University of Münster

The University of Münster (WWU) was founded in 1780 and is one of Germany's largest universities, with some 45,000 students across 15 faculties and 280 courses of study in 120 subjects. It has a strong research profile with two excellence clusters (Religion and Politics; Mathematics) and more than 30 research centres.

It is a public research university in the historic city of Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia. About 3,700 international students from 130 countries study here, and the university cooperates with more than 550 partner institutions worldwide.

No tuition fees are charged for regular degree programmes; students pay only a semester fee (currently €369.50 per semester, including a semester ticket for public transport). Students in Münster normally need around €1,000 per month for living expenses.

Why it suits South Asian students

• No tuition fees for regular programmes, including English-taught master's degrees
• Wide English-taught master's portfolio — business, economics, data science, mathematics, physics, geoinformatics, information systems and humanities
• Clear APS guidance: the university states that degree holders from India, China and Vietnam must have their credentials checked by the Academic Evaluation Centre and upload the APS certificate
• International Office support, with funding advice and an emergency scholarship for international students facing financial hardship

Full tuition detail (verified): No tuition fees are charged for regular degree programmes at the University of Münster; the only exception applies to in-service continuing education programmes. Every student pays a semester fee of €369.50 in the winter semester 2026/27 (includes a semester ticket for public transport). Students in Münster normally need around €1,000 per month to cover living expenses: room ca. €400–500, health insurance ca. €140, food and recreation ca. €250–300, study materials ca. €50–100. Students requiring a study visa must prove sufficient funds of at least €11,904 per year, usually via a blocked account. Language course students pay an additional €500 course fee per semester.

Applications are submitted online via the university's application portal. German, EU and non-EU applicants must apply for all restricted and non-restricted master's programmes; check the Study Guide for programme-specific start semesters and restrictions.

Deadlines (non-EU applicants): winter semester master's programmes — beginning of May to 15 July (some programmes accept applications until 15 September); summer semester master's programmes — beginning of November to 15 January. Deadlines are cut-off dates and cannot be extended. Admission and rejection notifications appear in the application info portal about 2–3 weeks after the deadline.

APS certificate: applicants with a university degree from India, China or Vietnam must have it checked and certified by the Academic Evaluation Centre (APS) in their capital city and upload the certificate with the transcript of records. There is no conditional admission at the University of Münster.

Required documents include degree certificates and transcripts (translated into German or English where necessary) and proof of language skills as stated in each programme's admission regulations. Note: a bachelor's degree earned outside Germany does not qualify for admission to Master of Education programmes.

Full English requirement detail (verified): No university-wide IELTS requirement is published; the International Office states that English language requirements for English-taught degree programmes are found on the respective programme websites. Verified programme-level examples: M.Sc. Mathematics requires B2 (IELTS overall band score of 6.0 or higher); M.Sc. Business Administration requires C1 (IELTS 7.0); M.A. National and Transnational Studies requires C2 (IELTS Academic or General 7.5+). Always check the admission regulations of the specific programme.

The university offers a broad range of English-taught master's programmes: M.Sc. Business Administration, M.Sc. Business Chemistry, M.Sc. Business Development, M.Sc. Data Science, M.Sc. Economics, M.Sc. Mathematics, M.Sc. Physics, M.Sc. Geophysics, M.Sc. Information Systems, M.Sc. Geoinformatics and Spatial Data Science, M.Sc. Geospatial Technologies (Erasmus Mundus), M.Sc. Public Sector Innovation and EGovernance (Erasmus Mundus PIONEER), M.Sc. Sports, Exercise and Human Performance, M.A. British, American and Postcolonial Studies, M.A. National and Transnational Studies, M.A. Knowledge and Communication, M.A. Social Anthropology, M.A. Comparative Public Governance (double degree with the University of Twente) and the LL.M. in Comparative and Global Law.

Some programmes have special application procedures (e.g. Geoinformatics, Geospatial Technologies, Comparative Public Governance and PIONEER apply through dedicated channels), so check the programme's own page.

At bachelor's level the university offers only one English-taught programme, the B.Sc. in Human Movement in Sports and Exercise; all other bachelor's programmes are taught in German and generally require very good German language skills (DSH 2 for most subjects).

Because students pay no tuition for degree programmes in Germany, there are no full scholarship programmes at universities. The University of Münster offers the ProTalent scholarship (its Deutschlandstipendium programme): €300 per month, awarded every winter semester to students of all 15 faculties, with applications in May/June for the funding year starting 1 October.

International students can also consult the DAAD scholarship database — the German Academic Exchange Service awards scholarships to master's and doctoral students from all countries. The International Office advises international students on further funding options and can help bridge short-term financial emergencies, including the Emergency Scholarship (Santander Aid Fund) offering up to €750 per month for up to 3 months, with applications possible at any time.