Direct Exchange Program – Fact Sheet Academic Year 2025/2026
Contact Information

HeadMs. Gesa Heym exchange@fu-berlin.de
Incoming

Outgoing

Coordinator

Ms. Carmen Gleisenstein

Ms. Sabine Simon / Ms. Kathleen Plotka

Emailexchange@fu-berlin.deexchange@fu-berlin.de

Telephone

Tel.: +49 (0)30 838 73921

Tel.: +49 (0)30 838 73929

AddressFreie Universität Berlin
Student Mobility Unit
Iltisstrasse 414195 Berlin, Germany

Homepage
Film portrait

Direct Exchange • Education • Freie Universität Berlin (fu-berlin.de)

Office hours

Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., 2:00 – 5:00 p.m., and by appointment

Important Dates

Winter Term 2025/2026

Summer Term 2026

Semester dates

October 1, 2025 –March 31, 2026

April 1, 2026 –September 30, 2026

Orientation

First week of OctoberFirst week of April

Lecture period

October 13, 2025 – February 20, 2026

April 13, 2026 – July 24, 2026

Exam period

During the last two weeks of the lecture period; may vary from department to department

Suggested arrival

In time to attend the orientation program

Academic calendar

http://www.fu-berlin.de/en/studium/studienorganisation/termine

https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/bids/fu-studium/video

Application

Deadline
Application process

Required documents

Acceptance letter

April 30, 2025

October 30, 2025

All applicants must be officially nominated by their home university prior to the deadline mentioned above.
This may be done either with an official nomination letter or with an email from the home university. Thenomination must contain the student’s full name, date of birth, gender, email address, major, and the durationof their stay.
Students must complete the online application form and upload all required documents by April 30 or October
30 (as the case may be): https://fuberlin.moveon4.de/form/5949803983fb963f532593f4/eng
The documents should be in German or English, and can be submitted online.
- Photocopy of the student’s passport (page with photograph)- Copy of the student’s transcript- Copy (or copies) of the student’s B. A., M. A., and any other degrees completed (if available)
Students will receive their acceptance letter via email sometime after the beginning of June for the winterterm or the beginning of December for the summer term.

German Language Requirements / Language Courses

German language
requirements

Language ofinstruction

Direct exchange students are exempt from a German language exam (for example, DSH or TestDaF), which isotherwise required for international degree-seeking students studying at a German university.
However, we expect language skills equivalent to the B2 level of CEFR (Common European Framework ofReference for Languages) for those wishing to study the humanities and social sciences and B1 for those wishing
to study the natural sciences.
A language certificate is not necessary because we expect our partner universities to ensure that students havethe required language skills.
Almost all subjects at undergraduate level are taught in German. Please note that subjects taught in English
outside the Departments of English and North American Studies are very limited in number. Students musthave an English language level of C1 to attend courses at the John F. Kennedy Institute for North American
Studies. Availability may vary and cannot be guaranteed.
An overview of courses taught in English is available at https://www.fu-berlin.de/vv/en/fb. Please use the“advanced search option” to find courses in English.

Freie Universität Berlin - Direct Exchange Program - Fact Sheet Academic Year 2025/2026

German Language Requirements / Language Courses

Preparatory Germanlanguage courses

A six-week intensive preparatory German language course (20 x 45 min. of instruction per week) will beoffered prior to the beginning of the respective term. All language levels, including for absolute beginners,
are offered. If students attend the pre-semester language course, they are guaranteed a place in an
appropriate level German language course during the semester (though these courses are not mandatory).
The course fee is approx. € 800. Places are limited, so students should apply as soon as possible:
http://www.sprachenzentrum.fu-berlin.de/en/sprachangebot/sprachen/deutsch/vorkurs_deutsch

Language courses
during the semester

German language courses, offered during the semester, are free of charge. If students wish to participate
in a German language course, they have to take a placement test first, which will be offered during theorientation period shortly before the semester starts. Without this test, exchange students are not eligible totake language classes. Further information is available at: https://www.sprachenzentrum.fuberlin.de/en/sprachangebot/sprachen/deutsch/registrierung/semesterkurse/index.html

Courses in otherlanguages

The Language Center (ZE Sprachenzentrum) offers a limited number of language courses. Please note thatstudents need to take a language placement test first and that the number of places is limited.
Further details are available at: https://www.sprachenzentrum.fu-berlin.de/en/sprachtests

Visa Requirements

Entry visa

Students who are citizens of EU or EEA countries, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan, South Korea,Switzerland, the UK, or the USA do not need a visa in order to enter Germany. Upon arrival in Berlin, citizensof these countries (excluding EU countries) must apply for a residence permit (see “Arrival in Berlin” below).
Students who are NOT citizens of the countries listed above must apply for a student visa (Visum zuStudienzwecken) at their local German Embassy or a German General Consulate before they come toGermany. We urge these students to apply for a study visa as soon as possible since it will take at least eightweeks, sometimes even a few months, to process the visa application.
The necessary documents concerning admission to our university (and, if applicable, the scholarship offer)
will be sent via email to the student as soon as possible. More information is available at:
http://www.fu-berlin.de/en/studium/international/studium_fu/einreise_aufenthalt/visum

Health Insurance

WaiverExchange students must have comprehensive health insurance valid in Germany in order to enroll as fulltime students at Freie Universität Berlin AND to obtain a residence permit.
Students who EITHER have the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or the Global Health Insurance Card(GHIC) OR who can provide proof of an adequate comprehensive health insurance valid in Germany (fullcoverage for illness and emergency medical services) may request an insurance waiver. Please note that awaiver can only be obtained from a German state-regulated health insurance company, not from theuniversity.
Since many insurance policies purchased outside Germany require substantial co-payments, have caps, orexclude many illnesses, it has become increasingly difficult for exchange students to obtain a waiver.
We therefore urge all students under the age of 30 to purchase German student health insurance for about€ 131 per month. German student health insurance policies are very comprehensive and are automatically
accepted by the office granting residence permits.
More information is available at:
http://www.fu-berlin.de/en/studium/international/studium_fu/einreise_aufenthalt/krankenversicherung

Required Fees

Social fees / publictransportation

Exchange students are exempt from university fees, but they still need to pay the semester ticket and social
fees of approx. € 270 per semester. These fees are not paid to the university, but instead go to the student
union and cover the cost of a public transportation ticket for the Berlin metropolitan area for the entire
semester. Students will be asked to pay the fees via PayPal before arrival in Berlin as part of the enrollment
process.

Pre-arrival Requirements

Distributed Campus

Distributed Campus is an online platform for exchange students who have already received their acceptanceletter. It comprises all the information mentioned above in addition to useful links, important deadlines, andinsights about life in Berlin in one platform. Students will receive registration details for the platform with
their acceptance letter. Registration for and use of the platform is required for participation in the exchange
program. The platform can be accessed at https://distributed-campus.org/dc-root/

Arrival in Berlin

Enrollment

Residence permit

Upon receipt of all necessary documents (health insurance, payment, enrollment form), students will beenrolled. After enrollment, students can immediately set up their FU-ZEDAT account. Students need thisaccount in order to register for courses and access the campus-wide computer network (which includes WiFi, online library services, and the ability to log in to computers on campus).
As participants in our exchange program, students will be admitted and enrolled as full-time students at
Freie Universität Berlin for the duration of the period for which they were nominated by their homeuniversity.
After arrival, students must apply for a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) within three months (except
students from EU or EEA countries). Students will be provided with detailed information and assistanceregarding this process upon arrival in Berlin.
Freie Universität Berlin - Direct Exchange Program - Fact Sheet Academic Year 2025/2026

Accommodations

Privateaccommodations
University housingservice ERG

Registration deadline

Students can organize their own housing (for example in a shared apartment with other students, called a
Wohngemeinschaft or “WG” for short), or they can use the university's Accommodation Service offeredthrough the ERG Universitätsservice GmbH.
The Accommodation Service offers a variety of housing options, including dorms, shared apartments, andfully furnished single apartments. Availability runs from the beginning of September/October or March/Aprilonwards. Costs range from about € 450 to € 1000 per month.
For more information, please visit the following website: http://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/unterbringung.
Since there has been a dramatic increase in demand for student housing, students wishing to use theAccommodation Service must apply online as soon as possible and no later than December 10 or June 10(respectively) using the link above. Registration requests are processed on a first come, first served basis.
Please note that on-campus accommodations are not available. Further information about housing
options can also be found on the Distributed Campus platform.

Orientation

Orientation takes place during the 5‒10 days leading up to the start of the lecture period. Students are
required to participate in the orientation program, which provides them with essential information about
studying at Freie Universität Berlin. It covers topics such as course selection, how to use the FU-Net, libraries,
and computer labs, and campus tours.
The current orientation program is available online at:https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/studium/veranstaltungen/orientierungsveranstaltungen/index.html
Selecting Courses and Attending Classes

Undergraduate degree
programs

Freie Universität Berlin offers a broad variety of undergraduate degree programs https://www.fuberlin.de/en/studium/studienangebot/grundstaendige/index.html
The undergraduate programs here lend themselves to different combinations, allowing students to mix subject
areas: https://www.osa.fu-berlin.de/studienfachwahl/en/bachelorstudium/kombitabelle/index.html
With few exceptions, all undergraduate degree programs are open to exchange students.
Enrollment in the following courses is subject to availability of lab classes and to prior approval by theinstitute/department: biochemistry, bioinformatics, and biology. Restrictions apply in pharmacy, law,business administration, and economics.
The Law Department prefers direct exchange students from institutions who also accept law students. Thereare only very few places available for students from other exchange programs.
The School of Business and Economics requires excellent German language skills (B2 level or above) for
classes taught in German. There is a very limited number of classes in English, and they are not always offered
regularly.
Please note that Human Medicine and Veterinary Medicine are NOT open to exchange students.

Master’s degree
programs

Freie Universität Berlin offers a range number of master’s degree programs. The following programs areopen for exchange students without restriction: modern German literature, philosophy, and political science.
All other master’s degree programs are restricted and need prior approval from the institute/department.
Please contact us if you plan to nominate students for a particular master’s program. Please note that ingeneral BA students cannot be enrolled in master’s programs and cannot register for individual master’slevel courses. Exceptions can, however, be made on a case-by-case basis upon request. Fee-based continuing
education master’s programs are NOT open to exchange students.
If students fulfill the necessary prerequisites, exchange students may enroll as visiting PhD students.
The Institute of German Languages and Literature offers a study program exclusively for exchange
students. The seminars focus on the culture, society, and history of Berlin and Germany and are an additional
offer extended to exchange students who wish to learn more about these topics. Detailed information can befound here:
https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/studium/international/studium_fu/auslandssemester/Studienangebot-fuerinternationale-Gaststudierende
Bachelor’s and master’s programs are structured around modules, which usually consist of two contentrelated courses (e.g., a lecture and a seminar). While modules are offered on a regular basis (at least every
other semester), the content of the individual lecture or seminar might vary from one semester to the next.
Detailed module descriptions specifying contents, structure, contact hours, and credits (Leistungspunkte,LP) can be found in the study and examination regulations (Studien- und Prüfungsordnung): https://www.fuberlin.de/en/studium/studieren/studienorganisation/pruefung/index.html (German only).
The courses offered during the current semester are listed in the course catalogue (Vorlesungsverzeichnis,VV), which is available about one month prior to the beginning of the semester at: https://www.fuberlin.de/vv/en/fb. It is organized according to departments, degree programs, and modules.

PhD programs
Special classes forexchange students

Modules
Study & examination
regulations
Course catalogue
Course registration

Subjects taught inEnglish

Students have to register for courses on our online portal Campus Management before the semester starts.
Information on how to access the portal and other details will be provided during orientation. Please notethat in order to attend classes within our master’s degree programs, students need prior approval from therespective lecturers or program directors.
Subjects taught in English will mostly be offered by the Institute for English Language and Literature and
the John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies. An overview of subjects offered in English isavailable at https://www.fu-berlin.de/vv/en/fb. Please use the “advanced search option” to find courses inEnglish. Course-Catalogue-Guide.pdf (fu-berlin.de)Freie Universität Berlin - Direct Exchange Program - Fact Sheet Academic Year 2025/2026

Courses at otheruniversities
Course approval atpartner universities

Exchange students may also attend courses at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität
Berlin, and the University of Potsdam. In order to earn credits for these courses, students need approval
from the respective lecturer in advance and must fulfill the individual university’s requirements.
When applying for an exchange to Freie Universität Berlin, some of our partner universities require students
to get approval for their subject selection prior to submitting their application (e.g., a Learning Agreement).
Since applications have to be submitted at least six months before the beginning of the exchange semester,
it is not possible for students to access the course catalogue of the respective semester in time. Therefore,
students should seek preliminary approval based on the course catalogue of prior semesters.

Grading system

All departments, except for the Law Department, use the following grading scale:
1,0 – 1,5
1,6 – 2,52,6 – 3,53,5 – 4,05,0

very good
good
satisfactory
sufficientinsufficient/failTerminating Enrollment / Transcript of Records

Terminating
enrollment
Transcript of Records

At the end of their stay at Freie Universität Berlin, exchange students need to officially terminate theirenrollment (Exmatrikulation). This step is very important, especially if students wish to return to a German
university at a later point.
Transcripts from Freie Universität Berlin are not issued automatically. Students who wish to obtain aTranscript of Records have to fill out a form and contact our transcript officer at: incoming@fu-berlin.de
before leaving Berlin. Students will be provided with detailed information and assistance via e-mail before
departure.
Important: Students should apply for a Transcript of Records within three months after their stay at thelatest. Freie Universität Berlin cannot issue transcripts after that time. The transcript will be issued once thestudent’s grades are published in the student records system.
The original Transcript of Records will be sent to the international office of the home university. We will senda copy to the student via email.

Last update: July 2024

Freie Universität Berlin - Direct Exchange Program - Fact Sheet Academic Year 2025/2026