University of Münster

Key facts

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 9 November 2026.

About the University of Münster

The University of Münster is a public research university in the city of Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was founded in 1780; Wikipedia gives 16 April 1780 and notes that the name Westphalian Wilhelm University dates from 1907 and that the university has been called University of Münster since 2023.^[6][2] The university has 15 faculties and about 41,200 students.^[1]

It has no single campus: its institutes and departments are spread over some 240 buildings across the city.^[2] The university’s own presentation counts 550 partnerships with universities worldwide and names the Ulysseus European university alliance as one of its networks.^[2]

How is the University of Münster ranked?

The aggregator xuanxiao.org lists the University of Münster at joint 370th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, with a score of 40.3 and a fall of 20 places from the previous edition. We could not read QS’s own table (topuniversities.com blocks automated access), so treat the position as unconfirmed.^[3]

The university’s ranking page lists 370 in its 2026 row and 350 in its 2025 row; its rows carry a year only, without naming the edition, but the 370 matches the aggregator’s 2027 figure.^[11] In research, the university’s homepage names two clusters of excellence: “Mathematics Münster: Dynamics – Geometry – Structure” and “Religion and Politics”, which it describes as phasing out.^[10] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.

What can you study at the University of Münster?

The university offers more than 320 degree programmes, from bachelor’s degrees to continuing education, as well as state examination, church examination and the Magister in Theology.^[8] An older university presentation counts more than 120 subjects and over 280 degree programmes; the figures differ because the sources are from different dates.^[2]

The 15 faculties are Protestant Theology, Catholic Theology, Law, the School of Business and Economics, Medicine, Educational and Social Sciences, Psychology/Sport and Exercise Sciences, History and Philosophy, Philology, Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Biology, Geosciences, and the University of Music.^[2]

The university lists 19 English-taught programmes: one bachelor’s (Human Movement in Sports and Exercise, B.Sc.) and 18 master’s programmes (MA, MSc and LL.M.).^[9] The presentation separately cites 30 international degree programmes, which uses a wider definition.^[2] For the wider picture, see our Germany guide and the Study in Germany guide.

How much does the University of Münster cost?

The university states that its students are not obliged to pay tuition fees. The semester fee for winter semester 2026/27 is €369.50.^[4] The page does not distinguish between EU and non-EU students, and we found no separate fee for non-EU students.

The university also offers a DSH preparatory German course through its Language Centre at €500 per semester (in addition to the semester fee); the course fee is refunded if you pass the DSH and enrol at Münster.^[5]

Living costs are on top. See the Germany guide and the Study in Germany guide.

How do you apply to the University of Münster?

The route depends on the programme.^[12]

• Restricted-admission programmes and master’s programmes: apply through the online application portal.^[12]
• Non-restricted bachelor’s programmes, doctoral programmes and guest students: enrol through the online enrolment portal.^[12]
• Medicine, pharmacy and dentistry (state examination): apply through hochschulstart.de.^[12]

Applications from non-EU/non-EEA countries have their own timelines, and the university stresses that cut-off dates cannot be extended.^[12] Master’s admission requires a bachelor’s degree or an undergraduate programme of at least three years, and places are usually limited.^[13] The International Office and the Student Admissions Office advise applicants.^[8]

We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by programme. Check the university’s dates and deadlines page for your programme before you start.

Which language level do you need?

For most German-taught degree courses you need very good German, usually at DSH-2 level (DSH is the German university entrance exam for foreign applicants). Accepted proof includes a DSH-2 certificate, TestDaF level 4 in all four areas, Deutsches Sprachdiplom level II, a Feststellungsprüfung, Goethe-Zertifikat C2, UNIcert III and telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule.^[5]

Some programmes set a different level: DSH-3 (or TestDaF level 5 in all areas) for medicine and dentistry, and DSH-1 (or TestDaF level 3) for Physics, Geophysics, the Mathematics B.Sc. and some music programmes.^[5]

For English-taught programmes, proof of German is not required. These programmes usually ask for an English language certificate; the page we read does not name accepted tests or levels, so check the programme page.^[5]

More about studying in Germany

• Germany: best universities
• Study in Germany: complete guide
• Cost of Studying Abroad
• International Student Scholarships
• University Ranking Methodology

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