Living in Münster
If you are looking for a room in Münster, you will need patience and perseverance. Ideally, you should start looking for an accommodation and other housing options as soon as you receive your notification of admission. The University of Münster is not built around a campus: in other words, university buildings, dining halls and student residence halls are dispersed across the city. Furthermore, German universities normally do not operate their own residence halls. Rather these are managed by public providers such as the Studierendenwerk Münster (Student Support Services) or by private rental companies.
There are several types of student housing. For example, you can rent a room in a residence hall, sublet a room in a flat share (WG) or rent your own room from a private landlord. If you are interested in living in a residence hall operated by the Studierendenwerk, you should apply for a room online in advance from your home country before you arrive. We recommend applying for several options simultaneously to increase your chances. Visit the website of the Studierendenwerk (Student Support Services) for details about furnishings, locations and room prices of the student residence halls.
Perhaps the most common and inexpensive form of accommodation in Münster is renting a room in a flat share (WG). In Germany, applicants are normally invited to a kind of “casting” where the members of a flat share choose their favourite applicant. The first step is to introduce yourself in a personal letter to the WG, in which you describe what you’re studying, your interests and hobbies. The members of the flat share usually like to get to know candidates in an in-person or online casting interview. Although such an interview might sound daunting, it also gives you the chance to get to know your potential flatmates and see whether the flat share is “good fit”. The InfoPoint student team can provide you with additional tips and information.
Advice at the InfoPoint of the International Office
Residence Offers of the Studierendenwerk (Student Support Services)
Providers on the private housing market