According to the student survey conducted by the German National Association for Student Affairs, 16% of students studying in Germany have a health impairment that affects their studies (best3 study from 2023). Of these, around 65% have a mental illness.
If you belong to this group, the following services offered by the ZSB may be helpful for you.
This guided group provides practical help for those returning to their studies. The counselling is carried out through moderated conversations among the participants themselves as well as by providing tips and resources on topics relating to organising a study programme (e.g., semester planning, dealing with learning difficulties, exam anxiety, motivation problems, etc.).
The aim of the topic-focused discussions is primarily to support the participants in realistically assessing their own resilience and in implementing appropriate semester goals. The group meets once a week during the lecture period.
Please note that this group is only offered in German.
Over the years, students participating in the semester-long group counselling services described above have organised themselves into an independent self-help group, which meets on the ZSB premises and which we support in individual sessions if necessary. Provided a self-help group is currently active, it also offers an opportunity for students to communicate with and support other students affected by mental illness outside of term time.
Please note that this group is only offered in German.
For students who return to their studies after a mental illness, it can sometimes be helpful to have a student contact person, especially one who is also taking part in the same study program. For students looking for this type of help, the Student Advice and Counselling Centre (ZSB) can provide tutorial coaching. For this coaching, students can be hired on a contract basis to provide assistance within their department for a limited period of time (max. one semester). The content of this coaching can include:
Dipl. Psych. Volker Koscielny
Student Advice and Counselling Centre (ZSB) at the University of Münster
Botanicum – Centre for Student Affairs, Schlossgarten 3
48149 Münster
Tel.: +49 251 / 8322082
Email: volker.koscielny@uni-muenster.de