First semester celebration at the University of Münster: Over 4,000 newcomers celebrate!

First semester celebration at the University of Münster: Over 4,000 newcomers celebrate!

On October 8, 2025, the traditional first semester welcome at the University of Münster took place in the LVM Preußenstadion. Over 4,000 new students, also known as “Erstis”, celebrated the start of their studies and caused such a large crowd that an additional grandstand had to be opened. Rector Prof. Dr. Johannes Wessels warmly welcomed the students and encouraged them to take an active part in university life and to help shape the city of Münster. Mayor Angela Stähler and Ole Kittner, the sports director of SC Preußen Münster, also contributed to the welcoming words.

A colorful supporting program ensured a good atmosphere. The band “Hymen” opened the event musically, followed by a Taiji session and a lively Zumba show by the university sports team. In addition to the artistic part, the first semester students were introduced to the contact points for student problems at an information stand. The AStA chairman Lisa-Nicole Bücker offered helpful information, while Christiane Behr from the Central Student Advisory Service presented various advisory services.

Information and offers for students

Particularly important was Leonie Sagemüller from the International Office, who provided information about the possibilities of stays abroad. Representatives from university sports and the Career Service also answered questions about leisure activities and professional orientation. The students received “freshers backpacks” at the exit and had the chance to win signed footballs. Parallel to the main event, a freshers' fair took place on the adjacent artificial turf pitch, where university groups and initiatives presented themselves.

The University of Münster expects around 41,000 students to be enrolled in the 2025/26 winter semester, including around 8,600 new students. Of these, around 4,700 are “classic freshmen” who are enrolled at a university for the first time. The business administration and law courses in particular are experiencing high demand, with over 530 new enrollees and around 420 new students. In addition, the subjects of psychology, business administration and law were among the most popular fields of study with thousands of applications.

Particularly noteworthy is the “Information Systems” master’s degree program with an applicant quota of 35 applications per place. In view of these developments, it is clear that the University of Münster offers an attractive environment for students.

Student statistics and trends

According to current statistics, around 2.9 million people are enrolled in Germany in the 2024/2025 winter semester, around 1.7 million of them at universities. Popular fields of study for new students are law, economics and social sciences, followed by engineering. The Bologna reform has led to a decline in the average age of university graduates in recent years and makes internationally oriented study programs easier through ECTS points. Every year, over 30,000 German students take part in the Erasmus funding program for stays abroad, with countries such as Spain, France and Italy being particularly popular.

The challenges for many students should not be underestimated, as parental support and scholarships are often not enough. Many people work alongside their studies to secure their livelihood. In 2024, the average BAföG funding amount was 657 euros, with most recipients in North Rhine-Westphalia. Expectations for starting salaries vary depending on the field of study.