In short
Münster has 4 universities and colleges offering 457 degree courses (206 Bachelor's, 232 Master's), and 13% of them are taught in English or bilingually. A student flat costs about €663 a month (30 m² flat incl. utilities, MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026). Tuition for non-EU students: €0 — Public universities in North Rhine-Westphalia charge no tuition, including for non-EU students; you pay a semester contribution that includes the Deutschland-Semesterticket.
Münster is a university town through and through: about one in five residents is a student, and almost everyone gets around by bike. The University of Münster and FH Münster offer a wide range of subjects. It is safe, green and lively in term time, but rents are high for a city of its size.
Universities in Münster
Every university and college in Münster in our catalogue, biggest first.
- Website of University of Münster (opens in a new tab)
University of Münster
University 314 courses
- Website of FH Münster University of Applied Sciences (opens in a new tab)
FH Münster University of Applied Sciences
University of applied sciences 131 courses
- Website of Kunstakademie Münster, Hochschule für Bildende Künste (opens in a new tab)
Kunstakademie Münster, Hochschule für Bildende Künste
Art & music college 9 courses
Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei
Other institution 3 courses
Cost of living
What studying in Münster costs, from the latest figures we could source.
- Rent for a student flat
- ≈ €663 / month30 m² flat incl. utilities, MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026
- Tuition for non-EU students
- €0 / semesterPlus the semester contribution every student pays. The rules are summed up in In short.
- Proof of funds for a visa
- €992 / monthThe proof of funds German missions currently ask of student-visa applicants (€11,904 a year) — confirm with the German embassy or consulate handling your application.
Good to know
- Get a bike (a "Leeze" in local slang) in your first week; buses exist, but the city runs on bicycles.
- Rent is high for the city's size: about €663 for a 30 m² flat and €606 for a shared-flat room (MLP 2026), so apply for student halls early.
- Bike theft is common, so invest in a solid lock.
Industries & employers
Big names that hire graduates, and offer internships and working-student jobs, in and around Münster.
LVM Versicherung
Insurance
Insurance group headquartered in Münster.
Provinzial
Insurance
Public insurance group headquartered in Münster.
Atruvia
IT services
IT provider for Germany's cooperative banks, with a large site in Münster.
University Hospital Münster
Healthcare
One of the city's biggest employers.
Culture & people
Münster is Catholic, well-off and orderly, but students give it a young, sociable feel. The Promenade, a car-free ring on the old city walls, is the main bike route and meeting place, and summer evenings are spent at the Aasee lake or the harbour (Hafen) bars.
The Peace of Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years' War in 1648, was negotiated here and in Osnabrück. The city collects public art and hosts the Skulptur Projekte, an international sculpture exhibition held every ten years.
Events & festivals
Send
Spring, summer & autumn
A big funfair held three times a year by the castle.
Skulptur Projekte
Every ten years (next 2027)
International sculpture exhibition across the city's streets and parks.
Christmas markets
Late Nov – Dec
Several markets around the old town and the Lamberti church.
Places to see
Prinzipalmarkt
Old town
The arcaded main street with gabled merchant houses.
Hall of Peace
History
In the town hall, where the Peace of Westphalia was sealed in 1648.
Aasee
Lake
City lake for sailing, jogging and evenings on the meadows.
St. Lamberti
Church
Famous for the iron cages still hanging from its tower.
Hafen
Nightlife
The old harbour, now full of bars, clubs and student hangouts.
Getting around
Münster has buses but no tram; most students cycle everywhere. The Deutschland-Semesterticket, included in the semester contribution, covers city buses and regional trains across Germany. Dortmund is about half an hour away by train, ICE and IC trains run from the main station, and Münster/Osnabrück Airport (FMO) is reachable by express bus.
Student experiences
First-hand posts from students in Münster, read by our team before they appear.
Loading experiences…
Studying in Münster: FAQ
Is Münster expensive for students?
For its size, yes. A 30 m² student flat costs about €663 a month and a shared-flat room about €606, above the mid-range figure of about €565 across the 38 cities studied (MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026).
Which universities are in Münster?
Münster has 4 universities in our catalogue: the University of Münster, one of Germany's largest, FH Münster University of Applied Sciences and the Kunstakademie Münster art academy.
Can I study in English in Münster?
Options are limited: 13% of Münster's 457 degree courses are taught in English or bilingually, mostly Master's programmes. German is needed for most degrees.
Do I pay tuition fees in Münster?
No. Public universities in North Rhine-Westphalia charge no tuition for EU or non-EU students; you pay only the semester contribution.
Do I need a bike in Münster?
Practically, yes. Münster is known as Germany's cycling capital, and a bike is the fastest way to get between campus buildings, the old town and the Aasee.
More guides in North Rhine-Westphalia
Sources
- MLP Studentenwohnreport 2026 (IW Köln) (opens in a new tab)
- University of Münster (opens in a new tab)
- Deutschland-Semesterticket price, winter 2026/27 (Studentenwerk Leipzig) (opens in a new tab)
- University and course numbers: the Where Is My Uni? catalogue, rebuilt from official university data.
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