:
Option 1 You can complete the module by taking suitable courses or modules within your own field of study, provided they have a clear connection to ecological sustainability topics as defined further down the page. To have your coursework approved, please contact your faculty’s certificate coordinator. A list of contact persons can be found further down the page in the service section.
Option 2: You can choose one of the interdisciplinary courses offered by the certificate program (link to the course program). Before registering, please contact your academic advisor to clarify whether the course can be credited toward the elective area of your degree program.
The Practical Module is worth 5 ECTS credits and focuses on applying and testing the knowledge you have acquired, while also strengthening your individual skills and competencies. There are three ways to complete the Practical Module:
Option 1 Internships as part of your degree program can be recognized, if the internship has a clear connection to ecological sustainability topics as defined further down the page. Professional or extracurricular activities outside your studies cannot be counted. To clarify recognition, please contact your faculty’s certificate coordinator. A list of contact persons can be found further down the page in the service section.
Option 2 You can complete suitable courses or modules within your degree program that have a clear focus on ecological sustainability topics as defined further down the page. The course must provide sufficient scope for independent and project-based work. Introductory or basic-level courses cannot be recognized.Please contact your faculty’s certificate coordinator to have your coursework approved. The list of contact persons can be found further down the page in the service section.
Option 3 You can also choose from the interdisciplinary courses offered by the certificate program (link to the course program). Before registering, please contact your academic advisor to clarify whether the course can be credited toward the elective area of your degree program.
Recognition Rules
For the Advanced and Practical Modules, coursework from your degree program may be recognized if the following conditions are met:
- The course has a clear focus on sustainability. It addresses topics in ecology, society, and economics, including questions of resource use and the management of planetary boundaries.
- The course is either a regular part of your degree program curriculum or has been credited as an elective or supplementary course within your program.
Faculty certificate coordinators can confirm whether individual courses meet the requirements for recognition within the certificat (find the contact list further down in the service section). If your faculty does not have a designated person, please contact the coordination office via E-Mail: zertifikat-n@rub.de.
The Certificate
Once you have successfully completed all required courses for the certificate and they have been recorded in Campus or FlexNow, you can apply for the issuance of your certificate. To do so, please send an informal email to the coordination office (zertifikat-n@rub.de) including a current scan of your transcript of records. To facilitate processing, please mark the relevant courses on your transcript and, if not already indicated, add the semester in which you attended each course. In cases where coursework from your degree program has been recognized, we also ask you to include a brief written confirmation from your faculty’s certificate coordinator on the transcript, confirming that the recognition was agreed in accordance with the program regulations.
Service Section
Inspirationen
As a student at Ruhr University Bochum, you have the opportunity to develop and implement your own project promoting sustainability in teaching and learning through the Funding Program Student Initiative Projects. Such projects can also be recognized as the Practical Module within the certificate..
Any Questions?
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your faculty’s certificate coordinator at any time or reach out to the central coordination office:
GAFO 04/914, Tel: 29223, mail: zertifikat-n (at) rub.de