Münster: The ultimate college town
It is quite ironic. Münster is one of Germany's most historic and storied cities, and yet today it is also one of its youngest, largely because it is the ultimate college town. So it is really no surprise that the university’s main building is even located in a former palace. One in five of Münster's 280,000 inhabitants is a student, naturally making the university one of the major employers in the city. Outside the university sphere, Münster's biggest industries center around commerce, public administration, as well as banking and insurance.
research at the University library, photo uni muenster.jpg
Overview of the Universities
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität (WWU) / University of Münster
http://www.uni-muenster.de/
The University of Münster (WWU) comprises 15 faculties, teaching 120 subjects and serving around 45,000 students, making the WWU one of Germany’s largest universities. It offers a full range of subjects including medicine, law, business and finance, musicology, science and the humanities. The university fosters many interdisciplinary branches and works closely with other members of the scientific community such as the Max Planck Institute. Two of its top priorities are nanotechnology and biomedical sciences.
University of Applied Sciences
http://www.fh-muenster.de/
University of Applied Sciences is a mecca for anybody who wants to become a chemical, electrical or construction engineer. It is also popular with those pursuing architecture and design as well as students planning to work as nurses or in the outpatient care system. The student body numbers about 10,000.
Kunstakademie / Academy of Fine Arts
http://www.pth-muenster.de
Teaches fine arts, sculpture, photography, digital art and new media.
Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschule der Franziskaner und Kapuziner Münsters
A college for Franciscan and Capuchin monks.
Katholische Fachhochschule NRW / Catholic University
http://www.kfhnw.de
Focuses on subjects such as religious instruction, social work and drug counselling
What Münster is like
Münster was Lukas Rotter’s first choice when the prospective law student was deciding on colleges a couple of years ago. “The faculty offered an English-for-lawyers program I was keen on,” he remembers.
Now, almost ten years later, Lukas has long since dropped law and is enrolled in a master’s program for sociology, political science and ethnology. His love affair with Münster, however, is ongoing: “It’s not a city you lose yourself in, like Berlin for example. It’s big enough to party and small enough to stay focused on your studies.” He adds: “You don’t really need more than a bicycle to get around town.”
Münster’s university buildings are scattered around the city, some of them located in splendid historic buildings. Lukas loves to go running at the Aasee lake in the city center. “You start jogging downtown, and after a few minutes you’re already in the countryside,” he says. Besides studying, he earns his living at the regional airport nearby, dealing with passenger handling for Eurowings. Next year, Lukas is planning to graduate – and he wouldn’t mind staying in Münster to pursue his career afterwards.
My favorite spot
Lukas’ favorite spot is the city harbor. It’s an old industrial area that has been transformed into a strip of bars and restaurants. “Bring your own barbecue grill and some friends,” he recommends. “Find yourself a nice spot behind the pub strip and you’ll enjoy your bratwurst and a terrific view of Münster’s downtown skyline.”
Did you know?
Did you know that Titus Dittman, father and founder of the German skateboarding scene, lives and works in Münster? In 1982, he organized the Münster Monster Mastership – a small halfpipe contest held in a parking lot that has since developed into the famous World Skateboarding Championships.
In addition, many famous German musicians and politicians have lived and studied in Münster. The city was also home to Johannes Georg Bednorz. He spent his student days here, and in 1987 was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.
Things not to miss
While in Münster, you should try a local beer. Don’t miss the Pinkus Mueller brewery which serves a form of pale ale brewed from recipes dating back to 1816.
And then there’s the Prinzipalmarkt which is definitely another must-see spot while you’re in Münster. This central square of the old town is lined with gabled houses, classical architecture and colonnades. Browse through the bookstores and shops or relax with a cup of coffee.
When it comes to transport, a bicycle is definitely your best bet. Whether you’re going to work or class or you’re just running errands, it’s faster by bicycle. On two wheels, you’ll also blend in with the locals – it seems everybody in Münster moves around on bicycles. In fact, Münster was recently nominated Germany’s most bike-friendly city. While other cities build parking garages for cars, Münster provides a parking garage for 3,500 bicycles. So take a ride and explore open-air sculptures, palaces and waterways in Germany’s bicycle capital.
And if you’re not a bicycle person? Try on a pair of inline skates – every first and third Friday in the month many areas of the city are closed to traffic solely for the benefit of inline skaters.
What’s happening?
When it comes to nightlife, the Kuhviertel is home to Münster’s most interesting bars. To take in a good dose of local charm, visit the Cavete, a pub which is run by students for students, and offers a range of food and drinks at prices that won’t ruin your budget.
In the summertime, most of the city’s famous live music scene moves outdoors to take advantage of the warmer weather, so be sure to swing by one of the numerous open-air festivals Münster has to offer.
And if you’d like to get rid of those excess kilos you put on while exploring the city’s nightlife, you might want to register for one of over a hundred different campus sports that the university offers, including diving, yoga, ballroom dancing and climbing.
Münster also has a great deal to offer those wanting to take in some arts and culture. Baroque palaces outside the city, the botanical gardens and the Pablo Picasso Graphics Museum in the city center are places that the Münsteraner – as the locals are called – are very proud of, and rightfully so.
Useful links
Münster university – subjects and contacts:
www.uni-muenster.de
The university’s international office:
http://www.uni-muenster.de/Auslandsamt/incoming.html
Finding on-campus accommodation:
http://www.studentenwerk-muenster.de/eng/
Campus sports:
http://hsp-ms.uni-muenster.de/
Campus Career Center – help with writing applications and finding an internship or job:
http://www.uni-muenster.de/CareerService/index.html
University of Applied Sciences / International Office:
http://www.fh-muenster.de/internationaloffice/
Die Brücke – International Center with newspapers from around the world and opportunities to meet other foreign nationals in town:
http://www.uni-muenster.de/DieBruecke/
City of Münster – where to go, what to see:
http://www.muenster.de/stadt/tourismus/en/
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Photo 1: Uni Muenster Press
Photo 2: YG
Photo 3: Photocase.com/ user: blende8
Photo 4: Rüdiger Wölk
Photo 5: Pixelio.de/ user: DoRe
