Faculties and Institutes.
Four faculties with seven institutes.
Matrix Based Faculty Structure
As a STEM-focused university, Hochschule Ruhr West provides a platform for students, lecturers, researchers, and entrepreneurs to develop solutions to practical, real-world challenges. STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
The overarching thematic focus areas include Computer Science, Energy Systems and Energy Economics, Business Administration, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Measuring and Sensor Technology, Natural Sciences, as well as the research institute Positive Computing. The seven institutes are organized into four faculties. Degree programs and academic staff are assigned to one of these institutes. Where there is subject-related overlap, they also teach in degree programs outside their own institute. This structure ensures close interdisciplinary collaboration between teaching and research.
Faculty 1 comprises the Institutes of Computer Science, Energy Systems and Energy Economics, as well as the Positive Computing research institute at the HRW campus in Bottrop. The Dean is Prof. Dr. Uwe Handmann; the Vice Dean is Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Irrek.
The following degree programmes are offered in Faculty 1:
- Applied Computer Science, B.Sc. (also available as dual study programmes – practice-integrated and apprenticeship-integrated)
- E-Commerce, B.Sc. (also available as dual study programmes – practice-integrated and apprenticeship-integrated)
- Energy Informatics, B.Sc. (also available as dual study programmes – practice-integrated and apprenticeship-integrated)
- Energy and Environmental Engineering, B.Sc.
- Human-Technology Interaction, B.Sc. (also available as dual study programmes – practice-integrated and apprenticeship-integrated)
- Business Informatics, B.Sc. (also available as dual study programmes – practice-integrated and apprenticeship-integrated)
- Industrial Engineering – Energy and Environment, B.Eng. (also available as dual study programmes – practice-integrated and apprenticeship-integrated)
- Computer Science, M.Sc.
- Industrial Engineering – Energy Systems, M.Sc.
- Human-Technology Interaction, M.Sc.
The research profile of Faculty 1 is strongly application- and practice-oriented. The Institute of Energy Systems and Energy Economics addresses topics such as the energy transition, renewable energy, and electromobility. The Institute of Computer Science focuses on excellent, practice-oriented teaching as well as research and transfer activities with a strong connection to societal challenges in the age of digitalization.
Students have the opportunity to actively participate in research projects.
- Information on the Institute of Energy Systems and Energy Economics
- Information on the Institute of Computer Science
- Information on the Positive Computing research institute
- Information on degree programmes
Faculty 2 comprises the Institute of Business Studies at the HRW campus in Mülheim. Since May 2025, the Dean has been Prof. Dr. Sonja Schade, and the Vice Dean is Prof. Dr. Michael Vogelsang.
The following degree programmes are offered in Faculty 2:
- Business Administration – Finance and Management, B.A. (part-time integrated study programme only)
- Business Administration – Industrial Service Management, B.Sc.
- Business Administration – International Trade Management and Logistics, B.A. (also available as a dual practice-integrated programme)
- Business Administration – Energy and Water Management, B.A. (also available as dual programmes – apprenticeship-integrated and practice-integrated)
- International Business – Emerging Markets, B.A.
- Business Administration – Asian Management, M.A. (part-time)
- Business Administration – Energy and Water Economics, M.Sc. (part-time)
- Business Administration – Industrial Service Management, M.Sc. (part-time)
- Business Administration – International Marketing Management, M.A. (part-time)
- MBA – Global Management/HR, MBA (part-time, integrated study programme)
The research profile of Faculty 2 is primarily application- and practice-oriented. The Institute of Business Studies at HRW conducts interdisciplinary research in the fields of applied business administration, international business, and network economics. A regional focus is placed on emerging markets, particularly in East and South Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.
Key research areas include AI from an economic perspective, energy and water economics, marketing research, and teaching and learning research in the field of digitalization. Both fundamental and applied research contributions are developed to enhance the competitiveness of companies operating internationally.
- Information on the Institute of Business Studies
- Information on degree programmes
Faculty 3 comprises the Institute of Mechanical Engineering and the Institute of Civil Engineering at the HRW campus in Mülheim. The Dean is Prof. Dr. Martin Schmücker; the Vice Dean is Prof. Dr. Peter Vogt.
The following degree programmes are offered in Faculty 3:
- Civil Engineering, B.Sc. (also available as a dual practice-integrated programme)
- Technology and Management (project-based women’s study programme), B.Eng.
- Mechanical Engineering, B.Sc. (also available as dual programmes – apprenticeship-integrated and practice-integrated)
- Industrial Engineering – Civil Engineering, B.Sc. (also available as a dual practice-integrated programme)
- Industrial Engineering – Mechanical Engineering, B.Sc. (also available as dual programmes – apprenticeship-integrated and practice-integrated)
- Civil Engineering, M.Sc.
- Technical Production Management, M.Sc.
The research profile of Faculty 3 is primarily application- and practice-oriented. The Institute of Mechanical Engineering at HRW covers key areas such as automotive engineering, computer science in mechanical engineering, and production engineering.
- Information on the Institute of Civil Engineering
- Information on the Institute of Mechanical Engineering
- Information on degree programmes
Faculty 4 comprises the Institute of Measuring and Sensor Technology and the Institute of Natural Sciences at the HRW campus in Mülheim. The Dean is Prof. Dr. Christian Weiß; the Vice Dean is Prof. Dr. Marvin Kaminski.
The following degree programmes are offered in Faculty 4:
- Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies, B.Sc. (also available as dual programmes – apprenticeship-integrated and practice-integrated)
- Automotive Electronics and Electromobility, B.Sc. (also available as dual programmes – apprenticeship-integrated and practice-integrated)
- Functional Safety, M.Eng.
- Health and Medical Technologies, B.Sc.
- Mechatronics, B.Sc. (also available as dual programmes – apprenticeship-integrated and practice-integrated)
- Safety Engineering, B.Sc.
- Systems Engineering, M.Sc.
- Sustainable Health Technologies, M.Sc.
The research profile of Faculty 4 is primarily application- and practice-oriented. The Institute of Measuring and Sensor Technology at Hochschule Ruhr West focuses on industrial and medical measurement and sensor technologies. The Institute of Natural Sciences primarily addresses topics such as microsystems technology, microfluidics, and their applications in medical and chemical analytics as well as chemical reaction engineering. This portfolio is complemented by work in mathematical modeling and computer simulation.
Students have the opportunity to actively participate in research projects.
- Information on the Institute of Measuring and Sensor Technology
- Information on the Institute of Natural Sciences
- Information on degree programmes