Study Abroad | Berlin

Housing

SHARED Apartment

You will live independently in a shared apartment with one or two other AIFS students. Included is a pre-loaded meal card for use in university-subsidized student cafeterias to purchase lunches at heavily subsidized prices. The apartment includes:

• Shared kitchen and bathroom
• Double or single bedrooms
• Laundry room
• Centrally located and near subway station for a short commute to the campus
• Grocery stores, pharmacies and other conveniences nearby

Internet access is included in all AIFS housing in Berlin.

City Facts

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 reunited in 1990 it combines a tremendous variety of experiences from fine historical museums to cutting edge modernism, to a vibrant club culture and sprawling parks.

Site Staff

AIFS in Berlin Director, January Term Program

Nele Thomsen

Moin Moin und Hallo! Welcome to Berlin. I am from Hamburg originally but have lived in Berlin for almost 20 years. I studied history, art history and English in Berlin and Potsdam and worked as a tour guide. I have also lived abroad in England and Spain. It is a pleasure to accompany students on their journey to broaden their horizons, to explore the city and museums with them or to just find new spots and cafés to discuss the U.S. – German friendship.

I love the ever-changing way of the city, its vibrancy and the laid-back attitude. Berlin has something to offer everyone, from museums, to clubs or historical sites like the Berlin Wall. And not far away you will find Potsdam and Dresden, with stunning palaces and gardens.

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

Cultural Activities

Learning does not begin or end in the classroom. To help you get a true taste of German culture, various activities will be organized by AIFS and Humboldt-Universität. Previous programs included some of the below:

• City sightseeing tour
• Welcome reception
• Visits to:
  • German Bundestag
  • Memorial for the Berlin Wall
  • Charlottenburg Palace
  • Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp
• German cooking class
• An ice hockey game
• Traditional farewell dinner

Transportation

Public transportation makes it easy to get around Berlin, as it is well integrated and efficient to use. You will receive a transportation pass to ride the metro, buses and trams.