The Campus Velbert/Heiligenhaus (CVH) is part of the Bochum University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule Bochum). It was founded in 2009, receiving support from  Schluesselregion e.V. (the Key Region – an association that comprises a cluster of companies, institutions and universities specialising in locks, security and door hardware), the cities of Velbert and Heiligenhaus, and the administrative district of Mettmann. There are around 300 places offered on technical courses of study. Most of these places are part of the German dual vocational education system, meaning that students graduate with both an academic degree and practical experience gained through an apprenticeship at a company.

The campus is part of department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Bochum University of Applied Sciences and is also supported by the department of Mechatronics and Mechanical Engineering.

Research projects are undertaken on a regular basis at the department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. To find out more about current research projects, please see

Undergraduate degrees offered at CVH include:

• Mechatronics and Product Development (Bachelor of Engineering)
• Mechatronics and Information Technology (Bachelor of Engineering)
• Computer Engineering (Bachelor of Engineering)

All of these engineering courses are offered with and without an apprenticeship or long-term practical component:

• Cooperative dual-study programme with integrated apprenticeship
  (Kooperative Ingenieursausbildung – KIA)
  In this classic German system, the student will undertake a recognised apprenticeship in a company parallel to their studies, working on approx. three days per week. After two years the student will do their final apprenticeship exam, thus qualifying in their chosen profession. They will then return to full-time study and gain their second qualification when they graduate as a Bachelor of Engineering at the end of their nineth semester. Course duration: 9 semesters (approx. 4.5 years)
   
• Cooperative degree-only vocational programme with integrated long-term practical component
  (Kooperatives Ingenieurstudium – KIS)
  The cooperative degree-only programme is unique to the CVH. In this system, the student will effectively be a long-term intern at a company, working on real projects at the company on two to three days per week. Unlike the classic dual-study programme, the student will work at the company from their first semester all the way through until their last, at which point they will graduate as a Bachelor of Engineering. They do not gain the recognised apprenticeship qualification, but instead gain a fuller experience of working in that company and graduate with longer-term practical experience. Course duration: 9 semesters (approx. 4.5 years)
   
• Full-time study
  The student studies full-time without the apprenticeship or any other practical, in-company component. Course duration: 7 semesters (approx. 3.5 years)

Furthermore, students have the opportunity to enroll in Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering as KIA degree programme. The first two years of these studies are taught at the Campus of Velbert/Heiligenhaus, the last part in Bochum.

The following postgraduate degree is also offered:

• Mechatronics and Information Technology (Master of Engineering).

Heiligenhaus and Velbert are surrounded by the cities of Düsseldorf, Essen and Wuppertal. The Velbert/Heiligenhaus region is the leading cluster in security and door hardware technology. Known as “The Key Region”, it leads the field not only in Germany, but also internationally: there is no other region in the world that offers a similar cluster structure in this industry.

The study paths at CVH have been developed to meet the requirements of the local industry network, which creates valuable synergies and ensures optimal cooperation between local industry and the campus.