Over the past 40 years, Bochum University has also built its own series of strong and characteristic majors, which play an important role in domestic teaching and scientific research. In natural science, the recognized strengths are neurology, microelectronics, materials research, laser physics and environmental protection research. At present, there are more than 200 research projects on environmental protection. The Leibniz Prize of the German Research Association has been awarded to this university (geology, mathematics and medicine) for three times since 1992.

In terms of liberal arts, this school is famous for its Shakespeare studies, women's studies and new era studies, as well as its unique East Asian Department, Enterprise Institute, Russian and Soviet Cultural Institute, Hegel Archives and Richard Wilhelm China Literature Translation Center, which are unique in Europe.