Editing University of Münster (section)

==History==
The university has its roots in the '''Münster's Jesuit College''' (''Jesuiten-Kolleg Münster''), founded in 1588, and the convent of lay sisters Liebfrauen-Überwasser, founded in 1040, of which it took its seal. The convent was dissolved in 1773, so that its funds could be used to found the University of Münster on 16 April 1780.

[[Image:Bain News Service - The Library of Congress - Kaiser Wilhelm (LOC) (pd).jpg|thumb|upright|Emperor [[Wilhelm II of Germany]], after whom the University of Münster was named prior to its name change in 2023 ]]

In 1631, [[Pope Urban VIII]] and [[Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Ferdinand II]] issued privileges, allowing the establishment of a university in Münster. However, due to a lack of funding, they were only put to use in 1780, when the modern University of Münster was founded with four faculties: Law, Medicine, Philosophy and Theology.<ref name="Website">{{cite web|url=https://www.uni-muenster.de/profil/struktur.html|title=Geschichte der WWU Münster – Struktur|first=Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster|last=Online-Redaktion|website=www.uni-muenster.de}}</ref>

In 1843, it was renamed to '''Royal Theological and Philosophical Academy''' (''Königliche Theologische und Philosophische Akademie''),<ref name="Website"/> informally '''Münster Academy''' (''Akademie Münster'').

The ceremony of constitution was performed by [[Franz Freiherr von Fürstenberg]]. The university received the name '''Westphalian Wilhelm University''' (''Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster''), from [[German emperor|Emperor]] [[Wilhelm II of Germany|Wilhelm II]] on 22 August 1907.<ref name="Website"/> In 2023 the university was renamed as the University of Münster (''Universität Münster'').<ref>{{cite web |title=FAQ on the Change of Name |url=https://www.uni-muenster.de/kommunikation/en/FAQ_umbenennung.html |website=University of Münster |date=3 May 2023 |access-date=29 October 2023}}</ref>

=== European degrees ===
1999 saw the beginning of the [[Bologna Process]], which aimed to ensure comparability in the standards and quality of higher education qualifications. The [[Münster School of Business Administration and Economics]] was the first one to establish bachelor's and master's degrees.

In the winter semester 2006/2007 nearly all studies have been changed according to Bachelor/Master system. Exceptions are made in studies leading to the [[Staatsexamen]] in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and law.<ref>[http://zsb.uni-muenster.de/en/international_students/undergraduate/] ''Study guide – range of courses and corresponding degrees''. Retrieved 25. September 2012.</ref>