Study Abroad | Berlin

Housing

Apartment

Apartments are located in a residential neighborhood and students should expect to travel on public transport to get to campus and downtown. Kitchens are fully-functioning, so students can prepare meals at home, the rooms feature a double or queen-size bed, desk and chair, wardrobe and some have a balcony access.

Shared Apartment:

• Single room
• Shared kitchen and bathroom
• Bed linens provided
• Laundry facilities on-site
• All students receive a a meal allowance and a Mensa card which gives access to subsidized meals at Berlin-wide university cafeterias

City Facts

Transportation

Public transportation makes it easy to get around Berlin, as it is well integrated, cheap, and efficient to use. Your daily commute will most likely be via the metro (U-Bahn), local train (S-Bahn), bus and/or on foot, so make sure to bring comfortable walking shoes.

History

Berlin has been at the heart not just of European politics and culture but also world affairs for several centuries. As a city reunified in 1990 it combines a tremendous variety of experiences from fine historical museum to cutting edge modernism, to a vibrant club culture and sprawling parks.

Site Staff

AIFS in Berlin Director, Summer Program

Nele Thomsen

Guten Tag und Herzlich Willkommen. I would like to extend a warm welcome! Originally from Hamburg, I studied in Berlin and Potsdam and spent time abroad in England and Spain. Berlin has been my home for 20 years now. I love it and am sure you will too! Whatever your interest, Berlin offers a niche for everyone, from the clubber to the historian, from opera to street art. On your program you will glimpse historic German towns, sample local specialities and experience Berlin like a native. It will be my pleasure to help you during your time abroad.

The Program Director provides academic advice, introduces you to the community and handles communication with the University.

Cultural Activities

Learning does not begin or end in the classroom. To help you get a true taste of German culture, a wide range of cultural activities and excursions are included in your program fee. The Program Director organizes a variety of activities which usually include:

• Berlin city tour
• German cooking class
• Opera
• Visits to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Museum Island in Berlin
• Walking tours with various themes
• Explore Berlin and its cuisine with group dinners at a variety of restaurants
• Visit to the Reichstag, the German Parliament
• Social events
• Students also receive a Museum Pass which grants entrance to the collections of the State Museums Berlin
• The site of the former Nazi concentration camp at Sachsenhausen

Please note that students may need to pay a small additional fee for some of the activities above.

Transportation

Public transportation makes it easy to get around Berlin, as it is well integrated and efficient to use. Your daily commute will most likely be via the metro (U-Bahn), local train (S-Bahn), bus and/or on foot.

Students receive a travel pass for use on Berlin’s excellent public transport system.