Freie Universität Berlin European Studies Program (FU-Best)
FU-BEST is a semester program offered in a Fall and a Spring semester. Willkommen!
Welcome to FU-BEST, the Freie Universität Berlin European Studies Program!
If you want to get a sense of the reunified Germany and the challenges of the post-Cold War era in a fast-changing Europe, there is really almost no better place to come to than Berlin. Located in the heart of Europe, this metropolis with some 3.4 million inhabitants will offer you unrivalled educational, intellectual, cultural, and recreational opportunities. Either through the program or on your own, you will be able to become acquainted with many parts of Germany and Europe. What is more, Berlin's rich museum landscape, its monuments and memorials, its concert halls and opera houses, its stage and movie theaters, its pubs and clubs, and its range of recreational offerings will all be at your disposal.
The program will enable you to enroll in stimulating courses taught by expert faculty. You will find yourself making solid progress in your German language skills, from elementary through advanced, by way of mandatory participation in intensive language training. Group-based or individualized local field-trips will be linked to many of the courses.
Freie Universität Berlin, a German leader in international education, will be your host. You will have full access to its facilities and opportunities to get to know and interact with its students. The university is located in a charming, quiet section of the city, yet within easy reach of the city's downtown areas. You will have the option of living in single-occupancy housing or with a host-family.
FU-BEST Mission Statement
Freie Universität Berlin European Studies Program (FU-BEST) seeks to educate responsible, global citizens by promoting intercultural exposure in a multi-faceted environment. The program aims to provide an intensive and diverse study abroad experience to its participants. Combining mandatory German language instruction and a varied menu of subject courses taught in English and German, FU-BEST is intended to be an accessible opportunity to a wide range of potential participants. Using its concept of the “extended classroom”, the program’s goal is to link high-quality academic instruction with a broader international experience, encompassing elements of culture, society, history, and politics, in Berlin, in Germany, and in (Central) Europe generally. Small classes and the availability of day-to-day guidance and support are designed to enable students to make the most of a unique educational opportunity. Our mission is to educate responsible, global citizens by promoting intercultural exposure in a multi-faceted environment. We aim to provide an intensive and diverse study abroad experience through combining three essential elements: German language instruction, a varied menu of subject courses, and the concept of the “extended classroom.”
Small classes, expert faculty, and the availability of day-to-day guidance are designed to enable students to make the most of this unique educational opportunity. Using Berlin's rich cultural, political, and historical offerings as a resource, all courses integrate local field-trips into their curriculum and thus profit from the outstanding location of this fascinating city.
We look forward to welcoming you to Berlin!
Freie Universität Berlin International Summer and Winter University (FUBiS)
FUBiS is an intensive, academic program of Freie Universität Berlin through which students can earn credits that may be counted towards their degrees at their home institutions. FUBiS sessions run for 3 to 6 weeks and take place both in summer and winter.
Mission
It is FUBiS' mission to provide international students with a premier study abroad program delivering the highest academic quality and furthering the development of intercultural competence.
FUBiS' goal is to provide a stimulating and rewarding experience – academically, culturally, and personally.
Curriculum
FUBiS offers intensive and semi-intensive German language classes on up to five different proficiency levels. In addition FUBiS offers subject classes on various class topics. Most classes are held in English by distinguished German and international faculty.
Program Structure
The FUBiS program offers students many choices:
- Participation in either one semi-intensive German class or in one subject class.
- Intensive German language classes. These classes meet every weekday and allow students to focus on and thus considerably improve their German skills.
- Combination of language and subject classes (Term II/III). This allows students to improve their language skills as well as further their knowledge of a subject matter.
- Combination of two subject classes (Term II/III) which may count toward a major or minor at the home institution.
