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Study + Internship | Berlin

Germany | Freie Universität Berlin | Summer 2025
A group of students on a boat tour in Germany.

Overview

Spend a summer in the innovative and trendy city of Berlin, Germany with AIFS! Choose from a wide range of internship opportunities while attending related seminars covering topics such as working life in Germany, communication in the workplace and cultural differences at Freie Universität Berlin.

What’s Included

The AIFS inclusive program fee includes all of the great features below in addition to many pre-departure, on-site and upon-return services to help students make the most of their time abroad.

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  • Tuition

    Up to 6 semester credits

  • Courses

    FUBEST Intercultural Seminar course

  • Housing

    Double or single room in a shared apartment

  • Meals

    Students receive a meal allowance

  • Transportation Pass

    All students receive a travel pass for Berlin

  • Excursions & Day Trips

    Day trips to Potsdam and the Baltic Sea

  • Cultural & Social Activities

    Visits to World Heritage Site Museum Island, Opera visit, a boat trip, Peacock Island, memorial of former concentration camp Sachsenhausen, walking tours and much more!

  • On-Site Program Director

    to help with any questions or advice you may need throughout the program

  • Health & Safety

    24/7 emergency support and comprehensive insurance
  • Personal/Professional Development

    Access to the renowned Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment and alumni network
  • Green Initiative

Additional Options & Opportunities

  • AIFS Flight Package

    Round-trip flights from 25 U.S. gateways

    Airport transfers to and from campus

Program Details: Study + Internship | Berlin Study + Internship with Intercultural Seminar

Dates

May 22, 2025July 19, 2025

Term

Summer

Institution

Freie Universität Berlin

Application Deadline

January 15, 2025

Inclusive Fees

$10,290

Stay for a year to save on cost

Eligibility

Open to Sophomore, Junior, Senior

Minimum of 3.0 GPA

Additional requirements may vary by course selection. See Academic section below.

Visa Requirements

A visa may be required for this program. Please contact your advisor or log into your portal for more information.

Academic Interest

  • Internship

Global Themes

  • Arts, Culture and Creative Industries
  • Business, Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship
  • Global Peace, International Security and Human Rights
  • Global Sustainability
  • Language, History and Culture
Learn More About Global Themes

Rolling Admissions

Admission into this program is done on a rolling basis. You can expect confirmation of your acceptance within 2 working days of completing all required tasks.

Academics

AIFS Abroad offers a unique global educational experience for students on this program, with the following academic options available:

Freie Universität Berlin is a comprehensive, degree-granting university with 15 departments and a student enrollment of almost 30,000. As a leading research institution, it receives additional federal funding for its institutional future development strategy. 

  • Internship

Internships are 35 to 40 hours per week. Seminars meet for 2 hours each Friday. The combined Internship and seminar course are recommended for 6 semester credits. 

Please note that no letter grade is given for this internship experience, participants will receive a Pass/Fail assessment.

ECTS Freie Universität Berlin awards ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits. The number of class hours and ECTS credits will be shown on the transcript to allow each student’s home institution the ultimate decision in the awarding of U.S. credit. Students should consult with their university advisors prior to participating in the program to have course credit pre-approved and ensure that they are taking the appropriate amount of credits.

Learn more about ECTS

Internship Application Students complete an internship application which can be accessed on-line once the program application has been received. The quality and depth of the answers contribute to placement possibilities. 

Student support The AIFS Program Director provides academic advice and serves as a liaison between students and the university. 

Transcripts are issued by Freie Universität Berlin. An official transcript will be sent directly to the student’s home university on completion of the program. 

View All Courses For Study + Internship with Intercultural Seminar
Zoe Instagram Takeover

A DAY IN THE LIFE BERLIN

Meet Zoe, a college student from Texas A&M University who took over the AIFS Abroad Instagram story recently to answer questions about what it’s like to study abroad in Berlin, Germany this summer! Watch as Zoe highlights what a typical day in her life looks like there.

Three students in Berlin.

Living Abroad

Apartment

All apartments are conveniently located within an easy commute to Freie Universität and central Berlin by public transport. The Berlin transport system is frequent, quick and efficient. Wi-fi access is available in the apartments.

  • Single or double rooms
  • Bathroom and fully equipped kitchen
  • Washing machine

Internet access is included in all AIFS housing in Berlin.

Meals

Students receive a meal allowance which can be used in the subsidized university cafeterias across Berlin.

Transportation

Public transportation makes it easy to get around Berlin, as it is well integrated, cheap, and efficient to use. Your daily commute will most likely be via the metro (U-Bahn), local train (S-Bahn), bus and/or on foot, so make sure to bring comfortable walking shoes.

History

Berlin has been at the heart not just of European politics and culture but also world affairs for several centuries. As a city reunified in 1990 it combines a tremendous variety of experiences from fine historical museum to cutting edge modernism, to a vibrant club culture and sprawling parks.

AIFS in Berlin Director, Summer Program

Nele Thomsen

Guten Tag und Herzlich Willkommen. I would like to extend a warm welcome! Originally from Hamburg, I studied in Berlin and Potsdam and spent time abroad in England and Spain. Berlin has been my home for 20 years now. I love it and am sure you will too! Whatever your interest, Berlin offers a niche for everyone, from the clubber to the historian, from opera to street art. On your program you will glimpse historic German towns, sample local specialities and experience Berlin like a native. It will be my pleasure to help you during your time abroad.

The Program Director provides academic advice, introduces you to the community and handles communication with the University.

Learning does not begin or end in the classroom. To help you get a true taste of German culture, a wide range of cultural activities and excursions are included in your program fee. The Program Director organizes a variety of activities which usually include:

  • Traditional welcome dinner
  • Visits to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Museum Island
  • Boat trip
  • Visit to Memorial of Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp
  • Explore Berlin’s street art scene
  • Visit to the outdoor museum “Topography of Terror”
  • Opera visit
  • Evening at an open-air theater
  • Group dinners

Please note that students may pay a small additional fee for some of the activities above. Due to internship schedules students may not be able to attend all activities.

You will receive a transportation pass for the duration of the program. This includes all public transportation such as subway, bus or city train, day and night, 7 days a week and enables students to travel easily between their accommodation, the university and their internship placement. 

Excursions

This program offers a range of day trips and excursions that will take you outside Berlin and deepen your social, historical and cultural understanding of Germany. Previous excursions have included:

A beach at the Baltic Sea.

Baltic Sea

Walking tour and visit to the medieval Church of St. Mary in Rostock. Free afternoon in the beach town of Warnemünde.

  • Germany
  • Day Trip
  • Included in Program Fee (Session 1 only)
Potsdam, Germany

Potsdam

Guided tour of the royal city of Potsdam, a UNESCO World Heritage site and former summer residence of the German Emperors. Includes round-trip transportation and guided bus tour.
  • Germany
  • Day Trip
  • Included in Program Fee
Barcelona,Spain
A group of happy students at a carnival.
A view of Prague.

Social identity & access

One of the best things you can do before departure is enter into the journey knowing that your time abroad will be unique to this experience. The resources, community, and support available to you when abroad will likely be different as well. In order to help you prepare for your experience, we have compiled many resources about social identity and access in specific locations abroad. Your program staff will also provide you with more details pre-departure and during orientation.

Learn more

Important Dates & Deadlines

Request Info

Open

Dates & Deadlines

Details

  • Early Application Deadline*
  • Application Deadline
    January 15, 2025
  • Deposit Deadline
    January 21, 2025
  • Scholarship Deadline
    March 1, 2025
  • Visa Deadline****
  • Optional Departure Flight from US***
    May 21, 2025
  • Program Begins
    May 22, 2025
  • Program Ends
    July 19, 2025
  • Optional Return Flight to US***
    July 19, 2025
  • *** Included for students on AIFS flight package.
  • **** AIFS Abroad offers visa processing services to applicants who enroll into the program by this date. All other applicants who enroll after this date will be responsible for securing their own visa with guidance from AIFS Abroad.

Optional Flight Package

Participants can select an optional transportation package for all AIFS Abroad programs that includes a round-trip flight from 25 U.S gateways and airport transfers to and from campus. Participants who choose to book their own flights will be responsible for connecting with the group at the program location and will need to make their own ground transportation arrangements from the airport.

Below are fees by departure city based on average historical costs and subject to change. If you select this option on your application, the total flight package price will be confirmed approximately one month prior to departure. Your program fee is guaranteed, and the optional flight package is an additional fee. Please note that once we have finalized the pricing for your flights the cost may change, and you will be responsible for making the additional payment if you want to participate in the flight package. Your program advisor will be in touch should there be any changes in the price of your flights.

Depature City

Fee

  • Atlanta
    $2,400
  • Boston
    $2,520
  • Buffalo
    $2,520
  • Charlotte
    $2,420
  • Chicago
    $2,600
  • Cincinnati
    $2,580
  • Columbus
    $2,600
  • Dallas
    $2,480
  • Denver
    $2,700
  • Des Moines
    $2,600
  • Detroit
    $2,380
  • Houston
    $2,600
  • Los Angeles
    $2,720
  • Miami
    $2,420
  • Minneapolis
    $2,520
  • New York
    $2,260
  • Newark
    $2,260
  • Orlando
    $2,600
  • Philadelphia
    $2,320
  • Phoenix
    $2,520
  • Pittsburgh
    $2,520
  • Raleigh/Durham
    $2,600
  • San Francisco
    $2,720
  • Seattle
    $2,720
  • St. Louis
    $2,600
  • Washington/Dulles
    $2,520
  • View more View less

See what others are saying

Two students walking in a field.

Ready to Study Abroad in Berlin?

For more dates or questions, contact your program consultant:
(203) 399-5163 or email: aifsabroad@aifs.com