Welcome to the University of Münster!
The Department of Psychology warmly welcomes all international students. We appreciate your interest in studying psychology in Münster. Below you will find all the information you need as you commence your studies in psychology at the University of Münster. If you have any questions, please feel free to send us an email.
General information for all incoming students
Semester schedule
The academic year at the University of Münster is divided into a winter and summer semester. For exchange students and those pursuing a degree, examinations are administered after the end of the lecture period.
Course types
Lectures usually take place once or twice a week and conclude with a written or an oral exam. There is no compulsory attendance for lectures, which are mostly held as a presentation by the instructor. Some lectures are accompanied by a tutorial, in which the subject matter of the lecture is dealt with in more detail. To pass the lecture, you must achieve a grade of 4.0 or better (the best possible grade is 1.0) in the oral or written exam.
Seminars are taught to groups of around 20 to 30 students, who are required to actively participate in class. To successfully participate in seminars, students generally need a sound knowledge of German (exception: seminars held in English). Examinations are usually administered in the form of presentations, group work, discussions or a term paper. Attendance is mandatory for some seminars. You should always attend the first session and contact your instructor in advance before missing a class. Please note that there is no guarantee that you will get a place in the seminar of your choice because of the limited number of spaces – but normally it works out as planned.
Examples of course content
These examples only reflect a small part of the academic content and do not represent the entire scope of our degree programmes. You can find a complete description of all the lectures and seminars offered at the Department of Psychology at the University of Münster in the course catalogue.
Scientific publications: An important component of studying psychology involves keeping up with the scientific literature. Consequently, we teach students how to work with scientific publications in the first semesters. Most scientific literature is in English. You can find an example of a typical scientific article here, which might be used in seminars or for preparing for an exam.
Statistics: Statistics have a special status and are taught from the first semester onwards. They are key to understanding scientific articles in the field of psychology. Here you can find examples of exercises [de] which are used in the first semester to introduce students to statistics. Don’t worry if you can’t solve the exercises, as they are only meant to give you an impression of the content.
Lectures: Besides seminars, lectures comprise a large part of instruction. For a realistic impression of what a lecture is like and whether your language skills are sufficient, you can watch a short excerpt from the lecture "Furcht und Schrecken" [de] in the field of general psychology and cognitive neuroscience.
Language courses
Studying in Germany is a great way to improve your German language skills. As an international student, you should bear in mind that most courses at the University of Münster are taught in German. Only a few lectures and seminars are held in English. That's why international students should prepare well and work to improve their language skills before and during their stay at the University of Münster. This is especially important for international degree-seeking students.
Students have the possibility to take free language courses at the Language Centre both before and during their stay in Münster.
Accommodation
The University of Münster is one of the largest universities in Germany. More than 55,000 students live in Münster, which can make it difficult to find an apartment. Especially at the beginning of the semester, the demand for housing is very high. That’s why we recommend you start looking for a place to live several months before your planned arrival. The University of Münster operates one hall of residence reserved for exchange students. Due to the limited number of rooms, you should apply as early as possible.
Visas
Students of the Erasmus+ programme usually do not require a visa (exception: Turkey). Visas are required, however, for students from all other countries. This means that you should apply for a study visa well in advance of your stay. To apply, you must attach the letter of admission which your home university received from the International Office of the University of Münster. Please contact the German embassy of your home country to apply for the visa. You can find a list of German diplomatic missions here.
If you come from a country, for which a visa is required and you are interested in staying in Germany for a longer period of time, you need to register at the Citizens Office of the Münster and possibly at the Foreigners’ Registration Office as well.
Opportunities for studying psychology in Münster
Exchange students
If you are interested in studying at the University of Münster through an exchange programme (e.g. Erasmus+), you have to participate in a special application procedure first. The process normally begins at your home university.
International degree-seeking students
If you want to pursue a degree at the Department of Psychology of the University of Münster, you can find general information about the degree programmes on our homepage.
International degree-seeking students can obtain more information at the International Office which offers support and advice with questions concerning studies as well as cultural and recreational activities in Münster. You can find a list of contacts here.
International doctoral students
International postgraduate students have the opportunity to earn a doctorate in Münster. You can find more information on the doctoral procedure and doctoral regulations here.
The Graduate Centre of the University of Münster can answer your questions regarding the applying for and gaining admission to doctoral programmes. In addition to individual consultations, you can attend many English-speaking workshops for information about finding an apartment, completing administrative formalities and other aspects that can simplify your stay in Münster.
For more helpful tips on organising and financing your doctoral studies, contact the International Office of the University of Münster.
If you’re interested in doing a doctorate at the Department of Psychology, you should determine which research area you're interested in and contact the respective professors directly [de]. There is no central office responsible for doctoral students at our department.
Internships
Internships and work placements are not centrally organised in our department. Instead, our institute is divided into research units. If you are interested in completing an internship, please direct your request or application to the respective professor. As professors receive a large number of requests, we recommend taking a very close look at the respective research group and its projects in advance and formulate a very specific request or application. Circulars or serial emails usually do not have a good chance of success.
Erasmus students
Click here for important and detailed information concerning course selection for exchange students in our department.
Before you arrive – even before you get your learning agreement signed – you should get in contact with our coordinator for student mobility. The coordinator can provide you with current information concerning the psychology courses offered (seminars, lectures, ECTS points awarded etc.) as well as discuss your course selection to ensure that everything will work as you have planned.
You will have to sign up for all your desired courses (lectures and seminars) before the semester begins. Please contact our coordinator for student mobility. There is no online enrolment system for courses at our department.
Courses in English - winter term 2022:
Bachelor’s level courses
- General Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience: Attention (3 ECTS), Cognition in lab and life (3 ECTS)
- Developmental Psychology: Social-emotional development (3 ECTS)
- Personality Psychology: Personality and interpersonal perception at zero acquaintance (3 ECTS)
Master’s level courses
- Work and Organizational Psychology: Work-life balance and organizational health management (4 ECTS)
Checklist for Erasmus students
- Contact the Erasmus coordinator at your home university and apply
- Get nominated by your home university
- Follow the registration process at the International Office of the University of Münster
- Get in contact with our coordinator for student mobility
- Find a place to live in Münster
- Plan your trip to Münster
- Take part in the “Welcome Week” and visit the International Office to register as a student at the University of Münster and to sign your data sheet
Degree-seeking students and free-movers should contact the International Office of the University of Münster for more information.
Buddy programme
At the beginning of every semester, the University of Münster organises a “Welcome Week” for all exchange students. During this week of activities, you will get the chance to meet other international and German students. The “Buddy programme” pairs you up with a German student who can guide you through Münster at the beginning of the semester and help you get the information you need.
Living in Münster
Münster is a bustling city where there’s always something to experience. You can participate in numerous recreational activities including sports, cultural events and university groups. For an initial impression of the possibilities awaiting you, visit the homepage of the University of Münster.
Libraries
There are a variety of libraries you can use while studying at the University of Münster. The largest is the University Library (ULB). Here you can find specialist literature from every faculty: a total of 2.3 million pieces of academic print media and more than 10,000 journals. Most of the books in the ULB can be borrowed.
Around 150 smaller departmental and subject-specific libraries also belong to the library system of the University of Münster. These are mainly reference libraries, meaning that the books can only be read in the library and can only be borrowed, if at all, over the weekend. The Department of Psychology also has its own library where you can read and study.
Sports
Students enrolled at the University of Münster can take part in University Sports programme which offers about 150 different types of sports and athletic activities. On top of that, there are numerous sports clubs in Münster which you can join.
Culture
Münster offers a multitude of cultural possibilities ranging from museums and music groups to theatres and cinemas. Much of what the University of Münster offers is free for students.
In addition, there are many different student groups at the University of Münster which you can join (e.g. political, religious or business-oriented).
Food and drink
Students usually eat at the dining halls, bistros and cafés operated by the “Studierendenwerk” (Student Support Services). These are located throughout the city and offer tasty, inexpensive meals and snacks. Of course, Münster has a broad range of restaurants, cafés and bars in all price classes to choose from.
Contact us
You can contact us any time via email at psy.international@uni-muenster.de.
For all questions regarding your stay in Münster, learning agreements, course choices or transcript of records, please contact us (and not the Dean's Office).
You can find at the Department of Psychology, Fliednerstraße 21, Room 69a / IV. If you would like a personal consultation, we kindly ask you to book an appointment in advance.
MSc Henrik Heinemann
Departmental Erasmus coordinator
psy.international@uni-muenster.deMSc Franz Mönke
Departmental Erasmus coordinator
psy.international@uni-muenster.deHannah Wilms
Student assistant