Freie Universität Berlin is one of Germany’s leading research universities with nearly 30,000 students and 4,000 staff. Berlin is one of the most exciting cities in Europe. A vibrant and constantly changing city, it is a center of cultural, political, and economic life. Most of the university's facilities are located in the Dahlem district of southwest Berlin, surrounded by wonderful green gardens and lakes.
Read more about being an exchange student at Freie Universität Berlin.
Academics
Freie Universität (FU) offers a wide variety of undergraduate programs. The Course Catalog has full course listings. Available courses for a specific term are listed approximately three months prior to the start of the term. although you can look at the course catalog at any time to get an idea of what is typically offered. While the majority of courses taught at FU are in German, students can take courses in English at the JFK Institute for North American Studies.
Special note to German majors / minors: Students wishing to apply coursework taken in Berlin to a German major or minor must take coursework in German. Courses taught in English are not eligible for German major / minor credit.
You must register for a minimum of 13 credits per term. You receive resident credit for the courses you take, your grades factor into your University of Minnesota GPA and each course appears on your transcript with an A/F grade. See the Grade & Credit Conversion Scale for more details.
German Language Courses
A six-week intensive preparatory German language course is offered before the beginning of the academic year and Spring semester. This course carries academic credit and incurs an additional fee.
German language courses offered during the semester are included in the program fee. If you want to take a semester German language course, you will take a placement test during orientation if you have not taken the preparatory course.
Housing & Meals
You can either organize your own private accommodation (such as shared student apartments) or use the university’s housing service, ERG. The housing service offers a variety of accommodation options, including dorms (Schlactensee), shared flats and fully furnished single apartments.
Program Fees
Program fee
- Academic Year 2021–2022: $13,400
- Spring Semester 2022: $7,250
Program fee includes tuition and educational costs, and international health insurance.
Total cost of participation
Dates & Deadlines
Application Deadlines
- Academic Year 2022-23: March 15, 2022
- Spring 2023: TBD
If the deadline falls on a weekend, submit your materials on the following business day.
If the program does not fill, applications will be considered on a rolling admissions basis until the program fills or until the host university deadline. Please contact us to inquire about applying after the deadline.
Academic Calendar
Academic Year: Late September - Late July
Spring Semester: Late March - Late July
Program dates are subject to change. Contact our office or consult your FU acceptance materials for arrival date information before purchasing your airfare.
Eligibility
3.0 GPA. Preference given to students with a German language background.
Apply
Use your University of Minnesota internet ID and password to log into the Education Abroad application system. Your student account will be charged a $50 application fee.
Once you submit your application, you will receive an email notification confirming that your application was received. Submitted applications are assigned an application checklist, which will include the following items:
- Application Essay
- Advising appointment with the Exchange Coordinator
- 1 Academic Recommendation
Detailed descriptions and instructions for submitting each checklist item are included on the application checklist assigned to you.
Application Review Process
Exchange programs can be competitive. We are not always able to place all applicants, and we encourage students to have a backup program in mind if applying for an exchange program. After the application deadline, the GO Minnesota selection committee will review applications and nominate finalists within 2 weeks. If nominated, you will be assigned a confirmation checklist, which you will complete to confirm your participation in the program.
Nominated students will be required to complete Freie Universität's application. FU will make the final acceptance decision. More information on this will be sent to nominated students.
If at any point you decide not to continue with the application process, log into the Education Abroad application system and submit a cancellation request.