Project MUTSPRUNG

MUTSPRUNG stands for Multidimensional Research & Intervention Measures with Undergraduate and Graduate Students for Resilience and Sustainable Health. The project investigates what strengthens or impairs mental health and develops strategies for better study conditions and a healthier university.

The link to the survey will be posted here shortly

Photo of an opened folding cube with the imprint "we focus on students" lies on documents. __ Opened folding cube with the imprint "we focus on students" lies on documents.

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MUTSPRUNG is a collaborative project carried out by eight universities and the Doctoral School for applied Research in North Rhine-Westphalia (Doctoral School NRW). The project is led by Bochum University of Applied Sciences. Fachhochschule Dortmund supports the project as a collaborating partner in the consortium.

In addition, the Fachhochschule Dortmund focuses specifically on the group of students with disabilities or chronic illnesses.

What can you do?

In 2026, 2027, and 2028, a monitoring survey will be conducted to gather information on the current stress levels of students and doctoral candidates and to identify potential protective and risk factors for mental health.

Why should you participate?

Your experiences and challenges will be acknowledged and heard
You’ll help improve study conditions for future students and doctoral candidates
Your participation helps make the university a place that promotes well-being
Your opinion makes an important contribution to research

Who is this survey for?

Students and doctoral candidates aged 18 and older who are enrolled at a university in Germany

How long does the survey take?

Approx. 25–30 minutes

What does the survey look like?

Mostly standardized questionnaires
With free-text fields in some places for individual responses

What topics are covered?

Sociodemographic information, self-assessment of health status, experiences related to mental health issues, knowledge and attitudes regarding mental health, well-being, stigma, etc.

Dealing with topics such as mental health and mental illness can be emotionally taxing. You have the right to stop participating in the study or skip questions at any time if you feel uncomfortable. If you feel the need for support, please do not hesitate to seek professional help. Your own mental health is the top priority.

The link to the survey will be posted here shortly

Data protection

The Bochum University of Applied Sciences (project management) is responsible for data processing within the meaning of the GDPR, represented by:

Prof. Dr. Eike Quilling (Gesundheitscampus 6-8, 44801 Bochum, eike.quillinghs-bochumde)

You can contact the Data Protection Officer at:

Dr. Britta Weber (Health Campus 6-8, 44801 Bochum, britta.weberhs-bochumde)

Some of the data collected constitutes special categories of personal data under Article 9 of the GDPR. This includes information on mental health status, the mental health status of parents, current or past therapy experiences, sexuality, ethnicity, and health impairments. In addition , other sensitive information that does not fall under Article 9 of the GDPR is collected, such as information on well-being and related constructs like stress levels or loneliness.

The data is collected and processed anonymously; by omitting identifying information, it is practically impossible to trace the data back to individual persons.

Participation in the survey is voluntary. The survey may be discontinued at any time without providing a reason and without incurring any disadvantages.

Once the survey has been submitted anonymously, it is no longer possible to withdraw participation or delete the information, as the data cannot be attributed to any specific individual due to the anonymization process.

The survey is conducted via the SoSciSurvey platform, with which a data processing agreement pursuant to Art. 28 of the GDPR is in place; the data is stored on servers in Germany. The anonymized data may be made available to all academic partners in the collaborative project (Bochum University of Applied Sciences, Münster University of Applied Sciences, Ruhr University Bochum, KatHo NRW) for research purposes. The data will be retained for ten years in accordance with the DFG’s recommendations for good scientific practice and will then be deleted.

The results of the study will be used exclusively for research purposes. The results and, if applicable, the analyzed, anonymized data may be published.

Participation in the study does not result in any direct personal health benefits. However, the results can help raise awareness about mental health and mental illnesses, improve health promotion, reduce stigma, and make it easier for those affected to seek help.

Further information can be found at the beginning of the survey. Questions can be directed to the following email address: mutsprunghs-bochumde

More information about the collaborative project

Funding Agency
Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space—BMFTR
Funding Priority
Scientific and University Research (WiHo)
Duration
December 2025 – May 2029

Subproject 1

Subproject 2

Subproject 3

Subproject 4

Through the participation of Fachhochschule Dortmund and other participating universities (South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, Georg Agricola University of Applied Sciences Bochum (THGA), Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, and RheinMain University of Applied Sciences), as well as the NRW Graduate Center and the Doctoral Center for Social Work, the initiative can reach nearly 130,000 students and over 5,000 doctoral candidates. This enables a comprehensive portrayal of the diverse life realities of students and doctoral candidates from various disciplines and regions, as well as those in different phases of the student life cycle.

In addition to providing field access, Fachhochschule Dortmund also supports the MUTSPRUNG project in the development of research instruments, the discussion of results, and the formulation of recommendations for practical application.

Other partners

Contact details

Academic Director at Fachhochschule Dortmund

Portrait von Prof.in Dr. Stefanie Kuhlenkamp __ Portrait of Prof.in Dr. Stefanie Kuhlenkamp

Prof.in Stefanie Kuhlenkamp, Dr.

Phone

+49 231 91124987

Fax

+49 231 91124911

E-mail

stefanie.kuhlenkampfh-dortmundde

Office hours

An appointment for an online consultation can be booked via the following link: https://terminplaner6.dfn.de/de/b/f2bf39caaf626ea1916d5f416a61d061-1420844
The online consultation takes place under the following link:
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/3792323970758?p=W61Kdw5aU7RRJR6t4P