A Mundusian guide to living, studying and working in Munich

In this guide, we cover topics like where to eat, shop and socialise in Munich. We also provide helpful information about working, living costs, visa and health insurance.

Hallo Leute! Welcome to the Mundusian guide about Munich, third biggest city of Germany and home to "Cultures & Contexts" Mundus Journalism specialisation. 

Perhaps the most research-oriented track together with Amsterdam's, Munich' specialisation focuses on the global challenges of contemporary digital journalism by emphasising the diversity of journalistic cultures and contexts, the investigative practices of cross-border journalism, and comparative journalism research. If you choose the capital of Bavaria as the second destination of your Mundus journey, you will study at LMU Munich, the biggest university in Germany and one of the leading universities in Europe and the world.

An international student community 

Being home to 10 universities, it is not surprising that Munich hosts a student population of 120,000, half of which belong to LMU. Among them, 15% come from abroad and, like you, chose Munich to advance their education taking part in ground-breaking research projects and benefitting from world-class teaching. Every year, approximately 1,000 international students come to LMU Munich on exchange, so it will be easy for you and your fellow Mundusians to make even more international friends. This makes the atmosphere incredibly stimulating, as students can find an open-minded and diverse environment where different cultures are celebrated throughout. In addition, since it is always nice to make local friends too, the university organizes a Buddy Program in which you will be paired with another student helping you making the best of your stay in Munich.

Apart from your Mundus coordinators at the Department of Media and Communication (IfKW), you can find assistance at the International Office of LMU Munich.

Living in Munich 

Its eclectic mix of historic and modern makes Munich a global centre of art, culture, publishing, technology and business. In fact, the city is known for its particular mixture of “laptop and lederhosen” - the traditional Bavarian leather pants you can see at Oktoberfest – meaning that high-tech and tradition are both important parts of Munich' soul. In addition, the Bavarian capital holds a very high standard and quality of living, reaching first in Germany and third worldwide according to the 2018 Mercer's Quality of Living survey.

Transportation

Once you are enrolled at LMU Munich, you will receive your student ID together with your Semesterticket, the transportation card which allow you to travel on busses, trams, metro and suburban railwayThe cost of the Semesterticket is included in your Mundus Journalism fee!

In addition to that, if you're missing the good ol' cycling life you had in Aarhus, you need to know that Munich is highly bike-friendly city, so getting a second-hand bike can also be a good idea. 

Housing

Studentenwerk München provides housing assistance to all students in Munich, which means also to Mundus students. You can apply for a place in student residences and apartments in Munich, Freising and Rosenheim. Normally, applications happen in July, but your Mundus coordinator will inform you about the exact dates. Unfortunately, being put on a waiting list is quite common, but sometimes Mundus students have some rooms reserved for them. The average monthly rent for a single student accomodation is approx. 350 euros.

If you would rather look for accomodation on the private market, the average monthly rent rises to 450-500 euros, up to 800 for student residences. You can look at Studentenwerk portal where landlords publish their offers or on websites posting ads for shared apartment like WG-gesucht.de

Grocery shopping

In Germany, groceries are not expensive as in Denmark. Even if Munich is not the cheapest city you could live in, you can always find great deals and discount supermarkets (for example Lidl, Penny and Aldi). If you fancy a bit more choice, you can head to Rewe and Edeka. 

Farmers' markets are also a very good yet sometimes a bit more expensive alternative for your organic and local shopping. Munich is home to over 40 markets that runs from Tuesday to Saturday and where you can also try some baked and fresh goodies on the spot! For quick and cheap meals and snack, make sure to check out cafeterias and mensa at the university.

Mundusian tip: check out Josephsplatz market on Tuesday afternoon!

As in every big and international city, small shops selling foreign delights are all around Munich. Whether you are thinking about Turkish, Asian, Italian or West African cuisine, in Munich you will find the ingredients to prepare your favorite dish from home or experiment with something completely new and surprise your roommates!

Finance your studies

Non-scholarship holders can apply for an Erasmus+ stipend for the second year of their Mundus Journalism studies. So far, all eligible students have received this stipend, which is up to 3,500 euros. In addition, to further finance your studies you can think about getting a student job in Germany, remote working or applying for other funding options at LMU. 

Here you will find all relevant information about these alternatives, including student loans.

Culture

Munich is a friendly and vibrant city; with a number of famous museums, art galleries, theatres and opera houses, the capital city of Bavaria is a major European cultural centre. If you are looking for company to explore the cultural scene, every semester the Studentenwerk München (Student Services Organization) organizes a Cultural Programme full of trips, excursions and cultural events for students.

Mundusian tips: one of the most important museums in Munich, the Alte Pinakothek, has 1 euro entrance fee on Sundays! In addition, if you are looking for a nice Saturday walk, head to Haidhausen, a borough filled with with beautiful squares, picturesque streets, and an idyllic village feel.

As you might know, Munich is world-wide known for being an amazing city for beer lovers. With nearly 1,000 years of brewing tradiiton, Bavaria and especially Munich is the place to be! On sunny afternoons, enjoy some cold pints at the Biergarten around the city and remeber that you can bring your own snacks freely. Another must-to in Summer? Enjoy music, stalls and food from all over the world at Tollwood Festival!

Sports

If you are more of a sport fan, Munich is in an attractive location in close proximity to the Bavarian Alps, perfect for weekend escapes. During the week, to keep yourself fit throughout the semester, you can head to the Munich University Sports Center (ZHS): here, you will find incredible and low-cost opportunities to participate in 90 types of sports, including indoor aerobics, climbing or skiing in the mountains, sailing on Lake Starnberg, and yoga. The membership card for the entire semester costs 7.50 euros – yes, you read it right. 

Mundusian tip: after a long day at Department of Media and Communication, relax and recharge at  Englischer Garten, one of Europe’s biggest urban parks – they are just one next to the other!

Visa 

Students who are EU or EEA nationals (i.e. citizens of the 27 EU member states, and Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland) DO NOT require a visa to study in Germany, but they will have to register their local address at the Resident Registration Office within two weeks of their arrival in Munich. 

Students from outside the EU or EFTA (so-called “third-country nationals”) DO require a visa and a residence permit to study in Germany. Your student visa is normally issued for six months, during which you will have to apply for a residence permit that normally remains valid for a year.

For detailed information, please visit the LMU website on visa requirements and  residence permit.

Health Insurance

For detailed information about health insurance, please visit the section on Health and Safety of LMU website – there you will find specific requirements for your profile, i.e. EU/EEA citizens, non-EU citizens insured in their country of origin, etc.

We can't wait to have our first Mundusians in Munich and enrich the city guide with all their recommendations! If you want to be on of them, apply to our programme until January, 10th at 12:00 CET.