Student Funding and Student Life

Student Funding and Living Expenses

There are no tuition fees associated with our program.
(There is a €250 per-term administrative enrolment fee for doctoral students which also provides free public transport)

Students of our program are generally fully funded by RGS Econ and its cooperating partners for the duration of their studies, i.e., living expenses are covered. We sometimes also accept students who are externally funded (e.g. via the DAAD).

Students are generally fully-funded. During the first-year core course phase of the program, some students receive a scholarship of € 1.400 per month, financed via the generous support of our sponsors. This scholarship is not subject to income taxes, but students will need to purchase health insurance. There are limits on additional employment during this financing phase and additional employment is generally not recommended due to the demanding nature of the course program. Some students are already funded via research and teaching positions in the first year (see below).

From the second year onwards, students are generally financed via research and teaching assistant positions at their primary supervisor’s chair at on the RGS Econ’s cooperating universities or their primary supervisor’s unit at the RWI. (The primary supervisor is generally specified as part of the offer for accepted candidates). The employment contracts range from 50% part-time to 100% TV-L E-13 (German Academic pay scale) and involve the regular teaching duties (university) or may involve work on research projects (at the RWI). The net pay of a 50% position is comparable to the scholarship, but employment contracts include health insurance and other benefits. The contract duration is initially limited to 3 years and generally extended if necessary for dissertation completion, and if there is sufficient progress on the dissertation. The employment contract may be conditional on passing all or part of the first-year courses. Details are provided with an offer to enter the program.

Often students obtain additional funding at later stages in the program by teaching individual graduate courses or via research assistance on particular projects. We recommend this only if it helps the student significantly advance her career or dissertation project.

All students are provided with a workspace, including hardware and software infrastructure, as well as access to the cooperating institutions’ research facilities (data, literature, etc.).

Financing for additional resources is available. RGS Econ and the cooperating partners also provide funding for conference and summer school participation.

You should expect your monthly minimum costs of living to range from 900-1100 Euros.

Rent: 300 Euro for a room in a shared flat or 550 Euro for a two-room apartment
Food: 300 Euro
Health insurance: 150-230 Euro
Phone and internet: 50 Euro
University administrative fees: 50 Euro

Please note that these are basic costs not including expenses for clothing or private travel. However, students often enjoy student discounts (e.g. when going to the theatre).

Student Life

Most of our students will reside in Essen, at least in the beginning of their studies. Below you will find some practical information on how to get settled and what’s on offer in the Ruhr Valley Region. We provide incoming students with additional information and you will quickly learn from other students, also through several social events that we organize when the new cohort arrives.

If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the RGS coordination team (rgs(at)rgs-econ.de). We are happy to help.

The housing market in Essen is not tight (relative to similar cities in Germany). With its large number of students, many small apartments and rooms in shared flats are available in Essen. Compared to the neighboring cities Cologne and Düsseldorf, rents in Essen are relatively low. Popular parts of the city are Holsterhausen, Rüttenscheid and the Südviertel. These quarters, which are in walking distance to the RGS Econ’s office spaces at the RWI, are characterized by many restaurants and cafes. The RGS Econ coordination team is happy to give you advice on where and how to search for housing.

All PhD students obtain a student semester ticket which allows them to use the public transport system free of charge all around North Rhine-Westphalia. There are no tuition fees for PhD students, however, each university charges approximately 250 Euros administration fee per semester (6 months) which includes the semester ticket. A great bargain.

The Ruhr Graduate School in Economics highly appreciates its diverse student body. The three universities that cooperate in the Ruhr Graduate School offer a variety of language classes (free of charge). You will, however, get by using English in day-to-day interactions. (English of coursed used in the PhD program). The coordination team specifically supports incoming international students with visa, housing and other administrative processes.

Child-care demand exceed supply in Germany, especially for the very young. Together with the student support centers at the universities we halt our students obtain necessary information. Contact us!

The team spirit and cooperative atmosphere is what makes studying at the Ruhr Graduate School in Economics so special. Besides academic cooperation, RGS students regularly meet for ‘Stammtisch’ to talk about their research and to socialize. In addition, there are various opportunities throughout the year where all students meet, such as the Doctoral conference, the Jamboree, and the traditional RGS-BBQ.

The sports classes offered by the cooperating universities provide a great opportunity to exercise and have fun. Classes range from underwater rugby to sailing and basketball. Signing up is easy and fees are usually less than 40 Euros per semester.

The Ruhr Valley Region and the surrounding Rhineland is one of the most culturally diverse and active regions in Germany. Many large cities with their attractions and events are within a day trip’s reach. The high population density of the area nevertheless leaves room for beautiful parks and nature preserves.

Cultural highlights in the surroundings of Essen include 3 UNESCO World Heritage sites: Cologne Cathedral, Aachen Cathedral and the Augustusburg Palace in Brühl. Essen is located near the borders of Belgium, France & Netherlands/Holland (Amsterdam is only 2 hours away by train). The train ride from Essen to the regional capital of North-Rhine Westphalia Düsseldorf takes only 30 minutes. Düsseldorf's famous oldtown is a tourist hotspot. Summer boat trips on the Rhine river are highly recommended as well.

Germans like to celebrate Carnival. It takes place every year in February or March. The most famous carnival parades can be found in Mainz, Aachen, Bonn, Düsseldorf and Cologne. RGS students in Essen usually travel to Düsseldorf or Cologne to enjoy the festivities.

Until the 1970s, Essen was considered to be one of the most important coal and steel hubs in Germany. In 1811, Friedrich Krupp founded Germany's first cast-steel factory. In the 1970s structural change shifted the focus of Essen’s economy from coal and steel to the tertiary/service sector. In 1972 the university in Essen was founded. 40 years later in 2010, Essen was the European Capital of Culture.

The most important touristic highlight in Essen is probably the Zollverein Industrial Complex. The former coal mine is now considered an architectural and technical masterpiece. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 2001 and is now home to a historical and cultural museum. Guided tours are available.

Named after the ‘Folkvanger’ (the ‘People’s Hall’) in the palace of the Norse goddess Freya, the Folkswang Museum is a must see Essen attraction.It hosts an excellent permanent collection of modern art and photography as well as numerous temporary exhibitions. Temporary exhibitions are changing on a regular basis.

The Baldeney Lake is a man-made reservoir and was constructed in the early 1930s. Today Esseners love to spend their leisure time at the lake enjoying all kinds of water sports or cycling around the lake. The Villa Hügel, located next to the lake, is definitely worth a visit. The mansion has 259 rooms and was built by the Krupp family in 1873. Today, tourists from all over the world come to visit.

From the RGS Econ (and RWI building) it is only a few minutes’ walk to the Saalbau (home of the renowned Essen philharmonic orchestra) and the Aalto Theatre of Essen.