Freie University Berlin
- Last Updated on: June 3, 2025 by
- Sridhar Kongara
Freie Universität Berlin is a renowned research university located in Germany’s capital. Established with a strong commitment to academic freedom and international collaboration, it has evolved into one of the country’s most prestigious institutions. The university benefits from Germany’s federal and state funding under the Excellence Strategy program and is a member of the Berlin University Alliance.
Courses Offered
** Fees mentioned here are approximate and are per year, Unless specified otherwise
Why Choose this Freie Universität Berlin
Global Reputation: Freie Universität Berlin is widely recognized as a leading institution in higher education and research. It ranks among the top five German universities in the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings and is a prominent academic centre in Berlin. Scholars and students from more than 80 countries choose FU Berlin for its quality and prestige.
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Research Excellence: The university receives significant support through the Excellence Strategy, which enables it to pursue advanced research initiatives. It promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and supports emerging scholars through dedicated institutions like the Dahlem Research School.
Wide Range of Academic Programs: FU Berlin offers over 150-degree programs across various disciplines, including undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral studies. Its diverse academic departments ensure a broad spectrum of learning opportunities.
International Orientation: With more than 500 institutional partnerships worldwide, Freie Universität Berlin fosters global academic exchange. Its international study programs and strong global ties enhance student experience and career prospects.
Student Support and Services: The university provides comprehensive support through services such as the Studienkolleg for preparatory studies, the Language Centre for multilingual education, and academic and psychological counselling centres. Career guidance and job placement assistance are also available.
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Campus Facilities at Freie Universität Berlin
Located in West Berlin, the campus is accessible via public transport and features modern infrastructure, including libraries, research centres, and recreational spaces. The University Service Centre offers help to students and staff with academic and administrative matters.
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Sustainability Initiatives: Freie Universität Berlin is committed to sustainability, integrating energy-efficient architecture and environmentally conscious practices across its campus. Over 220 facilities have been developed to reduce energy and water usage.
Housing and Accommodation: The university provides housing support and clear guidelines for accommodation requests. Students are informed about housing policies through official documentation and orientation sessions.
Cultural and Extracurricular Activities: Organizations like the Collegium Musicum offer opportunities for students to participate in cultural and musical events. Various clubs and events promote social integration and community building.
Accessibility and Inclusion: Freie Universität Berlin supports students with disabilities, chronic illnesses, and psychological challenges through its Central Student Services Centre (SSC). The SSC facilitates course selection, registration, subject changes, and mentoring programs.
Career Services and Job Placement: The Career Service team helps students explore part-time jobs and internships and provides access to international job markets through partnerships with local employment agencies.
Erasmus+ and Student Exchange Programs: Students interested in studying abroad can benefit from Erasmus+ and other exchange programs. Advisors support participants throughout the application and transition process.
Orientation for International Student: New international students are welcomed through orientation programs that introduce them to university traditions, facilities, and student resources, ensuring a smooth academic and cultural transition.
Student Service at Freie Universität Berlin
Central Student Services Center (SSC)
- The basic support facility operating as SSC provides complete advice to address every student need. Students who reach Dahlem-Dorf subway station have access to standard support services provided by SSC.
- Course selection and academic advising.
- Application, admission, and enrollment processes.
- Subject/module changes and university transfers.
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Organize mentoring programs
- Part of the Fu Berlin study abroad program provides student mentoring that aids academic transition and social readjustment when students enroll in the university.
- Stress control education during the methodology sessions includes German cultural practices along with additional services regarding housing for students enrolled in the program.
- The organization creates both exclusive and inclusive events and workshops to make members within entire communities aware of diversity concepts.
Career Counseling and Job Placement
- Career Service operates a career counseling service to offer an additional platform for searching part-time positions and internships.
- Students can access international job positions directly via the student registration system which follows the guidelines set by the Berlin Employment Agency.
Erasmus and Exchange Program Advising: University advisors who specialize in international student exchange programs assist students who want to join Erasmus+ programs with their enrollment preparation.
Orientation and Events for International Students: The university delivers several orientation meetings to new students prior to their entry point for introducing university customs alongside facility and resource access.
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Student Life at Freie Universität Berlin
Accommodation and Housing: Affordable shared housing (WGs) is common in Berlin. The university supports students in finding accommodation. (Note: Previous sentence on homeless children in hostels was removed due to inaccuracy.)
Sports and Recreation: The University Sports Centre offers team sports and fitness services that enhance student well-being.
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Libraries and Study Spaces: Students have access to research libraries and designated study areas. Platforms like Moodle support academic planning.
International Student Support: Orientation and peer programs help international students adjust academically and culturally. Cultural excursions around Berlin are also part of the integration effort.
Exploring Berlin: Located in Germany’s capital, FU Berlin offers access to museums, galleries, theatres, and nightlife. Public transportation allows easy citywide travel.
Scholarships at Freie Universität Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin: Offers several scholarships to academically qualified students to support their education.
Deutschland stupendous
- Amount: €300 per month
- Duration: Minimum of two semesters (extension possible)
- Eligibility: Students must be enrolled at Freie Universität Berlin during the entire funding period.
- Students must submit enrolment documents, either with accepted admission status or as current students demonstrating regular attendance, to qualify for scholarships.
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DAAD Scholarships for Foreign Students: This program supports both undergraduate and graduate international students and promotes study opportunities worldwide.
Other Scholarships: Freie Universität Berlin also provides access to external scholarships. Students with migrant backgrounds may be eligible based on academic performance.
Internships and Placements at Freie Universität Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin offers various internship opportunities. Students should connect with departments, research groups, or individual professors to apply. Required documents typically include a CV and statement of motivation.
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FU-BEST Internship Program: This program offers full-time internships lasting eight weeks (35–40 hours/week) in Berlin’s technology and business sectors.
Erasmus+ Prospects: The Student Mobility Unit assists with Erasmus+ traineeships and study opportunities.
Career Service Assistance: Students can access job listings, part-time opportunities, and internship openings via newsletters and networking events organized by the Career Service.
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Entry Requirements for Freie Universität Berlin
General Entry Requirements
- Standard eligibility certification courses for university admission at Vu University Berlin can be proven by presenting a German Higher School Certification (Hochschulreife) or equivalent credentials from accredited educational institutions.
- Recognition for International Students: International students together with stateless candidates need to send their application materials to uni-assist for assessment.
- The evaluation of foreign academic credentials happens at Berlin-based institutions which manage the continuation process.
- Preparation via Studienkolleg: The pre-academic program at Studienkolleg provides international students a chance to use subject-based Feststellungsprüfung tests for qualification assessment following their one-year course.
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Undergraduate Program Requirements
- Academic Credentials: All academic entry qualifications that have both topic-based components which receive German approval will be officially recognized by the country.
- For German-taught programs: Minimum C1-level German proficiency is required.
- Before the university grants admission students must prove their TestDaF Level 4 together with DSH-2 certification or Goethe C1 test certificate.
- Students seeking admission at Freie Universität receive opportunity to take the DSH exam when they cannot acquire official credential records or other documentation easily.
- For English-taught programs: The verification of B2-level English language ability follows a standard procedure which includes passing tests at 72 iBT TOEFL or 5.5 IELTS.
Additional Requirements: Agreements for specialized studies calculate specialist examination outcomes together with institutional admission specifications for new students.
- Master’s Program Requirements
- Academic Credentials: Students need to obtain teaching qualification approval from official institutions by showing both a bachelor degree with at least 180 European credits.
- Subject-Specific Requirements: Students who want to pursue finance and economics together with law through a master’s degree program need to obtain a specific number of ECTS credits to enroll in their chosen curriculum.
- The education achievements of students manifest through both their thesis work and equivalent analytical projects.
- UNI-Assist organizes universities into a single application service by enabling their websites to access student educational records stored in their database.
- Submission of academic transcripts, proof of language proficiency, and a statement of purpose.
FU-BEST Program Requirements (Short-Term Study Programs)
- Eligibility: Minimum age 18 years.
- Completion of at least two semesters in a bachelor’s program.
- Language Requirements: English-taught program: Minimum TOEFL 100 or IELTS 6.5 for non-native speakers. The educational institution provides extensive German language education suitable for every level of language fluency.
- Academic Requirements: Candidates who achieve between 3.0 and 3.5 GPA get committee evaluation but admissions staff assess applicants with lower than 3.0 GPA.
Rankings and Awards of Freie Universität Berlin
National and International Rankings
- Freie Universität Berlin holds the fourth place among German universities according to QS World University Rankings 2024 and stands at spot 97 among international institutions.
- Freie Universität Berlin achieves a position as the 9th best university in Germany according to THE World Rankings 2024 while holding the global position 104.
- Together with Political Sciences the Natural Sciences rank as outstanding according to the Center for Higher Education (CHE) subject-specific evaluation system.
- The THE Impact Rankings 2023 awarded Freie Universität Berlin the status of Germany’s number one university for climate protection.
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Excellence Initiative Success
- The nine major projects of Freie Universität Berlin ranked as the top initiatives funded by all German institutions participating in German Excellence Initiative resources from 2006 through 2007.
- From 2012 to 2017 Freie Universität obtained three excellence clusters together with seven graduate schools through its “Veritas – Justitia – Libertas: International Network University” funding project.
Research and Innovation
- External research funding at Freie Universität Berlin has been steadily increasing beyond €144 million each year after 2007.
- The European Research Council grants funded through Consolidator Grants and Starting Grants enable Freie Universität Berlin to provide financial support to five Consolidator Grant recipients as well as eleven Starting Grant recipients.
- Freie Universität secured position six within German research institutions and established itself as the best research institute resident in Berlin according to the 2021 DFG Funding Atlas.
Prestigious Awards and Honors: The chemistry laureate Professor Gerhard Ertl (2007) unified with written laureate Herta Müller (2009) as they joined four Nobel Prize recipients who conducted their prize work at this university.
Climate and Sustainability Leadership: The university generates power through the largest solar power facility in Berlin public sector located on its campuses with a combined generation capacity of 480 kilowatts.
Gender Equality and Inclusivity
- The institution maintained its Total E-Quality Award through twenty successive years starting from 2002 to 2021 that supported the growth of gender equality between genders.
- Since 2007 the university has continually received family-friendly institution certification through audit berufundfamilie
- Various awards touched the institution in 2021 due to its commitment to building inclusive policies and practices.
Support for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- All eight business plan awards across Berlin-Brandenburg have accumulated at Freie Universität thus becoming the most successful start-up university in Germany since 2006.
- Freie Universität Berlin became a “Entrepreneurial Network University” after joining the EXIST-Gründungskultur initiative.
Acceptance Rate
- Freie Universität Berlin garnered its status as a renowned university because twelve students succeed in entering through hundred applications.
- Admission requirements at Freie Universität Berlin lead to successful enrollment of 15% of total applicants in each intake.
Factors Influencing Admission:
- Language Proficiency: According to university requirements both German-taught students must show C1 German abilities and English-taught students need to show B2 English skills.
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