Photo: WWU Münster /Peter Grewer

The WWU is today, with its approximately 40,000 students and about 5,000 successful graduates each year, one of the largest universities in Germany. Roughly more than half of the students are women.

As early as in the year of 1631 a founding charter for a university at Münster was signed, but nor further progress followed. Then, in the year 1780, the Baron Franz von Fürstenberg, under the auspices of papal and imperial privileges and prerogatives, finally laid the foundations of the new university of Münster. After being reduced to the status of an academy, it was not until 1902 that Münster regained its university status. From 1905 on, it was open to women, also. The number of students mounted rapidly, and research and teaching developed further, until National Socialism and the Second World War crippled university life and brought it to a standstill. In 1945 the University was confronted by a state of chaos, but business resumed with some 1,000 students and increased quickly.

The university today is organized in 15 departments and seven faculties, with a staff of 5,000 with additional 7,000 at the Münster University Clinic. The 285 buildings are spread all over the city with the Schloss holding the main administration and serving as logo of the university. A vast number of research centres and graduate groups ensure excellent research, while over 130 subjects are taught at the WWU that grant quality teaching.

Research and exchange programmes, collaboration with universities abroad and regular international conferences make the university a very cosmopolitan place. More than 400 official partnership and co-operation agreements link the WWU with universities abroad from Enschede, just over the border in the Netherlands, to Vientiane, Laos. Focus areas are Latin America, the Baltic region and South-East Asia. Among the students currently at the University, approximately 3,600 come from abroad. Additionally, around 200 academics from abroad are teaching and researching in Münster.

International students can choose from a wide variety of subjects. As the WWU also switched to Bachelor/Master courses of study with the Bologna process, a vast offer of Master Programs is also available for international students. Also, Ph.D.s can be obtained in an international atmosphere, for example at the Graduate School of Politics. If students choose to spend only a part of their studies in Münster, they can come with the European Union Erasmus-Program or with special exchange programs by the faculties.

The international centre Die Brücke (the bridge) offers an international social, cultural and intercultural program and also advice for foreign students. It is located in the Wilmergasse, close to the Schloss, and includes a cafeteria with international cuisine.

We invite you to check the web page of the WWU for more information.