Stadt Münster, Studying in Münster
Welcome to Münster in Westphalia
Content
Studying in Münster
There are many good reasons to study in Germany. Internationally renowned universities and the strong economy, dynamic culture, historical cities and attractive landscapes all exercise a strong appeal on overseas students. And last but not least, over 100 million people around the world speak German.
International Office
The number of overseas students at Münster’s universities is growing continually thanks to globalisation and internationalisation. Around 3,500 young foreigners are currently studying at the University of Münster alone. The universities promote international exchange and deliberately invite overseas students to study in Münster via support programmes.
The universities also help their overseas guests to organise their studies and life in their host country quickly and smoothly, so that they can concentrate on their education. The Westphalian Wilhelms University, the University of Applied Sciences, the Catholic University of Applied Sciences North Rhine-Westphalia and the Academy of Fine Arts have all set up international offices for this purpose. These inform overseas students about the range of degree courses on offer, admission, registration and study fees and help them to find flats and language courses.
- Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Westphalian Wilhelms University of Münster)
International Office, Leonardo Campus 11
Tel. 02 51 / 83 222 15
Fax 02 51/83 222 26
E-mail international.office@uni-muenster.de
www.uni-muenster.de/Auslandsamt/en/incoming.htmlThe university’s international centre is called “Die Brücke” (“The Bridge”). This is a part of the International Office. The Bridge promotes internationality and international dialogue. It advises foreign students and doctoral students, and provides support in matters of accommodation, bureaucracy and everyday issues.
www.uni-muenster.de/DieBruecke
- University of Applied Sciences in Münster
International Office, Hüfferstraße 27
Tel. 02 51/8 36 41 02
en.fh-muenster.de/internationaloffice
The office offers foreign students a range of services, including a welcome service and workshops concerning life and culture in Germany.
en.fh-muenster.de/internationaloffice/welcome_service
- Catholic University of Applied Sciences North Rhine-Westphalia
International Office – Cologne head office
Tel. 02 21/77 57-313
Fax 02 21/77 57-319
E-mail h.hofmann@kfhnw.de
www.katho-nrw.de/katho-nrw/internationales/incoming-students/incoming-students/
- Academy of Fine Arts Münster
International Office
Tel. 02 51/8 36 12 07
Fax 02 51/8 36 11 02
E-mail international@kunstakademie-muenster.de
http://www.kunstakademie-muenster.de/
Study fees, semester charge and semester ticket
University studies in Germany, particularly at Federal universities, were free for a long time. The majority of universities and universities of applied sciences now charge study fees. The level of these fees currently varies in Münster between 500 euros (University of Applied Sciences in Münster / UAS) and 275 euros (Westphalian Wilhelms University of Münster / WWU) per semester.
In addition, universities usually levy a semester charge upon initial registration and subsequent re-registrations. This charge currently amounts to approx. 140 euros at the two main universities (UAS and WWU). This charge is not related to study fees, but is a contribution to the public facilities offered by the university. It also covers the semester ticket, which allows students to use public transport, e.g buses and regional trains in Münster and the Münsterland region for the entire semester free of charge. This also includes travel to the region's large neighbouring cities, such as Dortmund, Bielefeld, Enschede and Osnabrück.
Living costs
The majority of students require between 500 and 700 euros per month for general living costs, a figure which naturally depends on the amount of extra expenses incurred, such as those for literature and leisure activities. Study fees and the semester charge are not included in this amount. In 2007, the university magazine UNICUM compared living costs for students in German cities. According to this survey, Münster was in the middle of the table with an average of 673 euros per month.
Obligation to register
The registration law in North Rhine-Westphalia stipulates that each instance of moving into, moving out of or changing one’s place of residence must be registered with the local authorities (“Anmeldung”, “Abmeldung” or ”Ummeldung”) within one week. By law, a furnished room or place to sleep is also considered a “place of residence”. The offices of the Citizens’ Affairs Office and the district administration offices issue registration forms. See chapters II.2 and II.3 for further information regarding registration formalities and the residence permit.
Health insurance
Students from the EU require a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This, or its predecessors (forms 111/114), are required in order to be able to take advantage of health insurance services. Other overseas students must take out an overseas health insurance policy which is valid in Germany, or register with an official German health insurance fund. The monthly student charge is around 60 euros.
Living
It is often difficult to find a flat, particularly in a foreign country. The first port of call for those looking for a room or flat is the Münster Student Union (Studentenwerk), which rents students cheap accommodation in halls of residence. Overseas students can apply for places online in advance from their home countries. If a room is free, the student union sends the tenancy agreement directly to the students by post or e-mail, in January for the following summer semester and in August for the winter semester. It is very important that applicants check their post and e-mails regularly, as otherwise the room will be rented to someone else. Tenants can transfer the rental deposit, a standard security precaution for landlords in Germany, while still in their home countries. The rent is paid to the student union by direct debit each month. The tenant organises a direct debit authorisation for this purpose. This means that tenants authorise the student union to debit the rent from a bank account of their choice each month. As this is only possible from a German bank account, overseas students are required to open an account upon arrival.
- Wohnraumverwaltung des Studentenwerks Münster (Student Union Münster - Accommodation Administration), Bismarckallee 5
Tel. 02 51 / 83 79-5 53
E-mail wohnen@studentenwerk-muenster.de
http://www.studentenwerk-muenster.de/ - Consultation times: Tuesdays – Thursdays from 9 am – 12 pm
By telephone: Mondays – Thursdays from 8:45 am – 3:00 pm, Fridays from 8:45 am – 12:00 pm
In addition to the student union, other private and ecclesiastical sponsors offer reasonable accommodation in halls of residence.
www.muenster.org/wohnheime
Sharing a flat with others is very popular with many students. Renting a shared flat is usually more expensive than living in halls of residence. The rent is between 180 and 350 euros, depending on the size of the accommodation and the height of the additional costs (e.g. heating, electricity and water). For further information on flat-hunting, see chapter II.1., “Housing market". The brochure entitled “Flat-hunting tips for students” is another useful source of information during the search for a suitable flat.
www.muenster.de/stadt/wohnungsamt/pdf/Wohnungsinfo_Studenten.pdf
Bank account
Those renting a room in a hall of residence require a German bank account in order to pay the monthly rent. Overseas students wishing to open an account must provide proof of the following: a permanent address, a student ID or a corresponding certificate confirming their student status. Students from the EU receive a free account from all banks.
University Sports Service
The university sports service offers all students in Münster a very extensive, reasonably priced sport programme from A for athletics to Y for yoga. Students don’t pay any basic costs – they only have to pay for the individual sport courses. Students are issued with a university sport semester ticket upon registration (either online or in person in the University Sports Services Office).
University Sports Service, Horstmarer Landweg 62a
Tel. 02 51 / 8 33 83 83
http://hsp-ms.uni-muenster.de/default.htm
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