Regional Group Ruhr

Boating in lake landscapes, discovering the avant-garde of international art at festivals, visiting the most beautiful colliery in the world – you can experience all of this in the Ruhr region. We look forward to showing it to you.

The cultural metropolis with (industrial) history

At the beginning of each semester, we invite you to a welcome meeting. Every month we organise informal get-togethers, trips, excursions and cultural activities that offer a balance of cultural visits, sightseeing, sporting and social events – there is something for everyone.

» Taking part in the Freundeskreis events has been very beneficial to me. Not only I enjoyed the time, but I have made friends with locals and people from all over the world. «

Saptarshi Mandal (India)

Bochum, Dortmund, Essen, Duisburg – the Ruhr regional group covers the entire Ruhr region. This also means that our events take place in different cities. Take the opportunity and your train ticket: explore the many faces of Germany’s most striking metropolitan region together with us. Because, believe us: it’s really worth it! You’ll see for yourself….

By the way, children are always welcome at our events. We want to create opportunities for dialogue through special events for families. The ‘Germany up close’ programme in the Ruhr regional group is only informal so far, but we are happy to look for host families on request.

Team

Dr Hatem Amin
I have been an active member of the DAAD Alumni & Friends since 2012. I joined the Ruhr Regional Group in 2019, and in 2021 I was appointed to the executive committee of the Alumni & Friends. I passionately believe in the power of diversity and the DAAD Alumni & Friends is the right platform to share information and experiences, particularly for new scholarship holders. For me, networking is essential – not just on campus but off campus, too. Networking works best in relaxed, informal encounters such as while playing sport, taking an excursion into the countryside or visiting a city. With our motto of “learning with and from each other”, everyone can contribute here. That’s why I love being part of this group.

Tushar Shaw
“As a relatively recent DAAD scholarship holder and doctoral student in Chemistry at Ruhr University Bochum, I have called Bochum, NRW, and Germany my home since 2023. During my first months here, DAAD-Freundeskreis became much more than a student group – it was a welcome escape from the challenges of long days in the laboratory and the uncertainties of settling into a new country. With DAAD-Freundeskreis, we discovered hidden corners of Germany, shared unforgettable experiences, and built friendships that made Germany feel like home. Therefore, I was happy to join DAAD-Freundeskreis as an active member in 2026. In the regional group Ruhr my goal is not simply to organize events, but to create a warm, inclusive community where international students can laugh, explore, connect, and support one another. I wish to ensure that every DAAD scholar has a home away from home—a place where friendships flourish, memories are made, and no one ever feels alone on their journey.”

Dr. Anneka Esch-van Kan
Dr. Daniel Esch

Contact

If you have any questions about the programme or our group, please write to us. We are open to suggestions and look forward to exchanging ideas.

E-mail: fk-ruhr@daad-alumni.de

Links

Further information and events for international students can be found here: