By Reuben van Kampen

How I Have Adapted to Life in Münster

I am 3 months into my exchange here in Münster, Germany, and needless to say it has been an experience that I will never forget. I have my final exams on the horizon and now is a good time to reflect on what has been a thrilling and life changing experience. This blogpost will highlight the city of Münster itself, and the courses I am taking. 

The City

The city of Münster has its own historical and vibrant charm that is only amplified by the active student culture. Being almost entirely rebuilt following the Second World War, Münster has a very historic feel to it. Nearly all of the buildings, including that of the university, make you feel as if you have travelled back in time to the late 19th, early 20th centuries. This feeling is only exaggerated by the fact that in Münster, there is no university campus, but all the university buildings are integrated into the city itself. This means that often my lectures are held in former castles or military headquarters, or in direct view of a medieval cathedral. For myself, this comes with the downside that there are no halls of residence, or university organised student accommodation to speak of, but it is the responsibility of each student to find their own private accommodation. This was an issue for me, as the wait list for most private halls of residences were 7-9 months long – not in time for my stay. However, I found a room in an international flat, which has been fantastic, especially getting to know my flatmates from Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, Poland and Spain. 

Home to nearly 1 million bikes, Münster is the bicycle capital of Germany, as such, it is almost mandatory to buy or rent one yourself. Not only is it the social norm, but it is extremely practical for whatever you do. I am renting one for a nominal fee per month, but there are numerous options to buy a bike yourself. With dedicated bicycle infrastructure and even the installation of thermal cameras at traffic lights to detect cyclists so that they do not need to stop at the intersection, cycling around the city is as easy and enjoyable as it can be. The only difficulty I faced was adapting to right hand traffic, but once I got used to it I was off. 

The advantage of heading on exchange during the winter semester has been that I have had the opportunity to experience the German festive season. With enough Glühwein and Bratwurst to last a lifetime, the German Christmas markets were a sight to behold and made an easy excuse to catch up with mates on a cold winter’s night. 

My Studies

During my time here, I have centred my studies around international law. As one of the two places where the Peace of Westphalia was signed, Münster also holds its own legal significance as the birthplace of international law. I have taken courses relating to public international law (war and treaties), international trade law, and United States criminal and constitutional law. Furthermore, I have taken courses in private law in the Roman Empire, and an introduction to German private law dedicated to international students. The workload in Münster is slightly less per paper than Waikato, and that is reflected through the required credits, but the real challenge for me has been that nothing is recorded, and every course is only graded on one final written exam – there are no internally assessed assignments such as essays or quizzes. While I’ve had to adapt my work ethic slightly, it has been amazing to study in a legal jurisdiction in contrast to New Zealand. 

Since arriving in mid-September, Münster has only welcomed me with open arms. While there have been challenges, they have only been a part of the adventure. The friendships and experiences that I have made here will last a life-time and there is nothing I would have done differently. I am grateful for the opportunity and the assistance that Waikato Global Experiences have given me, and I encourage others to take the leap and take a semester abroad.