Other names:
Free University of Berlin
Contact: +49 30 838 73 401
Freie Universität Berlin (FU BERLIN)
Kaiserswerther Straße 16-18, 14195 Berlin, Germany
86% of students recommend
186 reviews
186 Academic reviews of Freie Universität Berlin
ACADEMIC
by ingridvalde, Universitetet i Bergen, Bergen, Norway
History, Erasmus
My academic experiences
Course recommendations:
The courses are so many, so you have to do a list in before and check out your interests, then after the first or second week (but not later!) decide what you are going to do that term. My interaction with other international students was so bad because history is a subject mostly German students study. I saw only five (from a few thousand overall students) international students at the Institute of History. If you want to get in touch with students at all, do not go at too many lectures. You get to know students if you go to seminars and have to cooperate with them.
My opinion of the university assessment
Personal comments:
I had a lot of work only to make appointments with lecturers for a test at the end of the term. That happens when you take a lot of lectures. If you take seminars you have to write 10-15 pages long papers, which is a very good training in writing papers. There are not many exams at the end of the term. All in all that gives you the opportunity to get a lot of practice in academic writing, which is very positive but also very time-consuming. This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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ACADEMIC
by Farah, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus
My academic experiences
Course recommendations:
Guide yourself not just by the title, try to get some deep info about the course and if it belongs to the first years (basic theory contents) or to the upper years (more practical interactive courses). Try to participate, and always talk with the teachers to "negociate" about works, exams and how they can help you (main problem is mostly the language!).
My opinion of the university assessment
Personal comments:
Yes, more recognition and use of the european ECTS (study credits): the teachers don't really know how to work with them or how many they should give out depending of the tasks a course involves, and -in psychology- they give out less credits than what they should. The problem happens simply because Germany does not use this ECTS system. This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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ACADEMIC
by Anne Marie, Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States
Humanities, Lexia
My academic experiences
Course recommendations:
My courses were predetermined and lasted only 6 weeks. They included an economic history of Germany, Unification Issues, Life in Cold War East Berlin and introductory German language classes. It is best to try and immerse yourself in the host language as quickly as possible. I found it hard to talk with locals becuase they wanted to speak in English as soon as they heard my American accent. All courses on German history during the Cold War are fascinating. Berlin provides the best possible "city as classroom" opportunity I can think of. Locals can still tell you first hand stories of life during and after the Cold War.
My opinion of the university assessment
Personal comments:
none This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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ACADEMIC
by chazfaid, University College London, London, United Kingdom
Literature, Erasmus
My academic experiences
Course recommendations:
Exploit the freedom of hand picking individual courses as opposed to having set criteria for study
My opinion of the university assessment
Personal comments:
Very different from UK - experience can only be good. Annoyed by inadequacy of this website though. I studied in Berlin as part of my undergraduate degree in Edinburgh (MA German). I have since completed a postgraduate degree in European Politics at University College London (MA Politics, Security and Integration), but the iagora site's overly structured designed doesn't seem to allow me to show this. This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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ACADEMIC
by Lisa, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
Language, Erasmus
My academic experiences
Course recommendations:
The German classes were quite easy. I think that we could have been given more advice about choosing courses as the German University can seem confusing to an outsider.
My opinion of the university assessment
Personal comments:
I think there could be more done to pair up German students with international students. This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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ACADEMIC
by Anna, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
International Relations, Erasmus
My academic experiences
Course recommendations:
studying politics in german proved to be much more difficult. any specialist course such as politics, law has its specific terminology - it takes time to get to know it and use it actively
My opinion of the university assessment
Personal comments:
none This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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ACADEMIC
by Konstantina, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
Business Studies, Erasmus
My academic experiences
Course recommendations:
Just a small note: even though there may be modules taught in English in other departments of FU Berlin, there are no modules in English in the Business School. I think this should be made clear to the Erasmus students coming to FU Berlin. Many students had a very low level of German and they did not manage to pass any courses.
My opinion of the university assessment
Personal comments:
none This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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ACADEMIC
by Neli, Queen Mary & Westfield College - University of London, London, United Kingdom
Literature, University Agreement
My academic experiences
Course recommendations:
too little time only a month quite much on the programm so that it became sometimes superficial
My opinion of the university assessment
Personal comments:
more specific study This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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ACADEMIC
by Jordan, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY, United States
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies, School for International Training (SIT)
My academic experiences
Course recommendations:
It was my choice to go on the SIT program, but I would have preferred a native language-based instruction.
My opinion of the university assessment
Personal comments:
none This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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ACADEMIC
by Nefeli, Panepistimio Ioanninon, Ioannina, Greece
Education, Erasmus
My academic experiences
Course recommendations:
requires an advanced level of german, most teachers and students do not speak very good english and when it comes to academic knowledge the translation may be difficult and confusing
My opinion of the university assessment
Personal comments:
none This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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ACADEMIC
by Elisa, Universita degli Studi Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
Political Science, Erasmus
My academic experiences
Course recommendations:
variety of examinations and courses; "Seminare" have to be attended from the beginning
My opinion of the university assessment
Personal comments:
More information for incoming students from abroad This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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ACADEMIC
by Cosmin, Universitatea de Vest din Timísoara, Timisoara, Romania
Natural Sciences, Erasmus
My academic experiences
Course recommendations:
You can choose a lot of courses.
My opinion of the university assessment
Personal comments:
No comment This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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ACADEMIC
by daphne_borel, Sciences Po Paris, Paris, France
Political Science, University Agreement
My academic experiences
Course recommendations:
My opinion of the university assessment
Personal comments:
none This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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ACADEMIC
by Jenny, Lunds Universitet, Lund, Sweden
Sociology, Erasmus
My academic experiences
Course recommendations:
My opinion of the university assessment
Personal comments:
none This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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ACADEMIC
by Carmen, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Political Science, Erasmus
My academic experiences
Course recommendations:
My opinion of the university assessment
Personal comments:
none This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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ACADEMIC
by marzia, Universita degli Studi Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
International Relations, Erasmus
My academic experiences
Course recommendations:
My opinion of the university assessment
Personal comments:
none This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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ACADEMIC
by orquidea4, Università Degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
Philology, Erasmus
My academic experiences
Course recommendations:
My opinion of the university assessment
Personal comments:
none This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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ACADEMIC
by Xavier, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
International Relations, Erasmus
My academic experiences
Course recommendations:
My opinion of the university assessment
Personal comments:
To less courses in Internationales Relations. It's better in Brussels This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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ACADEMIC
by Ilaria, Istituto Universitario Navale di Napoli, Naples, Italy
Translation/ Interpretation, Independent
My academic experiences
Course recommendations:
My opinion of the university assessment
Personal comments:
none This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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ACADEMIC
by Enro, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
Philology, Erasmus
My academic experiences
Course recommendations:
My opinion of the university assessment
Personal comments:
none This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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