Duke in Berlin
SEMESTER & YEARLONG PROGRAMS
Program Alert
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Study a mix of subjects at German universities
Apply NowNo prior knowledge of German required
Duke in Berlin was founded at the Free University of West Berlin in 1988 before the fall of the Berlin Wall. All Duke in Berlin sessions—Fall, Spring, and Academic Year—are designed to accommodate all students, regardless of their prior study or knowledge of German. No prior knowledge of German is required to attend.
The fall and spring-summer semesters are based at the Free University. Students attend Duke University courses taught by German faculty and by the program’s resident director. Students with sufficient German may take courses at the Berlin universities. Qualified engineering students may take courses at the Technical University in Berlin during the spring semester. The program helps students advance their language skills, deepens their understanding of German culture, and broadens their grasp of the social sciences, humanities, and technology in a German and European context.
The City
Berlin is the capital of Germany. One of the major metropolitan centers of the world, Berlin offers a wealth of opportunities for the student. The biggest city in the biggest country in Western Europe, Berlin boasts three opera houses, two symphonies, scores of theaters and music venues, and virtually innumerable museums. Berlin is also a city of learning with four universities and nearly 150,000 students. Student life is extraordinary, diverse, and diffuse. The possibilities waiting to be explored are unlimited.
The Universities
The program offers courses at two universities: the fall and spring-summer program is based at the Free University in former West Berlin. Engineering courses may be taken at the Technical University in the spring. The Free University is regarded as one of the premier institutions of higher learning in the world. More than 30,000 students are now enrolled there. The Technical University traces its origin back to the late 18th century and is today the largest technical university of Germany with a very high percentage of foreign students. It has a student body of 28,000.
PROGRAM FAST FACTS
Location: Berlin, Germany
Term: Fall, Spring, or Academic Year
Dates: August 13, 2021 - November 21, 2021 (Fall); TBD (Spring); TBD (Spring Engineering/Beginner Track)
Application Deadline: March 1 (Fall and Academic Year); October 1 (Spring)
Academic Theme(s): German Language and Culture
Credit Type: Duke Credit (Fall) or Hybrid Credit (Spring or AY)
Eligibility: Applicants must be in good academic standing with a B average. Non-Duke students are welcome to apply.
Duke Affiliation: Duke Department of Germanic Languages & Literature
Housing: For Fall 2021: Single Apartments
GEO Advising: Request an appointment
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Students at the Berlin Wall
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The Berlin Cathedral
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Students at the Berlin Cathedral
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Potsdamer Platz
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Students at Reichstag
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Duke in Berlin
ACADEMICS
German Major and Minor: Most students who participate in a Duke in Berlin semester program are eligible to pursue a German major or minor. The German major requires 10 courses in German at or above the 200-level. The German minor requires five courses at or above the 200-level. All courses offered through Duke in Berlin count toward the major and minor.
- FALL
- SPRING
- ENGINEERING
FALL
The fall program for students with beginning through advanced German offers a two-credit language and culture class taught in German (GERMAN 111A, GERMAN 212A, or GERMAN 312AS). Additionally, students choose two courses from among an art history class, an economics class, or an environmental policy class. Instruction in these courses begins in English and switches gradually to German. Students earn a full semester of Duke University academic credit.
Prerequisites
Applicants must be in good academic standing with a B average. A letter of recommendation from a professor of German (if applicant has taken German) and a second recommendation from any faculty member, a transcript, and a statement of purpose are required.
Special note to students with no prior German: For those students applying to the Fall program without any prior German (or without any German courses at Duke), the required letters of recommendation may come from any instructors.
Courses & Credits
GERMAN 111A
Intensive First-Year German
(FL) 2.0 credits
Students will be exposed to the fields of reading, writing, listening, and speaking and will be trained so that they can take full advantage of being in the target country. After a short period, students will be able to communicate with native German speakers on a basic level. Taught by program faculty.
GERMAN 212A
Intensive Intermediate German
(CZ, FL) 2.0 credits
Intensive grammar review and practice of spoken and written German. The course covers the work of second-year college German. Taught by program faculty.
GERMAN 312AS
Advanced Intensive German Language and Culture
(ALP, CCI, CZ, FL, W) 2.0 credits
Development of advanced proficiency with particular emphasis on speaking and writing. Analysis of literary and non-literary texts, excursions, museums, films, theater performances. Advanced grammar review, vocabulary building, oral presentation, written assignments. The course covers the work of third and/or fourth year college German. Taught by program faculty.
ARTHIST 296A / GERMAN 322A
Berlin: Architecture, Art, and the City, 1871 to the Present
(ALP, CCI, CZ) 1.0 credit
Development of urban Berlin, from the Gründerzeit (the Boom Years) of the 1870s to the present. Architecture of Imperial Berlin, the Weimar and Nazi periods, post-World War II and the reconstruction as a unified city, from late Historicism to Postmodernism. Taught by program faculty.
ECON 260A / GERMAN 321A
Economics of a United Europe
(CCI, SS) 1.0 credit
Implications of a common monetary policy, common welfare standards, unemployment, and migration in the European Union. Taught by program faculty.
POLSCI 295A / PUBPOL 201A / GERMAN 320A
Environmental Policy in Europe
(CCI, SS) 1.0 credit
Economic concepts and environmental policies with their application to selected environmental issues in Western and Eastern Europe, transboundary pollution problems, and the role of the European Community. Taught by program faculty.
Special Winter Course
Mid October - Mid February
Students who have completed two years of college-level German and plan to attend the full academic year, may enroll in a fifth course at the Technical University (TU) from mid-October to mid-February with a short Christmas break. They will earn transfer credit for this course and pay an additional fee for accommodations. For T.U.B. courses check www.tu-berlin.de.
SPRING
The Spring semester offers students at all levels of German language (beginners to advanced) the opportunity to study in Berlin.
Spring students are required to take 4 courses but may take up to 6 courses, combining Duke courses with direct enrollment courses/transfer credit courses at the German universities. This is possible because of the extended length of the German university semester, which runs from April through the end of July.
Students with no previous knowledge of German attend the Spring semester program and take intensive introductory language courses from January to March and follow those with language and culture content courses at the intermediate level based at the Free University from April to July.
Those students who already have knowledge of German before starting the program take GERMAN 319AS and GERMAN 352AS and they choose another course from the Duke in Berlin program offerings. They must select a fourth course from the offerings of the Free University (FU) or the Technical University (TU) and may, in addition, take an elective fifth course at one of the two universities.
For Free University courses, check www.fu-berlin.de/.
For Technical University courses, check www.tu-berlin.de/.
Students enroll in four, five, or even six courses and earn a full semester of academic credit.
To secure transfer credits for the FU or TU courses (mid-April to July), Duke students will have to observe transfer credit policies.
Many courses at the FU or TU have been pre-approved by Duke University and recorded in the GEO Approved Course Database. Courses listed in the database do not have to be re-approved by a departmental DUS.
Application Materials
The selection of students for the program is based on a transcript review, a letter of recommendation from a professor of German (if applicant has studied German), a second letter of recommendation from any faculty member, and a statement of purpose. Students with no previous German language instruction can provide recommendation letters from any two faculty members. A review of the student's application and consultation with the Academic Director and Resident Director will determine language course placement in Berlin.
Courses & Credits
GERMAN 111A
Introduction to the German Language
(FL) 1.0 credit
Students will be exposed to the fields of reading, writing, listening, and speaking and will be trained so that they can take full advantage of being in the target country. After a short period, students will be able to communicate with native German speakers on a basic level.
GERMAN 319AS
Advanced Intensive German
(CCI, CZ, FL) 1.0 credit
Advanced language work in comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Includes discussion of current events from various media. Prepares students for the German language exam required of all foreign students enrolling in German universities. Taught by program faculty from February until March or early April when the university administers the language exam.
GERMAN 352AS
Berlin in Literature and Culture
(ALP, CCI, FL) 1.0 credit
Looks at the works of modern German writers with special focus on Berlin and the political-cultural heritage of its divided years. Emphasis on the art and architecture of the city. Part 1 prepares participants for the excursion to classical Weimar and environs by reading relevant texts. Part II has a strong emphasis on theater productions in Berlin, corresponding literature and its “Zeitgeist”. Course runs from February to mid-July.
GERMAN 354SA
Contemporary Art in Berlin
(ALP, CCI, FL) 1.0 credit
Overview of the main locations, events, and protagonists of the contemporary Berlin art scene. Examination of art in its omnipresence in the urban environment; includes explorations of street art, art in public spaces, museums, private collections, galleries, studios, and art academies. Taught only in the Duke-in-Berlin study abroad program.
ENGINEERING
Spring/Summer Engineering Track
Only one semester of college level German is required to participate in the Spring/Summer Engineering Track.
This special spring/summer track is designed to give students in all engineering majors (biomedical, civil and environmental, electrical, and mechanical) an opportunity to develop advanced proficiency in German through intensive language study in January through March and to take engineering courses in their major at the Technical University in Berlin (TU) from April through July.
STEM students may also be interested in researching opportunities on the Duke in Berlin program. They should consult with the German Department and/or GEO about this option.
The January course is a 4-week, 1 credit course, entitled GERMAN 213A (CZ, FL) Intensive Intermediate German for Engineers. It is taught by faculty from the Technical University (TU). (Students with advanced language preparation are encouraged to join the January cohort and may take a level-appropriate tutorial that will acquaint them with engineering terminology.) Students attend cultural outings, and participate in excursions to technical museums, power plants, automobile design and manufacturing sites, and environmental institutions.
Following this course, students will feed into the advanced language course (GERMAN 319AS Advanced Intensive German, see 'Spring' tab) that begins the regular Duke in Berlin spring semester program. This course, which runs until the beginning of the regular German university semester in mid-April, enables students to develop advanced proficiency in German. Engineering students who have had Intensive Intermediate German for Engineers, as well as the Advanced Intensive German course, will be well qualified to take up to two engineering courses in their field at the Technical University starting in April.
Courses at the Technical University run from mid-April until late July, so students who begin in January will have had three months of intensive language study plus total immersion in the German language and culture before beginning the content courses. Students who participate in the January course and continue on through July can, as a result of the extended semester, earn up to 6 course credits.
To secure transfer credits for the FU or TU courses (mid-April to July), Duke students will have to observe transfer credit policies.
Some courses at the TU have been pre-approved by Duke University and recorded in the GEO Approved Course Database. Courses listed in the database do not have to be re-approved by a departmental DUS.
Activities
Cultural Events
During the fall and spring-summer programs, students are invited to attend a series of cultural events such as concerts, theaters, and operas at no additional charge. Usually the group attends up to six such events, including one or two operas per semester.
Excursions
One of the most popular aspects of Duke in Berlin is the series of day trips arranged each semester. These trips combine sightseeing and recreation with connections to program courses. Included at no extra cost on the excursions are transportation by bus or train, guided tours, concert or opera visits, and a meal stipend.
Extracurricular Activities
Access to a wide array of activities such as athletics, music, choir, orchestra, swimming, dance courses, basketball, volleyball, soccer, etc. is guaranteed to participating students at little or no extra cost. Also, students are invited to several social events such as receptions at universities or dinners as well as informal gatherings like “Stammtisch” to promote cultural understanding.
Language Partner Program
“Tandem,” a German language partner program, assists students in finding one or more people with whom they can meet and practice their conversational German at no additional cost. Students find that such activities have a positive and influential impact on their language acquisition skills and provide a venue for meeting and getting to know Germans.
NON-ACADEMIC INTERNSHIPS
Berlin is quickly becoming a commercial and cultural hub of western Europe. A number of non-academic internship opportunities are available for those students with greater German proficiency and an interest in augmenting their academic work with practical professional experience. With the permission of the program administration, some positions exist for students with limited German language exposure. If you are interested in investigating internships or volunteer opportunities in Berlin, please talk with the Duke in Berlin on-site staff or contact Susan Pratt at pratt.susan@duke.edu.
Housing and Meals
For the Fall 2021 semester program, students will be housed in single apartments at ApratHotel/Landhaus Lichterfelde. These apartments are outfitted with a kitchenette so that students can cook their own meals and have WIFI and TV. Duke in Berlin will have the while complex to themselves and have access to a nice courtyard for gathering in small groups. There is access to a washer and dryer for personal use and a housekeeping service that cleans the apartments once a week. There is also a front office where students can ask for assistance as needed. Below are some photos of what the apartments look like. The address, phone number, and website of the apartment complex:
ApartHotel/Landhaus Lichterfelde
Drakestrasse 60
12205 Berlin
Tel: 030 8332840 (Reception)
Fax: 030 8337157
www.landhauslichterfel.de
Students will be responsible for preparing their own meals in the apartments. However, they will also have access to the university cafeterias called "Mensas" where they can purchase filling, inexpensive meals on campus. There will also be some group meals and opportunities for students to sample the culinary variety that Berlin has to offer. There is an excellent variety of supermarkets as well as open air fresh food markets where students can purchase their weekly groceries and specialty items.
DATES
Note about the German Academic Calendar: The calendars for the two Duke in Berlin semesters are distinctly different due to the German academic calendar. Please note the start and end dates carefully, and make sure you are particularly aware of the length of the Spring semester when considering this program.
- SPRING 2022
- FALL 2021
SPRING 2022
Spring 2022: Engineering Program / Erasmus for Beginners
Note: Semester dates and arrival arrangements for Spring 2022 have not yet been determined.
Dates subject to change. City excursions, art cluster, concerts, opera visits, lectures, and special events, etc. will be announced at the beginning and during the program.
FU/TU Exams are not likely to be scheduled until late July – when making travel arrangements, do not schedule return flight before July 31.
*Upon arrival to Berlin check-in to:
ApartHotel/Landhaus Lichterfelde
Drakestrasse 60
12205 Berlin
Tel: 030 8332840 (Reception)
Fax: 030 8337157
www.landhauslichterfel.de
It is recommended that students take a taxi from the airport to the ApartHotel upon arrival to Berlin. Students should have the address and information written down to present the taxi drivers. The approximate cost of the taxi trip from the airport is 30 Euros and the trip takes about 30 minutes.
FALL 2021
Fall 2021 Schedule
| August 13 |
Arrival by 6pm - check into apartments/ApartHotel Landhaus Lichterfelde 6:15pm joint dinner with all participants and Duke in Berlin staff |
| August 14 | Orientation Day |
| August 15 |
Orientation continued 1pm lunch reception |
| August 16 | Classes begin |
| August 29 | Day excursion (Dassau/Bauhaus) |
| September 3 | Day excursion (Potsdam) |
| September 12 | Day excursion (Hamburg) |
| September 21-24 | Midterms |
| September 26 | Day excursion (Dresden) |
| October 3 | German Unity Day |
| October 9 | Day excursion (Leipzig) |
| November 6 | Day excursion (Lubeck) |
| November 11-14 | Reading period |
| November 15-18 | Finals week |
| November 19 | Farewell reception |
| November 21 | Last day of residency |
Note: Day excursions are organized with a bus only used by program participants
*Upon arrival to Berlin check-in to:
ApartHotel/Landhaus Lichterfelde
Drakestrasse 60
12205 Berlin
Tel: 030 8332840 (Reception)
Fax: 030 8337157
www.landhauslichterfel.de
ESTIMATED COSTS
Fall 2021 or Spring 2022
Estimates are based on previous years’ programs and the current exchange rate. All costs are subject to change. Spring Engineering/Erasmus Beginner program costs are in parenthesis.
| Duke Students | Non-Duke Students | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $29,042.50 ($33,942.50) | $29,042.50 ($33,942.50) |
| Program Fee | $1,300 | $1,300 |
| Transcript Fee | N/A | $120 |
| Other Costs | ||
| TOTAL (Estimated) | $38,572.50 – $38,822.50 ($45,172.50) | $38,692.50 – $38,942.50 ($45,292.50) |
Explanation of Costs
The program fee for this program includes:
- Accommodations with host family
- Breakfast
- International SOS coverage
- Program-sponsored activities and excursions
- Orientation program
- Public transportation pass
What is not included?
Use the following list to assist with budgeting for expenses outside the program fee. This list contains common examples but should not be considered exhaustive.
- Airfare
- Airport transportation to/from program site
- Local transportation
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses
- Immunizations
- Visa and/or residency permit
- Passport
- Textbooks and class materials
- Internet usage
- Mobile phone
- Laundry
- Independent travel and entertainment
- Items of a personal nature
- Incidentals
U.S. citizens do not need a visa for this program. However, if you are not a U.S. citizen, you may need a visa. Please be sure to research the cost of obtaining a visa, including any required travel to a consulate or embassy.
If you receive financial aid, and need assistance with travel costs, please contact your financial aid counselor.
Personal expenses can fluctuate greatly depending upon habits and preferences of the individual. It’s also wise to budget for unexpected expenses such as medical emergencies. You can use a cost-of-living comparison tool to get an idea of what daily life costs in the program host location.
Step 1: Within 3 weeks of acceptance to the program, confirm your enrollment by submitting the non-refundable $1,000 deposit. Deposits are payable by check or Student Account E-Check. If you receive Duke financial aid, submit the Deposit Waiver Form in lieu of the deposit. Log in to MyExperientialEd for remittance instructions or waiver form.
NOTE: If you withdraw after committing to the program, there may be financial consequences.
Step 2: Complete all post-acceptance items listed on your MyExperientialEd application, including the Participation Agreement, Pre-Departure Orientation, International Travel Registry, and any program-specific forms.
Step 3: Semester invoices will be sent via email to your Duke email address and home email address. Remit payment to the Bursar per due date and address indicated on your online statement. All financial arrangements involving Duke University must be completed prior to departure for the program.
Consult the Duke Bursar's office billing schedule for payment due dates.
Financial Aid
Duke students receiving institutional need-based grant aid are eligible for aid for this program; work-study funds are converted to grants. Students are individually responsible for making the necessary arrangements with the Karsh Office of Undergraduate Financial Support and the Duke Bursar’s Office.
Non-Duke students are not eligible to receive financial aid at Duke and should contact their home institutions for financial aid information.
VISA & PASSPORT
VISA
No visa is required of U.S. citizens to participate in this program. Non-U.S. citizens should pay special attention to the visa requirements for their specific citizenship by contacting the country embassy to find out what the student visa process entails and if any visa restrictions are in effect.
PASSPORT
All participants must have a valid passport. Make sure your passport has at least six months of validity beyond the program end date to avoid unintended disruptions. For instructions on obtaining or renewing your U.S. passport, visit passports.state.gov.
PROGRAM FACULTY & STAFF
In Berlin
The Duke in Berlin on-site staff is available to students before the start of the program and during the entirety of the semester or year that students are in Berlin. The staff is available to students once they have arrived in Berlin and will participate in on-site orientation activities, introducing students to Berlin, the Free University campus and facilities that are available to students, cultural and other activities, and the public transportation system. Duke in Berlin staff are also available to students who are in need of support or have an academic or other issue. In addition, the staff can advise students on travel opportunities within Germany and counsel students on health, safety, and security concerns.
At Duke
ADMISSIONS
Deadline: March 1 (Fall semester); October 1 (Spring semester)
This program has a set application deadline. Applications must be received by the deadline to be considered.
Priority: Priority will be given to juniors and seniors having an overall GPA of 3.0.
Minimum GPA: The minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) required for Duke students wishing to study away during the semester is 2.7 (3.0 for Pratt students) on a scale of 4.0.
Non-Duke students: Non-Duke students are welcome to apply for this program. You must be a degree-seeking student in good standing at an accredited college or university. Consult your university’s registrar and/or study away advisor for assistance with transfer credit. Students who are not matriculated at a college or university are not eligible to participate in Duke’s study away programs.
APPLY
Start your application early to ensure that it is complete by the deadline! Incomplete applications will not be forwarded to the program directors for consideration.
Submit the following items using MyExperientialEd:
- Online application
- Official transcript(s) from all colleges and universities attended. First-year students should wait for fall semester grades to be posted before submitting their transcript.
- Personal statement, one page minimum, explaining why you would like to participate on this program
- Two academic letters of recommendation (one from German instructor)*
- Home university approval form (non-Duke students)
- Passport copy
*For those students applying to the Fall or Spring programs without any prior German (or without any German courses at Duke), the required letters of recommendation may come from any faculty members.
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
The best way to learn about our program is to hear what former Duke-in-Berlin participants have to say about it. Their stories give us a taste of the variety of cultural, academic, and social experiences that are open to students who participate in our programs.
Devyn Gortner (Trinity '16)
"One the biggest reasons I came to Duke for my undergraduate education was due to the wonderful reputation of the Duke in Berlin program. Berlin was where I found my niche—the people I met and the other students I shared the experience with became some of my greatest friends. However cliched it may sound, there is truly something for everyone in Berlin. The city has a pulse—an indescribable energy unlike anywhere else I have ever traveled. There is ALWAYS something to do, and every interest is accounted for (even if you don't like to drink, although the beer there is pretty wonderful). There is incredible art, history, music, nature, and food right at your fingertips. As someone who has never wanted to live in a city, I still would firmly support the notion that Berlin is for everyone.
Duke in Berlin changed my life in many ways; but, most importantly, it allowed me to step back from my life at Duke and back home in the States and see the bigger picture of where I was in life and where I want to go. If you're on the fence about going abroad, I urge you to do it. Discover for yourself what it means to step outside of your bubble. And if you're not sure if Berlin is the right place for you, all I can say is: Yes it is. Go. Go and take me back with you."
Eileen Lin (Trinity '16)
"I was part of the Duke in Berlin Fall semester program last year. It was one of the best decisions I made during my Duke career. Berlin is a vibrant city that has a rich culinary culture as well as a hipster art and music scene. My footsteps across the city accumulated moments of fond and precious memories, from Warschauer Straße to Prenzlauer Allee, from Zehlendorf to Stadt Mitte. I was most fascinated by the city's tangible history, given that we can still witness the transition between destruction and renovation. I loved it so much that I went back to Berlin for a summer museum research project. If you are thinking about doing the program, I sincerely recommend it!"
Liaowang (Zoey) Zou (Trinity '17)
"I did Duke in Berlin Spring program in my sophomore spring. Berlin is an amazing city. It is not like any other city in Germany. It's a blend of the old and the young, of politic and art, of profundity and vibrancy. I am so glad that I could spend 7 months in Berlin. Every bit of it was absolutely amazing. As a language beginner, I never expected myself to pick up German so fast. I stayed with a host family and had German bread and cheese for breakfast with the 7-year-old and 12-year-old "Gastgeschwister" (guest siblings) at home every morning. The program took us to numerous concerts, football games, and theater performances and even parliamentary session in German Bundestag. People in our program were really close as a group. At the same time, we also mingled with local students. We attended classes with German students at local university. I also joined a Pop and Jazz choir group. Sometimes we just need a change of perspective, to interact with people with different culture, different backgrounds and different ways of thinking."
Read Q+A interview with Zoey Zou
Andrew Rohm (Pratt '12)
"I'm an Electrical and Computer Engineering and German double-major. I thoroughly enjoyed the Spring semester engineering program in Berlin. As part of the semester, we enjoyed the continued hospitality of host families and numerous opportunities for cultural immersion. Between the experience of watching alongside millions of Germans as Germany advanced further and further into the World Cup and exploring the thriving metropolis that is Berlin, the Duke-in-Berlin program presents the chance for all this enjoyment and more, not to mention the challenge and reward of learning alongside German classmates."
STUDENT STORIES
Meet with a GEO Advisor
Not sure where to start? Prefer to talk to someone? Schedule an appointment with a GEO advisor to get personalized recommendations and answers to your questions.