Jonah K., Bachelor of Science/Mathematics
University of Münster, Germany (Semester 2, 2018)
Living, Studying, and Sightseeing in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia
The greatest challenge of going on exchange is successfully integrating oneself into the local culture. The prospect of waking up one morning in a completely foreign land and totally different culture or even language can be a daunting one. However, it is a truly thrilling experience and one that every university student should consider as an option for them to pursue throughout the duration of their studies.
Münster is a city of many possibilities. It is a place with big city conveniences, but a small city feel and has plenty to offer everyone; including its proximity to major German football teams, immense historical significance, and – most importantly of all for exchange students – a vibrant university culture. Also, who wouldn’t love the idea of attending a university whose central administration is in an actual 18th century palace?
The university faculties are spread throughout the centre of the city, so a short walk from wherever your classes are and you can find yourself right in the centre of the Altstadt (old city). As the bicycle capital of Germany, transport from campus to wherever you need to be is quick, easy, and an excuse to get some exercise!
Before I even arrived in the city, the University’s exchange service was already helping out, giving me plenty of resources to explore to prepare for my accommodation, insurance, and everything else I could expect to have to organise. They gave me the materials to apply to various student housing associations – as accommodation in Münster can be tight – and soon enough I found myself staying in an accommodation house with several local students. My specific accommodation was all I could have hoped for – centrally located in the city, and breakfast and lunch prepared every day in the house cafeteria. The perfect opportunity to try some local cuisine every day.
The extra advantage of studying in Germany is the connections many of the universities have. For me particularly as a physics student, the opportunity to learn particle physics from an actual Large Hadron Collider physicist as my lecturer was a real standout moment. For many years Germany has been an academic hub of Europe, so no matter what you study, you’re sure to find yourself learning from some of the best in your field.
The biggest culture shock a university student can expect in Germany is something that is fundamental to their university culture. At the end of a lecture, you can expect to hear raucous knocking on the lecture desks, as a gesture of appreciation for the lecturer. Germany is otherwise quite like Australia, but make sure to keep your wits about you, they do after all drive on the wrong (or right) side of the road!
The highlights of my time in Münster were definitely the relationships I made with the people I knew, and the activities I did with them. From going to the local football derby or Christmas markets with fellow students in my accommodation house, to visits to nearby attractions and museums with fellow exchange students, the relationships and experiences you forge and share while on exchange are those you’ll never forget.
Exchange doesn’t come without its own struggles of course, and finding yourself in a completely different country with a completely different language can be scary. However, this provides you with the perfect opportunity to grow. I was worried I didn’t speak good enough German or fit in well enough, and that kind of cultural apprehensiveness is something only overcome by taking the plunge into the deep end and realising that everyone is much more accommodating, and you’ll do just fine. All it took was that one success, and all of a sudden I was confident enough to speak German to anyone who’d listen!
The best advice I can give for those going on exchange or even considering it is that good planning can enhance your experience to the next level. However, at the risk of contradicting myself, once all the important stuff is planned, go nuts! The great advantage of Europe is that there’s so much to do in such a small area. Maybe one day you feel like taking a trip out to a completely different city. Do it! Take advantage of your opportunities while you’re away and you’ll come back much happier for your experience!
While I am sure to many Münster is an obscure place you’ve never heard of, I cannot recommend the city more passionately to those considering an exchange in Germany. The unique opportunities and experiences you can find in a place like Münster will be sure to give you plenty of stories to tell, and the atmosphere of both the university and the city in general is unlike any other you’ll ever experience.
