Settling down in Münster – three insights
Anyone who is new to the University of Münster, or who is inviting people from abroad to the University, will probably have many questions: Where can I find support? How do I make contacts? And how do I quickly find my place in everyday university life? There are numerous departments, networks and services to help newcomers settle in and ensure that the unfamiliar quickly becomes familiar, helping them to get off to a flying start in Münster. Three individuals share their career journeys, recounting how they found their way to the University of Münster from abroad. Their experiences show why internationalisation is more than just a buzzword and highlight the opportunities and challenges it presents.
Eyal Ein-Habar: A new artistic home
Eyal Ein-Habar has been a professor of flute at the Faculty of Music since 2016. Prior to moving to Germany, he was principal flute with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and a professor in Tel Aviv for many years. The move to Münster brought with it numerous changes, particularly in terms of language and culture – challenges that the Faculty of Music “supported him exceptionally well” in overcoming.
Even during the application process, Eyal Ein-Habar found the University to be “open, helpful and committed.” The Faculty Office supported him throughout the process, particularly helping him to overcome language barriers. They provided him with additional assistance when signing the contract, which presented a particular challenge due to the official German language. During his first two months in Münster, he lived in a hall of residence on the Germania campus. The Welcome Centre provided invaluable support during this time. From the outset, he was held in high regard by the staff, which made settling in much easier. “I had the impression that everyone was happy and proud to welcome me to Münster,” emphasises Eyal Ein-Habar. Today, eight years later, he is passing on the openness and support he experienced to his students – regardless of their origin or mother tongue.
In recent years, the music professor has devoted himself to intensive research into A.B. Fürstenau, a 19th-century flautist and composer from Münster. His work aims to publish previously unknown pieces by Fürstenau. In 2023, he launched the international Fürstenau Flute Competition in partnership with the Faculty of Music, which saw the participation of 80 musicians. The final was held in cooperation with the Münster Symphony Orchestra. Plans are already underway for the next competition.
“I am grateful to have found a new artistic home in Münster,” he says. Not least thanks to his close collaboration with the Faculty of Music, he feels at home in the city and is looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.
Laura Diprossimo: A fellowship launched her career
Having completed her doctorate at Lancaster University in the UK, Laura Diprossimo now works as a postdoctoral researcher in the Developmental Psychology Lab at the University of Münster. She specialises in the early communicative development of children and the influence of the social environment. Thanks to a “Women in Research” (WiRe) fellowship, she was able to start her independent research project quickly. From the moment she arrived, she felt supported by the WiRe coordination team: “The team was always available, answered all my questions and provided me with important information, which made settling in much easier,” she reports.
Her move to Münster went smoothly, partly because, as an Italian citizen, she did not need a visa. However, she is aware that many international researchers have to overcome much greater bureaucratic and personal hurdles. One ongoing challenge is the language: While much of daily academic life is conducted in English, administrative procedures and internal communication are usually in German. As she has only recently started learning German, some tasks take her longer. “For some things, I have to first figure out the language,” she explains. For example, submitting empirical studies to the ethics committee required additional effort. Fortunately, she can always rely on her colleagues for support.
Laura Diprossimo has ambitious plans for the coming years: She intends to refine her research profile and establish her own academic agenda. She particularly values the research support offered by the University of Münster and the advice provided by SAFIR when it comes to searching for fellowships and preparing applications, such as those for the DFG individual research fellowship or the Emmy Noether Programme.
In the long term, she could well see herself staying in Münster and playing an active role in the internationalisation of the University. “The academic and personal opportunities at the University of Münster are fantastic – I would love to continue my research here and help make the campus even more international,” she says.
Julie Davies: With Passion and Courage to Münster
Dr Julie Davies works as an academic editor for the humanities at the English Support Service at the Language Centre of the University of Münster. She had to overcome a number of challenges to get there. Originally from Australia, she conducted research during her PhD at the Herzog August Library in Wolfenbüttel and, thus, already knew Germany a little. Her search for a suitable position eventually led her to Münster. With assistance from the Welcome Centre regarding the pre-approval (from the Federal Employment Agency) for the residence permit for the position, she felt confident enough to take the step to move to Germany.
Nevertheless, the move from Australia to Münster was an intense experience for Julie Davies. “The long waiting periods for my visa processing tested my nerves and patience. The language barrier was also a big challenge,” she emphasises. Although she already had solid German language skills when she arrived, her vocabulary was mainly focused on the academic field. Many terms and forms used in university administration initially remained a mystery – as did everyday conversations outside the work context. “The helpful colleague who translated many forms into English for me and explained the subtleties of German bureaucracy was very much appreciated.”
On top of that, the Covid-19 pandemic made her start in Münster even more difficult. “I had hardly arrived when social life came to a halt. Almost all contact happened digitally and mostly in English,” she recalls. “However, I made use of the extra time to improve my everyday German.”
In the meantime, Julie Davies has not only arrived at the University, she also feels at home in the city – and wants to stay. Her popular service supports researchers with English-language texts, runs hands-on workshops, and writes the “Write it Right!” blog to make academic publishing in English more accessible. It is also important to her to make it easier for others starting at the University and encourage them to take the plunge into the adventure of living abroad – with all its ups and downs.