Practical information
Studying, researching or completing an internship abroad is not only a great way to improve your language skills. You can also gain a new perspective on your subject of study, put your flexibility and organisational talent to the test, and acquire important intercultural competence. In the following, you will find practical tips on how best to organise your study visit abroad and answers to some very important questions.
Application deadlines
Application deadlines may vary depending on which partnership programme you wish to apply to.
View the application deadlines of our central partner universitiesThe application deadlines for Erasmus+ programmes and for non-European faculty-based partnerships are set by the respective departments themselves. You can find these on the websites of the individual faculties.
If you are planning to study abroad as a “freemover”, you can often apply at even shorter notice depending on the host university. Please contact the host university of your choice directly for more information.Language preparation
To study successfully in a foreign country, not only do you need to understand the lectures, but you also have to be able to express yourself orally and in writing. The Language Centre at the University of Münster offers a wide range of preparatory courses in many different languages and levels of proficiency.
If you are already advanced, you can improve your language skills even further in a language tandem organised by the Language Centre. In a language tandem, German students pair up with international students who are currently in Münster to communicate in each other’s language and learn from one another. Registration and introductory events for the language tandem programme take place at the beginning of each semester. You can also receive ECTS points for regular participation.
Learn more about the language courses at the University of Münster
Learn more about language tandemsAlso of interest are the DAAD summer language courses, for which students can apply every year in January. Each participating host university offers its exchange students preparatory and/or semester-long language courses which are often free of charge. For more information, please contact your Erasmus+ coordinator, the International Office at the University of Münster or your host university directly.
Recognition of academic achievement
Depending on the type of stay abroad and your faculty, the requirements for recognition of academic achievement abroad as part of your degree programme at the University of Münster are determined by either your academic programme advisor, your Erasmus subject coordinator or your responsible Examination Office. Before you commence your study abroad, please consult the corresponding Learning Agreement to find out what kind of academic achievement will be recognised as part of your degree programme requirements in Münster.
After you return, you should contact your responsible faculty representative or Examination Office and ask them to issue you the corresponding certificates of recognition.
Leave of absence
You are not obliged to take a leave of absence during your semester abroad. In fact, it’s not even possible in some degree programmes, and in others, a period of study abroad is mandatory.
However, for those who receive a scholarship for gifted students, for example, a leave of absence is advisable as it is not counted towards the maximum duration of scholarship funding. If this applies to you, please contact your scholarship provider for more information.
Please note that you will not be able to receive credit in Münster for any study-related work completed during your leave of absence. However, you can still apply for academic credit for work completed abroad at a later date.
You can obtain further information on the procedure for taking a leave of absence at the Student Admissions Office.
Semester fee
Even if you start a semester abroad, you must nonetheless pay the semester fee in Münster on time.
If you are on a leave of absence, however, you may request reimbursement for the partial fees paid to the Studierendenwerk (Student Support Services) and possibly the cost of the semester ticket.
Learn more about reimbursement and deadlinesIf you can prove that you are staying abroad for four months or longer per semester, you can request to have your semester ticket refunded even without taking a leave of absence. In this case, please contact the AStA directly.
Learn moreInsurance cover
You are obliged to hold adequate health insurance cover during your stay abroad. With the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from your health insurance provider, you are entitled to all necessary medical treatment (not necessarily free of charge) in any of the 27 EU-member countries, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
However, German health insurance providers normally do not cover repatriation expenses or provide legal counsel if you encounter problems abroad. If you are travelling outside of Europe, you definitely need special travel insurance. Some insurance companies offer additional packages especially for young people going abroad. For more information, contact your insurance company or speak with your parents.
General safety precautions
There are many situations and circumstances which could negatively affect an otherwise positive stay abroad, for example, losing your credit card, spraining your ankle, getting into an emergency, or simply not knowing the (unwritten) rules of behaviour in your host country.
To make your stay abroad as carefree as possible, you should take safety precautions in case you encounter an emergency.
The DAAD has compiled the following emergency preparedness checklist with the most important information on safety precautions to take before and during your stay in the host country.Stays abroad in regions with a critical security situation
We recommend that all outgoing students inform themselves about travel warnings on the website of the Federal Foreign Office before departure – especially in regions where the security situation is considered “critical” – and register in the ELEFAND system ("Elektronische Erfassung von Deutschen im Ausland"). If travel warnings have been issued, we strongly advise against a stay abroad in the region in question. As a rule, scholarship funding cannot be awarded for a stay abroad in regions with an existing travel warning.Accommodation
Would you like to sublet your flat or room while you’re studying abroad? Foreign students are always looking for accommodation in Münster. So why not bring the two together? For example, you can advertise your room to international students on the AStA accommodation exchange platform under the heading “International exchange”.
If you write your offer in English, you are far more likely to find the right person to sublet your room or flat.
Visit the AStA accommodation exchange platformPreparatory workshops
Are you interested in intensively getting ready for your planned stay abroad and want to improve your intercultural skills? Then we invite you to attend our workshops as part of “The Larger Picture”, a programme by the International Office to promote internationalisation and intercultural exchange.