During their studies or doctoral studies, many people experience stressful periods.
MUTSPRUNG research project
Researching the mental health of students and doctoral candidates
A large joint project aims to identify what can make studying mentally stressful and how these conditions could be improved.
The mental health of students and doctoral candidates is increasingly becoming the focus of science, politics, and university practice. Mental stress is now one of the most common reasons for study-related restrictions. Against this backdrop, December 2025 saw the launch of the joint project MUTSPRUNG – Multidimensional Investigation & Transfer Measures with Students and Doctoral Candidates for Resilience and Sustainable Health, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of its “Science and Higher Education Research (WiHo)” funding priority, in which Ruhr University Bochum is participating.
The project focuses on a multidimensional investigation of individual and structural risk and protective factors for mental health. MUTSPRUNG combines empirical research with practical transfer formats and derives concrete recommendations for action for health-promoting university structures. “We are delighted to be implementing MUTSPRUNG together with other universities in North Rhine-Westphalia and the NRW Doctoral College, thereby strengthening mental health in undergraduate and doctoral studies in the long term,” says Janna Leimann, who coordinates the project at Bochum University of Applied Sciences.
Four subprojects – one goal
The project is divided into four interlinked subprojects, which are coordinated by Bochum University of Applied Sciences under the direction of Prof. Dr. Eike Quilling:
- Subproject 1 (Bochum University of Applied Sciences | led by Prof. Dr. Eike Quilling): Analysis of health-promoting study and doctoral conditions and development of structural recommendations
- Subproject 2 (Münster University of Applied Sciences | led by Prof. Dr. Jennifer Schmidt): Investigation of individual psychological stressors, risk and resilience factors, including loneliness and mental health literacy
- Subproject 3 (Ruhr University Bochum | led by Prof. Dr. Sandra Aßmann): Analysis of particularly vulnerable phases in the student life cycle, such as the start of studies, transitions, and graduation phases
- Subproject 4 (katho NRW | led by Prof. Dr. Swantje Notzon): Research into psychological barriers and opportunities for participation in studies
The subprojects are accompanied by doctoral projects within the framework of an interdisciplinary research group at the NRW Doctoral College.
Broad data basis and wide reach
The network reaches around 130,000 students and over 5,000 doctoral candidates from different disciplines and at different stages of their studies; it ranges from technical and scientific to social, medical, economic, artistic and creative courses of study. This diversity enables a differentiated analysis of different life realities and stress constellations in the university context.
"MUTSPRUNG makes an important contribution to the evidence-based further development of health-promoting university structures. The aim is not only to strengthen individual resources, but also to create conditions that enable healthy studying and healthy doctoral studies," says Eike Quilling. Through close cooperation with partners in the field, the project results are to be transferred nationwide, made effective in higher education policy, and anchored in universities in the long term.
Cooperation partners