Rail:

Münster has a reliable rail system, which is well-connected to the German Railways network. Hence it will be very convenient to travel to other urban European countries, and major German cities. For more details on the rail system and ticketing, you can visit the Münster city website.

You can consider downloading The Münster App – a mobile application to help you navigate the city via public transport.

Bicycle:

You can also join the locals in their most popular mode of transport - riding a bicycle. Bicycles, called “Leeze” in the local dialect, are the most popular mode of travel among the WWU students. Münster is the most bicycle-friendly city in Germany. Bicycles can be, rented, bought, sold and repaired at fairly cheap rates in the city.

Münster: The bicycle capital of Germany

Flying Chalks’ tip: The locals take their cycling seriously – take care to follow traffic rules, and have working lights and brakes on your bicycle.

For more information on transport around Münster, you can visit this link.

It is recommended that international students open a German bank account. A German bank account would be required for timely payment of rent and student fees. Do note that you will need to provide the bank with direct debit authorisation.

The most popular banks in Germany are Sparkasse and Deutsche Bank, both of which are also recommended for international students. As an international student, you will typically need your identification document, certificate confirming your student status, and an address in Münster to open a bank account. The remaining information can be obtained from the reception.

Sparkasse, Deutsche Bank, Sparda Bank, Commerzbank are some of the banks located at the city centre, very close to the university.

The postal service in Germany is very straightforward and economical. All you need is to go to the nearest Deutsche Post outlet and send your mail on its way! You can find your nearest Deutsche Post outlet here.

For further information on postal rates, you can visit the Deutsche Post website.

Students can visit the University Hospital (Universitätsklinikum Münster, UKM), open 24 hours, for their health concerns. The contact details are as follows:

Address: Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 1,

48149 Münster

Germany

Phone: 0049 251 830

Website: http://internationalpatients.ukmuenster.de/

St. Franziskus-Hospital is another hospital, open 24 hours. The contact details are as follows:

Address: Hohenzollernring 72

48145 Münster

Germany

Phone: 0049 251 9350

Website: https://www.sfh-muenster.de/startseite/

In case of a medical emergency, please call 112.

The University of Münster provides extensive WiFi coverage in most of the university premises, under the WLAN name “uni-ms”. Upon enrolment at the university, you will receive your log-in credentials (User ID and standard Password) for a personal email account. The same credentials can be used to connect to the WiFi.

If you face IT difficulties while at the university, you can seek help from the Center for Information Processing, known as “Zentrum für Informationsverarbeitung” (ZIV). Apart from IT support, the ZIV also provides courses in software training, print & pay services, and PC workstations free of charge.

For mobile networks, there are a few options you could consider and compare:

1. Lycamobile offers cheap call and internet rates.
2. Vodafone has extensive mobile network coverage across Münster.
3. T-Mobil has a strong reputation for network quality and high Internet speeds, even in less urban areas. However, it will be slightly more expensive compared to other providers.

For home Internet, Unitymedia is the recommended and most popular service provider among students. For more information regarding internet in student residence buildings, you can check out this link. 

Emergency contact numbers in Germany:

110 (Police)

112 (Fire Brigade & Ambulance)

Tourist Information desk in the town-hall:

Prinzipalmarkt 10

Phone + 49 (0) 2 51.4 92-27 24

Tue-Fri (10.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.)

Saturdays and holidays (11.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.)

The weather in Münster is quite unpredictable in general. Rainy days are frequent, with small amounts of rainfall each time. However, harsh weather conditions or snowy days are rare here.

Typically, Münster is warmest between June to August, where temperatures range from 10 to 22 degrees Celcius (52 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit). The coldest season is usually from December to February, where temperatures range from 4 to -2 degrees Celcius (39 to 28 degrees Fahrenheit). The annual average temperature of Münster is 9.4 degrees Celsius (48.9 degrees Fahrenheit).

Flying Chalks’ tip: Do prepare an umbrella!