SEOS is a two-year joint master’s degree (120 ECTS, taught in English) from UNIC, an alliance of eight European universities. It studies how diversity reshapes schools, workplaces and society, drawing on education, social sciences and management research.
Everyone starts at Ruhr University Bochum, then follows one of three specialisation paths with physical or virtual mobility, and writes the thesis at any partner. The first cohort began in October 2025; University College Cork lists September 2027 as the next anticipated start.
Benefits & funding
- Full tuition: EUR 9,000 for citizens of the EU, Iceland, North Macedonia, Norway, Liechtenstein, Serbia and Turkey; EUR 18,000 for others.
- Living, travel, visa and administrative costs are the student’s own.
- RUB Foundation: up to two scholarships covering four semesters’ tuition (not social contributions) for students enrolled at Bochum throughout; offered to the 2025 cohort.
- University of Zagreb: two scholarships on merit and financial need.
- Deutschlandstipendium (Bochum): EUR 300 a month for one year, separate application.
Eligibility
- A Bachelor’s degree (EQF level 6) or equivalent in a relevant field; if the degree is not yet issued, an official declaration that its requirements are met may be submitted instead.
- Demonstrable experience with superdiversity themes in education, organisations or society, e.g. educational sciences, social sciences, management research, social work, migration or gender studies.
- English at CEFR B2; nationals of English-speaking countries and holders of English-taught degrees are typically assumed to meet it.
- Any nationality, but each partner country’s national admission rules apply and applicants who fail them cannot be admitted.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Education required
Bachelor
Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Apply online through the SEOS portal run by Ruhr University Bochum, inside the published window.
- 2Prepare certified copies of the diploma and transcripts (officially translated if not in English) and a structured motivation letter.
- 3The same application counts for the RUB tuition scholarships; recipients are contacted after admission.
- 4Shortlisted candidates may be interviewed.
Program timeline
2025 intake opened
Nov 15, 2024
Deadline, non-EU/non-EFTA applicants
May 1, 2025
Deadline, EU/EFTA applicants
Jun 1, 2025
October 2025
First cohort starts (ends September 2027)
Next intake
September 2027 start anticipated (University College Cork); application dates not yet published