Incoming Students Information Package

1 Studying at ifgi

1.1 Arrival

How to reach us

1.2 Language

ifgi staff speaks english and most lectures are being held in English.

1.3 Contact

Please contact our ERASMUS-coordinator Dr. Christoph Brox or the office.

2 Studying at the Uni Münster

2.1 The University

2.1.1 Administration

Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität
Schloßplatz 2
D - 48149 Muenster
Telefon: +49 (0)251 83 - 0
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

2.1.2 International Office

International Office
- Akademisches Auslandsamt -
Leonardo Campus 11 - 48149 Münster
Tel.: 0251 / 832 - 22 15; Fax: - 22 26
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2.1.3 Organization of the academical year

Each academical is divided up into two semesters, winter and summer. Winter term usually goes from mid October to mid February. A so called "period free of lectures" follows during which homeworks might be written, exams might take place or laboratory works might be done. Summer term starts in April and finishes in July. In average a term lasts about 14 weeks.

2.1.4 General description

In Muenster historico-cultural and ideological qualms of the landlords prevented a modernisation of the Prussian educational system. The annexation of the catholic Westphalia by the protestant Prussia after the congress of Vienna 1815 caused the degradation of the university to the status of a philosophico-theological academy. Nevertheless enoumerous new fields of study emerged: languages, natural sciences, law studies and others.

1902 Emperor Wilhelm II. (1859-1941), King of Prussia, bestowed the full university rights upon Muenster. During the Republic of Weimar the democrats were in the minority at the university. Many tutors and students reacted positively to the takeover by the National Socialists. At the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität tutors and students were removed for political and racist reasons. Open protest against the NS regime was rare.

After the war the number of students grew steadily. Nowadays the university of Muenster belongs to the biggest universities in Germany counting 45.000 students and more than 100 courses of studies. It attracts many tutors and students from other European and Non-European countries.

http://www.uni-muenster.de

2.1.5 Enrollment

As the dates vary from year to year it is best to get the information via the internet on http://www.uni-muenster.de/Rektorat/Studierendensekretariat/termine.html.

2.2 General information

2.2.1 Health insurance

Make sure to have a valid German health insurance. There are different regulations depending on the country of origin.

Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), Hafenstr. 32 (lt is near Ludgeriplatz) and Domagkstr. 61 (lt is in Mensa II) (Tel. 0251/ 53 00 6-0); http://www.tk-online.de

Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse (AOK), address mentioned above; http://www.aok.de

Deutsche Angestellten Krankenkasse (DAK), Von-Steuben-Straße 5 (near Hauptbahnhof) (Tel.: 02 51 - 4 88 40); http://www.dak.de

Barmer Ersatzkasse (BEK), Engelstraße 63-65 (near Haptbahnhof) (Tel.: 02 51 - 41 00); http://www.bek.de

The "TK" and "AOK" are the two best health insurance agencies. For the prices please contact the insurance via mail. This insurance basically covers all costs for doctor's visits, medicine, and emergencies. TK is especially helpful, since they have a detailed information booklet concerning the (very complicated) German insurance system in English.

Also ask your German health insurance group for a card that enables you to receive medicine and other benefits free of charge.

If you go to the doctor, take your insurance card with you, which you will have received from your insurance along. It looks like a telephone card and contains your personal health information. The doctor's office needs the card to handle all payment transactions directly with your health insurance agency.

Private insurance companies offer insurance packages (health, accidents), for example

2.2.2 Registring at the Aliens' Affairs Department

First, please obtain a form for registration "Meldung" from the City of Muenster [available from the Information Desk of the City Administration "Bürgeramt" of the City of Muenster - Stadthaus, Klemensstrasse (between Kaufhof and Karstadt); openinghours: see above]. When you have completed the form, your landlord (e.g. the student hostel administration of the Studentenwerk) must confirm the details on the last page. With the completed form and the following additional documents:

• ID card / passport
• 2 photos
• University admission notice
• proof of health insurance
• certificate of financial support (amount and duration of fincancing)

You must then go to the Aliens' Affairs Department within the first 10 days of arrival, where you can apply for a residence permit. At the entrance to the Aliens' Affairs Department you must draw a ticket with a number. The number and the counter to which you must proceed will then appear on a digital display.

As this area is too complex to be described in full detail here, we would ask you to contact the Aliens' Affairs Department direct in the case of any questions or problems.

Aliens' Affairs Department of the City of Münster
Amt für Ausländerangelegenheiten -
Stadthaus II
Ludgeriplatz 4 (Entrance: Südstrasse)
D-48151 Münster
Tel.: +49 (0) 251 / 492 - 39 58

Please note: Students from countries which are not members of the EU must make sure to obtain a student visa - if necessary - in good time from the German embassy in their home country and apply for a residence permit within the first 10 days of arrival.

2.2.3 How to reach Muenster

There are many different possibilities of reaching Muenster. The best solution depends on the European country the student is coming from:

• By plane to airport Muenster/Osnabrück, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Cologne or Frankfurt
• By bus using Eurolines
• By train to the main station of Muenster (from Paris/Bruxelles to Cologne with the Thalys, from London to Bruxelles with Eurostar etc.)

2.2.4 Cost of living

Course fees are not charged at the University of Muenster. However, all students, including ERASMUS students are required to pay a social contribution (approx. Euro 140 per semester) towards the upkeep of student facilities and the semester ticket.

People should currently reckon with living costs of about Euro 600 per month.

2.2.5 Accomodation

Wohnraumverwaltung
Bismarckallee 5
D-48151 Muenster
Tel.: +49 (0) 251 / 837 94 80
Fax: +49 (0) 251 / 837 92 07
Ms Schwering
Mon.-Thur.: 9.00 a.m. - 12.00 a.m.
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http://www.uni-muenster.de/Studentenwerk/

The coordinator at your home university will issue ERASMUS students with an application form of the Studentenwerk for accommodation. Non-ERASMUS students turn directly to the Studentenwerk for accommodation forms. Please make sure to complete the form in full and send it in to the Studentenwerk.

• not later than 30 June for the following winter semester
• not later than 31 December for the following summer semester

The Studentenwerk will make every effort to reserve a room for you and send you a rent contract, which you must sign and return to the Studentenwerk by the deadline indicated.

On the basis of past experience, the Studentenwerk usually sends the rent contracts out fairly late. If you have any questions on accommodation, please contact the Wohnraumverwaltung of the Studentenwerk directly.

Another important source of information is the magazine NA DANN. It contains all the appartements and rooms to rent on the market. Nearly all the students find their lodging with the help of this magazine. You can consult the site under http://www.nadann.de.

2.2.6 Handicapped students

Handicapped students with special needs can contact the following addresses to get more information about the studying conditions at the University of Muenster:
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http://www.handicapped.org
If you want a personal meeting please contact:
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2.2.7 Institutes of the host university

Libraries

Universitäts -und Landesbibliothek Muenster
Krummer Timpen 3-5
48143 Muenster
Tel: +49 (0) 251 / 83 - 24021
Fax: +49 (0) 251 / 83 - 28398
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Course specific institutes

Nearly every department has ist own library which is normally situated in the respective building of the department. The address and opening hours of the needed library can be found on http://www.uni-muenster.de/ULB/bibliothek/index.html at the end of the page (Institutsbibliotheken der Univ. Muenster).

2.2.8 Language Courses

The Language Centre offers a broad variety of language courses including German as a Foreign Language. For detailed information please consult the website (http://wwwspz.uni-muenster.de)

Language Centre of the University of Münster
- Sprachenzentrum -
German as a Foreign Language
- Lehrgebiet Deutsch als Fremdsprache -
Hüfferstrasse 27 III
D-48149 Münster

2.2.9 External activities - sports and culture

International center of the university

Internationales Zentrum der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster
"Die Brücke"
Wilmergasse 2
48143 Münster

First Contact:

Foreign students can contact the center and ask for help concerning the first steps on arrival in Muenster.

First Aid Package!
Kontakt: Joachim Sommer,Ahmad Ziadeh,Simonetta Tertio
Tel.0251/83-22228
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University sport

During the semester more than 300 hours of activities are offered by the university sport. Thus the outcome of a comparison to private clubs is very positive.

The offer of more than 100 disciplines comprises on the one hand all the common leisure games and competitive sports on the other hand students open to new sports are tempted by a diverse offer. Only a few disciplines shall be mentionned: canoe-polo, Lacrosse, under water rugby, juggling, unicycling etc.

Health-oiented sport disciplines are on offer as well. These are callisthenics, Yoga, or aquafitness.

Teamsports are very important to get to know people and in Volleyball, Basketball or Handball are the most popular sports in this category.

For further information please see http://hsp-ms.uni-muenster.de

Uni art and culture

The university of Muenster also offers a broad cultural programme. This is due to the activity and creativity of its students, employees and tutors.

A special feature are the numerous bands, orchestras and choirs, their repertoires including Gregorian Chant, classical symphonies, Gospels and Jazz. Various drama groups perform on the "Studiobühne" and the "Bühne der Theaterpädagogik", two stages of the university.

Furthermore five museums belonging to the university give a possibility to learn more about natural sciences, art etc.

An overview of the current activities, events and groups is given in the programme "UniKunstKultur" which is issued at he beginning of each semester and can be found in most of the institutes.

2.2.10 Telephone and Email

Telephone:

Application forms for the connection of a telephone can be obtained from the Telekom Shop in Salzstrasse, where you can also choose the type of telephone you want. The connection charges are about Euro 50. The rental for telephones can vary widely.
Most public telephone boxes are card-operated. Phone cards can be bought at any post office as well as in many tobacco shops.
You can get SIM cards for your mobile phone nearly in every Supermarket or phone provider shop.

Email:

You can obtain an email address from the Computer Centre on written application (special form). The address can be collected from there about one week later. You then have access to the university computers and servers, and will be given a mailbox for messages. The Computer Centre offers a wide range of computer courses. Information on them can also be obtained from the Centre.

University Computer Centre
- Zentrum für Informationsverarbeitung -
Einsteinstrasse 60 (at Coesfelder Kreuz)
D-48149 Münster