Early Career

Why a Career in IT Security?

With the rapidly advancing digitalization of all areas of life, IT security is increasingly becoming a central prerequisite for the self-determination of private individuals, companies and states. If you want to help protect private and public data, self-driving cars or public infrastructure from cybercriminal attacks – essentially: if you’re looking to help save the world – then you have come to the right place.

Excellent and diversified: Career and job prospects in IT security

The career prospects of the graduates are excellent and broadly diversified: from the development of cryptographic procedures for electronic cards to the management of the security departments of large companies to work in the growing field of IT security consulting. They are also sought after by governmental entities, such as the Federal Office for Information Security or intelligence agencies. Our degrees are also excellent preparation for engaging in further research at a university or in industry.

The broad approach of our study courses prepares students exceptionally well for a number of career paths outside of IT security too. We are particularly distinguished through the way we connect computer science and engineering – a combination that is in high demand in the IT industry. Our graduates are consequently very well prepared for careers in the mobile phone industry and in telecommunications or software companies.

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Degree Programs

The Ruhr-University Bochum (RUB) has been a pioneer in IT security education since 2000. Today the RUB is the largest educational institution for IT security in Europe with 1,000 students as well as around 200 enrolments and 120 degrees per year.

The comprehensive range of courses is characterized by the interdisciplinary combination of computer science and engineering. However, the focus on IT security is particularly groundbreaking.

Students at the RUB attend lectures in cryptography, network and computer security from the very beginning.

The excellent breadth and depth of the research-related courses are also reflected in the numerous special lectures on IT security. In addition, to a substantial primary education, the courses offer lectures on highly topical research topics such as cryptocurrencies (e.g. Bitcoin), privacy or digital forensics.

Quicklinks

Bachelors in IT Security

Masters in IT Security Information Technology

Masters in IT Security Networks and Systems

Distance-learning Course Applied IT-Security

ITS.Connect

We offer a Bachelors program and three Masters programs. Researchers at the RUB teach on all four courses:

Bachelor IT Security

The undergraduate Bachelor program in IT security does not require any particular previous knowledge except for the university entrance qualification (Abitur or comparable degree). Interest in logical thinking and technical contexts are the best prerequisites. Basic subjects are cryptography, mathematics and an introduction to computer science. Afterwards, extensive knowledge of modern IT security will be conveyed. The course of studies terminates with an industrial internship and the bachelor thesis. More information

Masters in IT Security / Information Technology

The Master program in IT Security / Information Technology is dedicated for graduates of the Bachelor program IT Security. It deepens and expands the knowledge gained there and is characterized in particular by a broad range of more than 25 elective courses in the field of IT security and privacy. The program finishes with a master thesis, which deals with current issues in IT security. More information

Masters in IT Security / Networks and Systems

The Master program in IT Security / Networks and Systems is open to students with a Bachelor degree in computer science, electrical engineering, information technology, mathematics or physics. In addition to compulsory lectures, in which topics such as cryptography, network and operating system security are taught, students can choose from over 30 elective courses from the most diverse areas of modern IT security. More information

Distance-learning course Applied IT-Security

In cooperation with the International School of IT Security (isits AG) the RUB offers the distance learning course Applied IT Security. It was introduced more than ten years ago as the first distance learning course for IT security in Germany and nowadays enjoys great popularity. It enables interested parties from all over Germany and beyond to acquire a master degree in one of the most popular fields of technology – besides their regular work. Entry requirements are at least one year of professional activity and a Bachelor degree in computer science, electrical engineering, information technology, mathematics or physics. Similar to the face-to-face Master programs, this Master program also offers extensive training in the fundamentals and current topics of IT security. More information

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"And what do you do with that?" Graduate Max Hoffmann reflects on his career path in IT security and his current role as a Product Field Security Manager at ETAS.

What others are saying about the HGI

Ruhr-Universität Bochum is a one-of-a-kind place to study, with internationally renowned professors who collaborate closely with one another. As a student, you have access to a wide range of expertise.

Dr. David Rupprecht
Postdoctoral Researcher at the Cluster of Excellence CASA

The training is fantastic and totally unique in Europe. Anyone who studies here won’t be waiting long for a job offer afterwards. Or they’ll start a company of their own, like I did.

Dr.-Ing. Timo Kasper
Alumnus and co-founder of Kasper & Oswald GmbH

In the hacker practical training, students assumed the role of an attacker and simulated an attack on a large network. This way we learn how to stay one step ahead of attackers and how to safeguard systems.

Frederic Schulz
Alumnus of the bachelor program IT Security

Dobbertin Challenge

Since 2006, the Dobbertin Challenge has been inviting students to tackle complex cryptographic tasks. This challenge is specifically designed for students in the fields of IT security, applied computer science, mathematics, and electrical engineering at RUB. The participant who successfully completes the challenge the fastest will be rewarded with a certificate and a prize.

More information on the Dobbertin Challenge

FluxFingers CTF-Team

The FluxFingers are the official CTF team of Ruhr University Bochum and have been playing CTF competitions since 2007. A Capture the Flag (CTF) is an IT security competition where teams worldwide compete in areas such as cryptography, reverse engineering, and web security. With the FluxFingers, students can expand their theoretical knowledge and test their hacking skills. The FluxRookies offer interested students the opportunity to enter the CTF world through lectures and initial CTF challenges. On Discord, the FluxFingers provide information about current CTFs and events and answer questions.

Further details about the FluxFingers can be found on their website

Research Training Groups

The training of excellent junior staff is a particular focus of the HGI. Since its foundation, we have guided about 90 young scientists to their doctorates. Our doctoral students are integrated into top-level research at an early stage and gain access to a leading international research network.

An essential element in our promotion of young researchers are the Research Training Groups, which are characterized by their close ties to top-level research and practice.

The CASA Graduate School is the central program for young researchers of the Cluster of Excellence "CASA: Cyber Security in the Age of Large-Scale Adversaries", which is based at our institute. The graduate school offers a training programme at the highest international level. For groundbreaking research successes, special attention is paid to training in interdisciplinary research and the development of scientific independence.

Website

SecHuman Forschungskolleg - Sicherheit für Menschen im Cyberspace

SecHuman (Security for People in Cyberspace) is a graduate research training program, organized jointly with the TU Dortmund and the University for Applied Sciences Dortmund. SecHuman focuses on six key topics in IT security: security and privacy post-Snowden; the private sphere as a human right; strategies for speech impersonation and disguise; the question what social networks and sensors reveal about us; learning processes in IT security; and digital forgetting. Each of these topics is investigated by a team of two doctoral researchers, one from the humanities and one from a technical field. These tandems are advised by industry partners to ensure that the team's work applies to society more broadly.

Website

NERD (Human-Centered Systems Security) - ein Promotionsnetzwerk mehrerer NRW-Hochschulen

NERD (Human-Centered Systems Security) is a doctoral training network across several universities in North Rhine-Westphalia that places the human being at the centre of thinking about vulnerabilities in IT systems. The primary research question is how one can design security mechanisms at all levels of the value chain – from the software developer through to the end-user – such that these mechanisms are useable in practice by all of the relevant groups. The pioneering tandem model for doctoral studies with advising from industry partners is also an integral aspect of this training network.

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Women in IT Security

In our Women in IT Security series, HGI and the Cluster of Excellence CASA would like to make visible the diversity of career paths and opportunities in IT security - especially for women. Therefore, we gradually introduce exciting women with different research interests who are working here at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB).

Get to know our Role Models and be inspired!