The Research Centre Papyrology aims to promote the historical-critical analysis of papyrological texts and their methodological-theoretical utilisation for the study of Hellenistic-Roman Egypt as an integral part of Ancient History at the University of Münster. It also sees itself as a contact and cooperation partner for neighbouring disciplines working in the field of papyrology within the university, for collection sites without specialist papyrological expertise and for national and international partner institutions in order to initiate and carry out subject-specific, topic-centred collaborative research.

The Institute for Didactics of History is represented in the teaching degree programmes for both Bachelor's and Master's degrees with various course formats. In research and teaching, the Institute covers a wide range of topics in the fields of historical culture as well as historical teaching and learning research. The Institute is in constant dialogue with history teachers in schools to discuss research questions and findings relevant to practice. Teacher training programmes on current historical didactic topics play an important role in this.

Conceptually, the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology delves into the intricate fabric of societal configurations, exploring dimensions of social, religious, political, affective, and economic phenomena. Central to its pedagogical and scholarly ethos are systematic analyses, theoretical frameworks, methodological pluralism, and a commitment to decolonial epistemologies. Its scholarly focus spans transregional inquiries primarily encompassing Southeast Asia and Africa. Students are offered the two-subject Bachelor's degree in “Cultural and Social Anthropology” (in cooperation with the Institute of Cultural Anthropology/European Ethnology) and the English-language Master's degree programme in “Social Anthropology”.

The central task of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Cyprus Studies is to promote academic relations between the University of Cyprus and academic institutions in the European Union. In particular, great importance is attached to the regular exchange of academics and students. The spectrum of activities ranges from the organisation of international academic conferences, the organisation of lectures and cooperation in research projects, to activities in the areas of teaching and exhibitions/cultural events. Furthermore, the institute also issues its own publications.

Under the umbrella of this Institute, there is currently a unique institutional and spatial combination of Classical and Christian Archaeology within Germany, as well as the University's Archaeological Museum. Classical archaeology is represented in research and teaching in its entire breadth. Additional thematic focuses are numismatics – with its own research centre – and Etruscology.  Christian archaeology in Münster is not limited to Christian monuments, but also includes pagan, Jewish and early Islamic art from late antiquity and the early Middle Ages. In the Archaeological Museum, students are trained on originals and plaster casts and involved in the design of exhibitions.

The Institute of Cultural Anthropology/European Ethnology focuses its research and teaching on everyday culture in its global context. Cultural studies perspectives are combined with approaches from historical anthropology. Current specialisations at the institute are popular knowledge, museums, material culture, family and kinship, public anthropology and education, history of knowledge and science. Students can take the Bachelor's degree programme “Cultural and Social Anthropology” (in cooperation with the Institute of Ethnology) and the Master's degree programme “Cultural Anthropology”.

The Institute of Art History is one of the oldest in the German-speaking world. Research and teaching focus on Italian art from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance and Baroque periods, as well as German and French art and contemporary art. Teaching and research activities cover the genres of architecture, sculpture, painting, drawing, arts and crafts and art theory as well as photography, film, video, installation and media art, exhibition and documentation practices. The institute's extensive library features a corresponding collection focus.

With eight professorships, a large number of mid-level academic positions, and several research fellowships and teaching assignments, the Department of Philosophy is one of the largest institutes of philosophy in Germany. It is involved in numerous research networks and projects and cooperates closely with other University departments and with institutions around the world. Thanks to its broad range of subjects and research areas, students can choose courses ranging from ancient to modern philosophy and from formal logic and argumentation theory to applied ethics.

With its four professorships and three research centres, the Department of Ancient History is one of the largest institutes of ancient history in Germany. A diverse research profile, strong third-party funding and extensive networking and collaborative research contribute to its broad national and international visibility. In teaching, the subject of Ancient History is represented in its entire breadth. Supported by an outstanding library and with access to all important electronic resources, students can study Ancient History as part of the „History“ B.A. programmes. Various Master's programmes then offer the opportunity to study Ancient History in greater depth.

Within the medieval research focus that has been developed in Münster for decades, the Institute of Medieval and Modern Latin Philology offers a central main and connecting subject which – flanked by Classical Latin Studies – can be studied more thoroughly and diversely than almost anywhere else. The Institute has a good library, which is complemented in Münster by other relevant collections. Furthermore, the extensive microfilm and slide collections are also accessible to students involved in research.