Founded in 1780, the University of Muenster is one of the largest universities in Germany with a rich and time-honoured tradition. It enjoys an outstanding reputation in the region and far beyond. Fifteen faculties with 120 degree programmes and some 30 research centres comprise the institutional backbone of the University. Some 44,000 students and 5,700 academics appreciate the University's excellent research opportunities, high-quality teaching, promotion of junior researchers, and the advantages of living in the city of Münster. Our slogan sums it up best: "living.knowledge". Mission Statement Cutting-edge research As a research-oriented university, the WWU has made pioneering progress in numerous areas. Two Excellence Clusters, thirteen collaborative research centres (SFB), several research training groups and more than 25 research centres collectively advance inter- and transdisciplinary collaborative research and individual disciplinary research projects. Promotion of junior researchers The University of Muenster actively supports its junior researchers as part of its academic personnel development strategy. Career counselling and funding opportunities, structured doctoral programmes and qualification measures provide candidates with a more transparent and plannable career path into academia. Studying and teaching The University of Muenster is well-known for its large and distinguished faculties, such as Law and Medicine, but also for its so-called exotic subjects like Scandinavian Studies. The diverse and research-oriented course offerings attract several thousand students to Muenster each year. Diversity and equal opportunity The University of Muenster sees diversity as a strength that impacts all areas of university development and management. Appreciation and equal treatment of all employees and students regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, handicap, sexual orientation or religion are centrally important at the WWU. Internationalisation The University of Muenster has concluded more than 550 partnership agreements with universities and academic institutes worldwide – from nearby Enschede in the Netherlands to Beijing, China. Some 3,600 foreign students and 700 distinguished visiting researchers currently study and research at the University of Muenster.